Josephine was born late. Sabrina had been mad with the desire to get the baby out in the last week of her pregnancy. She’d been willing to try any home remedy, from spicy food to long walks. Anything to end the prolonged stay her baby seemed so intent on.

Gus had been a wonder. Not a day had gone by when he didn’t tell her how beautiful she was, no matter how she felt about her much changed body. He rubbed her swollen feet and took on much more of the chores around the house.

Sabrina wondered how much advice he’d gotten from Cole. Diana gave birth during the middle of Sabrina’s pregnancy and had plenty of advice for her. Finally, Sabrina had gone into labor. She’d been the panicked one, scared of what was going to happen. Gus had been a calm rock, allowing her to cry and vent.

“I don’t want to do this,” she’d told him once he returned to the cabin with Diana and Dr. Barnes. Cole was outside cradling his son.

“I don’t think we have a choice, darling.” He’d placed a kiss on her forehead. “You can do this. You’re the strongest person I know.”

True to form, Josephine took hours to come. But she’d come into the world with a healthy cry and a shock of black hair, just like Sabrina’s. Sabrina was exhausted, and she knew Gus must have been too, but he never left her side.

“She is beautiful. Just like her mother,” he said, cradling little Josephine. They’d decided on naming the baby after Sabrina’s father. If the baby had been a boy, he would have been Joseph, but since she was a girl, Josephine.

If anyone in town noticed that Josephine was born earlier than what made sense considering how long she and Gus had been married, no one mentioned it. There were no questions about the girl’s parentage or any mention of possible impropriety between Sabrina and Gus.

The town simply loved the babe. She and Diana got into the habit of taking walks into town with their little ones. To say that the townsfolk doted on the children was an understatement. They were well-loved.

Gus stepped into the role of a father with more enthusiasm than Sabrina could have hoped for. He changed nappies and snuggled Josephine; Sabrina knew that she’d been falling in love with Gus by the time he proposed. If there was any question by the time Josephine was born, the way he loved and protected the baby was enough to put that question to rest.

She was hopelessly, relentlessly in love with her husband. And if Gus’ unceasing affection was anything to go by, the feeling was mutual.

Three years later, Josephine was the ruler of the Quincy Home Ranch. She came out in the mornings with Sabrina, reaching her hand into the cracked corn and scraps to scatter it for the chickens. The coop had grown into ten hens. She stomped through the stables and placed kisses on Stagecoach’s nose every day, and he happily bent toward her to nuzzle.

Josephine’s favorite was the young mare, Sweetpea. A wedding gift from the Haggertys. Sweetpea was growing alongside Josephine. In another year or two, they would be able to ride together. Josephine seemed to want to ride already. She loved going out on Stagecoach with Gus.

“Mama, the sheep?” Josephine asked, looking up at her.

“No, sweetheart. Jacob is here today, and he’s going to tend to the sheep.”

“Where’s Jacob?” Josephine asked. Sabrina looked around; the young man was never late. He had to be here somewhere. She finally caught sight of him by the brook, taking a drink.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Sabrina said. Josephine happily trotted behind her. They reached the brook as Jacob finished his drink. “Good morning, Jacob.”

“Oh, good morning Mrs. Quincy,” he greeted before turning to Josephine and giving her an exaggerated bow. “Good morning, Princess,” he said. Josephine dissolved into a fit of giggles, as she often did with Jacob.

He was the son of one of the ranch hands at Haggerty. A fine young man, 18 years old, and a hard worker. Jacob had promise and potential. Sabrina knew that Gus hoped to take the young man under his wing and help him the way he’d been helped at Haggerty ranch.

“Good morning, Jacob. Have you seen Gus?” Sabrina asked. She was surprised not to see her husband. It was sheep shearing day, and he usually started early to try and get as many sheep shorn as possible. The raw wool would go to the shops in town and get shipped out to the textile factories as well. Gus also kept a bit aside to be made into yarn. The sewing circle had expanded into a knitting circle as well, and Gus was their primary provider of materials. It made him an even more popular man around town as if that was something he needed.

“Yes, he had to head into town. We were working on Hercules when my shears broke, so he is heading to the general store to get another pair.”

That was a bit of bad luck. Sabrina wasn’t surprised that the shears had given out on Hercules. He was a monster of a sheep. Truly the alpha of the herd, if alpha sheep were even something that existed. This was life on a ranch, Sabrina had learned. Work didn’t ever end, and things went wrong, throwing off schedules.

