soon.”
Arthurs face grew very dark. He knew that Steven and Michael would both go, to fight for what they believed in. “Has Michael been around?” He spoke at last. “Steven and I were supposed to meet him here.”
O’Leary’s face was leathery and bore quite a few wrinkles for a man in his fifties, and his white shirt was smudged and well-worn. He was leaning on a freshly cut board, as he glanced at the town around him. “No,” O’Leary replied. “I haven’t seen him. Most likely caught word of it all before he got here.”
“I expect you’re right,” he agreed, voice morose. ”I think I’ll have a look around for him.” Arthur had no words for what he was feeling at that moment. He couldn’t bear to think about it. All he knew just now was that he had to talk with Steven, and to find his son-in-law.
He swiped his fingers across his dark beard, as his eyes reflected his fears. “I’m going to look around for Michael. I’ll talk to you later, O’Leary.” He turned and without another glance at the man, made his way slowly back to the buggy. Oh, how could he tell this news to his son?
When he had returned and took his seat once more, Steven noticed how strange and quiet his father was. He didn’t know what to say to him. His expression was so glum. But when he was unable to stand the silence any longer, he questioned, “Pa, did you find Michael? What were you and O’Leary talking about? It seemed to be a serious discussion.”
Unsure as to how to answer this question, he said quietly, “I’m afraid Michael might want to postpone building that house for a while.”
Steven was confused. “Why would he want to do that?” He asked questioningly. “He’s not even here. Shouldn’t we wait for him?”
“Son, it seems Arkansas has joined the Confederacy, and we’ll be into this battle soon. We need to find Michael, and see what he has to say about all this.”
Steven felt sick. All of his hopes and dreams were shattering right before his eyes. He knew he would have to go into battle, and he may never get to see Miranda again, once he left. It wasn’t fair. All he wanted at this moment was to see her, and hold her in his arms, but he couldn’t, not yet. He had to gather his emotions first.
Neither spoke another word. Arthur picked up the buggy whip, flicked it lightly across the horse’s backs, and urged them on.
They found Michael in the General Mercantile talking with Bud Spencer, a neighbor of theirs. As they walked up to them, Steven could hear their conversation. “What about you, Michael?” Bud questioned. “Will you go and leave Samantha and that new baby of yours?”
Steven could see the agony on Michael’s face, but he responded, “I don’t see as if I have any choice in the matter. We have to protect our own.”
Arthur cut in, “I see you’ve already heard. I think before any decisions are made we should all go home and talk about this with our loved ones.” He gave Bud a pat on the back and only said, “May God bless our families and keep our young men safe.”
Each left for their specific homes that morning with very heavy hearts.
***
The three men had returned home, and reported the news to Amelia and Samantha. The women took the news very hard, but it was decided that indeed both Steven and Michael would both be expected to go.
The news was spreading all over Arkansas. It seemed everywhere young men were preparing to leave their homes and loved ones, and some even as young as thirteen. In addition to Steven and Michael, Alec and Ben were also going. Alec really didn’t care about himself, but he encouraged Ben to have a talk with Cassandra, and tell her how he felt about her, before he
Arthurs face grew very dark. He knew that Steven and Michael would both go, to fight for what they believed in. “Has Michael been around?” He spoke at last. “Steven and I were supposed to meet him here.”
O’Leary’s face was leathery and bore quite a few wrinkles for a man in his fifties, and his white shirt was smudged and well-worn. He was leaning on a freshly cut board, as he glanced at the town around him. “No,” O’Leary replied. “I haven’t seen him. Most likely caught word of it all before he got here.”
“I expect you’re right,” he agreed, voice morose. ”I think I’ll have a look around for him.” Arthur had no words for what he was feeling at that moment. He couldn’t bear to think about it. All he knew just now was that he had to talk with Steven, and to find his son-in-law.
He swiped his fingers across his dark beard, as his eyes reflected his fears. “I’m going to look around for Michael. I’ll talk to you later, O’Leary.” He turned and without another glance at the man, made his way slowly back to the buggy. Oh, how could he tell this news to his son?
When he had returned and took his seat once more, Steven noticed how strange and quiet his father was. He didn’t know what to say to him. His expression was so glum. But when he was unable to stand the silence any longer, he questioned, “Pa, did you find Michael? What were you and O’Leary talking about? It seemed to be a serious discussion.”
Unsure as to how to answer this question, he said quietly, “I’m afraid Michael might want to postpone building that house for a while.”
Steven was confused. “Why would he want to do that?” He asked questioningly. “He’s not even here. Shouldn’t we wait for him?”
“Son, it seems Arkansas has joined the Confederacy, and we’ll be into this battle soon. We need to find Michael, and see what he has to say about all this.”
Steven felt sick. All of his hopes and dreams were shattering right before his eyes. He knew he would have to go into battle, and he may never get to see Miranda again, once he left. It wasn’t fair. All he wanted at this moment was to see her, and hold her in his arms, but he couldn’t, not yet. He had to gather his emotions first.
Neither spoke another word. Arthur picked up the buggy whip, flicked it lightly across the horse’s backs, and urged them on.
They found Michael in the General Mercantile talking with Bud Spencer, a neighbor of theirs. As they walked up to them, Steven could hear their conversation. “What about you, Michael?” Bud questioned. “Will you go and leave Samantha and that new baby of yours?”
Steven could see the agony on Michael’s face, but he responded, “I don’t see as if I have any choice in the matter. We have to protect our own.”
Arthur cut in, “I see you’ve already heard. I think before any decisions are made we should all go home and talk about this with our loved ones.” He gave Bud a pat on the back and only said, “May God bless our families and keep our young men safe.”
Each left for their specific homes that morning with very heavy hearts.
***
The three men had returned home, and reported the news to Amelia and Samantha. The women took the news very hard, but it was decided that indeed both Steven and Michael would both be expected to go.
The news was spreading all over Arkansas. It seemed everywhere young men were preparing to leave their homes and loved ones, and some even as young as thirteen. In addition to Steven and Michael, Alec and Ben were also going. Alec really didn’t care about himself, but he encouraged Ben to have a talk with Cassandra, and tell her how he felt about her, before he
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