February of 1933

"President Teddy Roosevelt has repealed Prohibition," the newsman on the radio announced, much to Irene's dismay. "Alcohol is once again legal. People are celebrating all over the country."

Irene sighed.

Outside, Jack and Angela were in a clearing behind the barn. Irene could hear the gunshots. Jack was teaching Angela how to shoot guns, something he planned to do with all four of his children. He didn't want them cowering in fear if somebody threatened their safety as they got older. He wanted the children to learn to protect themselves and one another. Jack believed that twelve-year-old Angela and eight-year-old Kassidy were old enough to handle the responsibility. And he knew that Kassidy could handle a gun from a wheelchair.

The wheelchairs in the 1930's were wood and metal, bulky, heavy, and made for adults. It was hard for Kassidy to get herself around. At school, she depended heavily on her teacher to get her around. Then, her sister had to push her home. The wheelchair had two large wheels at the armrests and one small swiveling wheel in the back that was right behind where she sat in the chair.

The twins, now at five, were playing inside the house. Irene insisted on keeping them inside when the others were practicing with the guns to be sure they were not accidentally shot. She had done the same with Kassidy.

Angela was having fun. She liked shooting guns and she loved being with her father. She was becoming a real "Daddy's Little Girl" and didn't hide it.

All four children knew who their grandfather was. They knew the legends and the truths. Kids at school often asked them questions. There were books about John Marston now, some true and some lies. Jack was considering writing a book and telling people the truth about his father. They needed to know what really happened and what kind of man John truly was. Irene encouraged Jack to do this. He was still considering the possibility.

Irene listened to the gunshots outside as she relaxed on the sofa and watched the twins playing on the floor. She skimmed through the newspaper. President Roosevelt was to visit Blackwater soon. The expanding city was opening a new federal building and the president was to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Jack and the children entered the house.

"Who's hungry?," Irene asked. "It's getting near suppertime."

"Me," Kassidy said.

Irene walked to the kitchen and started to figure out what to prepare for the family. Jack picked up Kassidy and sat down with her on his lap. Kassidy leaned on her daddy.

The twins were still playing on the floor with a set of Lincoln Logs as their oldest sister sat down with them and started to build a house with the blocks.

"Look, like this," Angela said. "See? This goes like this."

Irene disliked the Thirties even more than the Roaring Twenties. She missed riding her horse everywhere she went. She missed her guns and spurs. She missed her familiar ways of life.

Three motor vehicles were parked near the house. One was a Ford Roadster, a vehicle similar to a modern pick-up truck. They used it to turn over bounties. They rode their horses into the woods, captured their bounty, and transferred them into the truck on their property.

A new guest-house had been built near the house. The small one-bedroom home was Lisa's new home. She lived with the family and assisted in caring for the children when the couple were out hunting bounties.

Trevor had passed away almost two years ago. Despite her anger at her uncle, Irene was sorry and had gone to the funeral to pay her last respects.

It was very early in the 1930's decade. Many new fashions were in style, both in clothing and hair. Though few men were wearing long hair now, Jack refused to cut his hair so short. He liked his hair long. He loved when Irene ran her fingers through his thick brown hair.

The twin boys had not yet had a haircut either. They were both sporting shoulder-length hair at young ages.

The Marston family were not sheep and were not going to do what everyone else was doing unless they chose to do so.

The family had made it through the Twenties unscathed. Would they make it through the Thirties? Only time would tell.

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