Author's Note - Well everyone, this is it. As you read it you will experience a
slight sense of deja vu. See the images and feel the families. Cheers. mcj
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FENCES AND FAMILIES- STORY ONE - EPILOGUE - PART 2
GRANT AND JOSEPHINE TRACY - A FAMILY CREATES A DYNASTY
Picture a Fence - " A barrier to prevent access"
Then Picture a Family - "A Set of parents and their children"
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Grant Tracy looked over at the clock on the old sideboard in the lounge room of his Kansas home and frowned. Ten thirty on a Sunday evening. Who the heck in their right mind came knocking on a sleeping Farmer's door at this hour of the night?
Grant quickly did a mental check.
No.
Josephine had been asleep beside him. At least that was a relief.
They had both gone to bed an hour ago exhausted after working all day on the farm.
Grant rolled his eyes as he limped down the hallway pulling on his T-shirt. Who would be here to see him at this time of the night? Whoever was at the door had better have a good excuse for waking him. He didn't get enough sleep these days as it was.
The knock on the door became more urgent and Grant knew whoever it was didn't intend to go away and leave him in peace. Obviously whoever it was had no sense of time, no common sense and definitely no manners.
"I'm comin'. I'm comin'" he muttered in an annoyed voice as he made his way to the door.
He turned on the light on the porch and slowly opened the unlocked door. Standing on the porch was a tall, middle-aged man dressed immaculately in his business suit and wearing a tie.
"Hello Grant." he said nervously. "It's not too late to be calling by is it son?"
Despite the fact the man in front of him controlled his destiny; Grant Tracy decided to say his piece anyway.
"It's ten thirty in the evenin' Mr Brown and both of us are in bed." he said abruptly.
Walter Brown lowered his head and reddened.
"I'm sorry Grant. I've been at the Office. I must have lost track of the time."
Grant looked at the expensive car parked out in front of the farmhouse. It was the car that belonged to the bank.
"Well Mr Brown, if it's Josephine you've come to see she's asleep and I'd rather not wake her if you don't mind. She's workin' an extra shift at the market tomorrow and needs a decent rest."
Grant watched as Walter Brown nodded his head and shuffled his feet around.
"Mr. Brown you and me both know what Josephine's like."
"Grant, son, I don't want you to wake her. I'm relieved she's asleep if you want the honest truth."
"Oh?" Grant enquired. "Why's that then Sir?"
Walter Brown bit both lips together and stammered.
"W...Well son. I really want to talk to you."
After a short pause he added. "And what I've come to say tonight can't wait anymore son."
Grant's stomach turned and his heart filled with dread. Please God not his farm ... not everything he and his Father had worked for all these years.
He looked down with resignation.
It wasn't as if Walter Brown hadn't warned him it was going to happen.
"All right Mr. Brown." he said quietly. "You wanna come inside and say what you gotta say to me Sir?"
Walter Brown shook his head.
"No Grant."
"Well all right. You can just say it to me here then."
Walter Brown looked nervous as he glanced down the hallway in the direction of the bedroom.
"Grant." he said, "If you don't mind, I'd prefer it if we spoke out of Josephine's hearing."
Grant's eyes followed Walter's. He was obviously uneasy about things. He shrugged. Grant was sure he was used to throwing people off their land. Six people he knew of had lost their farms to the Bank in the last few months and Walter Brown had expertly handled them all.
"Very well Sir. Let's go out on the porch."
He looked sadly around the walls of the simple home where he had been raised before he walked outside to hear his fate. He guessed what Walter Brown had to say wouldn't take him very long. Walter Brown was the Bank Manager who needed to say very little namely because there was very little to say . His Father hadn't been able to afford to pay what he owed before he died and he was foreclosing on the farm. That was all there was to it.
"Would you mind very much if we went right out to the fence Grant?"
"The fence Sir?" he asked. "Why the fence?"
Walter fixed his dark blue eyes on Grant Tracy and said matter-of-factly.
"I'll know for sure Josephine can't hear us son."
Grant nodded. He didn't blame Walter Brown for being careful he supposed. He had been on the receiving end of Josephine's tongue too many times lately and if she heard he had come to take away the farm late on a Sunday evening, she'd be outside saying her piece in less than ten seconds flat.
He sighed.
Josephine had said way too much already.
"All right Mr. Brown." he said. "After you."
The two of them walked down the darkened pathway towards the old white picket fence in front of the Tracy farmhouse. The air was still as Grant Tracy limped in silence beside the Father of Josephine Brown.
"You're limping son." Walter commented quietly.
"I fell in the barn last week Sir." Grant replied. "My back's still sore."
"You all right?" he asked.
"I'm still able to work Sir if that's what you mean." he said defensively.
Silence fell between the two of them until they neared the fence.
"I see the fence has been painted since the last time I was here." Walter observed.
"Yes Sir Josie did it." Grant said in surprise. The last thing he expected Walter Brown to mention was the old picket fence.
Walter Brown was clearly astonished.
"Josephine? Really? Hmmpph. I never thought she had it in her."
"Well Sir as you can see she does. Told me it was my job to concentrate on the crop and hers to get the house in order. That is of course when she ain't workin' at the market."
His eyes grew wary as he looked at Walter Brown.
"Sir, Josie don't make a lot of money as I guess you already know but even though she went against me and brought herself the paint for the fence we managed to save over two hundred dollars of her wages this week to pay you."
He turned and began to limp back towards the house.
"I'll go get the money and give it to you now Sir."
Walter Brown called him back.
"No son ...wait ..." he began. "I'm afraid you've got things wrong. I didn't come here tonight to badger you for money."
Grant stopped in his tracks and stood deadly still. It was some moments before he found the courage to turn back to look at him.
"Mr Brown." he queried tearfully. "You haven't come here to just throw us out point blank have you Sir?"
Walter Brown cleared his throat and fidgeted with his tie.
"Grant..."
Grant Tracy fixed his dark blue eyes on Walter Brown and pleaded.
"Please Sir ... I don't care for myself no more but if you have any love left in your heart for Josephine, please give us a little more time to get the money together for you. Like I said ... I can give you two hundred dollars right now and more next week..."
Walter Brown remained silent.
Grant continued blindly.
"Please Mr Brown I can learn to live in a truck but I know for a fact Josephine can't. She's able to tolerate most things around here but somethin' like that will break her Sir."
Without flinching Walter Brown lifted his chin and replied.
"I know it will."
He watched Grant Tracy's chest heave with distress before continuing.
"And that's why I've come here... to make damn sure it doesn't."
At Grant's silence Walter added.
"Contrary to what you both think at the moment Grant I do love my daughter ... very, very much."
Grant Tracy had his doubts there. He still pictured Josephine crying her heart out in his arms after walking the twenty miles from the Brown residence to the farmhouse the day he told her to leave.
He lowered his head and looked in the direction of the fence.
"All I know is you threw Josephine out of your home Mr. Brown and that ain't love."
Walter acknowledged his statement with a knowing nod of his head.
"Yes I did." he murmured. "And as my wife and now you have clearly pointed out to me, what I did to Josephine wasn't love and I have never been more wrong in doing anything in my entire life."
Grant watched Walter Brown look sadly towards the farmhouse, then at the old picket fence.
"Mr Brown Sir ... what is it you're tryin' to tell me?" he asked.
"Grant ... I'm here tonight to hopefully set the record straight about Josephine."
Grant Tracy eyed the middle aged man in front of him.
He was the Bank Manager living in a luxurious double storey house on the better side of the town. He didn't struggle to make ends meet. He had the capability to foreclose on four generations of hard, backbreaking work on a wheat farm that was everything to the Tracy family. To him the wheat farm was merely an asset.
He tried to forget about the importance Walter Brown placed on money and recollected all the observations he had made about the Father of Josephine Brown since he had been introduced to him. The observations weren't flattering and all Grant Tracy could visualise was Josephine's tear-stained face on the steps of the farmhouse.
Grant cleared his throat and said directly.
"Mr Brown I'm twenty-five years old and I know I haven't made a big enough mark in this world to judge anyone, but what you did to Josephine last week was pretty darned disappointin'."
