Danny always enjoyed spending time at his grandparent's place in Tennessee and it was even nicer when it was Thanksgiving.

Gramps always went hunting for the turkey with a group of old friends the day before while he, Dad and Major Walker chopped enough firewood so no one would have to bother with it on Thanksgiving. And while they did that Grams, Mama and Mrs. Walker did as much as they could while they waited for the bird to show up.

Grams told him once that she always liked to prepare as much as possible the night before so that on Thanksgiving morning she could concentrate on putting the freshly plucked bird in the oven and keeping an eye on it and not much else. Pies were already baked and kept in the icebox before they would be put in the warmers as they sat down to eat so they would be ready with the hot coffee that never seemed to run out after dinner.

But that was still a day away and Dad had left him to finish chopping wood while he and the major took care of other chores while Gramps was gone. He was off of his crutches more than he was on now, as his doctor had left it to him to decide how much he wanted to use them. He was well into his rehabilitation and his therapist constantly had to caution him not to push himself too hard. It wasn't a matter of re-injuring his leg, but possibly causing a new injury.

It felt good to be able to able to use his muscles because it was helping him regain his strength and his stamina. He had begun to run again, but that was limited by his lack of endurance, which frustrated him no end. He put it all in perspective though when he thought about the fact that he could have lost the very leg he was rehabilitating, but didn't because of the skill of his orthopedic surgeon.

"You're going to chop up every tree in Shelby if you stay out here much longer." He heard Ann's voice as the axe came down dead center in the middle of the large stump and the two halves separated and fell to the ground. He looked up and saw her standing on the side porch; her hands shoved deep into the pockets of her wool jacket. She was dressed for work on the farm and knew that Grams send her out to milk the cow to start the morning.

"Not every tree Annie, just most of them." He smiled back as he picked up one of the halves and placed it in the center of the old tree stump Gramps used to chop wood. He swung again and the half was quartered as those two pieces fell away.

"You're very good at that." She commented and in the late afternoon dusk couldn't tell if her cheeks were flushed from the cold or something else.

"It's like riding a bicycle, you never really forget. I had to chop my share of firewood when we lived here and Gramps always makes sure that I take my turn when we come back." He explained and felt a warmth spread through him as she stood and watched him. "So what are you doing out here besides distracting me?"

"You look very much the young farmer Danny, much like Gramps did when he was young I suspect." She commented on his attire and he supposed he did. The long underwear under his clothes helped to insulate him from the cold, as did the wool socks that he wore inside his heavy boots. The soft flannel shirt that was tucked inside his dungarees covered a wool shirt he wore underneath and the flannel sleeves were rolled up to the elbow. He knew that he looked like any number of farmers in Shelby County.

"I'm not used to wearing so many layers of clothing." He laughed. "The weather doesn't change much at home and I always forget how cold it is this time of year here. It sure makes me glad that I keep a set of clothes packed away for our winter visits here."

Ann laughed in return and he felt goose pimples travel up his arms. "I know what you mean. It looks so out of place to see a wool coat in my closet at home when the only time I wear it is when I'm here or in Ohio."

"Grams said that the whole clan is going to be here tomorrow." Danny knew that she knew but mentioned it anyway. "If the snow holds off, your grandparents and my grandparents from Philadelphia are going to be here. She thought it was important, after everything that happened in the last few months that we all be here."

"The last weather report said that it probably wouldn't snow until tomorrow night, so I hope that's true." She sighed. "It's been so long since we've all been together at the same time."

"It's going to be a nice day, that's for sure." He nodded in agreement and had a sudden idea. "I have this one log to finish and I was thinking that since you're here maybe you'd like to go for a walk with me before it gets too much colder and dark. I've been trying to walk as much as possible since we've been here and it's been awhile since we've gone for a walk together."

"It might be kind of dicey with your crutches, are you sure about that?" Danny wasn't certain, but he thought that she might be avoiding him.

"I'm not going to use my crutches. That's why I suggested going before it gets dark. I don't want to chance finding a gopher hole in the dark and maybe undoing all the work I've done." He knew that he sounded a little defensive but it bothered him that she didn't seem to trust him. And that was his fault.

"You finish up with the log while I'll tell Mama that we're going for a walk and that we'll be back before dark." She was setting a limit and he was fine with that because too much mischief seemed to happen between them in the dark.

He watched her as she walked into the house before he turned his attention back to the second half of the stump and with another swing of the axe, cracked the wood but didn't split it all the way through. So with the blade stuck squarely in the middle, Danny took a deep breath before he picked up the axe handle with the partially split wood and brought it down as hard as he could and finished the job.

He gathered up the quartered pieces of wood and carried them to the wood box on the side porch outside the kitchen door before he retrieved the axe from the stump and carried it back to the shed. He hung it up where he'd taken it down hours earlier then closed the door before he walked back to the side of the house just as Ann came out of the kitchen bundled up against the cold and he observed that she'd put on her heavy gloves.

"Grams asked us to head toward the main road and keep an eye out for Gramps. She's getting a little concerned that he isn't home yet." She said as she met him at the bottom of the porch stairs. "She figures that he hasn't bagged anything yet and that's why he isn't here but she's concerned just the same."

