Chapter Two

May 23rd, 1917

Miles City, Montana

"Alright," Rose emerged into the front foyer where Jack was packing a backpack. Eager little Charlie was nearly riveting with excitement, dancing between the balls of his feet as he tried to hurry his father on. Jack was carefully arranging art supplies and a blanket for when they undoubtedly needed to take a rest on their hike. Jack made sure Charlie's pastels were secure. He wasn't a big fan of the chalky materials, but Charlie was delighted by them and Jack would do whatever it took to make sure his son caught the art bug. "I've packed you both a light lunch, some water, and snacks." Rose grinned, holding the tightly knotted linen out to Jack. "Strawberries, blueberries, ham and cheese sandwiches, and those potato chips Charlie loves so much."

"Thanks," Jack grinned, carefully tucking it on top before jerking the zipper closed.

"Oh, Charlie, don't forget your hat," Rose reached to the coat wrack beside the door before she knelt down, situating it on his mess of sweet blond hair.

"Aw, Mom, c'mon," Charlie squirmed under her hands.

"No, sir, you have to wear it!" Rose told him, grabbing his wiry shoulder to still him. "You'll burn like a crisp! Or do you want an oatmeal bath when you get home?"

Charlie quieted down and let out the smallest little huff. "How come Dad doesn't have to wear one?"

"Oh, he does," Rose replied, glancing to her husband. "I just haven't gotten to him yet." Jack's boyish grin was crooked as he reached for his own hat. Heather gray and quite soft, Jack really only wore it in the winter when it started to snow. Rose straightened the cap on Charlie's head once more and fixed one of his twisted suspenders. Once she was pleased with his appearance, she stepped back to admire the two as Jack slung the backpack over his shoulder. "You two could not be any cuter. I swear I'm just seeing double."

"Alright, bud, why don't you head outside and start stretching," Jack pat his son on his shoulder. "We have a long hike in front of us. We better go before it gets too hot."

"Yeah, we gotta hurry," Charlie was antsy as he raced to the door. "If it gets too hot, we won't see any rabbits. C'mon, Dad!"

"Aren't you forgetting to do something?" Jack cocked an eyebrow up.

"Oh, right," Charlie crossed the foyer and wrapped his arms around Rose's hips. "Bye, Mom. Love you."

"Love you, too, sweetheart," Rose gave him a squeeze. "Please mind your father." Charlie was too caught up in his fantasies about his upcoming adventure to respond and barreled out the door, sprinting across the yard and holding his arms at his side, as if he were a bird about to take flight. Rose watched lovingly from the door. "You know, you're quite brave taking a four year old on such a long hike. I hope he doesn't get fussy. He wouldn't lay down for his nap this morning."

"Eh, this'll tire him out," Jack joined her in the doorway as Charlie rolled through the grass, giggling all the while. Charlie was good about entertaining himself. "I bet he falls asleep right at the dinner table." He tugged at his backpack straps. "What's on the agenda for you and Tina today?"

"I'm taking the honor student out to a matinee at the theater. They're putting on Pygmalion. She's been so interested in Greek history, I think it'll be a hit," Rose grinned. "What could possibly beat a love story in five acts?"

"I dunno," Jack gave her a nudge. "Let me know what you still think tomorrow morning."

Rose rolled her eyes melodramatically, bumping her arm against him. "You better get a move on. Charlie's draining all that good hiking energy out of him. Have fun, stay hydrated. Tina and I will be back by five-thirty." She leaned upwards and met his lips.

"Dad, come on!" Charlie yelled, jumping up and down. "The rabbits!"

The couples lips parted. "Alright, alright, I'm coming," Jack clunked down the stairs and turned to Rose once more, the shade of his hat casting across his face. "I love you. You two have fun."

...