Walter hung his head in shame as Grant continued.
"Even though she's a grown woman, you hurt her Sir and I've witnessed enough of her tears to know just exactly how much. She loves you Mr Brown and she misses her family and like me she don't understand why her lovin' me makes a such difference to how you feel about her."
He saw Walter's face fall.
"I love Josephine very much too son." he swallowed. "But you have to understand this dreadful mess only arose because I wanted what I thought was best for her."
Grant fixed his eyes accusingly on Walter Brown.
"With respect Sir. Throwing your daughter outta her home and makin' her walk twenty miles to me for help ain't what I'd call wantin' the best for her."
Walter Brown could only stand ashamed and allow himself to be admonished.
"I know that Grant." he murmured. "And believe me I'm sorry for it."
Grant Tracy went silent himself and thought carefully before he continued.
"Mr Brown I promised you out the front of your sandstone fence six months ago that I'd provide for Josephine and treat her right if you let me have her. I meant that Sir and even though I know what you think of me I've been doin' just that since the day she left your home."
Walter nodded.
"I know you have Grant. You're a fine boy."
Walter watched as the young man reached out his hand to touch the old picket fence.
"Yeah I was fine in your estimation 'till you found out I had aspirations of marryin' your daughter." he murmured.
He once again looked directly into the eyes of Walter Brown.
"Well I'm still gonna do it Mr Brown. With or without your consent."
He took a deep breath and delivered to the Bank Manager what he knew would be his death knell.
"And with or without my farm."
Walter Brown braced himself.
He looked one last time at the tall quietly spoken young man standing next to him beside the fence. He doubted if he would ever meet anyone more worthy to marry his daughter than Grant Daniel Tracy. Honest as the day was long, hard-working to the point of exhaustion and more trustworthy than everyone he knew in the Town put together. A delightful young man with a love of family and an attribute no Father had the right to ignore.
A complete and unconditional love for his daughter.
As Alice had said, the boy had done nothing to him personally. His only crimes were to be born the son of a modest, well-mannered wheat Farmer who had struggled to make himself a living...and the fact he wanted Josephine.
Walter finally forced himself to admit to things.
Grant Tracy wanted to take his little girl away from him and he did not want her to go. She was his first-born daughter with big blue eyes and a feisty personality. She was the daughter who had defied him to work in a market when she could have used her College degree to carve out a career for herself. The daughter he secretly admired for her steadfast determination to live her life as she chose and not how he had mapped it out to be.
The only one of his daughters to be completely true to herself.
He swallowed as reality suddenly reared up and forced him to see things as they really were.
Josephine wanted Grant and Grant wanted Josephine. Nothing he said or did was going to change that fact and Walter knew if he took away the Tracy farm now the only one who would lose as a result of it would be himself.
His precious Alice would leave his life.
Josephine would never speak to him again and no matter what, she would doggedly stay by Grant's side if only to prove her point.
Walter Brown smiled at the irony of it all.
Ever since she had been a little girl Josephine always got what she wanted. She persisted and persisted until she finally wore him down.
He looked the simple fence and the man his daughter loved deeply enough to walk away from everything.
He guessed she'd worn him down this time too.
He cleared his throat.
"All right Grant if you're able to pay some money to the Bank regularly I don't think it's necessary to bring the farm into this argument any longer." he said in a business like voice.
The tone then altered.
"The argument is now only about how much you love my daughter and how serious the two of you are about marriage."
Walter watched as the eyes of the young man filled with honesty.
"Mr Brown, no-one loves Josephine more than I do. I'm real grateful to you for the second chance to pay the money back and I promise you I'll do it no matter what sacrifices I have to make. I also wanna assure you that Josephine and me are deadly serious about gettin' married."
His voice lowered and he said with sincerity.
"I would never have taken Josie into my bed if I didn't intend to marry her Sir."
Walter Brown acknowledged his admission and looked up at the sky. It looked like more rain was coming and he guessed he'd better go. Besides it had all been said between them now.
He pulled out the keys to the mercedes parked in front of the farmhouse.
"Well then Grant I guess you've told me what I want to hear so I'd better be on my way. You've got an early rise in the morning I've no doubt."
He extended his hand.
"Thanks for hearing me out son. I'm really sorry for waking you up."
Grant Tracy's hand came up slowly and Walter Brown shook it firmly.
"Good night to you Grant."
He started to walk towards the car before suddenly turning back to face him.
"Grant ... ummmm.... I'd sure appreciate it if you told Josephine I called by tonight and wanted to apologise for what happened."
Grant Tracy felt like a total heel. This was Josephine's Father and he knew she still loved him. He really should go into the house and wake her.
"Mr Brown..." he said. "Wait Sir."
Walter Brown turned around and fixed his saddened eyes on Grant Tracy.
"Yes Grant?"
"Mr Brown, I know Josephine would wanna see you and make things up Sir. Please ... let me go wake her ..."
Walter shook his head and said in a resigned voice.
"No son... I'm afraid Josephine isn't that agreeable when it comes to me."
With that he turned back and headed for the car.
Grant watched him go. It was like Walter Brown had given up all hope of a reconciliation with Josephine. The strong sense of family instilled in him by his Father reared up inside him.
He limped down the path towards the car as Walter opened the door.
"Mr Brown." he blurted. "Please don't go until I wake Josephine. I'm sure she'd wanna listen to you for one thing ... and accept your apology for another."
"No I already know what Josephine is like son."
"I know she has too much to say most of the time but I'm sure she'd listen to you this time Sir."
"No Grant I'm afraid you're wrong."
"I'm not wrong Sir. I'm gonna marry her. I'll make sure she listens."
Walter Brown did not reply. Despite the fact he knew Grant had an influence over Josephine that no-one else did, nobody told her to do anything she didn't want to do if they knew what was good for them.
He started the ignition and waited for the engine to roar into life.
"It's OK Grant." he said. "Good night."
With that Walter Brown fastened his seat belt and began to drive away.
Suddenly the car stopped and after a few minutes Walter emerged and walked back to where Grant stood in front of the white picket fence.
"You forget somethin' Sir?" he asked.
"Yes I did Grant." Walter said gruffly. "Can you believe it was the main reason I came to see you in the first place?"
Walter Brown reached into his pocket.
"I believe I have something which belongs to you."
Grant looked at Walter Brown's hand. In it was a red velvet box. The box was old and somewhat tattered in places but he knew without opening it what it contained.
Something more precious to him than anything.
His Mother's engagement ring.
Confusion spread across his face.
"Sir?" he frowned.
"One of the last things my daughter told me was that you had to sell this to pay for your Father's funeral." he said. "Well ... I believe you intended it for Josephine and as such I have taken the liberty of buying it back on your behalf and having her name engraved next to your Mother's."
He smiled.
"I saw your Mother's name was Ellen."
Grant nodded.
"Yes Sir."
"I wanted to name Josephine Ellen. What a co-incidence."
Grant's eyes filled.
"Sir .... I ....I don't know what to say to all this."
Walter Brown extended the box towards the emotional young man.
"Don't say anything Grant." he said. "Just take it."
Grant brushed the tears from his eyes and took the box.
"You have no idea how much this means to me Sir ... and what it will mean to Josephine."
For the first time in his life Walter Brown felt he had wisdom.
He smiled knowingly.
"Somehow I think I do know what it means to the two of you Grant."
He paused and then added.
"Son, just for the record, my Father did it for me once too."
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She hung her head and swung her handbag this way and that as she wearily trudged up the gravelled road towards the farmhouse. The last miles always seemed to be the longest especially when she had been on her feet all day and was deadly tired.
Josephine Brown sighed with resignation. She guessed she should be grateful. At least she only had to walk two miles instead of twenty. Marvin had been very kind to her since the truck had broken down and gladly gave her a lift to and from the turn-off to the farm so she was still able to get herself to work.
Josephine couldn't believe the bad luck she and Grant had faced in little over two weeks together. First the tractor, then the hot water ... now the truck. Grant was at his wits end and told her they could only afford to fix one thing at a time.
She'd wanted to fix the hot water.
He told her it had to be the tractor. He couldn't farm without it.
