Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER. . .
Lina paused outside the physician’s office in Philadelphia. Light snowflakes drifted down, and she tightened her coat around herself.
“Matthew seemed enthusiastic about the treatment,” Hawk said as he shut the door securely behind them.
Lina nodded. She was too. The doctor had said that potassium bromide was showing great promise in treating convulsions of the sort that Matthew had. “Thank you for agreeing to stay here for a few days,” she said, resting her head on Hawk’s shoulder. “I couldn’t imagine leaving him alone in this city until we know how he’ll react to the medication.”
He wrapped an arm around her. “I couldn’t either. Now let’s get back to the hotel before we freeze.”
They made their way down the steps and onto the sidewalk. This was a busy part of town, and no one seemed to mind the snow. It was quite beautiful, Lina decided. It gave the city a clean look, as if nothing could possibly mar it.
“I forgot to tell you that I had a letter from the buyers of your father’s property,” Hawk said, tucking Lina’s arm safely under his.
“Oh?”
“Garland forwarded it here and the man at the front desk had it when I went downstairs this morning. He included a note saying that Frankie was doing well staying with him.”
Lina smiled at that news. Frankie was what they’d named the dog they’d brought back down from the Pass. He’d settled in on their hearth and hadn’t left since—until he’d needed to stay with Deputy Garland while Lina and Hawk were gone to Philadelphia.
“Anyhow, that couple that bought the land said they’ve purchased some cattle from a neighbor who was selling out to go to California and they are optimistic for the spring.”
Lina grinned. “I’m glad you kept that key.”
Back in Perseverance, Hawk had shown her the items Papa had on him when he’d died. His guns had been sold, but Hawk had kept a small bag with an even smaller key inside, along with a bent and creased prayerbook with a leather cover and a photograph of Lina’s mother—identical to the one she’d kept in Sweetwater. They were behind the bags Lina had searched in the wardrobe, shoved into the corner at the very bottom where Lina hadn’t seen them.
Lina had cherished the photo and the prayerbook, but the key had stumped them both. Hawk consulted with the smithy, who said it looked like a bank key to him. With that information, they’d gone to San Luis, the nearest town with a bank and made inquiries. The key did indeed come from the bank, and it went to a lockbox taken out in the name of one Joseph Groves.
Lina hadn’t wanted to open it at first. She was certain it was the money, and the thought of using what felt like blood money to her had grown more and more despicable by the day. But Hawk persuaded her otherwise, and Lina finally agreed to open the box. Simply looking at the money wouldn’t convince her to spend it. She’d sooner return it to the companies he’d robbed, or donate it to some charity.
But there wasn’t a single bill or coin in the lockbox. Instead, they found the deed to a piece of land that bordered the New Mexico Territory—and a letter to Lina and Matthew.
Seeing her father’s handwriting again had taken Lina’s breath away and made tears spring to her eyes. She’d passed the letter to Hawk and asked him to read it aloud while she wrapped her arms around herself. In it, Papa explained that while he’d entered the outlaw life with the best of intentions, he’d come to realize he couldn’t justify his actions any longer—even to help his children. Fearing he wouldn’t survive much longer, he’d taken everything he’d saved up and given it away. The only thing that remained was the deed to a property he’d won fair and square in a poker game. But even that felt like too much to keep. He tried to return the deed to the man he’d won it from, but the fellow was dead and had no living kin. And so, this deed now belonged to Lina and Matthew, his children, to do with it as they saw fit. He hoped it might be enough to sell to help Matthew and provide them with enough funds with which to live.
Lina had wasted no time. With Hawk’s help, they sold the property almost immediately, and now, as a result, Matthew might be able to live a better life.
She let her hand fall to grasp Hawk’s. His grip was strong, even through both pairs of winter gloves. Snowflakes fell and melted onto his hat and the dark hair that curled beneath it. He watched her as if he could never get enough of simply seeing her. Despite the cold outside, Lina went warm. She would never tire of looking at him either, of listening to him or discovering new things about him.
“I’m happy to see Matthew settled here for a time,” she said, “But I cannot wait to return home.”
“And leave all of this . . . snow . . . behind?” Hawk gave the snowflakes a frown, and Lina laughed. Having grown up in Texas, her husband had never become one who cared for cold winters.
“It is likely snowing at home too,” Lina said, squeezing his hand with hers.
