On their way in, Megan remembered the lunch basket. She turned to Ted and suggested he run it over to the Evans as a thank you—she suspected the boys would enjoy the treat and Mrs. Evans might enjoy the break from cooking.
When she finally got back to their room, Megan drafted a wire to be sent to Sra. Suarez to let her know they’d be away another day:
El padre de Camellia fue encontrado muerto y quedaremos un día más para el funeral. (Camellia’s father was found dead and we are remaining another day for the funeral.)
She made a mental note to write to Toby again, so he could tell his mother how everything had turned out. Hmmm, she’d also need to write Tom’s mother. Megan hated to pry but she would need to read Mrs. McNeel’s letters in order to know how best to explain that while she’d lost a son, she’d gained a granddaughter. Perhaps invite her out for a visit.
But right now her head hurt. So she took advantage of the hotel’s running water and took a bath.
EPILOGUE
The stage to Benson had been every bit as uncomfortable as the ride to Tombstone three days earlier. Rachel Evans’ willow bark decoction had provided relief from the headache and Rachel had slipped her an extra paper “just in case, dear. You took a nasty blow to the head and may have some side-effects for a number of days. Try to avoid doing anything strenuous.”
They’d been met by Agent Brandt who’d been chagrined to learn his wire had arrived too late, but he was once more impressed by Megan’s ability to summarize succinctly the events of the past few days and their aftermath—and by her amazing sang-froid in the face of danger. The two men had sat on the patio after dinner enjoying cigars and brandy in happy agreement that Megan was an amazing woman and Ted was about the luckiest man on God’s green earth . . . “of course, I haven’t seen a lot of green around here,” commented Ned.
“Just wait until the rainy season,” replied Ted. “Rather like Megan, quiet and then spectacular.”
Ned had spent the night but was gone early the next morning to catch the stagecoach to Tombstone. Ted had risen early to see him off, but Megan had said her goodbyes the night before, after securing a promise he would visit again on his return trip.
“But I will not be staying since I expect to be escorting Pete back for trial.
“I’ll certainly rest easier knowing he’s far, far away!”
Ted had slipped back into bed once Ned departed and was now joining Megan for a late breakfast. She had slept well and now looked as fresh and dewy as at their first breakfast together. The bruise was almost entirely gone and the headache no more than a bad memory. She must get one of those aloe plants and instructions on its use, as well as Rachel’s receipt for the decoction she’d used for the headache!
She closed her eyes in pleasure as she sipped her chocolate and gave a contented sigh, then opened them and smiled brilliantly at her husband.
“You, my dear, are a paradox,” Ted exclaimed. “You adhere to all of the virtues and circumscribed behaviors that I was convinced were the necessary requirements of the paragon whom I would want for a wife. And at the same time you are full of spunk, life, vigor, and an awareness of all about you; a willingness to help others in need; and a joy which you share with me every time you touch my hand.
“You are, in fact, not the stuffy little society maiden I thought I wanted and had idealized, when I thought myself condemned to a solitary life in the wilds of the west. Instead you are the real flesh-and-blood woman whom I find I crave above all others. You observe the world with awe and give rightful due to the Creator who clearly, in His Infinite Wisdom, brought you to me.
“I thank the Lord every day for your brother’s inspiration, encouraging me to write to you. It is the best thing I have ever done in my life, and you are the best thing in my life.”
Megan sat there stunned. She had known her husband had feelings for her but was overwhelmed by his declaration.
“You must know,” she replied, “that prior to leaving Philadelphia I had no idea I was even capable of a portion of the things that I have accomplished since I left. All of the stumbling blocks I’ve encountered have turned into opportunities to get to know myself and the world around me, and to become a much better person than I ever was while attending soirees and teas and doing a bit of stitching.
“I had no idea life could be such an adventure, and you have proven to be every bit the poet your letters proclaimed, but, even more, a true hero. Our friends back home would scarcely recognize us now.”
She laughed and put out her hands to him. “Oh, Ted, beloved husband, thank you for being you.”
Sliding from his chair, he gently grasped her hands in his own, kissing each of them in turn and then drew her up, into his embrace. He dropped a kiss onto the top of her head and then, when she raised it, onto her lips.
“I think we have many adventures in front of us, you and I,” he whispered to her, “and I am
