Spring of 1922

Irene rode Irene at a walk around the farm with three-year-old Angela with her. The child clung to the saddle horn. A new motorcar was parked by the house. The couple seldom used it. Irene hated it. It was slow and noisy and broke down a lot.

A new carriage and two new harness horses were new additions to the place. The off-white carriage that carried up to four people was nicer than the flat wagons that people used to haul supplies in. Many people were buying these new carriages to travel with families rather than use the flat wagons. Flat wagons had one bench seat and any other people would have to ride in the back on hard uncomfortable wood. The carriages had padded seats. The two new carriage horses were both chestnut in color and had very little white markings.

As Irene rode towards the house, she saw a man riding into the gate of the property at a gallop. He stopped near the house. Irene rode over and stopped.

"Is there something you need, sir?," Irene asked the man.

"I have a telegram for Jack and Irene Marston," the man said.

"I'm Irene Marston," Irene said. "My husband is running an errand at the moment." She dismounted her horse and then helped her daughter off. She set Angela down. The child sat down on the porch and started to play with some toys.

The man handed Irene the envelope. He then left the property and started to ride back towards Blackwater. Irene opened the letter and read it.

"Oh, no," Irene said under her breath.

Irene sat down on a chair on the porch near Angela and waited for her husband to return home. She watched Angela play, as innocent as she could be.

Moments later, Irene looked to see Jack riding into the gate at a fast trot. He hitched the horse near the barn. As Jack walked up the porch steps, Irene stood up and greeted him with some sadness in her voice.

"What's wrong?," Jack asked.

"We got a telegram from Bonnie MacFarlane," Irene said. "Her father died late last night."

"Oh, my God," Jack said.

"Here's the letter," Irene said as she handed it over. "She wants us to go to the ranch for a few days for the funeral."

"Absolutely," Jack agreed. The MacFarlanes meant a lot to Jack. They had saved his father's life, giving Jack the chance to see him again. They had given him those last few weeks to spend with his father. John had won back Jack's trust, taught him how to hunt and fish, taught him how to shoot guns, lasso almost anything, and how to ride horses. Irene knew how much the MacFarlane family meant to Jack. Jack looked at his wife. "I wanna be there by sundown," he said. "Get Angela ready, please. I'll get our things and we'll take the new carriage."

Irene nodded.

An hour later, Jack drove the carriage from the property. Irene, seated next to him, cradled Angela in her arms. The child was leaning against her mother.

"Mommy, why do people die?," Angela asked.

"I don't know, baby," Irene replied. "Different reasons."

"Will you and Daddy die soon?," Angela asked.

"We won't die for a very long time," Irene said. "After you're all grown up." She glanced at Jack. She hoped she was not lying to her child. She hugged Angela and watched the scenery go by.

As the sun was getting low, Jack trotted the horses into MacFarlane's Ranch. He stopped them near the house. Amos and Bonnie walked out the door as Jack was lifting his daughter from the carriage. Still holding his daughter, Jack greeted Bonnie. She hugged him. Jack hugged her back with his free arm.

"Bonnie, I am so sorry," Jack said. He looked at her. "Your father was a good man. We're all gonna miss him."

Irene hugged Bonnie. "I'm so sorry, Bonnie," she said. "If there's anything that I can do, just ask."

"Thank you," Bonnie said. "Come on in. We'll show you your room."

In a spare bedroom, a double bed and a twin bed were ready.

Jack didn't sleep much that night. Angela's question was still clinging to his thoughts. He was never religious and he never really thought about whether or not to believe in God or Heaven or hell. Irene sure did believe. Jack still remembered his "encounter" with his father three years ago. Was that real? Or was it all a dream?

John had admitted to some odd dreams before his own death. But his dreams were terrifying nightmares about undead people and the four horses of the Apocalypse and even a chupacabra. In his dream, he had dreamt that Jack and Abigail were undead after being attacked by Uncle and that he had to kill Uncle. Many of his friends had become undead and he had killed them also in his dream. For days after that dream, John had been so different. He had begged Jack not to tell Abigail about it. Jack kept his promise and never did tell her.

But Jack's dream (was that it?) had not been frightening. It had been comforting. He wondered if John were really watching over him and if Landon were really watching over Irene.

Jack lay on his side and looked at Irene. She was sound asleep, facing him. Angela was asleep on the other bed. Jack looked at Irene and touched her face. She was so beautiful. He was glad that Angela looked more like Irene. She was a lovely child. One day, she would be a beautiful woman.

Jack lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. He finally drifted off to sleep and slept soundly.

