New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
The fourth series in the Dusty Town sequence.
“You can’t count how much we all love you.” Episode 6
It was a hot early summer day when they started along the narrow dirt path through the fields toward Jacob’s new house. This would be a new beginning, Jacob thought, it was time to look forward and stop looking back, yet not forgetting but remembering still. Yes, that is what Maddie would want for him, for all of them.
How he loved their land! The smell of the dirt, this year’s crops starting to grow as far as the eye could see, the chickens and the cows making their morning noises, the horses wondering what the day would bring, the breeze playing through Sue’s newly washed clothes hanging out on the line in the morning sunshine, the grass in the yard still a little wet from the overnight dew, and the clear blue cloudless sky that was his Kansas!
“Oh my!” was all Jacob could say when he saw it. It was very much like the main house, only smaller. Jake brought his teddy bear and left it in one of the spare bedrooms. “That way you will always know I’m just across the fields and can run here right quick if you’re needin’ any company. So don’t worry Grampa, you won’t ever be all by your lonesome!
“And when I stay over, will you tell me stories of the city and cowboys and bank robbers and all that stuff?”
“Well, you’d have to stay over a lot to hear all them stories…”
“Hooray! Maybe I can stay over tonight! Can I Ma, please?”
“We’ll see dear. Let’s show your grandpa the rest of the house.”
When they got to the kitchen and Jacob saw the curtains, he saw Maddie. Not that he ever thought of her as being always in the kitchen, but the kitchen had been such a happy room for them when they were a family and even on cloudy and rainy days, it seemed there was always sunshine in that room. Maddie’s smile was so often that sunshine and those curtains were a link to her and those times.
“You like it, Pa?” Willie asked. “Those are Ma’s curtains, like I told you.”
“I know, son, I know. I’m glad they are here. I’m glad you are all here to welcome me home. Thank you all for loving me so much! This house is so wonderful and full of love already!”
With that, Willie replied, “You can’t count how much we all love you, Pa, and how happy we are you are home!” Willie put his arm around his pa and they hugged. They were both crying as the grandkids surrounded Jacob while Betty Lou and Sue stood by smiling, knowing then that Jacob’s new beginning was all gonna work out just fine.
Read Prior Episodes of New Beginnings & Cherished Memories
Starting Over Again in Kansas. Episode 1
Nothing’s Changes. Everything’s Changes. Episode 2
Knowing What to Do When the Time Comes. Episode 3
Still Plenty of Sweet Living Left for Them. Episode 4
Morning Light. Episode 5
”You can’t count how much we all love you.” Episode 6 (This one)