The truck would be second.
Then the hot water.
"Three more weeks of cold showering." she muttered unhappily trying not to think of the relaxing hot bath she would have treated herself to at home. "What I wouldn't give to lie back in somethin' like that right now."
Home.
She lifted her eyes and gazed at the miles of flat farming land sprawling in all directions around her.
This was her home now.
With Grant.
She heaved a huge sigh.
As her Father had warned her, life out here was hard.
Money restrictions meant priorities and she had never faced that harsh, stark reality until now.
It was tough walking two miles down and back along the old gravel road when she was so used to having a car. It was demeaning to wear the same clothes day after day after day when she had always had such an extensive wardrobe. It was exhausting rising at dawn, working at the market all day and then tending to the farmhouse.
A small smirk stole across Josephine Brown's face.
But there was one thing about living out here that wasn't tough.
The ecstasy the two of them experienced under the covers before falling asleep in each other's arms.
The smirk grew into a mischievous grin.
And the ecstasy the two of them experienced under the covers when they awoke.
The smile grew bigger.
And all the other times too.
The rumble of an engine distracted her from her thoughts.
She looked in the direction of the noise. Down along the gravel road rattled an old red tractor. Behind the wheel was the handsome young Tracy son in his tattered hat and faded blue overalls.
He gave her a broad smile and waved.
She smiled and waved back.
The mere glimpse of his dazzling smile immediately took away all the tiredness she felt and by the time the tractor came to a standstill beside her she was positively beaming.
"Hey there young Lady! " he grinned jovially. "You come down this here road often?"
She gave him a coy smile.
"I might Mister. What's it to you?"
He winked.
"Ah nothin' Just out prowlin' around tryin' to find myself a woman for the night."
She winked back.
"I ain't just any woman you know."
He winked again.
"I ain't just any man."
She held out her hand to him.
"In that case I guess you found yourself a girl." she winked back.
He pulled her up onto the tractor beside him, placed his arm around her shoulders and proceeded to kiss her lovingly on the lips.
"How are you doin' baby girl?" he asked tenderly when the kiss ended. "Tired I suppose."
She shrugged.
"Yeah a bit."
"Oh well. Guess it's early to bed for you and me again tonight huh?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah right Grant!"
Grant laughed and turned the tractor around to head back towards the farmhouse. The two of them sat together teasing each other until the gleaming white picket fence came into view.
They were home.
"Mighty fine lookin' fence you got there Mr. Tracy." she observed happily.
"Mighty fine lady painted it for me too." he responded, slipping his arm around her shoulders again and guiding the tractor through the gate. She tugged at his sleeve as he continued straight ahead down towards the barn.
"Grant ... don't take me all the way down to the barn honey. Just let me out here and I'll go inside and start our dinner."
Grant Tracy said nothing and continued to drive the tractor.
"Grant!" she frowned as he passed the barn and headed towards the wheatfields. "Stop all your foolin' around and take me back up to the house. I got work I gotta do."
"You ain't goin' anywhere Josephine Brown 'cept with me." he replied. "I got somethin' I wanna show you down in the back field."
She slapped his arm.
"No way!!!! I got a feelin' I've already seen far too much of what you're gonna show me down in that back field Grant Daniel Tracy."
"We'll see." he grinned.
Josephine Brown shook her head at him, folded her arms and knitted her eyebrows together.
"You'd better have brought along somethin' for me to lie on then that's all I'll say. I'm still mindful of that hay bale I endured the other day in the barn."
"Well you did ask a hot-blooded farmer to be your husband Miss Brown." he said in the sternest voice he could muster without laughing.
The sun had begun to set over the Tracy farm in Kansas when Grant finally brought the old red tractor to a standstill. The two of them sat side by side quietly looking back towards the farmhouse.It was now merely a small white building on the horizon glowing in the red and yellow magnificence of the setting sun.
But for the first time in many years it glowed not in front of barren, drought stricken land but in front of fields of green.
The promise of a wheat crop.
Their future.
The crop Daniel Tracy had sowed himself with the last of the money Walter Brown had been prepared to lend him.
Grant crossed himself at the sight of it.
God willing the fields of green would now prosper to become fields of gold.
Grant's tearful eyes stared into the horizon.
"Daddy wouldda been so proud this crop of his was gonna make it. " he said in a husky voice.
He felt Josephine rest her head on his shoulder.
"I know." she said gently.
She felt him slip his arm around her waist.
"I sure do miss him Josephine."
"I miss him too Grant."
The sun began to sink lower in the sky and the farmhouse was now bathed in a glorious pink light.
He turned to look into the eyes of Josephine Brown.
"Now it's just you and me."
She turned to look into the eyes of Grant Tracy.
"I don't mind."
His eyes held hers.
"I don't mind either."
"I love you handsome." she whispered.
"I love you too little girl."
Their lips met fleetingly in a gentle kiss of love.
"Josie."
"What?"
"You and me are just like Momma and Daddy."
"What makes you say that?"
"They often used to sit out here on the tractor and watch the sun go down."
She snuggled her body closer to his and looked at the magnificent sky.
"I can see why. It's really beautiful out here."
She smiled at him.
"Kinda romantic too."
He smiled in return and squeezed her close to him.
They both turned back towards the sunset.
"Momma used to tell Daddy he was a romantic."
"He was."
"How do you figure that?"
"Who else do you know defies a Bank Manager for love?"
The sun sank lower into the sky.
"I know someone." a quiet voice murmured.
"Who?"
"Me."
Josephine Brown looked at the handsome young farmer at her side. Truer words had never been spoken. He was prepared to give up everything … his farm … his livelihood …his home …for her.
Her eyes shone with the love she felt for him.
"I guess that makes you a romantic too."
They shared another tender kiss.
As their lips parted Grant Tracy lowered his head and cleared his throat.
"I guess that brings me to the real reason I brought you all the way out here tonight Josie."
Her face immediately became guarded.
"Uh oh. Grant I already told you I'm not…"
He placed his index finger over her lips and quieted her.
"Shush young lady. It ain't what you're thinkin' and shame on you for thinkin' it in the first place."
His face gave nothing away.
"Well … why am I out here then Grant?"
"I want to say somethin' to you."
"All right … but you'd better say it fast huh. It's gettin' cold out here now that the sun's almost gone."
She shivered to make her point.
Grant failed to notice.He was too busy taking both of her hands in his and holding them tight.
His firm voice was steady as he began to speak.
"Josephine."
"What?"
"I love you."
Her voice was steady.
"Grant I know you do."
His eyes held hers.
"And nothin' is ever gonna change that 'til the day I die you understand me?"
Her eyes held his.
"Yes Grant I do."
"And because it won't I want to give somethin' special that belonged to my momma."
He silently pulled off the bandaid and slipped the engagement ring onto her finger.
He heard her sharp intake of breath as she realised what it was.
"There have been only two women I've loved in my life Josephine." he said. "My momma… "
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"And you."
Tears welled in her eyes and overflowed silently down her cheeks.
"Will you marry me this evenin' Josephine Brown?" he whispered.
Josephine looked down at the magnificent ring. The diamonds sparkled in the last throes of light radiating from the sinking sun. She looked back into the eyes of Grant Daniel Tracy.
For the first time in her life she was speechless.
Grant looked at her expectantly.
"You gonna give me an answer then young lady?"
"Grant … how did you get this?" she finally managed to breathe. "I thought you said you sold it."
Grant continued to hold both of her hands in his.
"You haven't answered my question Josephine. I'm wantin' to become a married man tonight and I need myself a bride. "
"Grant we can't get married tonight … I don't have …"
"Miss Brown." he said severely. "Don't tell me I gotta go gettin' all firm with you again just to get an answer to my marriage proposal."
A persuasive smile then stole over his features, the one she had never been able to resist.
"Please say yes to me Josie." he said softly.
Her heart melted.
"Of course I'll marry you tonight Grant." she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I've been ready to marry you for the past three years."
The kiss began as one last orange ray lingered over the fields of green. It ended in the darkness on the old red tractor.
"I love you Josephine." whispered the voice in the blackness.
