Going-To-The-Sun
"One hundred more feet, men!" Lieutenant Richards said as we unspooled a telephone cable in a trench dug by younger members of the corps ahead of us. Bringing up the rear, my job was simple, pile dirt and rock back into the trench. We had been at it a week, connecting our section right over the top of the continental divide. Within the hour we had made it. Piling the last shovelful over the cable, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief in the thin air.
"Atta boy, Kelly!" Richards said as he slapped me on the back. "I'm surprised you could keep up with us kids."
"Miners never tire." I said in response, leaning on my shovel. The truth was I was struggling to catch my breath.
"Ain't it a beauty?"
My gaze rose to meet the horizon. Far below us were the shimmering waters of Lake MacDonald surrounded by ancient, snowcapped peaks. Around us there were the remnants of glaciers that one of the rangers told me once occupied every inch of the valley before us. Now the mountainsides were clad in lodgepole pines, towering spruces and ancient trees that could be centuries old.
Above us, puffy clouds looked innocent enough, but the Lieutenant knew better. By the time the sun set the continental divide would be shrouded in a July thunderstorm.
Getting the attention of the younger lads ahead of us, the lieutenant signaled that we were to go down. "Alright, men, let's move out and break down our spike camp. We should be back to base by dinner." A Saturday morning, most of the crew were looking forward to their day off, two nights in an actual bed, stove-cooked meals, and weekly entertainment. They all worked hard for their thirty-five dollars a week. After two years, I was earning a bit more. It wasn't much and I was thankful that the family didn't require much, but we were often short on cash for things that we couldn't make or barter for. However, this line of income was about to run dry for me.
"Kelly, today is your last day, right?" Richards said as he led us back down the mountain to our spike camp.
"Yes, sir, I believe it is."
"Well, if I don't get the chance, it was great having you here to show these younger guys how a job gets done."
"My pleasure." I said between breaths. By the time we got to the tree line and our spike camp I could breathe easier. Several miles of walking downhill were easy on the lungs but hard on the knees.
The warm light of the lantern glowed as I studied my cards. It wasn't a very good hand, but we weren't playing for money either. Just points and cigarettes. A heavy shower outside soaked the courtyard but brought with it a nice cool breeze. The actual thunder and lightning were far above us on the mountain we had been working on for the last two months. Soon there would be a telephone connection between East Glacier and West Glacier to notify motorists and rangers of changing weather conditions. All to support a road that seemed to rise right toward the sun at mid-morning.
"How about you, Kelly?"
"I fold." I said, laying my hand down and sitting back in the chair.
"You play too cautiously." Gallagher said with a smile.
"Yeah, well life has taught me to be a bit more cautious." I said.
"Ah yes, the war." Gallagher nodded his head before continuing into the next round of the game.
"Actually…" I started to say but remembered that my lessons from 1927 were best kept to myself. "Sure." I said. "Don't get in over your head."
"How does that relate to war?" Clancey said as he lit a cigarette from his winnings pile.
"You wouldn't understand." I said, getting ready to pack it in for the evening.
"You gentlemen mind watching this for a few minutes?" Richards said as he leaned a rifle next to the door.
"Sure thing, Lieutenant." Gallagher said, taking the rifle and moving it behind our card table.
"Thanks, I don't trust some of the kids with it and I can't afford to let it rust." He said, moving quickly for the latrine across the courtyard and about fifty yards into the woods.
"Another round, Kelly?" Clancey said as he shuffled the deck.
"And let you take all my cigarettes? I don't think so. I need a few for the road." I said with a smile, standing up and stretching.
Just then the whole camp heard a scream. Gallagher whipped his head around and looked out the window into the dark night. Through the rain, we saw a figure quickly making its way in our direction.
"Did he run out of toilet paper or something?" Clancey asked, more concerned about shuffling the cards.
Gallagher and I squinted through the rain and our eyes simultaneously went wide when we saw what was chasing our Lieutenant.
"Bear!" Gallagher yelled out to the rest of the camp. A grizzly broke through the trees and charged at Richards just as he slipped on the wet grass.