Jack and Irene were awakened the next morning by Angela. She bounced on the bed and called to her parents to get up. "Mommy. Daddy. It's morning!"

Jack opened his eyes. He playfully grabbed Angela and tossed her onto the bed and tickled her.

"Who told you to wake us up?," Jack asked as the child laughed.

Irene sat up.

Jack sat up and took Angela into his arms and hugged her. He kissed her head.

Irene sighed. "Bonnie may be waiting for us," she said. "We'd better get ready and go see what's going on."

"Yeah," Jack agreed.

Jack and Irene got out of bed and got dressed. Irene dressed Angela as Jack left the room.

Jack found Bonnie in the living room.

"Good morning, Jack," Bonnie said, sorrow still in her voice.

"Bonnie," Jack greeted. "How are you holding up?"

"Still in shock," Bonnie replied. "I can't believe he's gone." She sighed sadly. "My brother is coming in from the East. I haven't seen him since I was nineteen."

"What happened?," Jack asked as he sat down.

"He moved back East years ago," Bonnie replied. "His letters said that he was a high and mighty banker in Blackwater. I'm not really looking forward to seeing him. And I have never even met his family. He's married and has a daughter and two sons."

"Maybe this could help you all repair your relationship," Jack suggested. "I lost my sister, Charlotte, when I was eleven. She was only two months old then. Ma never had any more. She was afraid of losing more. She felt that was a punishment for her past."

"Daddy always believed that God would never use a child to punish the parents," Bonnie said. "Why take it out on the innocent? However people treated you, Jack, it was never your fault. We have no say in how we come into this world. Nothing was your fault. And I know you loved your parents and I know they loved you."

Jack nodded. "Thanks, Bonnie."

A moment later, Irene came downstairs with Angela. The two little girls started to play with Jessica's dolls together. Jessica was very calm and patient with her little playmate and never yelled or got angry at anything Angela did.

"Is there anything you need help with on the ranch today, Bonnie?," Irene asked. "I can help with the horses or do some patrolling tonight."

"Yeah, we can do that," Jack agreed. "I'll help patrol tonight while Irene looks after Angela."

Irene stood up. "I'll go see if they help in the barn now," she offered. She left the house.

Irene trusted Jack. She knew that he had no romantic feelings for Bonnie. Even if he did, he would never act on it. He was married and loved Irene. And Bonnie was married and seemed to love Amos. Each couple was devoted to their child also.

Irene helped feed and water and groom the horses in the barn. Many of the horses were then turned into the corral. Irene sometimes complained to Jack about his seemingly lack of respect for his horses that he rode. He often screamed at them and called them "nags," even when they were healthy and vibrant horses. She wanted him to see them as just as alive as he was. He had quit screaming at them, but still seemed a little hard on them.

That night, Jack kept his own promise and helped the ranch-hands patrol the perimeter. Cattle rustlers, wild animals, and travelers were the things that the place often encountered. Tonight, however, the night was quiet and uneventful. Jack went to bed around two-thirty that morning.

Irene and Angela were already soundly sleeping.

The next morning, Irene let Jack sleep in. He was so tired. She gently kissed his face, played with his hair, and got out of bed. She dressed and then awoke Angela. She kept the child quiet as she got her ready.

Downstairs, Irene met Bonnie on the front porch.

"Morning, Bonnie," Irene said. "I let Jack sleep in."

"That's good," Bonnie said. "He's tired."

"You seem worried," Irene said. "Is everything OK?"

"My brother is to arrive today," Bonnie replied. "His name is Perrin. He's three years older than me. He left home once he was twenty and never came back."

"Well, your father has died," Irene said. "Wouldn't one come back for that reason? Why don't you give him a chance? Meet your sister-in-law and the children."

"What does your family think of Jack?," Bonnie asked.

"My uncle still loathes him," Irene said. "But he hates anyone who he thinks kept him from getting his way. He was angry at Daddy when I wanted to go back home with him. Then, he was angry at Jack when I married him. He refused to see that it was my choice and my life. I love Jack more than anything, Bonnie. I would die for him."

"I just hope everything goes all right," Bonnie said. "I never stopped loving Perrin. He is my brother."

"Tell him," Irene said. "And my cousin, Lisa, now accepts Jack. She says he's growing on her. She has seen how much he loves me and how much he has done for me and what I have done for him."

"I really am grateful that you helped him," Bonnie said. "He seems to be truly happy now. I bet John would be so proud to have you as a daughter-in-law."

"Thanks," Irene said. "I wish I had met him. Jack talks about him all the time."

The two women talked about other things for awhile. As they did, Jack stepped out onto the porch.