"I love you too Grant." whispered the other.
He leaned forward and started up the engine.
"Well Miss Brown. Guess we should get on back to the house and organise ourselves if we're gonna go into town and stand in front of the Minister."
The tractor lurched forward in the darkness and began the journey it had taken so many times before.
As he had suspected it didn't take her long.
"You know Grant … we haven't got a truck to get ourselves into town."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And no money to pay for a ride."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
And I don't have anything to wear but this dress I've been washin' and wearin' for the past two weeks."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And I don't have any make-up."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And my hair ain't done."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And not only that you still haven't told me how you got this ring back."
The old red tractor passed the barn and continued up towards the farmhouse.
"I know."
She paused and looked at him grin to himself.
"And you ain't gonna tell me are you Grant?"
The farmhouse now came into view.
"No."
"Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"What's that's supposed to mean?"
Grant Tracy brought the tractor to a standstill and motioned her to look straight ahead.
Standing on the front porch of the farmhouse was unmistakable figure of Walter Brown.
Grant felt Josephine's whole body stiffen beside him.
He immediately gave her a warning glance.
"Now you just settle down and mind yourself." he said in a quiet voice. "I asked your Daddy to come here tonight and I want you to hear him out before you fly off the handle and get us both into trouble again."
She sat bolt upright on the tractor with her jaw clamped tight.
"You understand me Josephine?" he re-iterated. "Not one word outta you."
She didn't need to say anything. Her face said it all.
Grant glanced to the heavens and said a silent prayer for her silence before jumping down off the tractor. He walked around to where she sat and held out his hand to help her down.
"Come on let's go talk to him. "
She folded her arms stubbornly and looked away.
"No."
Grant rolled his eyes.
"Josie …he's got somethin' he wants to say to you."
Her arms remained folded and her resolve stayed firm.
"Well I ain't got nothin' I care to say to him."
Grant heaved a huge sigh and reached forward and picked her up from where she sat on the tractor and carried her in his arms towards the farmhouse.
"You can at least make an effort to listen I'm sure." he grimaced, the pain in his back reminding him he really wasn't up to lifting a hay bale let alone a protesting young woman who wanted nothing whatsoever to do with her Father.
"Put me down right now Grant." she insisted. "I ain't sayin' nothin' to that man."
"I don't want you to say anythin'. I want you to keep quiet for once in your life and just listen."
Grant finally set her down at the base of the stairs and stood firmly holding her hand. Walter Brown's voice echoed nervously from the porch.
"Evenin' Grant." he said.
"Evenin' Sir." Grant replied. "Thanks for comin' out here at such short notice."
Walter walked down the stairs until he stood face to face with his feisty young daughter.
"Hello Josephine." he murmured.
Grant's hand tightened on hers urging her to reply.
She clenched her teeth together and gave him a terse acknowledgement of her head.
"Err...how've you been honey?" Walter stammered.
Grant watched her lips pout and her frown deepen. Lord she was difficult to control. He remembered the words of his Father uttered that night on the porch when he had first indicated he wanted to marry her.
"From what I've seen of Miss Josephine so far bein' firm with her ain't gonna be easy."
Grant sighed. His Father had certainly got that right. Josephine was a law unto herself.
But much to his surprise she didn't reply and her deadly silence only served to embarrass him further.
"It's polite to speak when you're spoken to Josephine. " he pointed out.
She gave Grant a sulky glare before blurting abruptly.
"I ain't complainin'."
The tone of her voice was enough for Walter Brown. But he had expected it. Josephine was a fiercely determined young woman and once she was forced to make a stand on anything she stood firm.
"Honey ... Grant asked me to come over here this evening ..."
Her brow furrowed and her mouth opened.
Grant's hand gripped hers harder.
"Ow Grant." she protested.
"Well keep your mouth shut and listen." was his curt reply.
Walter continued.
"He asked me to come and take the two of you into town so you can get married."
Josephine lifted her chin with her usual defiance and said with an icy clarity.
"I'm not acceptin' anythin' from you... not even a ride."
"You accepted momma's ring Josephine." Grant said quietly.
"What's the ring got to do with it?" she frowned.
"It was your Daddy who got it back for me so I could give it to you."
Her eyes moved between Grant and her Father. She knew what her Father was up to. He was trying to right things with material possessions like he always did. Only her great respect for the ring Grant had placed on her finger and the story of love behind it stopped her pulling it off and throwing it to the ground in front of him.
She said with the same defiance.
"I'd rather walk thank you."
"Sweetheart it's twenty miles into town you know." Walter reminded her.
"I know it's twenty miles." she retorted. "You made me walk every step of the way remember?"
He hung his head.
"Yes honey I do remember."
Walter Brown's voice reeked with humility as he looked at the hurt and angry face of his eldest daughter. It was time he apologised.
"Josie ...I'm sorry for what happened the other day. I think we all let our tempers get the better of us. I was angry and tired. You were angry and in no mood to listen ... and as for the things Victoria said ... they were downright uncalled for. I'm not making excuses for myself or Victoria but what was said and done to you was wrong. I know that and I'm truly sorry."
"Hmmph. " she sniffed, eyeing him with suspicion. "More likely my Momma ain't talkin' to you for throwin' me out that's why you know you were wrong."
"Enough Josephine..." warned the steady voice of Grant Tracy. "Your Daddy is tryin' to apologise."
Walter shook his head sadly.
"No Josephine." he swallowed with tears in his eyes. "Momma left me a few days ago... the night I was out here at the farm sortin' things out with Grant. I went home to tell her things would be all right again and ... well ... it was too late."
Tears immediately filled Josephine's eyes. She remembered Victoria in the bar pleading with her to come home, saying how upset their Mother was at what had happened. She had refused to listen.
"Oh no Daddy." she breathed in dismay. "I can't believe she did that."
Walter Brown shrugged.
"It's all my fault I guess. Your Momma was mighty unhappy with me for what happened between us all and I guess she lost her patience waitin' for things to be put right."
The grief he felt inside now poured out of him.
"I shouldda righted things between us that very first evenin' Josephine but ...but it's hard for a man like me to admit he was wrong."
He looked towards the darked horizon.
"Your Momma cried after you every single day and I ignored it. Last Saturday night she finally stopped cryin' long enough to remind me of when we were young ; how much in love we used to be and how hard we struggled to find money. I didn't realise it at the time but she was givin' me one last chance to right things...and stupidly I still didn't."
A tear trickled down his cheek.
"And because I didn't I've lost everything. "
His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"I've lost my little Josephine."
Another tear fell.
"And now I've lost her Momma."
"Oh Daddy." Josephine whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Grant Tracy released her hand and watched with relief as Josephine Brown moved towards her Father and wrapped her arms around him.
"Daddy ... you haven't lost me. All I ask is you let me love Grant and give us a chance to make a life for ourselves."
Walter Brown's arms enveloped her and he began to sob like a child.
"Of course I'll give you a chance honey. I'll give you all the chances you need if you'll forgive me. I only wanted what I thought was best for you."
"I understand Daddy ..." she whispered. "But you gotta remember I'm not a little girl anymore."
She looked into his eyes.
"I'm a woman."
His arms pulled her tighter to his chest.
"Yes you are honey and Grant's one damned fine young man."
Grant Tracy decided it was now time to make himself scarce and began to walk towards the old red Tractor.
"Guess I'll leave you two to talk about things then." he said quietly as he moved away. "I gotta be closin' down the barn for the night before we go into town."
Before he turned on the engine he looked one last time at Walter and Josephine Brown embracing near the old picket fence of the farmhouse.
"Like you always told me when you were down here Daddy, family's more important than anythin'." he murmured looking up at the sky. "'Bout time the Brown family remembered that huh?"
With that he swung the Tractor in the direction of the barn.
Tonight he was going to marry his precious Josephine.
It had been one remarkable day.