The playhouse was dim and cool in the lobby, which was refreshing from the summer heat that was sweltering more and more with each passing day. Rose had french braided Valentina's hair while the young girl chattered away about her excitement for the performance. She looked darling in her short white sleeve sweater, green plaid skirt, and red mary janes. The playhouse was buzzing with energy as people collected their drinks and snacks, met up with old friends, and fanned themselves with the programme. To Valentina's delight, and surprise, Rose bought her a milk chocolate bar and a Coca-Cola for the show. Rose kept a very tight handle on how much sugar her children consumed, but for the straight-A, well-behaved girl, she deserved it that warm summer afternoon. The seats in house audience were comfortable, padded with a floral design that was on the edge of being outdated. Valentina's large brown eyes soaked in the environment with its high vaulted ceilings, dangling lights, and massive stage sporting a velvet red curtain. Valentina took a heart gulp of her soda and glanced to her mother, who was reading the programme.

"Have you ever seen this before, Momma?" She asked as an elderly couple squeezed by them for their seats.

"No, actually," Rose grinned, lifting her eyes. "We're both experiencing it together for the first time."

"I'm so excited," Valentina nearly bounced in her seat, holding her chocolate bar close. "This will be so much more fun than catching those nickelodeons at the cinema."

After a few more moments, the lights fell on the audience and a hush soon followed. Rose glanced to the side of Valentina's eager face as the screeching of the curtain could be heard opening. With that, the stage was drowned in bright light, where a group of people huddled closely together in what appeared to be damp and wrinkled clothes. The sounds of whistles rang out as more actors darted across the stage, towards the accumulating crowd. Rose had a feeling Valentina wasn't going to blink at all until the close of the act.

A young girl at the forefront of the crowd rubbed at the velvet sleeves of her gown, tilting her head up. "I'm getting chilled to the bone! What can Freddy be doing all this time? He's been gone twenty minutes."

The woman beside her was dressed in a similar fashion of a large velvet gown, while behind her, the throbbing crowd was made up of woolen overcoats and drooping sun hats. "Not so long. But he ought to have got us a cab."

Valentina leaned in the next moment, pressing her cheek to Rose's arm. Very lowly, she whispered, "I wish I had an accent like that."

Rose smiled, looping her arm around Valentina's shoulders and bringing her in close. She lowered her chin. "I'll bet there's tons of fun accents in this story." Valentina grinned and leaned into Rose now, directing her eyes back to the stage. A very frazzled young man swung his umbrella back and forth as the nicely dressed woman and demanding young girl berated him.

"Oh, very well: I'll go, I'll go!" He exclaimed, whirling around and running straight into a girl carrying flowers who had just appeared from the wing. She tipped over, bundles of daisies and lilies falling everywhere.

"Nah then, Freddy! Look wh' y' gowin', deah!"

"S... sorry," The young man stuttered before swiftly exiting the scene.

"Why does she talk like that?" Valentina whispered, tilting her head back to look at Rose.

"It seems she's very British," Rose grinned.

...

Overhead, an eagle let out a mighty squawk as it circled over the large hills. In front of Jack, Charlie carefully maneuvered up the path that was uneven with tall bits of grass skirting the edges. When Jack looked over his shoulder, he grinned and stopped. "Charlie, look." He pointed. The young boy was barely over three feet tall as he stood beside his lanky father. Together the Dawson boys soaked in the view of their little town nestled amongst the mountains. It wasn't a large town by any means, something Jack and Rose always had an affinity for and romanticized. Their home of five years, Jack was proud to say he lived in Miles City and Rose was certainly pleased to raise their children in the very accepting and moderate state. Charlie swung his arms back and forth before looking to his father.

"Where's our house?"

"Well," Jack knelt beside him to get eye level. "I can't really point it out exactly but look here, to the east. Do you see all the fences? That's our neighborhood. You probably recognize a bit further out the large industrial buildings where they make fabric and textiles. Over there, to the north, is the school where you'll be going next fall. Do you see the park?"

"I could walk with my eyes closed from the house to the park," Charlie grinned. "It's the best part of Miles City."