“I’m planning to check the posts on the outskirts of the land. Normally I do that toward the end of the day, but I may as well get it done while Gus is out.”

Sabrina smiled. He was shaping up to be a great ranch hand. She remembered Gus telling her that checking the fencing was one of the things that he’d started doing at Haggerty to stop animals from wandering off. It was better to spend the time checking than chasing after livestock who’d gotten out.

That was especially true with sheep. Checking the fencing for downed posts was all well and good for cattle. With sheep, one had to check to make sure a sheep hadn’t gotten themselves tangled up in the fencing. There was truly never a dull moment at Quincy Home Ranch.

“See you at lunch, your highness,” Jacob said to Josephine. Josephine did her best imitation of a curtsey in return. With her little blue dress and small stature, one couldn’t help but be delighted.

“It’s chili day,” Sabrina mentioned to Jacob. The boy worked hard, and in turn, he could really eat. His face lit up.

“Cornbread?” he asked excitedly.

“Of course,” Sabrina confirmed. Jacob gave a little jump for joy before heading over to the gateway. He could see all the posts near the gate from where he stood, but he still started at the beginning of one side of the gate and walked the border of the land until he reached the other side of the gate—no shortcuts.

“Where’s Daddy?” Josephine asked. She was used to seeing Jacob and Gus together.

“He went into town,” Sabrina said. Josephine shot her a mischievous smile. Sabrina already knew what the girl was thinking. If Daddy had gone to town, that meant she was getting a treat when he returned. No matter how many times Sabrina told him he had to stop doing it, he wouldn’t.

They were going to have a spoiled rotten little child. She’d recently convinced him that if he was going to keep it up, he should at least be bringing her storybooks or little dolls and not sweets. That had improved the situation, in Sabrina’s opinion. Now when Gus returned, Josephine would either have a new book to have read to her before bedtime or a doll to play with and occupy her. The sweets only served to make Sabrina have a difficult day wrangling their rambunctious daughter.

It was easier before she’d become pregnant again. But now, she was five months into her second pregnancy and moving a bit more slowly. Their timing was just so that Josephine hit the age where she wanted to run, not walk, everywhere. Sabrina was still managing, but soon Gus would have to pick up some of the slack when it came to chasing after her.

“Okay, little lady. Time for you to nap.”

“No! Daddy!” Gus had gotten her into the indulgent habit of being put down for her nap by him. He always took the time from his day to tuck her into her bed in what used to be Sabrina’s room and place a kiss on her forehead.

“I know, sweetheart, but Daddy isn’t home.”

“No, Mama. Daddy!” Josephine repeated, pointing at the gate. Sabrina turned and saw Gus riding toward them. Sabrina smiled. Like everything about her husband, his timing was impeccable. He swung down from Stagecoach and rushed to Josephine, scooping her up and tossing her into the air. She squealed in delight as she soared up. There was no fear. She knew her daddy was going to catch her.

Gus was good that way. Reliable. He made the people around him feel safe and valued. The years spent together had done nothing to temper that quality. It was simply who he was. “If I’m not mistaken, I believe it’s nap time,” Gus informed Josephine. Josephine gave a big shake of her head. “No?” Gus asked.

“No!”

“What do you think, Mama?” Gus turned, and Sabrina loved to see that huge smile on his face. There was nothing like the love between the two of them. She placed a hand on her swollen belly. Her children were so lucky. There was never a moment that Gus wasn’t completely Josephine’s father.

If she were married to a different man, she might have worried that he would dote on their second child more since it was his own. She had no such fear with Gus. He had seemingly endless room in his heart for their family.

He carried Josephine in his arms as they led Stagecoach to the stable together. Once Stage was comfortable and fed his requisite apple, they made their way to Josephine’s bedroom. Gus produced a storybook from town, and they all settled in to listen.

Josephine was getting older, and she no longer fell asleep before the story was finished. They tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and closed the door to let her rest. Gus wrapped his arms around Sabrina once they were alone. There was still more work to be done, and he was behind on the shearing due to the mishap. But he always made the time to make sure she felt loved and appreciated.

“Hercules made those shears look like they were made for crafting. We may have to start cutting his wool more often. It’ll be stressful, but he won’t get so uncomfortable.”

“I think that’s smart,” Sabrina said, pressing a kiss to Gus’ lips. “Are Diana and Cole still coming over for dinner tonight?”

“They said they wouldn’t miss it,” Gus replied. Sabrina could only smile. She’d found the safe and comfortable home she’d been searching for.

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