Author's Notes:

The idea for "Dear Mort" came from a reviewer. Daisy was sorely missed from my first story, "The Reluctant Imposter" and although I tried to fill in the gaps in "Slim's Journal" I still felt that I hadn't given her a loud enough voice. She had to tell her story to someone still in Laramie and to share her feelings with someone close to her age. What better choice than that of Mort Cory! I never intended to write a trilogy, but it seems I just did!

I had two amazing Betas this time around. Calico West's impeccable timing, encouragement, gentle grammar tutoring inspire me every day to open up the floodgates of my imagination. I owe a lot also to Cory Lynne. I was under the impression that I couldn't "write" Mort. I didn't really know the character yet with her knowledge and persistence she helped my version of Mort come to life on these pages. When I doubted that I wasn't getting his character right, she wrote me that "he probably would have been proud of the way I portrayed him." High praise indeed.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank all of you who read and comment. You make me a better writer.

I will be taking a break in writing until after the holidays. But never fear, a new story, tentatively entitled "The Price of Honor" will be published sometime in January or February. I want to wish you health and happiness this season. My new mantra is "Don't let Covid kill Christmas!"

Mustang Sallie

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Laramie or its characters. The only characters not in the television show live in my imagination (Josh and Caleb).

Dear Mort,

I have been wracking my brain to think of the proper way to thank you for all the wonderful letters you have written me over the years. You gave me hope when I thought I'd lost it. You shared your concerns and care of my family. You told me about the "doings" in the town I love so much. You kept your promise to look after Slim. You are a good friend.

This will be my last letter to you. You see I'm coming home. Slim wrote me a long letter which I received last week. He wrote about Jess' 10 page letter to him. I could almost picture them having the conversation on the porch - the way that Jess would rock when he was deep in thought and Slim's way of sitting on the railing instead of a chair. Back in the day, I'd shoo Mike off to bed and take up my sewing by the fire so that I wouldn't hear them talk. I did shed a few tears when I read about Jess and his feelings about Slim and our family. Slim's telegram "anxiously awaiting your arrival" was so perfect.

While I don't know what they spoke about when Jess came home, I can only feel that Slim found the words he'd been searching for because Jess is definitely home to stay. It was hard at first, he wrote, to get back to working with someone again. Caleb had been a big part of his being able to keep the ranch in good, working order.

By the way, why didn't you tell me that Slim had lung fever? If I had known, I would have come home right away! Slim wrote that Marcie had organized the "feed Slim Sherman drive", as he called it and you kept dropping by to see how he was doing. I guess you wanted to keep me safe but Mort, my family means everything to me. I'm not mad at you for hiding it from me. I was last week but I realized that you were trying to look out for me.

Slim wrote so beautifully to me about the family having a huge hole in it. He again begged my forgiveness for sending me away and asked if I would consider coming home. He wrote that he knew that things would be different - Mike was a young man now and could mostly look after himself. Andy, busy with patients, was seldom home and he and Jess knew how to cook -well not burn their meals anyway. I would have almost nothing to do expect be loved by all of them. I have to stop now - I'm crying.

Of course, I couldn't refuse - my place, or rather my heart belongs at the ranch with my boys and I dare say, a daughter-in-law as Slim has finally proposed to Marcie!

Well, I have to stop writing now. I still have some packing to do. I'm being escorted home today by two handsome men and I can't wait to see them.

Be prepared for a great big hug of thanks.

Daisy

Daisy POV:

My dear, late husband, once wrote me a love letter in which he expressed his desire to love me all my days. I think about him and our son on days like this. The days are getting shorter now and the leaves are turning from the familiar summer greens to colorful reds, yellows and oranges.

I never thought, in those early grieving days I would find a second family that loved and cherished me. I didn't think that another child would ever fill my heart with happiness, and yet in one fateful moment I met and became a second mother to three young men who needed me as much as I needed them.

As I grieved and worried these last few years, I was also aware that the heartbeat of the Sherman-Harper Ranch was still alive, it was just buried. Slim is worried about me - concerned that the work of living on a working ranch might be too much on an older woman who might have "become accustomed to not doing a lick of work except making her bed! But, I think he realized that the family wasn't complete without me and Slim and Andy agreed to do the heavy lifting. With Marcie, eventually at my side , we'll manage to keep both ranches clean and tidy.

I have packed Jess' gift box and my clothes and now I just have to wait. The knocker on the front door just hit wood.

They're here!