Legend of the White Hare

by jjw2795

It's 1935 and Ethan is fresh off his stint working for the CCC. While the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drag on, the liquor flows free in Missouri, and the family is getting bigger by the year. Rocky has found himself in another dangerous occupation and Freckle is adjusting to life as a father. But, Ethan has more than a paycheck and will need the crew to help him out.

5. Homecoming

New Priorities

Mitzi could hardly believe who just ran into her and Wick. However, that was even less believable than what the young stranger accompanying Mordecai called him. She looked between the two cats and aside from the boy being far too old to actually be his and the glasses that both of them wore, there really wasn't much to connect the younger Heller to the older Heller. "Mordecai, you're a father?" She asked in confusion.

Mordecai got to his feet promptly while Jacob retrieved his glasses from the ground and handed them to him. "Thank you, Jacob. And yes, Mitzi, in a way I am."

"Well… now I've seen it all." Mitzi said, but she smiled at the two. "So how did… this… happen? Was this why you were always so secretive all these years?"

"What?" Mordecai responded, trying to comprehend where Mitzi would get such an idea.

"You know, I wouldn't have hurt your son no matter how desperate things got…"

"Noted, but irrelevant. Jacob came into my care after my business in St. Louis had concluded."

"You mean…"

"I'm from the street, ma'am." Jacob said. "But he's a far better father than the one who kicked me to the curb. When no one else would help me, Mordecai was there."

Mitzi didn't know what to say. She had never thought he was loyal to anyone. "You, Mordecai, of all the people on God's green Earth, went out of your way to save this boy?"

"It is not exactly how I would put it, but that is the essential parts of what happened. I'm sorry, Mitzi, but Jacob and I have other things to tend to." Mordecai said before turning to walk away, gently ushering Jacob to follow him.

"Hold on, Heller!" Wick said, standing up. "No one hears from you for years and now you're back in town and expect us to just accept it without a second thought?"

Mordecai stopped and glanced over his shoulder. "Yes, Mr. Sable."

"Hon, wait." Mitzi said as she reached out to hold Mordecai's hand. "You aren't here on… business, are you?"

"Not of the sort you are worried about. My priorities have changed."

"Then come back to the house with us. Clearly there is a lot to catch up on." She pleaded.

Mordecai looked at Jacob and then at Mitzi. "I don't think it would be in Jacob's best interest to know about our history."

"Wait… history?!" Jacob exclaimed.

"Not remotely what I was implying, Jacob." Mordecai said before pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing deeply. "Fine. Jacob, this is Mitzi May, my former boss' widow and owner of the Lackadaisy. And that man over there perhaps singlehandedly paid the bills for the establishment with his bar tab after it went downhill. Mr. Wick Sable runs a quarrying company in town.

"Uh… actually, that's not really the case… anymore." Wick clarified. "Now I'm a professor."

"Professor? Which college?" Jacob asked, shaking Wick's hand.

"SLU. I suppose I should ask what college you are attending, Mr.…"

"You can just call me Jacob, sir. Still feels weird to be called a 'mister' anything. I'm starting school at Washington University."

"Jacob, we should refrain from revealing too much lest—"

"Lest we what, Mordecai?" Mitzi asked. "Hunt you down?"

"I did not mean to imply that you would do anything to us, but there are…"

Mitzi patted Mordecai's arm. "Asa is in prison, last I heard. The Lackadaisy is gone, and we've all moved on." She said, flashing a new ring on her finger. Mordecai noticed it and looked at Wick and Mitzi as she moved to Sable's side.

"You two?"

"We're not the only ones with surprises, Mr. Heller." Wick said, kissing his new fiancé. Come on, there's plenty we can talk about.

Rocky vs Wild

"But we didn't bring fishing poles, dad." Joseph said as they made it to the pond. Rocky simply smiled at his son. "You have much to learn, kiddo." He said before stripping down to his briefs. "We're felines, Jacob, and as such we have certain tools that are always at our disposal." Rocky flashed one of his extended claws and used it to curl up the side of his lip, revealing a sharp fang.)

"Ew… you're going to bite into a fish raw?"

