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The morning sun had barely cleared the eastern hills as Jake Harmon finished speaking with the ranch hands in the cookhouse. "Fence line along the north pasture needs checking," Jake said, "Colt, take Hank with you. Eli, you help Tiny with the wagon repairs and shoein’. Jake nodded once. "You all know what needs doin’." The ranch hands dispersed all talking together. Jake rarely had to stand over anyone. The men knew their jobs, and he trusted them to do them.
After the last hand headed toward the barn, Mary stepped into the cookhouse, "You look mighty official this morning." Jake smiled, "Only because everybody was behaving." Mary laughed softly, "I've got a message from Mr. Caldwell." Jake immediately became attentive, "Oh?" "He wants us to saddle Freedom and Spirit, pack a lunch, and ride out for the day." Jake blinked, "For the day?" Mary nodded, "He says we're to be back in time for me to fix supper for the three of us." Jake grinned, "That sounds suspiciously like a vacation." "That's exactly what I thought," she blushed. "What brought this on?" Mary hesitated. Then, still blushing, she said, "He said we've been so busy helping everybody else that we haven't had time to talk about ourselves." Jake's smile faded into curiosity. Mary continued, "He said after our engagement, and after you learned he was my father, there are probably things you ought to know." Jake put on his hat, "I'd like that."
By midmorning, Freedom and Spirit carried them westward across rolling grasslands. The sky stretched blue from horizon to horizon. For a while they rode in comfortable silence. Finally, Jake glanced toward her, "You know quite a bit about me already." Mary smiled, "Dad talks." Jake chuckled, "That explains it." Let me see,” Mary continued, "You left Pennsylvania when you were sixteen." Jake nodded, "I did." "You didn't leave to fight." "No." "You left to help the wounded, on both sides,” she said softly. Jake looked down briefly, "That part surprises most people." "It doesn't surprise me." Jake studied her, "No?" Mary shook her head, "Not after watching you."
Jake rubbed Freedom’s head, "The war had enough men carrying rifles. I figured somebody ought to carry bandages." Mary smiled, "And that's where you met Colt." Jake nodded, "Every few months we'd end up in the same battlefield helping the injured. Eventually we just started working together whenever we crossed paths." Mary replied, half seriously, "He told me once that you saved more lives than some generals." Jake laughed, "Colt exaggerates."
They rode a little farther. Then Mary grew quiet. Jake sensed she was gathering courage, "What is it?" She took a slow breath, "The story of my father." Jake waited. Mary looked across the prairie, "Mr. Caldwell wasn't born Old Man Caldwell." Jake grinned, "That much I've figured out." She laughed, "His given name is Peter." Jake raised an eyebrow, "I did not know that." "Most folks don't. Now, he’s just Old Man Caldwell to them."
She continued, "He had a twin brother named Andrew." The horses walked steadily as she spoke. "They grew up in Georgia. As boys they both fell in love with the prettiest girl in town." Jake smiled, "Let me guess. Her name was Clara. She was near’ as pretty as you! I’ve seen her picture on the mantel.” Smiling at his attempt at flattery, she teased, "Yes. But she picked the wrong brother.” “What? That don’t make sense!” Laughing again, "Well, if you asked dad, she'd have picked him, but she wanted to live in a town and not on a farm." “She chose Andrew," Mary's smile softened, "They married young." Surprised, Jake asked, "Why Andrew?" Mary smiled, “Well, I think mom knew that Andrew wanted to be a minister, and she wanted to play the piano in church." Jake nodded, "And Peter?" "Well, Peter always wanted to run the family farm, a small family farm."
For a few moments neither spoke. Then Mary's voice grew quieter. "When the war came, I was ten years old. My dad became an army chaplain." Jake's expression changed, and he added, "And Peter became a soldier. I know Caldwell and Colt both rode with Longstreet." She nodded. For Jake, the pieces were beginning to fit together. He continued, "Both brothers went together and joined the army." Mary said quietly, "Yes."