Jack couldn't help but smile. "Look a little south of the park. There are some of the shopping strips, oh, and there's the library. Next to the library is the playhouse. That's where your mom and sister are right now watching a play."

"I'm glad we went hiking instead," Charlie said, now continuing up the path. He paused to pick up and admire a smooth stone. Jack watched as his toddler reared his arm back and tossed the rock. It bounced off the trunk of a thick and large oak tree. This amused the young boy. He went a couple more steps before he knelt down to watch a trail of ants just off the path where they had a massive mound. "Gosh, there's so many of 'em." In the next moment, though, a rustling in the tall brush beside Charlie quivered. Curious as ever, Charlie began pushing the tall blades of grass around before he gasped sharply. "Dad, come quick! There's a rabbit."

In a beat, the rabbit leapt from the brush and onto the path. It was small and Jack assumed still lived with its mother. It had a light gray coat and a fluffy white belly with ears that hadn't quite popped yet. Charlie giggled as he followed the little creature that kept scampering away from him. To Jack's surprise, Charlie kept up and leaned down, picking it up. "Be gentle with him," Jack said, coming to his son now. Charlie's green eyes were lit up with excitement as the little rabbit squirmed in his arms.

"Dad, can we please keep it?"

"No, we can't," Jack shook his head. "He belongs out here in the wild with his brothers and sisters. Besides, your mom would kill me if I let you bring it home."

"But it's so soft," Charlie gave him pouty eyes as the rabbit stilled in his hands. "I already picked out a name. Let's call him Joey!"

"Joey is super soft, but we can't keep him, Charlie."

"So unfair," The toddlers shoulders deflated but still, he kept the little rabbit close to his chest. "No cat, no dog, not even a goldfish!"

"Yeah, I know, we're so mean to you," Jack deadpanned. He put his hands to his hips and admired the tree with the massive shade. "Lets stop for lunch here. This is a great view." He dropped the backpack to the ground and pulled the large quilt out, laying it over the wildly growing grass. "I think it's time to say goodbye to Joey."

Charlie let out a hefty sigh and held the rabbit out in front of him. Its hind legs dangled behind him and his big brown eyes curiously stared back at the gentle giant. "If it were up to me, Joey, you'd be on your way back to my house to have all the carrots in the world!" After a moment, the young boy set him down and the rabbit darted off without another care.

"Well, you had your wish. You saw a rabbit," Jack grinned, easing himself down onto the quilt. He then pat an empty spot beside him. "Come on, let's get out of the sun for a bit. Your mom packed us a nice lunch." Charlie still seemed to be pouting but complied with his father, sitting criss cross on the large padded blanket. Charlie pulled his hat off, his wild blond hair going in all directions. Jack held half of a ham and cheese sandwich out to his son who glumly took it and ate with no vigor. "Are you gonna be fussy for the rest of the hike?"

"I'm not fussy," Charlie shook his head and sighed. "Why can't we have a pet?"

"They're a lot to take care of," Jack told him, popping a strawberry into his mouth. "Maybe when you're older and you're ready for the responsibility."

"When will I be considered a man like you?" Charlie asked, tearing the crust off his sandwich to Jack's dismay. It wasn't a battle he was going to engage in, though.

Jack grinned, placing a bowl of strawberries between them. "You still got a few years. No need to rush, Charlie."

"But I want to be a man," Charlie told him. "I want to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want. And eat chocolate because then Mom can't yell at me if I'm a man. I was listenin' to Chuck the Cowboy on the radio yesterday evening and there was this broadcast talking about how great it was to be a man because then you can defend America." Jack paused, his sandwich hovering inches from his lips. He had been doing everything in his power not to think about the state of the rest of the world. It was a conscious effort to not show any anxiety or turmoil about the future. Jack wanted to pretend that it wouldn't affect his family. And he was trying to be strong for Rose, who could be quite a worry-wart. "But... well, I guess I don't understand 'cause I'm not a man, but what are we defending America from, Dad?"