"Hopefully not. Here, watch…" Rocky climbed out onto a limb hovering just a few inches above the water. He dipped his tail down into the creek and swished it back and forth, letting the current curl his fifth limb up the log and into his line of sight. Sure enough, a shadow emerged from the depths and attempted to take off with the tip of Rocky's tale. However, the catfish's instincts betrayed in. In an instant, Rocky dove into the water before reemerging with a small but edible fish.

"Woah… where'd you learn to do that?"

Rocky threw the fish up onto the bank and then gestured to Joseph. "Learned how to do it when I was about your age. Come on in, the water's fine!"

Joseph did as he was told and waded out into the river water. It wasn't exactly warm, but the slimy plants and mosses under his toes grossed him out. He also underestimated the current and when he stepped into the wrong spot, the boy lost his balance and plunged into the water. However be for he could start thrashing about, an unseen force lifted him back up above the water's surface. Clearing his eyes, he saw that Rocky was there, helping him brace against the current. Rocky was up to his neck, slowly walking them back closer to safer waters.

"You okay, Cal?"

"Yeah, dad. The water looked so calm; I didn't think it would be that strong."

"That's why you have to stick to the back current. You slipped into the deep channel where it's dangerous. Sorry, I should have mentioned it. Can you touch?"

Joseph tried to extend his toes, only just brushing the sandy bottom. He silently cursed not having experienced another growth spurt, two or three more inches would be enough. Rocky sensed his sons struggle and pushed them both closer to his fishing branch. "You're okay, just hold onto me for a few feet." In two or three more lunges, Rocky got them both out of the main current and into shallow enough water that Joseph could stand on his own.

"We'll have to keep working on swimming." Rocky said, letting go so Joseph could move on his own.

"Ugh… I hate being short…" Joseph said, throwing his hair back so it didn't block his vision. Rocky just laughed.

"You think you've got it rough? Freckle has been five foot three since he was fifteen. I'd still have to pull him out of that current even today. Trust me, I think you've still got a few more inches in you."

"I hope you're right…"

"Anyway, let's not get caught up on pubescence. Time to fish for your dinner."

Joseph clung to the limb with all his claws, letting his tail make the same motions as Rocky's had before. Rocky waded downstream in case he needed to catch his boy again.

"So, like this?" Joseph said, gesturing to how he was perched on the log.

"You're doing great, Cal! Now you just have to be patient."

"Rocky of all people telling me to be patient…" Joseph muttered under his breath. He stared down into the water waiting for anything that might look like a fish to come. He sat there for several minutes without anything happening. However, Rocky kept giving him encouragement throughout.

"Sometimes it takes a second, other times an hour."

"Dad, I feel silly doing this. We having fishing poles for a reason."

"And what if you don't have a fishing pole and desperately need sustenance?"

Just then, another dark shape formed under the log. Joseph squinted, concentrating on the shadow in the water. He knew it must be another catfish, but why wasn't it taking the bait?

"Dad… there's one right there…" Joseph whispered. Rocky looked at the shadow in the water by craning his neck up and out to get a better angle. His eyes widened as he saw how big the shadow was.

"That's a doozy, Cal. When he goes for the tail, just land on him and hold on tight."

"Hold on tight?" Cal said, looking up at a crucial moment. Distracted, he didn't see the fish lunge for his tail and clamp down. The teeth were small and posed little danger, but the 30lb fish did have more than enough strength to unbalance the young cat.

"Oh shit…" Joseph said just as he fell backward by the fish taking off with his tail. In the muddy water he couldn't see anything but could sense a tough fight next to him.

"Well, you still got one." Rocky said as the two dried off next to a fire while fish roasted on sticks over the flames. There was far more meat than they could eat so unfortunately Rocky had to throw his smaller fish and the left overs back into the river where they'd be eaten by other animals. Rocky noticed the ragged fur on the end of Joseph's tail as the boy massaged it.

"Here, let me see it." He said. Joseph let Rocky take his tail in hand as the cat gentle laid the fur back down while looking over the skin. It was a little banged up but nothing too terrible. "We'll just keep it clean; the fur will grow back."

