Summer of 1950

"We are now officially retired from bounty-hunting," Jack told the court official as he accepted the payment for the man he had just turned over. "Irene and I are looking for a new career."

"With your expertise, you should go into gun-smithing," the man suggesting. "Both you and Irene. The gunsmith in town is also about to retire. You could take over the place."

"Harvey is retiring?," Jack asked. He knew the gunsmith very well and had done business with him many times.

"He's almost seventy," the man said.

"Don't remind me," Jack said. "I'm fifty-six. My wife is fifty-four. Our oldest child is twenty-nine and about to marry. Guess we're old, too."

Angela and Kevin were staying in her guest-house. They would be married in a small ceremony at the court-house like Jack and Irene had been. Only their immediate families would be there. They both figured that the quicker the ceremony was, the less likely that anything would go wrong.

Kassidy seemed quiet and bothered. She stayed in her bedroom most of the time. Nobody could figure out why.

Angela was worried about her baby sister, who was now twenty-five.

The twins, now the age of twenty-one, were trying to keep busy elsewhere. They spent most of their time in the woods, goofing off and avoiding responsibility.

As the sun went down one evening, Angela and Irene whipped together a quick supper. Kassidy did not come to the meal.

"What's going on with Kassidy?," Landon asked as he took a helping of mashed potatoes. "She's been really quiet and lonely lately."

"I don't know, Landon," Irene said. "I'll talk to her later."

Irene put down her fork and sighed. She stood up and left the room.

In Kassidy's room, she stepped into the door and closed it.

"Get out," Kassidy greeted rudely.

"Kassidy, don't talk to me like that," Irene said. She sat down. "I carried you in my body for nine months and it was not to be yelled at."

Kassidy was lying face-down on her bed. She turned over and sat up, calming herself down.

"What do you want, Mom?," Kassidy asked, some anger still in her voice.

"I wanna know what's happening," Irene said as she sat on the edge of the bed. "You haven't been yourself lately. You're not wanting to be around us and you refused to be Maid Of Honor for your sister."

"I don't want anywhere near that damn wedding," Kassidy said.

"Kassidy, talk to me," Irene said.

Kassidy finally started to cry. She pointed at her metal leg braces that allowed her to walk with crutches. "Look at me, Mom," she said. "Who's ever gonna want me?"

Irene hugged her daughter. "Oh, Kassidy," she said. "I do know what it's like to feel unwanted. I felt like that many times throughout my life. But your father loves me for me. You'll find somebody, Kassidy. I know you will. I believe there is some-one for everyone."

Kassidy hugged her mother. "I don't want to be alone all my life," she said. "I want a husband and children, just like all the other women. Is that asking too much?"

"Not at all," Irene replied. "You will find a good man one day."

Irene stayed with Kassidy until the young woman fell asleep. Irene placed the covers over her and left the room, turning off the light as she did left. She closed the door quietly.

Irene found Jack in bed, lying on his side with his head propped up on his hand. She laid down beside him and pulled the covers over herself.

"How's Kassidy?," Jack asked.

"She's lonely," Irene replied. "She's afraid that no man will ever want to marry her because she's disabled."

Jack sighed. "What do you think?," he asked.

"I think she will find a man who will love her like you love me," Irene replied.

Jack smiled. He laid down and got comfortable. "I just want all our kids to be happy," he said.

"We do all we can to assure that," Irene agreed.

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