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Five years passed like the blink of an eye. Jack sat back on the porch chair of the ranch house he shared with his wife and children.
Sam had returned and built his own ranch, just like he’d said he would, on the next lot over, so he would be their neighbor.
He’d heard rumors that Sam might be courting one of the women in town. If that was the case, Jack was pleased for him and wished him the best—though he would likely tease his brother-in-law the next time he saw him.
“Daddy, look how fast I run!” Emma, Jack and Sarah’s three-year-old daughter, chased several chicks and their mothers around the yard.
When she said her r’s they came out as w’s. He had no idea how long that would last, but it was extremely cute. Just like she was. A pretty little picture in her yellow dress with a white sash and a yellow ribbon holding back her auburn hair. She looked just like her mother already.
He was glad she didn’t look like him. Jack’s one-year-old son stretched his small arms over his head before snuggling once again into the crook of Jack’s arm. He was so tiny, Jack was constantly afraid of hurting him. Sarah told him not to worry. They had affectionately named him Franklin, nicknamed, Frankie, after Sarah and Sam’s father.
Jack brushed his finger over the baby’s nose and chin before lifting him gently to give him a soft kiss on the head. He was certain he’d never known love like this before. He loved Sarah, but it was so different from what he felt for his children. Emma was the apple of his eye. Frankie was his special boy. His firstborn son.
Sarah came out of the house and held the door until it was closed, so it wouldn’t slam. Jack smiled at her. “Glad you did that. He’s a little restless.”
She came closer, setting the wicker basket filled with freshly baked bread she was carrying on the table between the two chairs they frequently occupied. Jack breathed in the delicious scent of the bread while Sarah bent over and kissed Frankie on the head. Before she stood up straight again, she planted another kiss on Jack’s lips.
“He looked perfectly content to me in his papa’s arms.”
It wasn’t the first compliment she’d given him about his fathering skills. The last three years had been quite a discovery for both of them. Jack was an excellent parent without even meaning to be.
He woke up if he thought his children breathed wrong in the other room. Sarah had teased him, asking which one of them was the real mother. He’d taken that question as a compliment, too. It just confirmed what he already felt inside.
He was supposed to be a father. That was just his destiny. He was determined to keep the children safe, happy, and healthy.
“Isn’t it amazing how this community and the land has flourished?” Sarah asked in her most gentle voice as she sat in her chair. She leaned to one side, her arm on the armrest. “There were only… oh, I’d say eight families left when we went through that storm. Now there’s more than two hundred families living here! We have about a thousand more people than we did before!”
Jack didn’t know how to feel about that. He liked the isolation of a country home. He liked for ranches to be spread out with many acres belonging to one family. A lot of plots had been divvied up among the newcomers, one family selling off acres to another family and so on.
He didn’t want to live in the big city. He’d seen what it did to a man. Too much commotion, too much stress. Jack didn’t want to live like that, nor did he want to raise his children without showing them the value of being alone, set back from the action that accompanied a city.
The railroad had still come through, but it was placed so that it didn’t come through Copper Valley, it went around. A big train station—almost as big as their municipal building in town—was built to accommodate the new tracks and more travelers. Copper Valley had grown into a boom town with no signs of stopping in sight.
***
Later that morning, while Emma and Frankie took their afternoon naps, Jack stood in front of a full-length mirror, a large oval set on two legs carved to look like animal claws. The mirror had been a gift from Sam when they got married. He said it was mostly for Jack so he could see what he actually looked like when deciding what to wear for that day. It made Jack and Sarah both laugh.
He picked up his badge from the top of the four-drawer mahogany dresser next to him and pinned it on, making sure it was straight. He gazed at himself, almost unable to believe he had been Blackjack McCready just five years ago. His life had completely changed since he lost his memories and regained them in the span of a few weeks. His personality, his former men told him, was very different because of that mishap.
He kissed Sarah goodbye and rode into town for the weekly community meeting. At first, Sarah had come, but when she gave birth to Emma, she stopped coming so frequently. Since she’d had Frankie, she hadn’t come at all.
She didn’t need to. Jack would always tell her what was said and done and if any decisions had been made that she might be interested in, such as a new mothers’ group or book club.
Maria Santos waved from her rebuilt general store, which now featured furniture, too, if you went around back to the storage building Maria’s young son had built. He took special orders and was a master at the craft of building furniture.
Jack waved back at her and rode his horse to the jailhouse next door. He dismounted and was tying the reins of his horse to the hitching rail when his name was called from behind him. He turned around to see Dr. Morrison hurrying past with her assistant, carrying her large black medical bag.
“Hello, Sheriff!” she called out. She lifted the bag up a foot or so. “Another birth! Won’t be at the community meeting! The twelfth birth this year! You know what they say about lots of babies being born.”
“I don’t know what they say, Doctor. Why don’t you tell me?” He grinned from ear to ear, reaching up to place his hat on his head to block out the bright sun above his head.
“It’s the sign of a prosperous town, a thriving community!” she replied, smiling back. “It means people are happy!”
“Well, I sure like to hear that. You take care of that baby and mama now, okay?”
They were far enough away for her to have to turn and walk backwards, which she did for a few steps.
“Give your wife and kids my best wishes, too, Jack. Have a good day!”