"I think that's why they invented fishing poles, Dad. How'd you even get that idea?"

Rocky smiled and pulled Joseph close. "You remember when I told you about the time Nanna Nina kicked me out of the house when I was sixteen?"

"Yeah. Uncle Freckle said he accidentally shot a neighbor and she blamed you."

"More accurately, I took the fall for him. But looking back I understand. I wasn't an easy child to raise… Anyway, I was sent to live on a farm my uncle owned."

"You have an uncle?" Joseph asked. It was news to him that there were more family members out there. Rocky didn't seem pleased though.

"I don't talk about him. After a few months of being bullied by that son of a… well, you get the point. I ran away and went out west with nothing but the clothes on my back. Didn't make it back to St. Louis until 1925, and in the mean time there were many times where I had nothing but my wits to keep me fed and warm. That fishing technique is but one result of a thousand other experiences."

"So you were starving out west?"

"…yeah, pretty much. Never in a million years did I think I'd end up here though; surrounded by a surrogate family, racing cars for cash, raising the best boy in the world…" Rocky said, hugging Joseph close to him.

"I wonder if I'll have to do the same thing." Joseph said, his voice muffled by Rocky's chest. Rocky just held him tighter.

"No, I'd never make you leave and that's a promise. No one else will either. But I do want you to know how to take care of yourself if I'm not able to." He said before pulling out a towel. The sun sank below the horizon and the sky lit up in a deep orange hue from all the dust that hung high in the atmosphere. Rocky didn't know how bad it was out west, but he was thankful to be living in a place that was relatively isolated from the dust storms that were in the news. They got one now and then but they rarely lasted more than a few minutes.

"Here, let me help you dry off." Rocky said as he started working on his son's back fur. "Dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. I can do it myself."

"You can do most of it yourself, Cal. Everyone needs help with this spot though…" Rocky said, patting down the center of Joseph's back where he couldn't quite reach on his own. Joseph gave in, letting his dad help. At least his friends weren't around to laugh at him, needing his adoptive father to help.

An hour later, Rocky pulled out the bedding and laid it all out in the back of the truck. Not sensing any rain on the horizon, he left the tarp off of the bed. The two of them laid out under the stars while Rocky pointed out different celestial objects and constellations.

"That bright star near the horizon is Venus." He said, pointing near the horizon illuminated by twilight. "Can you see the big dipper yet?"

Joseph scanned the night sky, looking for the constellation Rocky had pointed out a hundred times before. It took him a minute, but then Joseph saw the distinctive pattern. "Found it!" He said, pointing toward the north.

"Yes, that's it all right." Rocky said. "Now take the two pointer stars and trace a line up to the little dipper."

"Okay… I think I see it."

"Good. That last star is Polaris. The whole sky is light a wheel and it turns around that star. It's also always pointing to the North so if you ever get lost and need to get your bearings at night, just look for that star."

"Am I really ever going to use that?" Joseph asked. Rocky shrugged his shoulders. "I sure hope you don't have to, but what kind of father would I be if I didn't teach you these things?"

Joseph wanted to say something, but he knew by now that when Rocky was serious, it was for an important reason. Instead he just curled up next to Rocky and yawned. Rocky smiled as Joseph relaxed his head onto Rocky's arm. "Yeah, I think it's time for bed." Rocky said, pulling a blanket over each of them.

After a few minutes of silence, the quiet night air was interrupted by a chorus of yips and howls. The coyotes unsettled Joseph, but he felt Rocky put an arm over him before pulling the boy in close. Rocky whispered, half asleep. "They're a half mile out, Joseph. You're safe." Joseph might have been growing up quickly, but Rocky knew there were times when his boy just needed someone to stay close to him. Usually it was when a big thunderstorm rolled through. It took a while for Rocky to get used to the routine, but he'd always let Joseph into his bed when the wind picked up and the lightning flashed. Such storms brought back memories of that tornado and whenever Rocky was somewhere else, Joseph would never get a good nights' sleep. But tonight it was just the two of them and Rocky was always ready on such occasions to make it known that he'd keep his son safe and secure.