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THE END Author's Note:- I hope you have enjoyed this little story about the beginnings of the Tracy Dynasty. mcj ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FENCES AND FAMILIES - STORY TWO - UNHAPPINESS INSIDE THE FENCE A disgruntled young farmer - Jefferson Tracy wants to spread his wings ... and fly
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FENCES AND FAMILIES- STORY ONE - EPILOGUE - PART 2
GRANT AND JOSEPHINE TRACY - A FAMILY CREATES A DYNASTY
Picture a Fence - " A barrier to prevent access"
Then Picture a Family - "A Set of parents and their children"
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Grant Tracy looked over at the clock on the old sideboard in the lounge room of his Kansas home and frowned. Ten thirty on a Sunday evening. Who the heck in their right mind came knocking on a sleeping Farmer's door at this hour of the night?
Grant quickly did a mental check.
No.
Josephine had been asleep beside him. At least that was a relief.
They had both gone to bed an hour ago exhausted after working all day on the farm.
Grant rolled his eyes as he limped down the hallway pulling on his T-shirt. Who would be here to see him at this time of the night? Whoever was at the door had better have a good excuse for waking him. He didn't get enough sleep these days as it was.
The knock on the door became more urgent and Grant knew whoever it was didn't intend to go away and leave him in peace. Obviously whoever it was had no sense of time, no common sense and definitely no manners.
"I'm comin'. I'm comin'" he muttered in an annoyed voice as he made his way to the door.
He turned on the light on the porch and slowly opened the unlocked door. Standing on the porch was a tall, middle-aged man dressed immaculately in his business suit and wearing a tie.
"Hello Grant." he said nervously. "It's not too late to be calling by is it son?"
Despite the fact the man in front of him controlled his destiny; Grant Tracy decided to say his piece anyway.
"It's ten thirty in the evenin' Mr Brown and both of us are in bed." he said abruptly.
Walter Brown lowered his head and reddened.
"I'm sorry Grant. I've been at the Office. I must have lost track of the time."
Grant looked at the expensive car parked out in front of the farmhouse. It was the car that belonged to the bank.
"Well Mr Brown, if it's Josephine you've come to see she's asleep and I'd rather not wake her if you don't mind. She's workin' an extra shift at the market tomorrow and needs a decent rest."
Grant watched as Walter Brown nodded his head and shuffled his feet around.
"Mr. Brown you and me both know what Josephine's like."
"Grant, son, I don't want you to wake her. I'm relieved she's asleep if you want the honest truth."
"Oh?" Grant enquired. "Why's that then Sir?"
Walter Brown bit both lips together and stammered.
"W...Well son. I really want to talk to you."
After a short pause he added. "And what I've come to say tonight can't wait anymore son."
Grant's stomach turned and his heart filled with dread. Please God not his farm ... not everything he and his Father had worked for all these years.
He looked down with resignation.
It wasn't as if Walter Brown hadn't warned him it was going to happen.
"All right Mr. Brown." he said quietly. "You wanna come inside and say what you gotta say to me Sir?"
Walter Brown shook his head.
"No Grant."
"Well all right. You can just say it to me here then."
Walter Brown looked nervous as he glanced down the hallway in the direction of the bedroom.
"Grant." he said, "If you don't mind, I'd prefer it if we spoke out of Josephine's hearing."
Grant's eyes followed Walter's. He was obviously uneasy about things. He shrugged. Grant was sure he was used to throwing people off their land. Six people he knew of had lost their farms to the Bank in the last few months and Walter Brown had expertly handled them all.
"Very well Sir. Let's go out on the porch."
He looked sadly around the walls of the simple home where he had been raised before he walked outside to hear his fate. He guessed what Walter Brown had to say wouldn't take him very long. Walter Brown was the Bank Manager who needed to say very little namely because there was very little to say . His Father hadn't been able to afford to pay what he owed before he died and he was foreclosing on the farm. That was all there was to it.
"Would you mind very much if we went right out to the fence Grant?"
"The fence Sir?" he asked. "Why the fence?"
Walter fixed his dark blue eyes on Grant Tracy and said matter-of-factly.
"I'll know for sure Josephine can't hear us son."
Grant nodded. He didn't blame Walter Brown for being careful he supposed. He had been on the receiving end of Josephine's tongue too many times lately and if she heard he had come to take away the farm late on a Sunday evening, she'd be outside saying her piece in less than ten seconds flat.
He sighed.
Josephine had said way too much already.
"All right Mr. Brown." he said. "After you."
The two of them walked down the darkened pathway towards the old white picket fence in front of the Tracy farmhouse. The air was still as Grant Tracy limped in silence beside the Father of Josephine Brown.
"You're limping son." Walter commented quietly.
"I fell in the barn last week Sir." Grant replied. "My back's still sore."
"You all right?" he asked.
"I'm still able to work Sir if that's what you mean." he said defensively.
Silence fell between the two of them until they neared the fence.
"I see the fence has been painted since the last time I was here." Walter observed.
"Yes Sir Josie did it." Grant said in surprise. The last thing he expected Walter Brown to mention was the old picket fence.
Walter Brown was clearly astonished.
"Josephine? Really? Hmmpph. I never thought she had it in her."
"Well Sir as you can see she does. Told me it was my job to concentrate on the crop and hers to get the house in order. That is of course when she ain't workin' at the market."
His eyes grew wary as he looked at Walter Brown.
"Sir, Josie don't make a lot of money as I guess you already know but even though she went against me and brought herself the paint for the fence we managed to save over two hundred dollars of her wages this week to pay you."
He turned and began to limp back towards the house.
"I'll go get the money and give it to you now Sir."
Walter Brown called him back.
"No son ...wait ..." he began. "I'm afraid you've got things wrong. I didn't come here tonight to badger you for money."
Grant stopped in his tracks and stood deadly still. It was some moments before he found the courage to turn back to look at him.
"Mr Brown." he queried tearfully. "You haven't come here to just throw us out point blank have you Sir?"
Walter Brown cleared his throat and fidgeted with his tie.
"Grant..."
Grant Tracy fixed his dark blue eyes on Walter Brown and pleaded.
"Please Sir ... I don't care for myself no more but if you have any love left in your heart for Josephine, please give us a little more time to get the money together for you. Like I said ... I can give you two hundred dollars right now and more next week..."
Walter Brown remained silent.
Grant continued blindly.
"Please Mr Brown I can learn to live in a truck but I know for a fact Josephine can't. She's able to tolerate most things around here but somethin' like that will break her Sir."
Without flinching Walter Brown lifted his chin and replied.
"I know it will."
He watched Grant Tracy's chest heave with distress before continuing.
"And that's why I've come here... to make damn sure it doesn't."
At Grant's silence Walter added.
"Contrary to what you both think at the moment Grant I do love my daughter ... very, very much."
Grant Tracy had his doubts there. He still pictured Josephine crying her heart out in his arms after walking the twenty miles from the Brown residence to the farmhouse the day he told her to leave.
He lowered his head and looked in the direction of the fence.
"All I know is you threw Josephine out of your home Mr. Brown and that ain't love."
Walter acknowledged his statement with a knowing nod of his head.
"Yes I did." he murmured. "And as my wife and now you have clearly pointed out to me, what I did to Josephine wasn't love and I have never been more wrong in doing anything in my entire life."
Grant watched Walter Brown look sadly towards the farmhouse, then at the old picket fence.
"Mr Brown Sir ... what is it you're tryin' to tell me?" he asked.
"Grant ... I'm here tonight to hopefully set the record straight about Josephine."
Grant Tracy eyed the middle aged man in front of him.
He was the Bank Manager living in a luxurious double storey house on the better side of the town. He didn't struggle to make ends meet. He had the capability to foreclose on four generations of hard, backbreaking work on a wheat farm that was everything to the Tracy family. To him the wheat farm was merely an asset.
He tried to forget about the importance Walter Brown placed on money and recollected all the observations he had made about the Father of Josephine Brown since he had been introduced to him. The observations weren't flattering and all Grant Tracy could visualise was Josephine's tear-stained face on the steps of the farmhouse.
Grant cleared his throat and said directly.
"Mr Brown I'm twenty-five years old and I know I haven't made a big enough mark in this world to judge anyone, but what you did to Josephine last week was pretty darned disappointin'."
Walter hung his head in shame as Grant continued.