"We'll head up that way first so we can check." He told her as he grabbed his heavy jacket off of the porch rail and pushed his arms through the sleeves as they walked away from the house. "I'm not sure why he keeps hunting for a turkey every year. It sure would be easier on him and Grams if they would just buy a turkey ready to roast."

"It makes sense to us because we didn't grow up the way they did, but I don't think they would have it any other way. Personally, I don't know why any man would go out before dawn to sit out in the woods and wait for a chance to shoot a bird that can't even fly. And if he's lucky to find his quarry and bring it home, he needs to clean it up and truss it up so Grams can stuff it and shove it in the oven." She finished with a shake of her head. "I don't know that I could live this life, or that I'd even want to."

"That's because you're not a country girl Annie." He said to her as he finished buttoning up his jacket. "You're a city girl and you're an Air Force brat to boot, but I know what you mean. I don't mind helping with the chores and getting up before dawn because I'm usually up before the sun anyway. But I don't know that I would want to do this as a livelihood either."

Ann laughed again and the lilting sound of it made Danny smile. "That's because you're not a country boy Danny, you're a city boy. And not only are you an Air Force brat, but an Air Force pilot to boot. We weren't meant for this life any more than our fathers were. But every time we come back here and help Grams and Gramps with everything that they have to do, I gain more respect for them. It's not an easy life they chose, but it's a life that makes them happy because they're together and that's the important thing."

As they walked up the dirt path toward the main road Ann seemed to move closer to him and it was so imperceptible that Danny wondered if it was his imagination until she took his arm and he knew it hadn't been.

"Are you happy Annie?" His voice was low so he wouldn't startle her with the sudden question.

"I'm happy to be here and to have our families here." She answered and Danny wondered if she was aware that she'd just avoided his question. "And I'm certainly happy that you didn't die in Vietnam."

"So am I but that isn't what I meant." He told her.

"I know what you meant and I'm not exactly sure how to answer that. Tom and Sarah McCawley chose a simple and humble life that I envy sometimes. Maybe it's because we live on a military base and our lives are so intertwined with the Air Force that it seems more complicated."

"Love and happiness shouldn't be complicated it should be simple." He mused.

"Perhaps it would have been simpler for us if we had learned how the other felt emotionally first before learning how we felt physically." Ann sighed. "But that's water under the bridge."

"It is. But I think that we learned a lot from that and we're putting those lessons to use now." He grasped her gloved hand that was tucked through his arm and kissed the crest of her cheek.

"I do love you Danny, that hasn't changed." She put her head on his shoulder for a moment and it felt nice. It was the first time he could remember her being so close and his first impulse wasn't to kiss her. "Part of what's been bothering me about all of this is that we've been so busy flailing ourselves over what happened that we seemed to forget it."

"I love you too Ann and I don't believe that we forgot it. The fact is I've been afraid to say it because I didn't want you thinking that I was telling you for other reasons than it's how I feel about you." He admitted to her.

"And I was afraid to say it because it might have started something we couldn't finish." She added with a sigh. "That seemed to happen a lot."

"But now we know better." He wasn't quite sure who he was trying to reassure, himself or Ann so he decided to inject some humor into what was becoming another serious talk. "I really do love it here. It's peaceful and quiet and would drive me crazy after a few weeks."

Danny was gratified to see a smile replace the serious expression. "Just as much as the fast pace of a military base would drive Grams and Gramps crazy even though they love being able to go to the ocean."

"Six of one, I guess."

"That's it."

They reached the main road and Danny looked up one end of the two-lane road and checked down the other, no Gramps. He checked the time on his wristwatch and it was after four o'clock. The sun was beginning to go down and his grandfather was nowhere in sight.

"You're not worried are you?" He heard the concern in Ann's voice. "It's not dark yet and even if it were, he knows these roads."

He nodded. "I know he does. I just don't want to go back to the house and have to tell Grams I haven't seen him yet."

"I know you don't, so let's keep walking and give Gramps some time. Maybe if we're lucky we'll catch him as he's driving him down the road with a twenty-five pound turkey in the back of his truck."

That made him laugh and he put an arm around her shoulders, the way he used to. "I don't think it's going to be that big."

She smiled back at him. "It's going to have to be if Grams is going to feed an army tomorrow."

He had to give her that. "All right Annie, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a thirty pound turkey."

Ann rolled her eyes at him. "Now that is asking for a miracle Lieutenant."

"It could happen Miss Ann, you never know." Danny felt a lightheartedness that had been missing in recent weeks and grinned.

"It's been quite awhile since you've called me that; it's nice to hear." She remarked quietly and leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"It's been quite awhile since you've done that, thank you."

She looked a little self-conscious as she smiled again. "I think this is the time where we should be thinking about getting back to the house."

"I won't argue with that." He nodded his agreement and they began to walk back to the house. He slowed his gait because as they'd been talking dusk had begun to turn to dark and he was concerned because he couldn't see as well.

Ann seemed to understand and she took his arm again and stayed close as they picked their way down the road back to the house.