Dust Storm

Dawn lit up the Kansas prairie as we rolled eastward to the namesake city of the area. It would only be a few hours now and I'd be back with my family, but a new addition as sleeping soundly next to me. We had passed Hutchinson when it was still twilight but just when the locomotive could really open up, it began to coast to a stop. One of the porters passed by, checking on passengers. I gently touched his sleeve.

"Say, why are we stopping?" I whispered so as to not wake anyone around me.

The tall dark cat leaned down. "Dust has blocked the tracks, sir. We'll be stopping in Florence until the conductor gets all clear."

"Oh… Thank you." I said, letting the man go about his work. A few minutes later the train gently came to a stop outside the little town. After being on a train for nearly two days, both me and the boy yearned to stretch our legs. Honestly, he was getting very fussy at only being able to walk up and down the isle a couple of times per hour and to use the bathroom. Looking around, I saw that people were deboarding to do the same thing. I gave a great sigh and checked to make sure our bags were secure and hidden from the view. Bending down, I picked William up and held him as I walked down the isle and out the door.

What greeted us was a type of hell I had only read about in papers. There was dust on literally everything, including the people. Those coming off the trains were likely the cleanest people in the whole city.

"Mmm…" William groaned in my arms.

"Well good morning, sunshine!" I said, rubbing the hair on his head.

"Where are we?" He asked in a sleepy voice.

"We're in the middle of Kansas. The train had to stop for a bit so I thought you'd like to look around."

William did just that, lifting his head off my shoulder and taking in the scene. It was just as disturbing to him as it was to me. "Why is everything so… dusty?"

"We're in the middle of a place that's been hammered by dust storms." I said, setting the boy down. He was unsteady for a step or two but I caught him and got William on his feet.

"I can carry you if you're too tired."

"No, I don't want to be carried." He said flatly. I guess I could understand, I was a stranger to him. A stranger than just whisked him away from all he knew. Being carried around, hugged, kissed, cuddled, all that stuff a kid craves from his mom or dad. While I was his father, that sort of bond just wasn't there. It only fed into my guilt because if things had been a little different, we'd be having all kinds of fun.

"Alright then, that's fine. But I do want you to hold my hand so we don't get separated."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, unless you want to get lost out here." I said, not realizing that such words would put more fear into him than basic sense. He instantly held on tightly to my arm. "I don't want to be here!" He declared with enough volume to attract attention from passersby.

"Hey, I'm not going to leave you here. I just mean for you to stay close where I can see you, okay?"

He nodded his head while looking up at me and then proceeded to hold onto my hand as he should.

"Should we get something to eat?" I asked him. He nodded his head again. "Alright, let's see if we can give this town some of our business."

Walking down the streets, it was immediately evident how hard the depression had hit small towns like Florence. Back in St. Louis there were a lot of unemployed people, but there were soup kitchens, tent cities, and a hundred other things to help people get through the Depression. What did the people in Florence have? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Well, nothing besides the railroad.

"You there, mind if I ask a couple of questions?" A loud man asked me as he trotted up from behind.

"Uh… depends on who's asking."

"The name is Samuel Carson and I run the Florence daily… twice a week. I try to get uplifting news to the people of my fair mini metropolis."

"No offense, sir, but I've got a bad history with reporters. The last time I sold one a story it ended up giving me a reputation I'd rather keep hidden."

"Ooh, mysterious… but I'm not looking for anything big. What have you seen? Where are you from? How have you been making through the depression with your boy?"

"Well, I guess I can answer a few questions… if you know anyplace, I can get some food for the kid and myself."

"Ah yes, Kathy's is still open. Let's head there before the rest of your fellow passengers find it.

"Okay, kid, it ain't much but it is what we have." The hostess said as she served up a plate of eggs and toast.

"Thank you kindly, ma'am." I said in response, trying to model good manners for the boy. I couldn't imagine he had much experience outside the brothel and that was certainly not something I wanted to advertise. Luckily, the kid was hungry and William immediately started digging in.

"Woah, hungry little fella, ain't ya?" She said with a smile. "Mm hmm! Thank you!" William said with a mouth full of food.

