Chapter 18: Visiting with Family and Settling In)
The house looks a little different from the way it was when I left, Daddy. The Virginian told me there was a fire when the Graingers lived here and they had to rebuild. I'm certainly glad they did rebuild. How did it start? The Virginian said some men came and torched it when he and the boys were out getting ready for a cattle drive. Oh, how awful. I'd better go check on Jamie, Uncle Henry. Alright, Josie. Who is Jamie, Daddy? He's a young man Josie found after he'd been wounded by some rustlers. And we've been taking care of him since. I offered him a job here so he's going to stay on. Turned out he's the cousin of a friend the virginian knew years ago that died in a bank holdup. Wasn't that Dan Grant, Daddy? Yes, it was. Let's go into the living room so we can visit. Is that you in that picture, Granpa? Yes, it is, Annie. I see you're up and about, Jamie. It's good to be up, sir. I'd like you to meet my daughter Betsy. I'm pleased to meet you,Jamie. Same here, ma'am. Everyone calls me Betsy. And this is my husband David. Hello, son. It's good to meet you. And these are our children. I'm Annie and this is my sister Virginia. And I'm Henry. I'm happy to meet you all. You can call me Jamie. Do you have any siblings, Jamie? No, Annie, but I wish I did. Would you kids like to see the horses in the corral? Oh, yes, Granpa. We would. I'll take em' down there, Judge. Alright, Randy. I'll come along,too, Randy. It seems just like old times, Randy. Except I've got a family of my own now and you've got Ellie with you now. It sorta does seem like old times, Betsy. How did you come to have Ellie? Her pa was a good friend of mine from back home and we worked on the same spread. He got killed by a runaway team two years back. Ellie didn't have anybody to look after her, so I took her and we came here. I want to make her like my own kin legally so I can always be there to watch out for her. You were a boy when I left, but you grew into a fine young man. You're like my own brother and I couldn't have ever asked for better. I hope you'll always think of my children as your very own niece's and nephew. I did from when your Daddy first told me about em, Betsy. And I've raised them to think of you in the very same way, Randy. It's good to have ya'll back here. And it's good to be here, Randy. Aren't the horses beautiful, Mama? They certainly are, Annie.
The house looks a little different from the way it was when I left, Daddy. The Virginian told me there was a fire when the Graingers lived here and they had to rebuild. I'm certainly glad they did rebuild. How did it start? The Virginian said some men came and torched it when he and the boys were out getting ready for a cattle drive. Oh, how awful. I'd better go check on Jamie, Uncle Henry. Alright, Josie. Who is Jamie, Daddy? He's a young man Josie found after he'd been wounded by some rustlers. And we've been taking care of him since. I offered him a job here so he's going to stay on. Turned out he's the cousin of a friend the virginian knew years ago that died in a bank holdup. Wasn't that Dan Grant, Daddy? Yes, it was. Let's go into the living room so we can visit. Is that you in that picture, Granpa? Yes, it is, Annie. I see you're up and about, Jamie. It's good to be up, sir. I'd like you to meet my daughter Betsy. I'm pleased to meet you,Jamie. Same here, ma'am. Everyone calls me Betsy. And this is my husband David. Hello, son. It's good to meet you. And these are our children. I'm Annie and this is my sister Virginia. And I'm Henry. I'm happy to meet you all. You can call me Jamie. Do you have any siblings, Jamie? No, Annie, but I wish I did. Would you kids like to see the horses in the corral? Oh, yes, Granpa. We would. I'll take em' down there, Judge. Alright, Randy. I'll come along,too, Randy. It seems just like old times, Randy. Except I've got a family of my own now and you've got Ellie with you now. It sorta does seem like old times, Betsy. How did you come to have Ellie? Her pa was a good friend of mine from back home and we worked on the same spread. He got killed by a runaway team two years back. Ellie didn't have anybody to look after her, so I took her and we came here. I want to make her like my own kin legally so I can always be there to watch out for her. You were a boy when I left, but you grew into a fine young man. You're like my own brother and I couldn't have ever asked for better. I hope you'll always think of my children as your very own niece's and nephew. I did from when your Daddy first told me about em, Betsy. And I've raised them to think of you in the very same way, Randy. It's good to have ya'll back here. And it's good to be here, Randy. Aren't the horses beautiful, Mama? They certainly are, Annie.