"Even though she's a grown woman, you hurt her Sir and I've witnessed enough of her tears to know just exactly how much. She loves you Mr Brown and she misses her family and like me she don't understand why her lovin' me makes a such difference to how you feel about her."
He saw Walter's face fall.
"I love Josephine very much too son." he swallowed. "But you have to understand this dreadful mess only arose because I wanted what I thought was best for her."
Grant fixed his eyes accusingly on Walter Brown.
"With respect Sir. Throwing your daughter outta her home and makin' her walk twenty miles to me for help ain't what I'd call wantin' the best for her."
Walter Brown could only stand ashamed and allow himself to be admonished.
"I know that Grant." he murmured. "And believe me I'm sorry for it."
Grant Tracy went silent himself and thought carefully before he continued.
"Mr Brown I promised you out the front of your sandstone fence six months ago that I'd provide for Josephine and treat her right if you let me have her. I meant that Sir and even though I know what you think of me I've been doin' just that since the day she left your home."
Walter nodded.
"I know you have Grant. You're a fine boy."
Walter watched as the young man reached out his hand to touch the old picket fence.
"Yeah I was fine in your estimation 'till you found out I had aspirations of marryin' your daughter." he murmured.
He once again looked directly into the eyes of Walter Brown.
"Well I'm still gonna do it Mr Brown. With or without your consent."
He took a deep breath and delivered to the Bank Manager what he knew would be his death knell.
"And with or without my farm."
Walter Brown braced himself.
He looked one last time at the tall quietly spoken young man standing next to him beside the fence. He doubted if he would ever meet anyone more worthy to marry his daughter than Grant Daniel Tracy. Honest as the day was long, hard-working to the point of exhaustion and more trustworthy than everyone he knew in the Town put together. A delightful young man with a love of family and an attribute no Father had the right to ignore.
A complete and unconditional love for his daughter.
As Alice had said, the boy had done nothing to him personally. His only crimes were to be born the son of a modest, well-mannered wheat Farmer who had struggled to make himself a living...and the fact he wanted Josephine.
Walter finally forced himself to admit to things.
Grant Tracy wanted to take his little girl away from him and he did not want her to go. She was his first-born daughter with big blue eyes and a feisty personality. She was the daughter who had defied him to work in a market when she could have used her College degree to carve out a career for herself. The daughter he secretly admired for her steadfast determination to live her life as she chose and not how he had mapped it out to be.
The only one of his daughters to be completely true to herself.
He swallowed as reality suddenly reared up and forced him to see things as they really were.
Josephine wanted Grant and Grant wanted Josephine. Nothing he said or did was going to change that fact and Walter knew if he took away the Tracy farm now the only one who would lose as a result of it would be himself.
His precious Alice would leave his life.
Josephine would never speak to him again and no matter what, she would doggedly stay by Grant's side if only to prove her point.
Walter Brown smiled at the irony of it all.
Ever since she had been a little girl Josephine always got what she wanted. She persisted and persisted until she finally wore him down.
He looked the simple fence and the man his daughter loved deeply enough to walk away from everything.
He guessed she'd worn him down this time too.
He cleared his throat.
"All right Grant if you're able to pay some money to the Bank regularly I don't think it's necessary to bring the farm into this argument any longer." he said in a business like voice.
The tone then altered.
"The argument is now only about how much you love my daughter and how serious the two of you are about marriage."
Walter watched as the eyes of the young man filled with honesty.
"Mr Brown, no-one loves Josephine more than I do. I'm real grateful to you for the second chance to pay the money back and I promise you I'll do it no matter what sacrifices I have to make. I also wanna assure you that Josephine and me are deadly serious about gettin' married."
His voice lowered and he said with sincerity.
"I would never have taken Josie into my bed if I didn't intend to marry her Sir."
Walter Brown acknowledged his admission and looked up at the sky. It looked like more rain was coming and he guessed he'd better go. Besides it had all been said between them now.
He pulled out the keys to the mercedes parked in front of the farmhouse.
"Well then Grant I guess you've told me what I want to hear so I'd better be on my way. You've got an early rise in the morning I've no doubt."
He extended his hand.
"Thanks for hearing me out son. I'm really sorry for waking you up."
Grant Tracy's hand came up slowly and Walter Brown shook it firmly.
"Good night to you Grant."
He started to walk towards the car before suddenly turning back to face him.
"Grant ... ummmm.... I'd sure appreciate it if you told Josephine I called by tonight and wanted to apologise for what happened."
Grant Tracy felt like a total heel. This was Josephine's Father and he knew she still loved him. He really should go into the house and wake her.
"Mr Brown..." he said. "Wait Sir."
Walter Brown turned around and fixed his saddened eyes on Grant Tracy.
"Yes Grant?"
"Mr Brown, I know Josephine would wanna see you and make things up Sir. Please ... let me go wake her ..."
Walter shook his head and said in a resigned voice.
"No son... I'm afraid Josephine isn't that agreeable when it comes to me."
With that he turned back and headed for the car.
Grant watched him go. It was like Walter Brown had given up all hope of a reconciliation with Josephine. The strong sense of family instilled in him by his Father reared up inside him.
He limped down the path towards the car as Walter opened the door.
"Mr Brown." he blurted. "Please don't go until I wake Josephine. I'm sure she'd wanna listen to you for one thing ... and accept your apology for another."
"No I already know what Josephine is like son."
"I know she has too much to say most of the time but I'm sure she'd listen to you this time Sir."
"No Grant I'm afraid you're wrong."
"I'm not wrong Sir. I'm gonna marry her. I'll make sure she listens."
Walter Brown did not reply. Despite the fact he knew Grant had an influence over Josephine that no-one else did, nobody told her to do anything she didn't want to do if they knew what was good for them.
He started the ignition and waited for the engine to roar into life.
"It's OK Grant." he said. "Good night."
With that Walter Brown fastened his seat belt and began to drive away.
Suddenly the car stopped and after a few minutes Walter emerged and walked back to where Grant stood in front of the white picket fence.
"You forget somethin' Sir?" he asked.
"Yes I did Grant." Walter said gruffly. "Can you believe it was the main reason I came to see you in the first place?"
Walter Brown reached into his pocket.
"I believe I have something which belongs to you."
Grant looked at Walter Brown's hand. In it was a red velvet box. The box was old and somewhat tattered in places but he knew without opening it what it contained.
Something more precious to him than anything.
His Mother's engagement ring.
Confusion spread across his face.
"Sir?" he frowned.
"One of the last things my daughter told me was that you had to sell this to pay for your Father's funeral." he said. "Well ... I believe you intended it for Josephine and as such I have taken the liberty of buying it back on your behalf and having her name engraved next to your Mother's."
He smiled.
"I saw your Mother's name was Ellen."
Grant nodded.
"Yes Sir."
"I wanted to name Josephine Ellen. What a co-incidence."
Grant's eyes filled.
"Sir .... I ....I don't know what to say to all this."
Walter Brown extended the box towards the emotional young man.
"Don't say anything Grant." he said. "Just take it."
Grant brushed the tears from his eyes and took the box.
"You have no idea how much this means to me Sir ... and what it will mean to Josephine."
For the first time in his life Walter Brown felt he had wisdom.
He smiled knowingly.
"Somehow I think I do know what it means to the two of you Grant."
He paused and then added.
"Son, just for the record, my Father did it for me once too."
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She hung her head and swung her handbag this way and that as she wearily trudged up the gravelled road towards the farmhouse. The last miles always seemed to be the longest especially when she had been on her feet all day and was deadly tired.
Josephine Brown sighed with resignation. She guessed she should be grateful. At least she only had to walk two miles instead of twenty. Marvin had been very kind to her since the truck had broken down and gladly gave her a lift to and from the turn-off to the farm so she was still able to get herself to work.
Josephine couldn't believe the bad luck she and Grant had faced in little over two weeks together. First the tractor, then the hot water ... now the truck. Grant was at his wits end and told her they could only afford to fix one thing at a time.
She'd wanted to fix the hot water.
He told her it had to be the tractor. He couldn't farm without it.
The truck would be second.
Then the hot water.
