Still Riding Horses.
A Living Legacy. Episode 1.
Set in rural Kansas just prior to the turn of the century and continuing through the early 1900s, this series follows the Strong family through the challenges and joys of life in Midwest America. Still Riding Horses is the seventh series in the Dusty Town sequence, original historical fiction by Mary Ann DiLorenzo.
They reached the dirt path toward the old Strong family farmhouse as the dusk of nightfall wrapped its arms around their part of rural Kansas. The night sounds of springtime were playing their little songs as the last purple red rays of the sunset danced across the sky. When they stepped onto the porch of the farmhouse that would never be the same again, Betty Lou spoke first.
“I miss Jacob already, though he was already gone those months ago. So sad it all was, and is. We were friends forever it seems and now he’s gone. I never thought he would ever die. Isn’t that silly!” She looked at Willie and Jake then with tears in her eyes, and then, the tears wouldn’t stop falling down her cheeks onto the dusty porch in that dusty town.
Willie and Jake went over to her and put their arms around her. Willie kept whispering to her, “I know, I know.” And his tears began to join hers. “Grampa was special,” Jake whispered with a catch in his throat, “I will always remember how he loved me, I will always miss him. And maybe someday I can be as good a man as he was.” The three of them sat down on the old porch swing that Jacob’s parents had enjoyed back when Jacob and Betty Lou were young’uns in that dusty old town.
“I remember,” Betty Lou began, “when Jacob and I were small. We would sit here and imagine what it would be like when we were all grown up. Where we would live, what we would be doing, and all that kinda talk. He had big dreams, places he would go when he was old enough to leave this town, this life. And I was gonna marry Jason. Jacob would laugh and ask me why I’d want to stay here. Ha, the things we remember, not that it matters none, it’s just rememberin’ is all.” She sighed and continued to dry the tears that kept on falling.
“I remember when Pa and Ma would swing here, and me and Robert would be playing on the steps, after all the chores of the day were through and we could rest here and feel the cool breeze after a hot summer day. Looking back now, so peaceful, we were so happy. We lost Robert and then when Ma died, it was Pa and me and you Betty Lou on this porch spending the summer evenings together. We did the best we could getting through things. I do miss Pa, so much already, so much already.”
They were silent for a while, trying to hang on to each other, the ones still left to them, right there and then. Jake broke the silence first. “I don’t ever want to leave here again. My heart is here. Farming is what I want to do, and not in Georgia, but here. We will always be close to Grampa here. We can carry on this farm, for him, and for those who come after us. I think that would make him proud.”
“What are your plans Willie?” Betty Lou then asked. “Jacob had you promise to take care of me, but I won’t hold you to it. You have to live your life Willie, you have to do what’s best for you and your family. Me and Lula Belle will keep managing fine I reckon.”
“A promise is a promise, Betty Lou, and I have to keep my word to Pa even if you don’t need me to, not for now anyway. This is a better life for my family, here in this town, not the pace of city life and so far away from here. My heart never left here Betty Lou, and I don’t want to leave it here waitin’ for me again. I’ve spoken to Mr. Sorenson at the bank and told him about Sue’s work experience and he is interested in hiring her to replace the fella that just retired. She’s been doing banking work since we got to Georgia and he feels she would be a good fit, and she knows most everybody in town. Jake is right, we need to keep the Strong family farm continuing on for Pa’s legacy and for future generations of our family.”
Betty Lou was troubled. “Will Sue be happy, coming back?”
“When Pa got sick, we talked about it. Most of her family is still here, working their farm. The bank here will hire her. She does feel this is a better place for the young’uns, with both the families so close, and with the rural life which we all have missed. And Jake can’t go back as I reckon he’s fixin’ to start cowboyin’ real soon! Ain’t that right Jake?!”
The sadness of the day broke a bit as Jake smiled in the light of the full moon. “Sure is Daddy, sure is!” And then, “I think if we keep Grampa in our hearts, he will never be gone from us. He will always be here.” And then with the certainty of one still too young to have been sullied by the world, Jake smiled again. As did Betty Lou and Willie, this time too.