"We gotta get it off him!" Gallagher said, grabbing Clancey and running into the courtyard. I followed them but stopped right at the threshold, the shine of the Springfield calling from the corner of my eye.
"Ah shit!" Richards said as he put his hands up. The beast lunged and pinned him to the ground, grabbing with her teeth at his clothes.
Armed only with rocks and sticks, Clancey and Gallagher did their best to distract the bruin. Unfortunately for them, it worked. By now, other members of the camp were emerging from inside. Feeling surrounded, the bear started to get even more aggressive. Focusing her wild rage on the two men trying to hurt her, she dropped Richards and charged.
Clancey and Gallagher didn't know what to do next. Frozen by fear, they awaited their fate. That is, until a singular shot echoed through the camp. The bear crumpled up on the ground, falling silent as the last breath left her lungs. All eyes turned toward me with a rifle in my hand. The bullet found its mark right between the bear's eyes. In the darkness it was my only useful target to aim for.
"And who gave you authorization to use that rifle?" The colonel said as I stood in front of his desk. "In fact, how did you come to possess this weapon?"
"Uh, it was me, sir." Richards said for me as he stood at attention.
"You? What in God's name possessed you to hand your service rifle over to an unqualified camp worker?"
"It was raining and I didn't want the steel to get wet." Richards said, not moving a muscle from his current position.
The colonel huffed. "That is a clear violation of our policies. What if this man, or anyone else, decided to use it to commit a crime?"
Richards was silent.
"Exactly." The colonel said. "However, it seems this mistake ultimately saved your life…" The colonel added, standing up. "Lieutenant, see to it this doesn't happen again. The rangers were angry enough with me that a bear got killed in our camp, I don't need the brass above my head to find something to be mad about too."
"Yes sir!" Richards said.
"And as for you, uh…"
"It's Kelly, sir. Ethan Kelly."
"Yes, Mr. Kelly. I hear its your final day anyways."
"Yes sir!" I said with a smile.
"Good, then we will speak no more of this. Thank you for your hard work in the CCC, and as a token of our appreciation, I've arranged to give you some traveling money."
"Thank you, sir!" I said, accepting the envelope. It wasn't much, but I'd at least be able to buy a train ticket home.
"Lieutenant, see Mr. Kelly back to the bunkhouse. There will be a car coming around to talk you and a couple of the others back to civilization."
With a handshake, I left the command office. Once out of earshot, Richards stopped.
"Thank you for not making that any worse." He said. "I'm surprised my ass wasn't demoted for that."
"I guess you'll just have to keep the gun with you even in the rain." I said.
"I guess. Anyway, I owe you my life."
"No, Richards, you don't." I said as we started walking again.
"You know, times are tough but we could really use men like you in the army. Just say the word, I could get you back in as a sergeant."
"Sorry, Richards, but that isn't happening. I did my duty and I pray you'll never have to survive the same kind of war I went through."
"Wel, the offer is there should you ever want it." Richards said as we got to the bunkhouse. "Alright, Kelly, you've got an hour then be at the front gate. I'll tell the driver you're getting packed right now."
"Thank you, sir." I said, offering my hand. Richards shook it with a firm grip before leaving. As I sat down and started packing, I noticed that the postman delivered the mail and dropped off a letter in the middle of the bed. Picking it up, I saw that it was from the family, addressed by Bella. Just her handwriting was enough to make me teary-eyed. I didn't have the means to travel home for Christmas or other holidays like some of the younger men. A lot of people didn't go too far from home in the CCC, but us veterans were first sent to independent camps all over the country. I ended up at Glacier as the snow receded as part of a contingent that could help train the young men serving their government to keep their families fed. It didn't pay much, but at least it was honest work for those of us who didn't have many options.
Promising myself I would read the letter when I could, I placed it in my vest pocket and started packing. While folding up my clothes and emptying my footlocker, another letter appeared. This one was from Roselyn. I already knew what it said but I was conflicted. She wanted to see me in person as soon as I was able, and the letter said she still worked at the same old joint. On one hand, it felt dirty for me to go see someone woman I knew a decade ago and from childhood without letting her know first. On the other hand, I knew the train schedules at Butte. The tickets would be cheaper there as well, all I'd have to do is hitch hike past Missoula and up the Clark Fork.
