Elias looked at the tiny bundle in Nora's arms with wonder and terror. She's so small. She'll grow. Here. Nora carefully transferred the baby to Elias's arms, showing him how to support her head.
Say hello to your pa, little one. The baby yawned, unconcerned with the momentous occasion, and made a small mewling sound. Elias stared down at her, and tears began sliding down his weathered face. She's really here. Really alive.
Really ours. Really ours, Nora confirmed. What should we name her? They'd discussed names, but never settled on one, waiting to see what felt right once the baby arrived. Now, holding his daughter, Elias said quietly, "Hope. " I want to name her Hope.
Hope, Nora repeated, testing it. Hope Ward. It's perfect. Hope Sarah Ward, Elias added. For what she represents and what came before.
If that's all right with you. It's more than all right. It's beautiful. Tommy was allowed in next, creeping forward cautiously to peer at his new sister. She's really small, he observed, and kind of red.
She'll get bigger and less red, Elias assured him. But she's your sister, Tommy. That means you have to help protect her and teach her things. Think you can do that? Tommy straightened, taking the responsibility seriously.
I can do that. I'll be the best big brother ever. I know you will, son. The first weeks with Hope were exhausting and wonderful in equal measure. She woke every few hours to nurse, cried with impressive volume, and required constant attention.
But she was also perfect. The soft weight of her in Nora's arms, the milky smell of her breath, the way she'd grasp Nora's finger with her tiny hand and hold on with surprising strength. Elias was besotted. When Nora was too exhausted to function, he'd walk the floors with Hope, murmuring to her about the ranch, about horses and cattle, about the prairie stars. Tommy helped in his 4-year-old way, fetching diapers and singing to his sister when she fussed.
They were, Nora thought during one particularly sleepless night, a real family in every sense. Messy and complicated and bound together by love that had grown from the most unlikely circumstances. Winter came again, their second on the ranch, but this time they were prepared. Better shelters for the cattle, more supplies laid in, systems in place. The storm that hit in January was fierce, but they weathered it with minimal losses.
Spring brought Hope's first birthday, a small celebration with cake and presents, and Tommy insisting his sister needed a wooden horse like his, even though she was far too young to play with it yet. Elias carved one anyway, setting it aside for when she was older. Summer saw Tommy turn five and start learning to read from books Dorothy sent. He was bright and curious, soaking up knowledge like prairie soil soaking up rain. Elias taught him about the ranch, showing him how to care for animals, how to read weather signs, how to be responsible.
He'll make a good rancher someday, Elias told Nora one evening while they watched Tommy carefully brush one of the gentler horses. If that's what he wants. And if it's not then he'll be good at whatever he chooses. We'll make sure he has options, education, opportunities. He won't be limited by circumstance like we were.