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deaths_headThe plan had been to head for Santa Fe--maybe even Texas somewhere down the line, make a life in Houston where he still knew a couple people from his apprenticeship. After all that had happened, though...Death's hollow promises, facing his crossroads on the graves of his own family--saying goodbye, being struck down by Death and brought back by Courtney's magic...
Something in his power had changed by walking on the other side of the grave, however briefly. Courtney's instruction, Death's instruction, and that taste of what lay beyond...it brought knowledge of death from far beyond the city limits of Silverstone.
It led them to the town just a few miles away, bigger than Silverstone and bustling with life. Their undertaker was doomed to die, there was a post for a schoolteacher--it truly seemed as if the universe was giving their blessing in the aftermath of their elopement.
And, with a heavy dose of caution...Josiah Cole was finally starting to believe his luck was changing.
"Need a hand, young man?"
Josiah was stirred from his thoughts by a passing buggy--Turner, horse rancher about two miles out.
Glancing down at the steps he was in the middle of mending out front of the mortuary, he looked back to Mr. Turner with a shake of his head.
"I'll manage, sir! Little hard work's good for the soul, as my momma used t' say!"
"Amen, son--lovely service you held for Miniver, by the by. He loved those readings you gave the reverend for the burial, I tell you what."
"Happy I could be of service, Mr. Turner."
As the old man spurred his horses into motion again, Josiah had to fight a smile, and gladly lost the battle as he went back to work fixing the step. The mortuary was still kind of a mess, and outfitted for a confirmed, cantankerous old bachelor with no family to speak of, but with a little magic and a lot of elbow grease, the Coles were polishing it up again. There was a good three acres beyond the building, complete with a nice, big stable and a small cottage originally meant for a ranch hand managing the rest of the property.
Cassidy had worked miracles with the rundown little thing, making it a beautifully inviting little home for herself and baby Lily. Meanwhile, the little apartment above the mortuary was just the right size for a newlywed couple, and Courtney had turned it into a real home. Josiah was already drawing up plans for an addition: one to hold the bulk of the mortuary, the embalming room and a place for viewings and services before heading to the cemetery. He'd open up the rest of the house, make more room for a decent forge and workshop to build his caskets, and turn the rest into living areas. Courtney could have a nice, big kitchen, a parlor for real entertaining--and a room for their craft, a space they could share to work their magic in private.
He was also leaving plenty of space to add a nursery at some point. And, if he was a very lucky man, a couple extra bedrooms. Hell, maybe three.
As he finished with the step and stood, wiping a hand across his brow and tucking back some of the hair that had escaped the heavy braid settled against his nape, he tossed his hammer back into his toolbox and started rolling his shirtsleeves back down so he'd be presentable enough when he got inside for a piece of whatever Courtney had been baking that afternoon. He didn't know what she was up to, just that it was sweet, pungent, and making him hungrier the longer he sat there smelling it.
Carrying his tools into the mortuary, he put them away in his workshop area and made his way up to their apartment with a smile as he sought Courtney out.
Maybe four bedrooms. Courtney might just kill him if she knew he was dreaming of that many children...but if that was the only dark cloud looming in his future, he'd take it.
For once, the neighbors weren't whispering about his pact with the Devil--the gossipy old biddies in town were just appalled by the new undertaker getting an armful of his missus in full view of the town...and that was one rumor mill he didn't mind being part of.
Not in the least.
Something in his power had changed by walking on the other side of the grave, however briefly. Courtney's instruction, Death's instruction, and that taste of what lay beyond...it brought knowledge of death from far beyond the city limits of Silverstone.
It led them to the town just a few miles away, bigger than Silverstone and bustling with life. Their undertaker was doomed to die, there was a post for a schoolteacher--it truly seemed as if the universe was giving their blessing in the aftermath of their elopement.
And, with a heavy dose of caution...Josiah Cole was finally starting to believe his luck was changing.
"Need a hand, young man?"
Josiah was stirred from his thoughts by a passing buggy--Turner, horse rancher about two miles out.
Glancing down at the steps he was in the middle of mending out front of the mortuary, he looked back to Mr. Turner with a shake of his head.
"I'll manage, sir! Little hard work's good for the soul, as my momma used t' say!"
"Amen, son--lovely service you held for Miniver, by the by. He loved those readings you gave the reverend for the burial, I tell you what."
"Happy I could be of service, Mr. Turner."
As the old man spurred his horses into motion again, Josiah had to fight a smile, and gladly lost the battle as he went back to work fixing the step. The mortuary was still kind of a mess, and outfitted for a confirmed, cantankerous old bachelor with no family to speak of, but with a little magic and a lot of elbow grease, the Coles were polishing it up again. There was a good three acres beyond the building, complete with a nice, big stable and a small cottage originally meant for a ranch hand managing the rest of the property.
Cassidy had worked miracles with the rundown little thing, making it a beautifully inviting little home for herself and baby Lily. Meanwhile, the little apartment above the mortuary was just the right size for a newlywed couple, and Courtney had turned it into a real home. Josiah was already drawing up plans for an addition: one to hold the bulk of the mortuary, the embalming room and a place for viewings and services before heading to the cemetery. He'd open up the rest of the house, make more room for a decent forge and workshop to build his caskets, and turn the rest into living areas. Courtney could have a nice, big kitchen, a parlor for real entertaining--and a room for their craft, a space they could share to work their magic in private.
He was also leaving plenty of space to add a nursery at some point. And, if he was a very lucky man, a couple extra bedrooms. Hell, maybe three.
As he finished with the step and stood, wiping a hand across his brow and tucking back some of the hair that had escaped the heavy braid settled against his nape, he tossed his hammer back into his toolbox and started rolling his shirtsleeves back down so he'd be presentable enough when he got inside for a piece of whatever Courtney had been baking that afternoon. He didn't know what she was up to, just that it was sweet, pungent, and making him hungrier the longer he sat there smelling it.
Carrying his tools into the mortuary, he put them away in his workshop area and made his way up to their apartment with a smile as he sought Courtney out.
Maybe four bedrooms. Courtney might just kill him if she knew he was dreaming of that many children...but if that was the only dark cloud looming in his future, he'd take it.
For once, the neighbors weren't whispering about his pact with the Devil--the gossipy old biddies in town were just appalled by the new undertaker getting an armful of his missus in full view of the town...and that was one rumor mill he didn't mind being part of.
Not in the least.