Bag packed; I got into the car after it stopped for me at the gate. With a final wave at the men with whom I had worked for the last several months, I sank back into the seat. Motor humming, I watched the trees fly past until the valley opened up and spit us out onto a large plain west of the mountains. Here, the water flowed West to the Pacific, but I could follow the water right up to the top of the continent once more at Butte. Planning the journey ahead, I wondered how the others were getting on.
"Little Daisy"
Engines roared as two dozen cars competed on the small dirt track. Midget cars of all colors raced past the stands on the only straightaway. Sensing and opening, Rocky gritted his teeth and ducked down below the windshield, finding his highest gear. The small race car lovingly named "Little Daisy" dug deep into the dirt, found grip, and charged forward to fill the gap. Practice taught him that this is all he had to do. Pull ahead one position at a time until he was within spitting distance of the lead, then go for broke. His heart raced and sweat ran down his neck into his leather clothes. The July sun and the massive engine on the small car made this kind of racing miserable, but at least the little racer was efficient. Freckle worked out how to make the car sip gas relative to the others in the pack and this gave them an advantage. That, combined with an unusually large fuel tank meant that Rocky could just barely complete a long race without refueling or needing new tires.
Flying under the flag, Rocky thumbed the counter taped to the dashboard. Another lap down with only five to go. Now was the time to use what was left of his generous fuel supply. Seeing another gap, Rocky steered toward it, the midget racer rocking and skidding in the soft dirt.
From the pits, Freckle kept track of the race with binoculars. "He's moving into fourth." He said while Joseph wrote it down on the tablet. Using the stopwatch, Joseph did some quick math before coming to the conclusion that Rocky was maintaining a fast average lap time.
"He's doing a lap every thirty-six seconds." Joseph called back up.
"That's good, we just better hope he doesn't push the engine too far again." Freckle said. They had been having a string of bad luck on the circuit and their only sponsor, a local gas station, was close to pulling out for the season. This was their second season and while they did reasonably well as rookies, several accidents and broken components had wiped out their earnings. Freckle wondered if it would not be better to just go gambling on one of the riverboats. At least Ivy could make some money by taking house calls. No hospital in the area wanted to risk hiring a woman when there were so many better qualified men to work as doctors, but the local families were happy to take Ivy at a low rate. Today, though, she was up in the stands. Freckle spotted them in the binoculars and waved enthusiastically.
"There's dad!" Ivy said, pointing to the middle of the pit line. Mary, barely able to see over the guard railing, got very excited when she saw her father.
"And there goes Uncle Rocky!" Ivy said, pointing at the car in fourth place as it went by. Little Danny giggled in Ivy's arms. The boy was the spitting image of Rocky and had already shown himself to be as curious and intelligent as his uncle.
"Now, Rocky. Go! Go!" Freckle said to himself, hoping Rocky would seize the opportunity. Two laps to go now and it was time for the final sprint. The leaders began to separate from the pack, each driver throwing in as much throttle as they dared. Suddenly, the third car lost traction and skirted toward the outside. The driver managed to save it before slamming into the strawbale barrier but he had lost his place. Rocky's eyes flashed while his tail swished with excitement!
Gunning the throttle, Rocky charged forward, making the car give him every ounce of energy it could muster. He sailed past the second car, leaving behind a trail of dust and dirt. Passing over the line once more, a flash of white from the stand meant one thing, it was the final lap! Rocky pulled ahead until he was right up the tailpipe of the car in front of him. He followed Freckle's advice to stay close behind the leader. Something about how the air moved around the car giving him a pocket.
Rounding the second corner, Rocky made his signature move. Sliding down toward the white line, Rocky managed to slip between the leader and the low end of the turn. Victory was so close that Rocky could taste it! He imagined finally basking in the glory of a win on the local circuit. Roses, trophies, and money! But a sudden knocking sound burst Rocky's fantasy and he found himself struggling for control.