His sandwich scraped roughly down his throat and he stalled by fishing a water bottle out and taking a big gulp. He then handed it to Charlie. "It's nothing you have to worry about, bud."

Charlie made a face as he wiped his lips carelessly on the back of his sleeve. "Being a kid sucks. How am I supposed to grow up and be a man if no one will let me? The broadcast said anyone who was twenty-one to thirty needed to go to their local post office. The man said it was their patriotic honor. Did you go to the post office, Dad?"

Jack was quiet a moment, twirling a blueberry absently between his fingers. He let out a sigh and bobbed his head. "Yeah, I did."

"So, do they give you a new job or something?" Charlie arched his eyebrows. "Do we have to move?"

Jack wished he wasn't having this conversation with Charlie. He had to navigate carefully. He and Rose always believed telling the children the truth was important. But Jack certainly didn't want to say anything to upset the young boy, especially so prematurely when he didn't know what was going to happen. "Maybe a new job. I really don't know, bud. But no, we won't have to move."

"Do you get to keep your magazine business?"

"Yes, of course," Jack nodded. "That will always belong to me."

"So... you gotta work two jobs?" Charlie furrowed his brow as he nibbled on his strawberry. "That doesn't sound fun."

"Yeah, well..." Jack leaned back on his hands and removed his hat from his head. A fresh summers breeze whipped between the father and son and, surprisingly, Jack grinned. "Sometimes being a man isn't always fun, Charlie. You should enjoy being a kid while you can. Sometimes I wish I never had to grow up."

In the next moment, Charlie bucked up and leaned forward. "Dad, look! There's a bunch of ladybugs on the quilt." They were squirming everywhere and Charlie grinned as one landed on his strawberry. He seemed so amused and carefree, how Jack liked to see his children. He wished he had brought his camera to capture the innocent youth that Charlie was. A beat later, a ladybug landed on his nose and he giggled in delight. "Dad, will you teach me how to draw a ladybug?"

Jack grinned, dragging the backpack close. "Sure thing, bud. They look simple, but there's a lot you can do for a ladybug on paper..."

...

The sky was a vibrant assortment of light blues, oranges, and pinks as evening began to descend on Miles City. The playhouse doors flew open and out came a hoard of people speaking excitedly about the afternoon they had just had. Rose and Valentina were on the edge of the crowd, breaking away to head back to their neighborhood. Valentina was holding Rose's hand with electric energy, nearly leaping from her skin, her mary janes clacking against the cobblestone of the plaza. "Momma, that was amazing! I want to be just like Eliza Doolittle one day. I loved all the clothes they were wearing. Why don't we dress like that anymore? Oh! And the way they talk. Is that really how they talk in Britain? You know, we should take a trip there sometime to find out. I'm going to start using the word 'bloody'. I think it will make me sound more mature and cultured."

Rose grinned as they continued away from the playhouse. "You know, I've been to Britain. They certainly have a classy way of speaking, even when being rude."

"Oh, and poor Freddy just puts up with it," Valentina shook her head, her plaited braids beating against her wiry shoulders. "I can't believe his own sister spoke to him like that! But that's why I like Eliza. She always tried her best and she saw the good in people. I sure hope her and Freddy did get married."

Rose gave her daughter's hand a squeeze as they continued on their way. At six years old, Valentina was showing great promise at being a bright, intelligent girl. She read above her level and her handwriting was progressing at a stunning rate. Rose couldn't believe she had a child who was excited about doing their school work or spent their leisure time thumbing through workbooks. Rose could only hope Valentina's model of excellence would rub off on Charlie when he became school aged. Though, Rose knew how easily distracted her youngest child could be. The play had been a smashing hit for Valentina, though. She already knew that dinner time would be a revival of the show, Valentina reciting it all back to her brother and father like the sponge she was.