"Hey now, swallow and clear your mouth before you talk, alright?" I said before giving our hostess a smile.

"Will you be paying with cash today or some other means?" She asked me as she handed me my plate.

"Other means?"

"Yeah, well cash is short for a lot of people and I gotta keep the lights on somehow. Got little mouths to feed myself."

"Oh, I understand. I've got cash, ma'am." I said. "And I'm sure your esteemed newsman won't let me out of the booth until I've answered a few questions."

"Alright, just holler if ya need anything, hon!" She said, going off to serve other customers.

"Well, you've got my undivided attention, Mr. Carson. Or at least as undivided as a father can be."

"Excellent. So, who are you and the boy?" He asked.

"I'm Ethan Kelly, and this here is my son, William. I'd rather leave him off the record if possible." Requested.

"Sure, sure. So, Mr. Kelly, where are you two from and where are you going to?"

"I just got done with some work in Montana. CCC. I picked my son up on the way and we're going to St. Louis to meet up with the rest of our family."

"I see. What's it like west of here?"

"You want the honest answer, or the uplifting answer?"

Carson thought about it for a minute. How about you give me an honest answer and I'll try to sugarcoat it.

"Very well. It's bad, Mr. Carson. We passed through the worst of the dust in the night but even in Pueblo things looked bad. There were drifts of sand that looked like snow, only orange and dark."

"And the people?"

"This is the first town I have gotten out at since Denver. I gotta say, I feel for the people here. Got a farm myself back in Missouri but it hasn't been active since 1930."

"No shit, so things are bad east of here too?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'll figure out a way to spin it into a positive. This work program, the CCC, any chance you think it'll come out here?"

"If FDR can put people to work out here getting the soil back in place, I think it would be a good investment of money and manpower. How many farms have stayed in operation in Florence?"

The man thought about it for a minute before answering. "None."

"None?"

"Yes. You see, Mr. Kelly, I'm trying to get people to stay here in town and ride this dust bowl out. If people tear up roots and leave for California like they've been then this town will never recover."

"As sorry as I am to hear that, Mr. Carson, I agree with those who moved. If I had to live like this… I'd get my family out of here as fast as possible. They don't say 'get out of Dodge' for nothing."

"I gotta say, you aren't giving me a lot of material to work with here." Carson said, putting down his note pad.

I thought about anything at all that could help. "I suppose I could give you one quote. Farmers across the country know the pain these people here are going through. But just like in the war, if we pull together and work to fix things, this town will have a future."

"The war, huh? The war… Yes, the war! By God, why didn't I think of that? Yes, combating the dust is just like dealing with the Hun in Germany!"

Just then, someone knocked on our window. The noise startled me and I jumped, almost landing on William as he finished his plate. I saw that it was a passenger who I recognized. He yelled through the glass. "Hey, there's a duster comin'. Get back to the train!" He then turned and hurried back to the train. Not quite at a running pace, but faster than any person would usually walk.

"Duster?" I asked Mr. Carson who calmly stood up.

"That's what we call the storms that roll through. I suggest you listen to the man."

The hostess came up to us with the receipt in hand. "I do apologize, but I got to shut the café down until the storm passes. You wouldn't mind paying, would you?"

I quickly filled my tab and then wolfed down as much food as I could before talking William by the hand. "I wish I could say it was pleasure being here, Mr. Carson, but if these storms are coming through on the regular and the people are this afraid of them then I'll be glad to be in Missouri."

"Opinion noted but will be left off the record." Carson said as he tipped his hat at me. "Safe travels and thank you for the interview."

As we approached the train, the same porter as before was urging us with his hands to hurry up. We were some of the last people on board before we turned around. "Why are people so afraid?" I asked him while lifting William up onto the coach's platform.

"The dust gets everywhere! These heavyweights mostly keep it out, though. We need to get inside before the wind starts a gustin'!"

I turned around and stopped dead in my tracks. William did as well, clutching onto my pant leg. Before us was a gigantic wall of dust quickly closing in. The wall was a mile high and possessed a deep, angry orange color. It was as if Hell was descending upon us.