"Dammit!" Freckle said as he witnessed a large plume of white smoke erupt from the tailpipe of "Little Daisy". Rocky couldn't hold his speed and watched helplessly as the leader charged forward to victory. Three others passed him before the midget racer limped across the line. Checking the small mirror, a desperate Rocky quickly got out of the way of the approaching pack of race cars by ditching into the grass center of the field. As he came to a stop, the smoke suddenly got worse.
"Uh oh!" He said as flames materialized under the bonnet. Pulling the choke and the handbrake, Rocky shut off the fuel valve before bailing out at a little over running speed. He rolled a few times before coming to a soft landing in the grass. Meanwhile, "Little Daisy" skidded into a pile of strawbales, lighting them on fire. Safe, but defeated, Rocky rolled onto his back and pulled the goggles off of his eyes. "Hell and blast…" He said, mimicking an English accent. Still, at least the two-man fire brigade was here! Rocky turned his head to the side and watched as Freckle and Joseph ran up to him. They both tackled the pile of straw that was now on fire while three other volunteers rushed in.
"I told you not to push her too hard!" Freckle said in frustration.
"You saw, cousin! I was this close!" Rocky said, pinching his fingers. "Ah well, there's always next time."
"Dad, you're on fire!" Joseph said. Rocky focused on the burning sensation on his left arm. "Oh, that's why it was getting toasty!" He said, sitting up. Rocky tried to put out the flames but Joseph saw fit to help.
"I got it!" He said.
"Wait! Don't—" Rocky was silenced as white powder filled his face.
"Ugh…" Rocky said as he spat out the fire retardant that got in his mouth. "I was hoping for a powdered sugar taste."
"Oh… whoops…" Joseph said.
"Ah, don't worry about, son!" Rocky said. "At least the fire is out and no one got hurt."
No sooner had the words left Rocky's mouth than the fire re-emerged on his arm. Joseph pointed the extinguisher at his dad once more and gave him another blast. Freckle walked up to the two of them, shaking his head at the damage to the engine. "Why did I ever agree to this?" He said to himself.
Ivy and the kids watched the whole thing from the stands. Mary tugged on her mother's dress. "What happened to Uncle Rocky?"
"The usual." She said, sighing. And of course he managed to catch himself on fire… again."
Mary gasped. "Is Uncle hurt?!"
"Oh no, sweetie. Your dad and Joseph have it under control. But we better go bring the truck around."
"I'm telling you, Freckle, I was so close to victory I could taste the wine!" Rocky insisted as he threw the leather helmet into the cab of the truck.
"Well it doesn't really matter now, does it? The engine is blown, I can guarantee it. It'll take weeks to fix, and no small amount of—"
"Shhh!" Rocky insisted, silencing his cousin with an oily hand over Freckle's mouth.
"Ew!" Freckle said, spitting out the grease and oil. "Where's my handkerchief?"
"You mean this one?" Joseph said, holding up an oily rag.
"Not that, something clean!"
Rocky nervously stood before their sponsor who looked less than pleased. "What happened this time?"
"Oh, you know, just the typical oil leak. Freckle will have it all up and running in two shakes!"
The cat didn't look impressed. "It looks knackered if you ask me."
"Oh, come now Joe… I can call you Joe, right?" Rocky said, putting his arm around the man's shoulders. Joe picked Rocky's arm up and gently removed it while Rocky stepped away.
"Call me whatever you like, but I can't pay to fix this."
"What?! But you're our sponsor!" Rocky said with surprise.
"Not anymore, Rickaby, sorry. The only extra customers you bring to the station are there just to look at your wall of mishaps." He said, referring to the many picture-perfect accidents, wrecks, and odd finishes Rocky managed to pull off.
"Well… that just makes this race team famous!" Rocky tried twisting the words into a positive, but Joe shook his head.
"Sorry, Rocky. I'll give you discounted fuel for the farm though. I can afford to take a loss on that."
"But the crops won't even grow!" Rocky said, referencing the idle farm equipment that Ethan and Freckle mothballed four years ago.