They'd gotten about half way there and he heard the rumble of his granddads' Chevy as it came down the road and he pulled up beside them. "Are you crazy son? It's almost as black as pitch out here and somethin' could happen to that leg."

He decided not to tell his grandfather that they were walking, in part to look for him and he grinned again. "That's why you saw us walking back to the house Gramps."

"Don't be smart now." He smiled back. "Hop in and I'll give you a lift the rest of the way."

Danny knew that it wasn't an offer. It was an order and Ann knew it too because she didn't say anything. They walked around the front of the truck and he opened the passenger door and waited for her to get in. Once she was settled he got in next to her and sat down before he closed the door while Gramps put the truck in drive.

"It's nice to see the two of you out together. Mother was a little concerned that you were keepin' your distance." He commented as he kept his eyes on the road.

"It was just a misunderstanding." Ann sounded reassuring. "We haven't had much opportunity to talk lately because of my school load and his rehabilitation."

"And I've been flying a desk, so there hasn't been much time for us." Danny tried to back her up because Gramps looked a little dubious.

"There's always time if you want to make time." He frowned. "Sarah and I are always busy with somethin' around here but we don't neglect each other."

Danny wanted to say something but felt the touch of Ann's glove on his sleeve and he didn't.

"We're all right Gramps." She said. "And we've done a lot of talking this afternoon."

"That's good to hear honey. The worse thing that two people can do is not talk to each other because that leads to a lot of confusion." He imparted to them as he pulled up in front of the house. "I expect that Mother is a little worried so I'll go in and let her know that I'm all right. I'll also let her know that we've got one nice bird for tomorrow."

"What do you figure it weighs?" Danny couldn't help but ask.

"It's got to be twenty pounds at least. If we're lucky, it'll feed everyone with enough left for seconds." He answered as he shut down the engine and got out of the truck. "Come on you two. I ain't about to leave you out here alone in the dark."

Danny glanced at Ann and tried not to smile as he opened the door and stepped out. "Yes sir."

Ann slid over and followed him out and he closed the door behind her.

"You two go on in and get your daddies to help me. I don't want you puttin' any undue stress on that leg."

"Yes sir." He said again and took Ann by the elbow and walked her up to the front porch.

"Danny, do me a favor when you get inside and see how the fire is doin'. Your brother is a big help around here but he ain't much at keepin' the fire goin'. And make sure that your grandmother has enough wood for the stove."

"I've been chopping wood all afternoon, so there should be enough for the stove and the fireplace." He told his grandfather.

"Thank you son, I sure do appreciate that." Gramps nodded his head in approval.

"I'll get Dad for you." He assured the older man as he opened the storm door. Ann opened the front door, walked inside and Danny followed. He left her in front of the fire and found his grandmother in the kitchen.

"I thought I heard Tom's truck." She turned from the stove as he walked in.

"You did and he's got the turkey in the back." He smiled as a look of barely concealed relief passed over her face. "He asked for Dad and the major to help him."

"I'll do that for you son. You get off that leg now and go sit down in the parlor." Grams said as she walked to the kitchen door and took her coat from the coat rack, She opened the door, stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

Danny didn't have a choice but to do as his grandmother told him to do and go back out in the parlor. He hadn't noticed when he'd come in with Ann that the house was too quiet. Sarah and his brother were nowhere to be found and Shelby and Tom were scarce as well. He found Ann curled up on the sofa and she was reading.

He took his coat off and hung it up by the front door and walked back to the sofa and sat down on the opposite side. "I wonder where everyone is?"

"I imagine that Shelby and Tom were sent upstairs to do their homework but I don't have any idea where Sarah and Joe might be." She told him as she set her book down. "The first thing I noticed when we came in was how quiet it was."

"It's too quiet if you ask me. I'm used to a bunch of kids running around making too much noise." He commented.

"Danny, we haven't been a bunch of kids in a long time. Tom's the youngest and he's already in middle school."

"Don't remind me. It seems like yesterday sometimes that he was toddling around this place and your mother was trying to keep him from climbing the stairs." He smiled at the memory.

"I remember that. I think Dad finally came up with the idea to put a small gate across the bottom of the staircase to stop him." She laughed. "And Mama told him that she wished he'd come up with the idea when I was a baby."

"You were a climber that's for sure. If it wasn't your parent's running after you it was mine or Gramps or Grams." He remembered. "I've always enjoyed my time here no matter how old I've been."

"So have I."

"I also enjoyed being able to talk to you today. We've been walking on eggshells with each other for the last few weeks and today was the first time that it felt as though everything had gone back to normal."

She nodded. "I know what you mean. There's something about this place that seems to set everything to rights and whatever problems any of us are having we seem to resolve them here."

He moved over on the sofa enough to take her hand in his and he looked into her eyes. "Thank you for loving me Ann. It means more to me than you'll ever know."

"Thank you for loving me because it's the one thing I'm most thankful for this year." She answered as she put her book down on the coffee table and curled up against him. He put his arm around her and she put her head down on his shoulder as they enjoyed the warmth of the fire and the companionship of the other's company.