NOVEMBER 7, 1861

Steven shook his head as he headed out to talk to his oldest son. “Mickey I know this is hard on you with Buck and Caly gone.”

Michael nodded as he looked up after securing the hitch to the wagon. “Can't they come back early? I can't handle all them like she does.”

Steven could see the hurt in his son’s face. “Now you know she'll be back when they’re ready to come home. Caly has a whole new family to meet in the village.” He sat on a nearby hay bail. “Come here and sit a minute.”

Michael sat next to him. “Pa, why did she have to get married and leave us?”

Steven thought about things a minute. “Well first she'll be back. Their going to live with us till their house is done.” He could see the question in his son’s eyes. “Let me finish. She'll take care of them and be there for you just like always. Now you have an older brother to turn to.” He paused to think on how to put the next part. “You remember when She was taken a while back? And Buck was the only one that she would let get close to her?”

Michael nodded. “Yes, you said they only beat her up.”

“They also hurt her in a way that would have destroyed her if Buck hadn't been there for her. Thanks to Buck her nightmares have all but stopped. The love they feel for each other got them through that. They want to spend their lives together and have a family. Just like your mother and I did.” Steven said as he remembered his late wife.

Michael looked out over the yard thinking. “So she’s not really leaving us?”

The older Johnson nodded. “That's right. Their house is in the upper pasture that Caly loves so much.” He smiled when he saw Michael smile, “Good now lets go round up those kids and get this meeting over with.” He stood and waited for his son.

Michael stood and followed his father into the house. “Pa what about Thanksgiving?”

Steven shrugged. “Not sure yet. I think the town might be doing something. I'll check into it.”

They headed for the stairs to check on the other kids.