"Anyway, good luck getting back on your feet. And take my logo off that car the next time you run it."
Rocky huffed. "Fine! I'll take it off right now if it so pleases ya!" He said. Grabbing a knife, Rocky hopped up into the back of the truck and started scraping off the painted logo until Freckle stopped him.
"Rocky, don't bother. This thing is toast until we can get enough money for a new engine and a few other parts."
"But…" Rocky tried to protest, but Freckle hopped down and scooped up Mary in his arms, nuzzling her nose with his before kissing her on the cheek.
"Come on, the kids are going to get fussy if we don't put some food in them." He said, walking with Ivy back to the car, kissing her on the way.
Rocky sighed, his dreams of glory now shattered.
"Are we going, dad?" Joseph said as he hoped into the passenger seat. Rocky stood in the back of the old farm truck in thought. He looked through the back window at Joseph and smiled. "Sure thing, son." He said. Taking a deep breath, Rocky at least felt happy for his cousin. Two children and a third on the way in only five years!
Locking the tailgate shut, Rocky climbed into the cab and started it up. "At least you're reliable, old girl." He said, rubbing the dashboard.
"Could we get ice cream?" Joseph asked, hoping they at least had racked up enough winnings for a treat.
"Sorry, buddy, but we need to keep every penny we can get."
"Aw…"
"But I'm sure Aunt Bella will have some cool lemonade at the farm."
"Well, it looks like I'll have to go back to doing handy work." Freckle said as he started up the car.
"You're good at it, at least." Ivy tried to comfort her husband. As much as Freckle complained, racing was almost as exciting as rum running… and just as dangerous. At least Rocky was the only one putting himself in danger this time around. Seven years on from her stint as a rum runner, she looked back at the time with a mix of nostalgia and fear of how things would have been different if a bullet had found her instead of one of the boys. She might not have a family now if it had damaged anything below the diaphragm!
"Yeah… at least it's consistent demand. Trouble is getting paid in actual money instead of eggs and milk."
"You forget that we're going through a lot of both these days." Ivy said as she checked on the two children in the backseat. Mary looked out the window with excitement while Danny was already curled up for an afternoon nap.
"We need clothes and a million other things too, Ivy."
"I'm sure if we can get a hold of some fabric that Bella will be happy to sow the little ones new clothes." Ivy insisted. "And if not her, Bella's parents don't have much business and just as many mouths to feed."
"Those mouths are grown up, though." Freckle retorted. "But you're right, we'll make do."
New York
Mordecai polished his glasses before putting them on and checking over his face one more time in the mirror. He touched the grey hairs that were slowly overtaking the end of his muzzle. It now had a salt and pepper pattern which he did not particularly like, but Tzipporah was always reminded of his father. He stopped himself from dying his fur for that reason alone. At least the suit still fit like a glove.
"Jacob, are you ready?" He called out from the bathroom.
"Yes, sir!" Jacob said, popping his head from around the corner. Before he could scurry back to his room, Mordecai stopped him.
"Wait…"
"What?"
Mordecai licked the tip of his fingers before putting down the stray hair that always popped up from Jacob's scalp. "There, it threw off your symmetry."
"Um… thanks?"
"Thanks, indeed." Mordecai said. "Alright, we'll say our goodbyes then we must be to the train station."
Just before leaving his room, Mordecai pulled his old black coat from the closet. In doing so, Mordecai exposed his 1911 pistol. It was still polished to a high-gloss finish. Curious, he pulled it out and noticed the slightest hint of rust on the muzzle.
"Damn…" He said with frustration. All his cleaning had been futile. It was easy to forget the gun though, he hadn't needed it now for years. Going through the motions, Mordecai simulated aiming by pointing the gun at the lamp on the other side of the bedroom. "Hmm…" He thought. It still felt good despite being out of practice.