"Please, sir, get to your cabin." The porter said. I complied immediately and helped William over the threshold and into the coach. The porter closed-up the doors tight while we sat down in our cabin. At least everything was still in place. It was as if a curtain closed in around us. First came the wind, rocking the train car slightly. I wasn't worried about the car flipping over, but the sound of the sand abrasively bouncing off of the car was unnerving. In the darkness I heard William start to cry. Closing the privacy curtain, I sat down on the ground and put a hand on his knee to get his attention.

"Hey, you remember the other day when you were reading to me?"

"Yeah…"

"Remember how you curled up next to me so we could read together? Why don't you come sit with me? It's about time I start telling you stories about your family."

William slid off the seat and into my lap. He didn't want some tight hug constricting him, but he did want to know he was safe and I was the only adult he knew. I pulled out my jacket and let him lay down next to me. "I'll tell you a story that should put you right to sleep."

Family Reunion

"Dad!" Ivy said as she, Calvin, and the kids descended the steps. She didn't bring as much luggage with her as she used to, but with two kids in tow the volume evened out.

Ruby was overjoyed, kissing his daughter before lifting Mary up into his arms. "And how's my little pumpkin?"

"Hi Grandpa!" Mary said, hugging him around the neck. Oliver was quickly next to his father. He reached out, booping Mary on the nose before hugging Ivy. "I'm happy to see you here!" He said.

Oliver was hardly a boy now. In fact, he was a few inches taller than Ivy, something Ivy herself still felt a little odd about. For so long he was the one who'd curl up in her lap and rest his head on her shoulder; now her face was buried in Oliver's chest.

"You didn't get taller in the last few months, did you?" She asked, which made her 'little' brother chuckle. "I don't think so, Ivy. You just aren't wearing heels this time. You want me to take Danny off your hands?"

"Yes please, he's getting heavy!" She said, passing the two-year-old into Oliver's arms.

"Hey buddy, you remember me?"

Danny looked at Oliver with big, innocent eyes. The blank look was all the answer he needed.

"I'm you're uncle, Oliver." He said with a smile, kissing the boy on the cheek. The kid attached to him instantly.

"Olly!" He said, giggling.

"See, I knew you remembered me." Oliver said.

"Ivy!" Lily said, hugging her sister as well.

"When did you get here?" Ivy asked.

"Oh, about a half hour ago."

"How's university?"

"My grades are doing better than yours." Lily said with a wink and a smile.

"Yeah, yeah. You aren't doing medical work, though." Ivy teased.

"Calvin, I see the family is in good spirits!" Reuben said, shaking Freckle's hand. "And the third one?"

"Healthy and happy." Ivy said, kissing her dad on the cheek. "The baby has been kicking a lot lately."

"Mom says it's going to be a wild one." Freckle said, not sure whether to be happy or anxious.

"We'll find out in a few weeks." Ivy said before Ruby helped her in the car.

Close behind McMurray's were Bella, Emily, and Riley. Ruby tipped his hat back and greeted the ladies.

"You three must be eager to see Ethan if you've come all the way out here."

Riley smiled. "It was Ivy's idea, so blame her if space is a little cramped."

"Oh, it'll be fine Miss Kelly. And Mrs. Kelly, how has the farm been?"

"Vacant, but we got a neighbor kid to watch the place." Bella said, making sure the porters were loading up the luggage. "I do need to ask though; I thought you bought a house at the country club. Isn't it going to be a cramped with all of us there?"

Ruby smiled and winked. "That's what I'm at the country club. My brother has arranged for a guest house nearby that should help us all get a little more space. Big kitchen too so we'll have a feast there once everyone is settled in."

"Wow, that must be expensive." Riley said as she stood back and took a picture of the two vehicles full of her family.

"The key, Miss Kelly, is to make sure people owe you favors. It works wonders out here." Ruby said before turning to his son. "Oliver, can you take Lily and the Kelly's to the guest house?"

"Sure thing, Dad!" Oliver said. "Miss Kelly, would you like to sit up front while our sisters sit in the back?"

