For the next couple of months during the summer, Jack Jr. tried to put aside his feelings for Katherine and focus on other projects. He focused on building the main house, the barn and the stables. With the big crew of helpers, everything was going to be done by the end of the summer. Jack Jr. kept going to his group with other Veterans. Talking about his nightmares and his feelings of guilt helped ease the nightmares, but not the guilt. Even though the dreams weren't intense, he had the reoccurring nightmare of the man who saved his life asking Jack Jr. to tell his wife he loved her. There had been times where he sat with the letter and was going to open it and read it. But each time, he stopped himself. Part of him knew it was because he was afraid that once he opened the letter that he would have to face the man's wife and tell her that it was Jack Jr.'s fault that her husband wouldn't be coming home.

As for Katherine, Jack Jr. tried to distance himself from Katherine the best he could. They still did activities together but Jack Jr. made sure that Sophie was with them or there were enough people around so they wouldn't be alone. Even though he loved Katherine, he wouldn't act on those feelings. He would never do anything to jeopardize her marriage or her reputation.

Jack Jr. had his workers take the day off. It was mid-August and it was too hot and sticky for anyone to work. His mother was with Nathan and Sophie was at a friend's house. Jack Jr. was on the deck finishing up his sketch of Katherine. Next he would paint it for her. Jack Jr. looked at his watch. He wanted to make it over to the post office to see if any telegrams had come regarding Katherine's husband.

Jack Jr. made his way down from the deck and to his car. The post office was only a few minutes from the house. Jack Jr. parked his car and went inside. He asked the clerk if there were any telegrams for him. The clerk handed him a telegram. It was from one of his friend's in the military. It had the word urgent on it. Jack Jr. put it in his pocket and made his way over to Katherine's house. It started raining as he made way over to her house. He parked across the street from her house. It was pouring. He found an old coat and put it over his head. He ran over to her house and knocked on her door.

Katherine opened the door "Jack?" Katherine asked

"Hi Kate. I received a telegram from my friend. It said urgent so I wanted to deliver it to you" Jack Jr. said

"You are all wet. Get in here!" Katherine said

Against his better judgement and the fact that he was wet, he went in the house.

When he stepped in the house, the smell of Vanilla filled the house. It was a wonderful smell.

"Let me take your court. And take a seat in the living room" Katherine said as she took his coat.

Jack Jr. walked into the living room. It was nicely decorated. The kitchen was just off the living room.

"Let me get something to open this up with. Have a seat" Katherine said as she walked into the kitchen.

Jack Jr. sat down on one of the chairs. As he was sitting there, he looked at the pictures that were sitting on coffee table. There was one of Katherine as a little girl. There was one with Katherine and her parents. Jack Jr. saw a picture of Katherine in her wedding dress. Beside her was her husband Andrew. Jack Jr. looked closely at his face. All of a sudden, a flashback came to him. "Please tell my wife I loved her." He could see the man's face clearly. It was Andrew. Andrew was the man who gave his life for Jack Jr.

Jack Jr. felt like he was going to faint.

"Jack! The telegram says that they know when Andrew last checked in. It was France, April 12th, 1939" Katherine said running into the living room.

Jack Jr. closed his eyes, he remembers that he had written to Maggie on April 11th, 1939. He would never forget the last time he wrote Maggie.

"Maybe they'll know if he was taken prisoner or they know where he is" Katherine said. Katherine looked over at Jack Jr. who was white as a ghost.

"What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost." Katherine asked

Jack Jr. didn't say anything. He remembered that the old coat he brought contained the letter. He walked over to the coat and took the letter out. He handed it to Katherine.

"What is this?" Katherine asked.

Jack Jr. paused for a moment. Tears came to his eyes. "One day, my unit was out scoping out the area. We got hit with a surprise attack. I took a bullet to my leg. I fell down and the gun shots were getting closer. I thought I was going to die. A soldier came out of nowhere and carried me over to safety. But as he was saving me, he was hit in the chest with bullets. The man gave me his letter. After looking at your pictures, I am confident that Andrew was the one who saved me.

Tears started to fill Katherine's eyes. Jack Jr. thought her eyes were beautiful and now to see them filled with tears over something he had done made him sick.

"There has to be some mistake" Katherine said. She opened the letter and quickly opened the letter. There was no doubt that the letter was from Private Andrew Guff. He had put his name and Unit number. Katherine put her hand to her mouth. There was a silence in the room for a minute. Katherine was still processing what had happened.

"You kept this letter all these years? Why? Were you holding onto it to try to get closer to me?" Katherine said angrily.

"No. I didn't open it because I am a coward. I didn't want to face the widow to this letter." Jack Jr. answered

Katherine sobbed "Why did it have to be you? Get out of my house! I never want to see you again!" Katherine shouted

Jack Jr. made his way to the entrance. He took the coat off the rack and put it on.

"Before I go, your husband's dying words were to tell you that he loved you"

Katherine sobbed "Get out!" She yelled.

Jack Jr. left and made his way to his car.

Jack Jr. sped away and drove his car. He kept driving until he couldn't take it anymore. He pulled over and started sobbing. Why did it have to be Andrew? Why God? Why did it have to be him? Why didn't you just take me! Jack Jr. kept sobbing. When Jack Jr. couldn't sob anymore, he drove towards home. But instead of going home. He went to his father's grave.

Jack Jr. walked over to his father's grave. He didn't say anything and finally shouted "Why did you leave me?! I could really use a father right now" Jack Jr. started crying. After a few minutes at his father' grave he walked back to his car. Suddenly, he felt someone push him to the ground.

He turned around on the ground. It was Billy Hamilton Jr. and his thugs.

"Look what we have here. Little Jack visiting his useless father's grave." Billy said taunting him.

The two thugs picked him up and put him of his feet.

Billy punched Jack Jr. In the stomach.

"That felt good." Billy said laughing. He punched Jack Jr. in the face repeatedly.

Billy brought out a switchblade. "Let's end the Thornton line for good" Billy said

I'm going to die tonight Jack Jr. thought. It was dark and no one knew he was out here.

Billy stabbed Jack Jr. in the leg. Jack Jr. cried out.

"Yell as loud as you want, no one is out here" Billy said laughing.

All of a sudden a gust of wind knocked down Billy and his thugs down. Jack Jr. felt it and it felt like someone had just passed by them in a car. But there wasn't anyone there.

"What was that?" Billy asked. His thugs shrugged. All of a sudden a gunshot went off. 'Who's there?" Billy yelled. He pointed his flashlight to where he thought the gunshot was coming from but no one was there. Another gun shot went off.

"Hey! What's going on here!" a voice said from the distance.

"Let's get out of here!" Billy said. All three of them ran off.

Jack Jr. saw someone walk up to him. He was wearing a red uniform.

"Don't worry son, they won't get away." It was his father. Even though he never met his father or heard his voice he knew that was his father.

"Don't worry. You'll be okay. I'll see you in a little while." His father disappeared. A man he didn't recognize came up running to him.

"Oh my goodness, don't worry. I'm going to get you to the hospital.

Jack Jr. closed his eyes and passed out.

Author note: These last two chapter have been tough and intense. Just remember, there has to be rain before a rainbow.