Chapter 7

Epilogue

The sheriff came back just after eight o'clock. The rain had stopped in time for the sun to set, so the sky was still light with beautiful colors even though the sun had slipped away. Sheriff Madden took his hat off – not dripping water anymore – and smiled.

"I heard back again from Heath," he said. "Jarrod's had a bullet wound to the side of his head, but it's not serious. Mainly he's just run himself into the ground and needs a couple days' rest. Heath and Nick are fine."

Victoria smiled and went a little limp in relief. "Thank you, Fred." Then she turned serious. "What about Hyatt? Will he be brought back here?"

"I expect so, though I haven't heard from the sheriff in Rimfire," Sheriff Madden said. "You never know about these things. They may just show up with him."

"When you learn anything, will you let me know?"

The sheriff nodded. "I'll let you know anything I find out."

It was two days later the sheriff came back with news that Victoria's sons were heading home and would wire ahead again when they could. Every day after that, they wired ahead. As they got closer, the sheriff got word that marshals would be bringing Hyatt into Stockton a few days after the Barkley men were back.

The sheriff was true to his word and kept Victoria up to date on her sons' progression home. Then, about five days after they left Rimfire, they appeared on the ridge above the house and came down.

When they arrived in the stableyard, Ciego took their horses, saying, "Welcome home, Senor Jarrod." Victoria didn't hear Jarrod reply. She only saw her sons drag themselves wearily toward the house, dirty and unshaven and incredibly tired. They never looked better to her eyes.

Victoria embraced them all, one by one. Nick whispered, "We made it," wearily in her ear as she held him. As she turned to Heath and took him in her arms, he said, "He's gonna be all right, don't worry."

Audra embraced them as well, but no words passed between them. They just hugged her and waited for their oldest brother.

Jarrod was dragging the most, the bandage around his head dirty and carrying a browned bloodstain. He didn't even look up as he came toward them and his mother took him in her arms. He said nothing. Victoria let him go, and he let Audra embrace him without a word.

Nick said, "Come on, Pappy, we better get you cleaned up and settled in."

Jarrod led the way up the stairs, his brothers just behind him in case he stumbled, but he made it with just a steadying hand from Heath at the top. Audra followed them all, and Victoria knew she would be there to help them get Jarrod settled. She let them all go together, and her heart never felt so light and happy.

They were together, her children, all home and safe, if damaged. It was obvious already that Silas had been right. Jarrod would be changed, and the rest of them would be changed, too. Over the next few days and even longer, they would all be grappling with the fallout from the last couple weeks. Victoria had no idea yet how bad the fallout would be. The details of what happened out there were yet to come out, but Victoria knew, from her own experience in life, that Jarrod would probably never heal completely. Maybe none of them would. For now, though, he was home. They were all home and together again. The waiting was over.

"Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you," Victoria said quietly, and smiled.

The End