She looked toward the horizon. “My dad spent his time helping wounded men and praying with dying soldiers." Jake swallowed. The work sounded familiar. Very familiar. "At Antietam," Mary continued, "he was helping injured soldiers during heavy cannon fire." Jake lowered his eyes. He already knew how the story ended. "A shell exploded nearby," Mary's voice trembled slightly, "He was mortally wounded." Jake simply listened. "When Peter finally found him before he died," she paused, "my father's last words were simple." Jake waited. "He told his brother, ‘Take care of Clara and Mary.’”
The wind moved gently through the prairie grass. Jake removed his hat. For several moments neither spoke. Finally, Mary continued, "When the war ended, Peter came home." Her eyes glistened. "He had lost his only brother." Jake nodded, "He had also made a promise." "And he intended to keep it," she smiled faintly, "Mother and I stayed in our home in town. Peter wouldn't hear of us wanting for anything. He helped with repairs, made sure there was food, looked after the farm accounts their father had left behind after he died, and checked on us almost every day." Jake could picture it, "That sounds like him." "Yes. It does."
She looked out across the prairie, "Some folks assumed he would marry my mother right away because of his promise." "But he didn't, or did he," he asked. Mary shook her head, "No. Nearly two years passed." Jake looked surprised, "Two years?" "He wanted us cared for because he loved his brother. But he wasn't trying to replace him," Mary smiled softly, "Over time my mother and dad grew closer." Jake nodded slowly, "They fell in love." "Yes," a warmth entered her voice, "When they married, it wasn't out of obligation. It was because they truly loved each other." Jake smiled, "I imagine your father would have been pleased." Mary's eyes glistened, "I've always believed he would."
By noon they stopped beneath a large oak tree and unpacked their lunch. For a while they ate quietly. Then Jake spoke, "You know something?" "What?" "I always wondered why Mr. Caldwell treated everybody like family." Mary smiled, "I think I know why. He knows what it feels like to lose a family." Jake nodded, "And he knows what it means to get one and keep it." Mary's eyes filled slightly. The thought lingered between them.
Finally Jake reached across the blanket and gently took her hand, "Thank you for telling me." She squeezed his fingers, "Part of the reason I'm telling you this today is because of Pastor Kendall's sermon last Sunday." Jake nodded, "The one about caring for others?" "Yes. He spoke about how God often works through ordinary acts of faithfulness. After church, dad said perhaps it was time you knew the whole story, so we arranged today," her face turning slightly red.
Jake smiled. "I'm glad he thought so." Mary looked out across the prairie, "The sermon also reminded me that in the Bible Jesus’ mother told the servants at the wedding in Cana to do whatever Jesus said. And at the cross Jesus made sure His mother would be cared for after He was gone." Jake slowly smiled. The connection became clear, "Just like your father and his brother." Mary nodded.
For a long moment neither spoke. Then Jake looked toward the ranch in the distance. "You know, I came to this ranch looking for work." Mary smiled. "And?" Jake squeezed her hand again, "Turns out I found you… and a family." Mary leaned her head briefly against his shoulder. Across the prairie, Freedom and Spirit grazed peacefully while two people who planned to spend the rest of their lives together finally had time to learn where they had both come from.
When the afternoon shadows began stretching across the grasslands, they saddled Freedom and Spirit and started back toward the ranch. The ranch house appeared far off in the distance. Jake rode slowly and quietly for several minutes, not wanting the afternoon to ever end. Then he smiled, "You know something?" "What?" "I think we've been so busy helping everybody else that we've barely had time to learn more about each other." Mary laughed, "That’s true." Jake glanced toward her, "Let's do this again." She smiled, "Do what again?" "This," he gestured toward the open prairie, "The riding. The talking." Mary's smile widened, "I'd like that." Jake nodded, "Next time, tell me about when you and your dad came West." Mary laughed softly, "That might take all day." Jake grinned, "Good thing Freedom and Spirit know how to carry our lunch." Together they rode on toward home, where Old Man Caldwell would be waiting for them both.