Irene hugged Jack.

The three sat on the porch and talked. As they did, they heard the noisy engine of a motorcar. Bonnie held her breath as she recognized the driver as her brother.

"Perrin," Bonnie said. She glanced at Irene. Irene nodded.

Bonnie stood up and walked slowly towards her brother as he walked up the walkway to the house. His three children were not well-behaved at all. They were loud and rude as they were shoving one another while bickering. Irene was already annoyed with them, but managed to fake a smile.

"Bonnie," Perrin said. "This is my wife, Susan. These are my children; Fiona, she's seventeen; Brandon, he's fourteen; and Andrew, he's eleven." He looked at his wife. "Susan, this is my sister, Bonnie Callahan."

"Amos will be here soon," Bonnie said. "He and Jessica are riding the land, like they do every day."

"And who are these people?," Perrin asked.

"They're family friends," Bonnie replied. "This is Jack Marston and his wife, Irene. The little girl is their daughter, Angela."

Jack and Perrin shook hands.

Bonnie could already see that Perrin did not like Jack. She just hoped that everyone would stay civil for the funeral. She didn't want her father's funeral to be tainted.

"I'll go see if they need help with the horses," Irene said.

"I'll come with you, babe," Jack said as he followed her. He was also sure that Perrin was not going to like him.

Once Jack and Irene were out of hearing range, Perrin scoffed. "You make friends with outlaws and bounty-hunters? Dad told me about that John Marston guy."

"John went straight and started to make an honest living," Bonnie replied. "He bought a farm and got Jack away from that life."

"What about the kid?," Perrin asked.

"Jack hasn't done anything, Perrin," Bonnie replied. "He was suspected, but proven innocent. He goes after fugitives and turns them in. He keeps people safe."

"He does it for the money," Perrin argued.

"Partially," Bonnie said. "He really does care about people. I have known him since he was sixteen."

"Does he know that West is dead?," Perrin asked. "It's a new era, little sister. Jack and Irene need to settle down and get real jobs."

"There will always be fugitives," Bonnie replied. "And Jack will never sell that farm. He has no interest in farming, but his parents are buried on that land."

"Well, he needs to man up," Perrin said. "He has a family now and he needs to look after them."

"Jack won't wear a suit and tie and get a nine-to-five job, Perrin," Bonnie said. "And that's who he is. Please don't do this. Not everyone is gonna agree with you and you need to accept that. You're not The Chosen One! Leave Jack and Irene alone."

"That's fine by me," Perrin said. "I don't like them. And I worry about their kid there."

"Perrin, they love her," Bonnie said. "She is the center of their lives and she loves them, too. Don't you dare do anything, Perrin."

Perrin shook his head.

"Come on in," Bonnie said to her brother. "I'll show you where you and the kids will be staying."

Inside, Bonnie showed Perrin and Susan to the second larger spare bedroom. The daughter was given a moderate-sized room and her two brothers were given the smallest spare bedroom. The boys were not happy with that.

In the living room, Perrin faced Bonnie. "So, why does the Marston brat and his family get the largest room?," he asked, anger obvious in his voice.

"They've been great friends to Daddy and me for over ten years," Bonnie said. "You ran off and never came back. You wrote a few letters that were short and only bragged on your success. I will not argue about this anymore, Perrin. You can stay where I put you or stay in a hotel in town, Armadillo."

Bonnie left the room. She found Angela sitting on the bottom step of the staircase.

"Are you mad?," Angela asked.

"Not at you," Bonnie replied as she sat on the step with her. "You are not the reason for anything bad that's happening. You're a good girl."

"He doesn't like my daddy," Angela said.

"He just doesn't understand your daddy," Bonnie replied. "It's gonna be all right."

Bonnie hugged Angela. She hoped that she was not telling a lie to the innocent little girl that Jack and Irene loved dearly. Angela had her father's eyes and her mother's smile. She had dark-brown hair that was now very long. Irene often braided the child's hair into two braids. She was also dressed more like her mother: jeans and cowboy boots and men's style shirts. Angela loved her parents. Jack would die for her, just as his father had done for him. Nobody was going to take his little girl from him.

Jack's own memories of being kidnapped from his beloved father when he was sixteen were still fresh, as if it had happened only last week. He still had little trust in the government or in law enforcement. His ordeal was all at the hands of corrupt federal agents that didn't care if he lived or died. He seldom talked about it, even to Irene. Irene never pushed him to talk about it. She rather he talk about happy things, such as their life together and their daughter.

All Irene wanted for Jack was his happiness.

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