Epilogue
Time proved them all wrong; they discovered that it was possible to know further joy, to be wrapped entirely in happiness. At times it seemed like life was trying to make up for the rocky start, a way of apologizing for all the bad that had happened to them.
Years passed, and Jamie was not the only child to be born on Bluestone Ranch. He was joined two years later by a brother, three years after that by another brother, and almost two years after that by twin sisters.
The big house was filling up, almost as full as their hearts.
Once more it was the Fourth of July, and Runa found herself sitting in the shade of an awning that had been erected for the nursing mothers and old timers who wanted to watch the celebrations but remain comfortable. Runa sat on a blanket, two-year-old brunette Theodore sleeping with his head in her lap, three-week-old Sarah and Sigrun snuggled up comfortably in a well-padded low crate beside her. She watched as sandy-haired seven-year-old Jamie and tow-headed five-year-old Joseph raced around with Nathaniel Barton, Daisy Banner (Bruce and Iris’ six-year-old daughter) and other children close to their ages.
Laura Barton sat herself down on the blanket next to her, giving a smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here today. I thought they might try to keep you and the little ladies at home.”
Runa laughed softly. “Oh no. The boys would have been heartbroken if I didn’t come.”
“Which ones? The children, or Steve and Bucky?” Laura asked dryly, causing Runa to laugh.
“All of them.” She confided, “Steve and Bucky offered to bring Jamie and Joey, but they wouldn’t go without Teddy, and Teddy wouldn’t go without me, and I couldn’t leave the girls. So, we all came.”
“And are you going to do any dancing tonight?”
“Of course.” Runa agreed, “That’s like asking if you and Clint are going to do any dancing tonight.”
Laura laughed as Steve and Bucky approached, tin cups of lemonade and slices of watermelon on tin plates carried carefully to the ladies in the shade.
“Afternoon, Laura.” Steve smiled at her as he passed a cup of lemonade to Runa, who let out an appreciative sound of thanks. The arrival of watermelon and lemonade was enough to bring the boys running, both eager for their fair share as Runa nudged Teddy awake so he wouldn’t sleep through the treat.
“Time to feed the heathens.” Runa joked, and Laura laughed.
“Time to feed ours too.” She said, looking around for her children and Clint, who was also in line for watermelon. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“I look forward to it!” Runa called as her family settled in around her.
How strange, she thought to herself with a smile as she watched Jamie and Joey quarrel over who got the next sip of lemonade from their cup. Eight years before, she had arrived in Amaranto Springs hoping to find at least friendship with her husband, maybe even fondness. Now, so many years later, she couldn’t begin to imagine a life without Steve and Bucky, and the love the three of them shared. They had awoken her carefully guarded heart, and she was glad of it, could never begin to repay them for it.
“You look lost in thought, General.” Steve said quietly, a smile on his face. Runa looked to him and smiled.
“Just remembering our first Fourth of July together.” She explained, “Looking back through the years, and how happy we are now, when there were times during that first one when I never thought we would be happy at all.”
“And now here we all are, happy as happy can be.” Bucky grinned.
“Mama, why didn’t think you’d be happy?” Jamie asked, he and Joey staring at her in surprise.
“Well, it’s a long story…”
“We like stories!” They chimed in.
“Then you’ll get to hear it.” Steve promised them, “At least, the parts that are fit for little boys. Now, I made a promise to my Ma when she was very sick that I would find a wife and settle down, have a family…”
Runa listened to Steve tell the beginning of the story, unable to keep from smiling. Their story might have been a complicated one, but it was theirs, and the boys deserved to know some of it, the history of their parents. The history of how a peculiar sort of love had grown between three people, who no longer could see a life without the others in it.
It was a good story for them to know, even though the final chapters were still being written on the hearts and in the memories of those who lived it.