"Three more weeks of cold showering." she muttered unhappily trying not to think of the relaxing hot bath she would have treated herself to at home. "What I wouldn't give to lie back in somethin' like that right now."
Home.
She lifted her eyes and gazed at the miles of flat farming land sprawling in all directions around her.
This was her home now.
With Grant.
She heaved a huge sigh.
As her Father had warned her, life out here was hard.
Money restrictions meant priorities and she had never faced that harsh, stark reality until now.
It was tough walking two miles down and back along the old gravel road when she was so used to having a car. It was demeaning to wear the same clothes day after day after day when she had always had such an extensive wardrobe. It was exhausting rising at dawn, working at the market all day and then tending to the farmhouse.
A small smirk stole across Josephine Brown's face.
But there was one thing about living out here that wasn't tough.
The ecstasy the two of them experienced under the covers before falling asleep in each other's arms.
The smirk grew into a mischievous grin.
And the ecstasy the two of them experienced under the covers when they awoke.
The smile grew bigger.
And all the other times too.
The rumble of an engine distracted her from her thoughts.
She looked in the direction of the noise. Down along the gravel road rattled an old red tractor. Behind the wheel was the handsome young Tracy son in his tattered hat and faded blue overalls.
He gave her a broad smile and waved.
She smiled and waved back.
The mere glimpse of his dazzling smile immediately took away all the tiredness she felt and by the time the tractor came to a standstill beside her she was positively beaming.
"Hey there young Lady! " he grinned jovially. "You come down this here road often?"
She gave him a coy smile.
"I might Mister. What's it to you?"
He winked.
"Ah nothin' Just out prowlin' around tryin' to find myself a woman for the night."
She winked back.
"I ain't just any woman you know."
He winked again.
"I ain't just any man."
She held out her hand to him.
"In that case I guess you found yourself a girl." she winked back.
He pulled her up onto the tractor beside him, placed his arm around her shoulders and proceeded to kiss her lovingly on the lips.
"How are you doin' baby girl?" he asked tenderly when the kiss ended. "Tired I suppose."
She shrugged.
"Yeah a bit."
"Oh well. Guess it's early to bed for you and me again tonight huh?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah right Grant!"
Grant laughed and turned the tractor around to head back towards the farmhouse. The two of them sat together teasing each other until the gleaming white picket fence came into view.
They were home.
"Mighty fine lookin' fence you got there Mr. Tracy." she observed happily.
"Mighty fine lady painted it for me too." he responded, slipping his arm around her shoulders again and guiding the tractor through the gate. She tugged at his sleeve as he continued straight ahead down towards the barn.
"Grant ... don't take me all the way down to the barn honey. Just let me out here and I'll go inside and start our dinner."
Grant Tracy said nothing and continued to drive the tractor.
"Grant!" she frowned as he passed the barn and headed towards the wheatfields. "Stop all your foolin' around and take me back up to the house. I got work I gotta do."
"You ain't goin' anywhere Josephine Brown 'cept with me." he replied. "I got somethin' I wanna show you down in the back field."
She slapped his arm.
"No way!!!! I got a feelin' I've already seen far too much of what you're gonna show me down in that back field Grant Daniel Tracy."
"We'll see." he grinned.
Josephine Brown shook her head at him, folded her arms and knitted her eyebrows together.
"You'd better have brought along somethin' for me to lie on then that's all I'll say. I'm still mindful of that hay bale I endured the other day in the barn."
"Well you did ask a hot-blooded farmer to be your husband Miss Brown." he said in the sternest voice he could muster without laughing.
The sun had begun to set over the Tracy farm in Kansas when Grant finally brought the old red tractor to a standstill. The two of them sat side by side quietly looking back towards the farmhouse.It was now merely a small white building on the horizon glowing in the red and yellow magnificence of the setting sun.
But for the first time in many years it glowed not in front of barren, drought stricken land but in front of fields of green.
The promise of a wheat crop.
Their future.
The crop Daniel Tracy had sowed himself with the last of the money Walter Brown had been prepared to lend him.
Grant crossed himself at the sight of it.
God willing the fields of green would now prosper to become fields of gold.
Grant's tearful eyes stared into the horizon.
"Daddy wouldda been so proud this crop of his was gonna make it. " he said in a husky voice.
He felt Josephine rest her head on his shoulder.
"I know." she said gently.
She felt him slip his arm around her waist.
"I sure do miss him Josephine."
"I miss him too Grant."
The sun began to sink lower in the sky and the farmhouse was now bathed in a glorious pink light.
He turned to look into the eyes of Josephine Brown.
"Now it's just you and me."
She turned to look into the eyes of Grant Tracy.
"I don't mind."
His eyes held hers.
"I don't mind either."
"I love you handsome." she whispered.
"I love you too little girl."
Their lips met fleetingly in a gentle kiss of love.
"Josie."
"What?"
"You and me are just like Momma and Daddy."
"What makes you say that?"
"They often used to sit out here on the tractor and watch the sun go down."
She snuggled her body closer to his and looked at the magnificent sky.
"I can see why. It's really beautiful out here."
She smiled at him.
"Kinda romantic too."
He smiled in return and squeezed her close to him.
They both turned back towards the sunset.
"Momma used to tell Daddy he was a romantic."
"He was."
"How do you figure that?"
"Who else do you know defies a Bank Manager for love?"
The sun sank lower into the sky.
"I know someone." a quiet voice murmured.
"Who?"
"Me."
Josephine Brown looked at the handsome young farmer at her side. Truer words had never been spoken. He was prepared to give up everything … his farm … his livelihood …his home …for her.
Her eyes shone with the love she felt for him.
"I guess that makes you a romantic too."
They shared another tender kiss.
As their lips parted Grant Tracy lowered his head and cleared his throat.
"I guess that brings me to the real reason I brought you all the way out here tonight Josie."
Her face immediately became guarded.
"Uh oh. Grant I already told you I'm not…"
He placed his index finger over her lips and quieted her.
"Shush young lady. It ain't what you're thinkin' and shame on you for thinkin' it in the first place."
His face gave nothing away.
"Well … why am I out here then Grant?"
"I want to say somethin' to you."
"All right … but you'd better say it fast huh. It's gettin' cold out here now that the sun's almost gone."
She shivered to make her point.
Grant failed to notice.He was too busy taking both of her hands in his and holding them tight.
His firm voice was steady as he began to speak.
"Josephine."
"What?"
"I love you."
Her voice was steady.
"Grant I know you do."
His eyes held hers.
"And nothin' is ever gonna change that 'til the day I die you understand me?"
Her eyes held his.
"Yes Grant I do."
"And because it won't I want to give somethin' special that belonged to my momma."
He silently pulled off the bandaid and slipped the engagement ring onto her finger.
He heard her sharp intake of breath as she realised what it was.
"There have been only two women I've loved in my life Josephine." he said. "My momma… "
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"And you."
Tears welled in her eyes and overflowed silently down her cheeks.
"Will you marry me this evenin' Josephine Brown?" he whispered.
Josephine looked down at the magnificent ring. The diamonds sparkled in the last throes of light radiating from the sinking sun. She looked back into the eyes of Grant Daniel Tracy.
For the first time in her life she was speechless.
Grant looked at her expectantly.
"You gonna give me an answer then young lady?"
"Grant … how did you get this?" she finally managed to breathe. "I thought you said you sold it."
Grant continued to hold both of her hands in his.
"You haven't answered my question Josephine. I'm wantin' to become a married man tonight and I need myself a bride. "
"Grant we can't get married tonight … I don't have …"
"Miss Brown." he said severely. "Don't tell me I gotta go gettin' all firm with you again just to get an answer to my marriage proposal."
A persuasive smile then stole over his features, the one she had never been able to resist.
"Please say yes to me Josie." he said softly.
Her heart melted.
"Of course I'll marry you tonight Grant." she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I've been ready to marry you for the past three years."
The kiss began as one last orange ray lingered over the fields of green. It ended in the darkness on the old red tractor.
"I love you Josephine." whispered the voice in the blackness.
"I love you too Grant." whispered the other.
He leaned forward and started up the engine.