Riley had met Oliver once or twice before, but he had grown into a young man in the couple of years since she had last seen him. Coming from a short family, he was about as tall as her but he was well dressed and behaving like a proper gentleman. Riley felt a little funny around him now.

"Miss Kelly?"

"Oh... uh, sure Oliver. Thank you." She said, allowing him to lead her into the car. The vehicles started up and pulled away from the curb. Bella was in the back keeping Emily distracted with the sights of the city. Lily was happy to sit back and relax, saving conversation for later in the evening. That left Oliver and Riley up front.

"So, when is Ethan getting into town?" Oliver asked.

"He should be here tonight, I think." Riley said, checking her camera before looking over at him. "But we haven't had a phone call since Denver."

"I see. And Rocky?"

"He'll get here when he gets here." Riley said.

"I'll make sure to keep the car ready to go get Ethan." Oliver offered, but Bella interjected.

"Rocky will get them. Freckle gave him directions to your house."

"I bet you can't wait to see him again after so long." Oliver said, glancing up in the mirror.

"I'm going to see daddy!" Emily exclaimed, much to Oliver's delight.

"Yes, sweetie. You'll see him tonight. And yes, I'm eager to have my husband back with us." Bella said.

Welcome to Kansas City

The train pulled into the station just as the sun was setting. We had spent two hours in a dust storm and another two waiting for the green signal to move forward. Luckily, the wind from the storm had pushed a lot of the debris out of the tracks and left us with a clear path forward once the immediate area around the station was cleared. While I wish it could be my home city, the skyline William and I saw was foreign to both of us. Kansas City sprawled out across the prairie in all directions. Unlike St. Louis, few buildings were taller than two stories. Everyone had space here and so they built out, not up.

"Now deboarding, Kansas City!" The porter called out down the aisle.

"Okay, buddy, this is our stop."

"This is St. Louis?" William asked.

"No, but we are close now. This is Kansas City. My wife, sister, daughter, and the rest of the family are here for a couple of days."

"Oh…" He said, hopping out of his seat and pulling his bag out from under it. Checking to make sure we didn't leave anything; I ushered the boy out of the cabin and down the aisle. The air was far cleaner here. The grease, smoke, and steam from the train actually smelled nice compared to the dusty wind of the Kansas prairie or the sulfur smoke from the Anaconda mine.

I noticed that all the people overwhelmed William. It was probably the most he had seen in one place ever in his young life. I extended my hand for him to hold onto.

"Just like in Florence, stay close, okay? It's easy for a kid to get lost in a station this big."

I was excited enough that my pace quickened. Rocky was supposedly waiting for us with the farm truck outside but I wasn't sure if he had even made it. A tugging on my hand reminded me that I needed to take a slower pace for the boy that was trying to keep up. Between his shorter legs and the heavy bag full of his belongings, William wasn't going to be moving too fast.

After asking for directions, we found our way out of the platforms and into the main hall of the depot. Once outside, I was pleased to see familiar faces next to a familiar vehicle.

"Ethan!" Joseph yelled. I led William down the steps and onto the curb. Dropping my bags, I instantly hugged my nephew.

"Holy hell, kid, you must have grown a foot!" I said, measuring him up. He was up to my armpit now.

"You think so?" He asked.

"I know so because the last time I saw you, I could still pick you up. Now look at ya, a man in the making!" I said. "And I see you've managed to keep your father from having some terrible accident while I was away."

Rocky smiled a toothy grin, taking his turn to hug me as well. "And how was Montana?" He asked.

"I'll tell you boys about it on the way. But first…" I stepped back and to the side, revealing a boy that had been hiding behind me.

Rocky's smile dropped instantly while he put the pieces together while Joseph stood there confused.

"Uh, Ethan…" Joseph started. "Who's kid is that?"

"Did you pick up another orphan?!" Rocky said, hugging me a second time. "Oh, of course you did! I'm rubbing off on you, aren't I?"

"Not exactly, boys. Come here, son. Rocky and Cal won't bite." I urged William to step forward so that he was next to me. He didn't budge and instead tried to hide behind me. Rolling my eyes, I stepped to the side once more and crouched low next to him.

"Rocky, Joseph, this is William. My son."