As they exited the plaza, directly on the corner across the street from them there was a small crowd forming around a young boy wearing short pants and a large satchel that nearly set him off kilter. "Extra, extra!" His little voice called out, dragging the attention of everyone on the way home. "Read all about it! Just a nickel to satisfy your curiosity!" He lifted a paper in the air and the bold, assaulting headline nearly made Rose's heart drop through her stomach. "United States is at war! President Wilson is sending men overseas! Just a nickel to get all the information for a world at war!"

Rose pressed her hands to Valentina's shoulders, directing her sharply up the street. "War?" Valentina echoed, Eliza Doolittle evaporating from her mind immediately. "Momma, what's he talking about? Sending men overseas? The whole world is fighting?"

Rose sighed and now there was a rigidness to her step. She knew the time would come when she would have to talk to the children about the conflicts outside their little bubble, but Rose certainly didn't expect it so soon. She herself was still processing and stewing over what it meant to their family, she was not at all prepared to have the conversation. Valentina was inquisitive, however, and Rose knew there was no wiggling out of it. Rose held Valentina's little hand a bit tighter now as they turned the corner, away from the shouts of the paper boy.

"Do you know what war is?" Rose finally asked after they walked a bit more. She tilted her head back to look at the sun that was rapidly disappearing behind the mountain range.

"Well, we discussed the Civil War in class back in February," Valentina furrowed her brow as the sweet summers air grazed her cheeks. "It's a lot of people fighting and getting sick and dying."

"Yes, unfortunately," Rose nodded, nearly like a robot. "That's what is happening in the world right now."

"The Civil War was fought in America," Valentina recalled, looking to her mother almost frightfully. "Will we have to defend Miles City?"

Rose stopped now and knelt down in front of Valentina, pressing her hands to her shoulders. "This war is bigger than the Civil War, baby. It's not happening here. It's been going on for years but now... Europe needs America's help. Nothing about your life is going to change, I promise. You'll still get to go to school and go to the ice cream parlor. The newspapers are the only thing that will be different."

Valentina's dark chocolate eyes darted between her mother's for a moment before she drew in a deep breath. "But Daddy's going to be drafted, isn't he? Just like in the Civil War."

Rose could feel her entire heart shattering in her chest.

...

"We can't protect them from what's happening in the world, Jack," Rose said that evening as she sat at her vanity mirror and brushed her curls out. Jack was already in bed, proof reading the magazine set to come out next month. He looked to Rose's reflection in the mirror, which only showed a pained realization of the world she was raising her children in. "The paper boys are yelling it on the streets. It's blaring across every radio station. Things are amping up far too quickly to keep up with. I'm worried the country will send itself into mania with the news that surfaces every day."

"Yeah..." Jack sighed, fingering at the edge of the page. "I knew Valentina would find out sooner or later. I was not at all prepared for Charlie to bring it up, though."

Rose delicately set her brush down and reached for her face moisturizer. "I don't even know what to say to them. Especially if you..." She stopped herself short.

"Surely not," Jack shook his head. "There has to be plenty in Class One to subsidize the war effort."

Rose pat her hands to a lacy wash cloth before she stood and rounded the bed, clambering in beside Jack. He set his magazine on the night stand and wrapped his arms around her, as if to protect her from every sudden intruding thought they both had. They were quiet in that moment, only the sound of the clock ticking. The house was utterly silent after a fun-filled day that had put the children to sleep promptly at nine o'clock. Rose held Jack tightly. In her mind, she went in circles, round and round again. She adamantly told herself that she had nothing to be worried about. But the next thought only procured the worse case scenarios. Left alone to lead the household, having to make everything work out. Not being able to see Jack, or touch him. The idea of the kids hitting milestones in his absence. Just how bad could things get? Could anything ever top what she was experienced in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? All Rose knew is that she was frightened. And for Jack, he tried to decide what was in store for him. He tried to convince himself that there was no way they could make him leave the love of his life and budding children. He couldn't walk out on this family to take care of someone else's dirty work. But the papers didn't lie. And the radio broadcasts hurried pieces soaked into him, bringing new fears to mind.

There was nothing either of them could do, though. So they chose only to hold each other.