"Well Miss Brown. Guess we should get on back to the house and organise ourselves if we're gonna go into town and stand in front of the Minister."
The tractor lurched forward in the darkness and began the journey it had taken so many times before.
As he had suspected it didn't take her long.
"You know Grant … we haven't got a truck to get ourselves into town."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And no money to pay for a ride."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
And I don't have anything to wear but this dress I've been washin' and wearin' for the past two weeks."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And I don't have any make-up."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And my hair ain't done."
The tractor rattled on.
"I know."
"And not only that you still haven't told me how you got this ring back."
The old red tractor passed the barn and continued up towards the farmhouse.
"I know."
She paused and looked at him grin to himself.
"And you ain't gonna tell me are you Grant?"
The farmhouse now came into view.
"No."
"Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"What's that's supposed to mean?"
Grant Tracy brought the tractor to a standstill and motioned her to look straight ahead.
Standing on the front porch of the farmhouse was unmistakable figure of Walter Brown.
Grant felt Josephine's whole body stiffen beside him.
He immediately gave her a warning glance.
"Now you just settle down and mind yourself." he said in a quiet voice. "I asked your Daddy to come here tonight and I want you to hear him out before you fly off the handle and get us both into trouble again."
She sat bolt upright on the tractor with her jaw clamped tight.
"You understand me Josephine?" he re-iterated. "Not one word outta you."
She didn't need to say anything. Her face said it all.
Grant glanced to the heavens and said a silent prayer for her silence before jumping down off the tractor. He walked around to where she sat and held out his hand to help her down.
"Come on let's go talk to him. "
She folded her arms stubbornly and looked away.
"No."
Grant rolled his eyes.
"Josie …he's got somethin' he wants to say to you."
Her arms remained folded and her resolve stayed firm.
"Well I ain't got nothin' I care to say to him."
Grant heaved a huge sigh and reached forward and picked her up from where she sat on the tractor and carried her in his arms towards the farmhouse.
"You can at least make an effort to listen I'm sure." he grimaced, the pain in his back reminding him he really wasn't up to lifting a hay bale let alone a protesting young woman who wanted nothing whatsoever to do with her Father.
"Put me down right now Grant." she insisted. "I ain't sayin' nothin' to that man."
"I don't want you to say anythin'. I want you to keep quiet for once in your life and just listen."
Grant finally set her down at the base of the stairs and stood firmly holding her hand. Walter Brown's voice echoed nervously from the porch.
"Evenin' Grant." he said.
"Evenin' Sir." Grant replied. "Thanks for comin' out here at such short notice."
Walter walked down the stairs until he stood face to face with his feisty young daughter.
"Hello Josephine." he murmured.
Grant's hand tightened on hers urging her to reply.
She clenched her teeth together and gave him a terse acknowledgement of her head.
"Err...how've you been honey?" Walter stammered.
Grant watched her lips pout and her frown deepen. Lord she was difficult to control. He remembered the words of his Father uttered that night on the porch when he had first indicated he wanted to marry her.
"From what I've seen of Miss Josephine so far bein' firm with her ain't gonna be easy."
Grant sighed. His Father had certainly got that right. Josephine was a law unto herself.
But much to his surprise she didn't reply and her deadly silence only served to embarrass him further.
"It's polite to speak when you're spoken to Josephine. " he pointed out.
She gave Grant a sulky glare before blurting abruptly.
"I ain't complainin'."
The tone of her voice was enough for Walter Brown. But he had expected it. Josephine was a fiercely determined young woman and once she was forced to make a stand on anything she stood firm.
"Honey ... Grant asked me to come over here this evening ..."
Her brow furrowed and her mouth opened.
Grant's hand gripped hers harder.
"Ow Grant." she protested.
"Well keep your mouth shut and listen." was his curt reply.
Walter continued.
"He asked me to come and take the two of you into town so you can get married."
Josephine lifted her chin with her usual defiance and said with an icy clarity.
"I'm not acceptin' anythin' from you... not even a ride."
"You accepted momma's ring Josephine." Grant said quietly.
"What's the ring got to do with it?" she frowned.
"It was your Daddy who got it back for me so I could give it to you."
Her eyes moved between Grant and her Father. She knew what her Father was up to. He was trying to right things with material possessions like he always did. Only her great respect for the ring Grant had placed on her finger and the story of love behind it stopped her pulling it off and throwing it to the ground in front of him.
She said with the same defiance.
"I'd rather walk thank you."
"Sweetheart it's twenty miles into town you know." Walter reminded her.
"I know it's twenty miles." she retorted. "You made me walk every step of the way remember?"
He hung his head.
"Yes honey I do remember."
Walter Brown's voice reeked with humility as he looked at the hurt and angry face of his eldest daughter. It was time he apologised.
"Josie ...I'm sorry for what happened the other day. I think we all let our tempers get the better of us. I was angry and tired. You were angry and in no mood to listen ... and as for the things Victoria said ... they were downright uncalled for. I'm not making excuses for myself or Victoria but what was said and done to you was wrong. I know that and I'm truly sorry."
"Hmmph. " she sniffed, eyeing him with suspicion. "More likely my Momma ain't talkin' to you for throwin' me out that's why you know you were wrong."
"Enough Josephine..." warned the steady voice of Grant Tracy. "Your Daddy is tryin' to apologise."
Walter shook his head sadly.
"No Josephine." he swallowed with tears in his eyes. "Momma left me a few days ago... the night I was out here at the farm sortin' things out with Grant. I went home to tell her things would be all right again and ... well ... it was too late."
Tears immediately filled Josephine's eyes. She remembered Victoria in the bar pleading with her to come home, saying how upset their Mother was at what had happened. She had refused to listen.
"Oh no Daddy." she breathed in dismay. "I can't believe she did that."
Walter Brown shrugged.
"It's all my fault I guess. Your Momma was mighty unhappy with me for what happened between us all and I guess she lost her patience waitin' for things to be put right."
The grief he felt inside now poured out of him.
"I shouldda righted things between us that very first evenin' Josephine but ...but it's hard for a man like me to admit he was wrong."
He looked towards the darked horizon.
"Your Momma cried after you every single day and I ignored it. Last Saturday night she finally stopped cryin' long enough to remind me of when we were young ; how much in love we used to be and how hard we struggled to find money. I didn't realise it at the time but she was givin' me one last chance to right things...and stupidly I still didn't."
A tear trickled down his cheek.
"And because I didn't I've lost everything. "
His eyes remained fixed on the horizon.
"I've lost my little Josephine."
Another tear fell.
"And now I've lost her Momma."
"Oh Daddy." Josephine whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Grant Tracy released her hand and watched with relief as Josephine Brown moved towards her Father and wrapped her arms around him.
"Daddy ... you haven't lost me. All I ask is you let me love Grant and give us a chance to make a life for ourselves."
Walter Brown's arms enveloped her and he began to sob like a child.
"Of course I'll give you a chance honey. I'll give you all the chances you need if you'll forgive me. I only wanted what I thought was best for you."
"I understand Daddy ..." she whispered. "But you gotta remember I'm not a little girl anymore."
She looked into his eyes.
"I'm a woman."
His arms pulled her tighter to his chest.
"Yes you are honey and Grant's one damned fine young man."
Grant Tracy decided it was now time to make himself scarce and began to walk towards the old red Tractor.
"Guess I'll leave you two to talk about things then." he said quietly as he moved away. "I gotta be closin' down the barn for the night before we go into town."
Before he turned on the engine he looked one last time at Walter and Josephine Brown embracing near the old picket fence of the farmhouse.
"Like you always told me when you were down here Daddy, family's more important than anythin'." he murmured looking up at the sky. "'Bout time the Brown family remembered that huh?"
With that he swung the Tractor in the direction of the barn.
Tonight he was going to marry his precious Josephine.
It had been one remarkable day.
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THE END Author's Note:- I hope you have enjoyed this little story about the beginnings of the Tracy Dynasty. mcj ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
FENCES AND FAMILIES - STORY TWO - UNHAPPINESS INSIDE THE FENCE A disgruntled young farmer - Jefferson Tracy wants to spread his wings ... and fly
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