"Of all the places you could pick for university…" Mordecai said to himself, being sure to not speak too loudly. Washington University was still a top school for physics and Mordecai knew he had trained Jacob well. He could speak three languages, read two more, and do math that would put his own instructors to shame. Yet going back to that city was not something Mordecai had anticipated. Still, he wasn't going to miss exploring the campus with Jacob or seeing to it that the boy had all he needed to find success in this new life. He could sense that this child he had raised would do great things and this was merely the last step as a parental figure. Taking a deep breath, Mordecai took the holster off of it's hanger and wrapped it around his shoulder once more. Should there be any trouble, he was not going to risk getting caught unarmed. Jacob's safety demanded it. Mordecai quickly loaded up the two magazines before sliding one into the gun and racking the slide. He let the hammer down gently then holstered the gun and the extra magazine. His suit jacket neatly hid the gun from view.
"Are you ready?" Jacob asked from the living room.
"Yes, just a moment." Mordecai said as he grabbed his suitcase and hat.
A few minutes later, the two young men climbed the stairs. Well, at least Mordecai's family still considered him young, but Mordecai felt like his thirty-six-year-old body was a decade older. The consequences of the strains his previous occupation placed on him. Accounting could be stressful but at least he wasn't being shot at.
Arriving at the apartment, Mordecai gave his signature knock which was immediately answered by Rose.
"Well, you two look downright handsome!" She said, hugging Jacob. "Still can't believe our little man is going off to university."
"I wouldn't have imagined it either, Aunt Rose." He replied while Tzipporah hugged Mordecai.
"Pride does not describe what I feel now for you both." She said with a warm smile. "When will you be leaving?"
"We need to catch the train at five o'clock, so unfortunately we don't have much time." Mordecai replied, checking his watch.
"Well, I've made sure you both won't go hungry tonight. Come in so you can say goodbye to Esther."
Esther wasn't as warm as Rose, but still smiled with pride seeing Jacob enter the apartment. While the others prepared last minute items for the journey, she and Mordecai sat facing each other in the living room.
"You are coming back, I hope." Ester said to her brother.
Mordecai adjusted his glasses. "Of course I will." He said. "Though it might take me two or three weeks."
"Two or three weeks? Did your employer allow this?"
"There's not much business these days, so some unpaid vacation leave is actually a welcome relief for them."
"I would think that you'd want to get out of St. Louis as soon as possible."
"Normally, I would concur. But in this instance, I want to make sure Jacob is comfortable at his new home."
"You mean you're having trouble letting him go…"
"Nonsense, Esther!" Mordecai said. "He's graduated from school and is starting his own life. I am quite happy for him and will await to hear of his exploits at the end of the semester."
"Uh huh…" Esther said, cracking a smile. "You just keep telling yourself that. Remember that your sisters need you too."
"I'll never forget, I promise." Mordecai said, smiling in return. Ester adjusted her own glasses before inspecting her brother's face closely.
"My god, you do look like Dad."
"Honestly, I'm surprised you remember him." Mordecai said.
"Well, from pictures mostly. I'm not that much younger than you."
"All is ready for my two boys." Tzipporah said as she zipped up their dinner. Mordecai didn't have the heart to tell her that he had already booked two spots on the dining car that evening.
"This is goodbye from now. I shall return as soon as I am able." Mordecai said. He went to shake Esther's hand, but she brushed it aside and hugged him. His tail twitched in annoyance until he regained control of his emotions and returned the gesture. She was his younger sister, after all. If anyone deserved his affection, it was the three women in his life.
Saving his mother for last, Mordecai let Tzipporah kiss him on both cheeks before he followed Jacob out the door. Waving them goodbye, Mordecai walked side by side with the young man, their tails moving in tandem from several years of habits.
"You feel that this university is the correct path for you?" Mordecai asked.
"For the last time, da- I mean, Mordecai, yes." He said. Mordecai smiled in return.
"Good, that's all I need to hear. We should find a cab a block from here."
Phone Call
Reuben got up from his chair as the phone rang on the wall. Quickly walking over, he picked up the receiver and heard his daughter on the other end. "Ivy?"