He chuckled, turning to go up the few steps to the wide porch in front of the jailhouse. The inside of the building was even hotter than the outside. He didn’t stay in there longer than to pick up the speech he’d written from on top of his desk. It wasn’t really a speech, just a few notes about things he wanted to address to the community.
Jack hurried across the road to the other side where the town hall was bustling with people. Some families had brought their small children, but he saw no babies and was pleased by that. While he loved babies, they tended to interrupt and make noises that were quite a distraction when business was being discussed. He preferred people left their small babies at home and let one parent come alone to the meeting.
He scanned everyone as he walked down the middle aisle between the rows of chairs. He nodded several times to greet people he knew well and received a nod in return.
His eyes on Marshal Hutchins, who was seated in a chair behind the podium, he stepped up on the stage. Hutchins had ended up deciding Texas was too far from the people he’d grown to care about. Jack closed the short distance between himself and the marshal. They shook hands.
“Good to see you, Sheriff,” the marshal said quietly.
“And you as well, Marshal.”
Jack turned to the people who had gathered, knocking his knuckles on the podium to get their attention.
“If everyone could be quiet now, we can start the meeting.”
The door opened, spraying the interior with sunlight that was quickly blocked by two people coming in. It was Sam and the woman he was rumored to be courting, the schoolteacher. Jack grinned at them as they found their seats.
He spoke about the plans for the new school, pointing out that the schoolteacher was in the audience. Sam took the opportunity to announce that he and Miss Lancaster would be getting married in two months. Everyone cheered and congratulated Sam and Emily.
He had more news, as well. His cattle business had expanded. He was taking on an additional 200 head of cattle.
The meeting was a success as usual. The townsfolk liked Jack and having him as the duly-elected sheriff more than Jack had thought they would. His victory had been sweeping, and almost immediately, people had started moving to Copper Valley, smiles on their faces and hope in their hearts.
Jack’s past gave him a unique insight into maintaining law and order. He knew how criminals moved and thought. He was told his redemption story constantly inspired others seeking second chances to come to Copper Valley to find their happiness.
When Jack returned home late that evening, Sarah had supper on the table for him. She had fed the children and was sitting with them in the parlor, knitting while Emma played with wooden horses and Frankie held himself up standing on the short table in front of the couch where his mother sat.
Jack stopped in the doorway, looking in at his family, specifically Frankie.
“He’s been pulling himself up like that a lot lately,” he said, drawing Sarah’s attention. She put aside her knitting and got up to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“Yes, he has.”
“Do you think he’ll be walking soon?” he asked excited at the prospect.
“I think he will. He’s learning as fast as Emma.”
Hearing her name, the little girl looked up from her horses, whom she had been concentrating on. Her face lit up and she jumped to her feet.
“Papa!” She ran over to him, throwing her arms around one of his legs and squeezing him. He patted her soft dark hair.
“Hello, my sweet princess,” he greeted her. She kept her arms wrapped around him, looking up.
“Papa, I thought you were never coming home. You were gone for so long!”
Jack laughed. Five hours wasn’t a long time. He patted her on the cheek, since she was looking up at him. “I missed you, too, sweet girl. But I’m home now. You want to show me how you’ve learned your letters?”
Emily loved to show off for her father. She was smart as a tack, which pleased both Jack and Sarah.
He sat with her on his lap, holding a large book with letters as big as Emma’s hand.
The past may have shaped him, but it no longer defined him. Jackson Blackjack McCready was gone forever, replaced by Jack Whitmore, beloved husband, father, and guardian of Cooper Valley’s hard-won peace.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Blood and Honor in the Wild West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Greetings, readers. I hope my latest western story and extended epilogue gave you an adventure worth remembering. I’d be honored if you shared your thoughts below.
I
Loved this book. It was wonderful how you brought the reader along to see the way jacks memory came back. It was good to see how he had changed from what he had once been.
The wonderful original story, which I thoughly enjoyed, was followed by an extraordinary sequel brought about by the Marshall’s joint decision.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful and generous comment. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story and especially the extended epilogue—spending a little extra time with the characters after all they’ve endured is something I love as a reader, too. It means a great deal to know you’ve discovered my work and are enjoying it, and I’m honored that this was your second book. Thank you for reading, and I hope the next one brings you just as much enjoyment.
I enjoyed the action and suspense of this story.
Character development was great.
I am so glad I ,followed, you when I got this kindle.
Very good story from the beginning till the end. Just like all the other books you have written. Just make sure you keep up the great storytelling.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m truly grateful for your continued support and so glad you enjoyed the story from beginning to end. Knowing that you’ve enjoyed my other books as well means a great deal to me. I promise to keep the stories coming—thank you for reading and for being part of the journey.
An enjoyable read. Could barely put it down.
Nice to see a whole town forgive a repentant man. He deserved his new life with a loving family.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful comment. I’m really glad you enjoyed the story and found it hard to put down. The theme of forgiveness and second chances was very important to me, so it means a lot that it resonated with you. Thank you for reading and for sharing your kind words.
Definitely A Great Story Alot Of Western Action Alot Of Shooting it Was Great How Jack Turned His Life Around To Become Sherriff And A Loving Father And Husband Great Ending My Complaments To The Auther Looking Forward To Reading Your Next Story
I’m really glad you enjoyed the action and Jack’s journey. Your support means a lot, and I appreciate you reading. More stories are on the way!
Another great read. I have a hard time putting them down.