"Hi, Dad!" Ivy said on the other end of the line, one child on her hip while Freckle helped Bella with dinner. Rocky was outside getting hosed down with the help of Joseph who had come to terms with the fact that many of his father's exploits ended with him being sprayed with water while completely nude in the back yard.
"How are the kids, honey?" Reuben said, leaning against the wall.
"Oh, they are doing well. I wanted to let you know that Freckle will be joining me when we go see you later this week."
"Excellent! Your brother will be excited to get out of the house and have some time with someone other than his old man. But I thought he was helping Rocky with a race that week."
"About that… the engine gave out on the poor thing. I'm afraid the Little Daisy has seen it's day on the race circuit."
"Well that's a shame, I was looking forward to seeing it run next time I was in town. How are they going to compete?"
"I think they're out for the season. Maybe out for good. The problem is finding the cash to fix the car, but Calvin told me that buying a car would probably be cheaper."
Reuben then had an idea. "Wait a second, sweetie. Dad might just have a solution."
"What do you mean?"
"Can Rocky get a truck across the state?"
"Sure, I guess. But why?"
"You should know by now, Ivy, your old man knows everyone! I know a guy who has some race cars in the backyard. Apparently, those old rum running rigs make for fast racers."
"You mean you have a race car?" Ivy said in disbelief.
"No, I know somebody who would offload one on the cheap. I'll make the arrangements; you just tell Rocky to show up in Kansas City."
"I-I will Dad, thank you! Everything else is still going according to plan." She said.
"Anything for you, Ivy. Okay, I'll talk to you in a couple days. Hugs and kisses for the kids, please!" He said.
"I will. Love you, Dad!"
"Love you too, Ivy. Bye." He said, hanging up.
Ivy was elated, "Hey Calvin, you boys might still have a chance at racing!"
"What do you mean?"
"Dad will have a car for you on the cheap." Ivy said, examining the food that he was making.
"Really? Rocky is going to be over the moon!"
"Why don't you go tell him?" She said, looking out the window as Rocky dried himself off and Joseph spooled the hose up.
Just then the phone rang again. Bella, bowl in hand, picked it up while Ivy and Calvin went about their own work.
"Hello, Kelly residence?" She said, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Bella?" I said on the other end of the line. Hearing her voice again filled me with tremendous joy.
"Ethan!" She said, elated on the other end of the line. Ivy's ears perked up, trying to listen in.
"Bella, I'm coming home!" I said. "I just completed my employment contract with the CCC."
"Oh, Ethan, that's wonderful! When do you think you'll be back?"
"I should be able to get on a train in a couple of days. I'm making my way down to Butte. It's a chance to make sure everything is where I left it."
"Where you left it?" She said with a laugh. "Well don't take too long, everyone is excited to see you. Most of all your daughter."
"I'll be there as quick as I can, I promise."
Ivy suddenly butted in. "Ethan? Ethan, go to Kansas City. Can you be there in five days?"
"Ivy? Yeah, I can get to Kansas City."
"Good! We'll meet you there at the train station." She said.
"O-okay…"
"Ivy, what are you doing?" Bella scolded the woman.
"We're all going to Kansas City for a few days." Ivy said. "You, Riley, and Emily."
"But—"
"Hey, it means you get to see Ethan even sooner! Rocky will need help with the car anyway."
Bella thought about it, not sure whether it would be a good idea to leave the farm completely unattended. Ivy already had an answer prepared. "What? It's not going to grow legs and walk off. You've been cooped up in this place for two years, come out with us and live a little bit."
"Alright, let's do it." Bella said. "We can get Casy to keep an eye on the farm."
"Perfect!" She said. Bella put the receiver back up to her ear.
"Ethan? I'll be in Kansas City with Calvin and Ivy. I guess Rocky is going there too to pick up a car."
"You guys bought a car?" I asked.
"Um… sort of. I think Reuben Pepper is paying for it."
"Well, alright then. Five days, Kansas City. Got it." I said. "I'm going to kiss you for an hour straight when I show up."
"I'll make it two, soldier boy!" She said. "Love you, stay safe."
"You do the same, Bella. Love you and tell the girls I'm thinking of them every minute of every day."