The year is 1868. The South's economy was in ruins. Massive war costs took a grave toll on its financial framework. With the Civil War primarily fought in the South, many of the major cities were either destroyed or severely damaged. Their courthouses had burned to the ground along with documents for the various legal relationships in the communities. And, beyond the obvious physical destruction, losses in human capital, such as knowledge, useful social attributes, and desire, had reduced the ability to perform the required labor to produce economic value. Furthermore, slaves were now free under Federal mandate; however, white planters lacked necessary capital to pay the freedmen workers to bring in the crops.

Farms were in disrepair. The prewar stock of horses, mules, and cattle was much depleted. In fact, 40 percent of the South's livestock had been killed.

After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Vice President Andrew Johnson became president. The new president shared Lincoln's belief concerning reintroduction of the Confederacy back into the Union. Because of his lenient approach in handling the rebels, Johnson became an opponent of the radicals in Congress. The Republicans won the critical mid-term election of 1866 and overcame Andrew Johnson's vetoes.

In 1867, with a two-thirds majority in both houses, Congress removed the civilian governments in the South and put into effect the Radical Republican's Reconstruction plan under the supervision of the U.S. Army. In part, it allowed for an immoderate coalition of freed slaves, scalawags (local whites), and carpetbaggers (recent arrivals) to take control of the Southern States' governments. Many were unqualified for positions of authority and ill prepared for the important task ahead.

Now, with full control of both houses of Congress, the Radical Republicans impeached President Johnson and almost removed him from office in 1868, were it not for a single vote.

Considering the prevailing political climate, there was no way Andrew Johnson would run for reelection. His parting gesture was to give a presidential pardon to the Confederate soldiers. While this act infuriated the Republicans, it was a time for celebration in the south. Up 'til now, Confederate veterans were prevented from receiving many rights of citizenship. Thanks to the "Tennessee Tailor" the majority of their rights are returned.

* * *

In spite of the ravages of the Reconstruction, Jack Leffingwell has managed to improve the farm to the point of profitability. He and Melvin Kaufman overcame odious restrictions; and, with the hard work of both families, not only produced adequate crops but increased the animal herds as well.

In Tennessee, the month of October still clings tenaciously to the passing of summer. The autumnal deception is betrayed by the brilliant colors of the dying tree leaves. This most pleasant visual phenomenon is due to the presence of accessory leaf pigments that normally assist the plants during photosynthesis by capturing specific wavelengths of sunlight. These pigments become visible when the leaf dies in the fall, giving an array of beautiful red, orange, and yellow coloration.

With the harvest completed, the children, as well as Abigail and Hope, sense a mounting excitement in anticipation of fall visitors. Within the week, Horace and Grace Waterman will arrive by train from Richmond, Virginia, along with Hope's 12-year-old sister, Susan, and plan to stay for three weeks. Their visits occur at least twice each year. The Watermans look forward to spending time with their daughter and perhaps more so with their two-year-old granddaughter, Rebecca. Susan loves her sister but is also looking forward to being with her sidekick Sarah Jane. The young girls are the same age and share the inquisitive nature of preteens.

Jack and Melvin anticipate seeing their Civil War companion, Abel Strawn and his wife Amanda. The Strawns also have a two-year-old daughter whom they christened, Abigail and call Abby. The twenty-mile trip will be covered in a chaise carriage borrowed from one of the Methodist Church parishioners. Of late, Abel has been troubled with an irksome dilemma and needs to discuss it with Jack before making any decision. Jack Leffingwell has the innate ability to see beneath the surface of most problems and Abel won't take on a venture of this magnitude without first seeking Jack's counsel.

By now, Grace Waterman has become more used to her daughter's house. The unadorned cabin came as a shocking surprise upon her first visit. After witnessing how much her daughter loved it and the manner in which Horace made himself at home, she accepted the rustic dwelling but could never get accustomed to not having better oil lamps. Her Richmond fixtures were more elaborate than the common lamps found on the farm. The fumes from Hope's lighting devices made her eyes burn. Grace failed to realize that it would be more than seventy years before such instruments were no longer being used. While fuel, wicks, and mantles will improve, many rural areas will not have electric power until after the Second World War.

Horace Waterman, on the other hand, took delight with the farm, especially in the misty autumn mornings. He loved to take his coffee on the front porch and listen to Hope's roosters, announcing the sunrise by dueling each other in a reveille contest. There appeared to be more poultry than when he and Grace last stayed. Strolling over to the henhouse, he observed newly hatched chicks in close formation round their mother. In addition, several bantams were pecking the ground for bits of overlooked grain. They were joined by a few guinea fowl with the same idea. Finally, Horace took another sip from his coffee mug and smiled to himself when a large turkey made his appearance in the fenced in coop. Clipped wing feathers told him the bird's destiny awaited a certain Thursday in November.

Hope's chicken venture had turned into a dependable source of revenue. It provided enough hard cash to allow for purchasing the occasional notion item plus, putting a little away for the proverbial rainy day. After being chased by one of the roosters, she became an old hand at sexing newborn chicks.

Returning to his favorite chair on the porch, Horace was joined by his son-in-law, Melvin Kaufman. The two men sat in silence for a minute or so when Horace said, "Your poultry livestock has increased appreciably from when we were here last."

"Hope gets all the credit for that," Melvin replied proudly. "She has taken to the rural life like a duck takes to water. Did you notice we put chicken wire on top the fence?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," Horace confessed. "It seemed odd until I saw the turkey."

"That turkey isn't the main reason. We have all kinds of owls around the farm and, with Hope raising chickens for eggs and such, the hatchlings presented an easy meal for the hooters."

"I never gave the owls any thought. With so much natural timber around the farm, baby chicks would be a habitual source of prey for them," Horace agreed, while swirling the remainder of lukewarm coffee before taking his final swig.

"Can I get you a hot refill?" asked Melvin.

"No thanks son, I can smell bacon frying. So it won't be long before we eat breakfast," Horace answered frankly as he stood facing the kitchen screen door. At that moment the image of Hope was viewed behind the meshwork and she asserted, "Breakfast is on the Table."

* * *

A short distance away a similar scene was taking place. The young girls assisted Abigail in preparing the morning repast. Sarah Jane and her buddy, Susan Waterman, were relishing one of the few times they could act grownup. Keeping an eye on the little boys was another but not nearly as fulfilling as making breakfast. Susan worked the biscuit cutter, Sarah Jane turned the bacon, and Abigail tended the eggs just to be safe. Jack liked his easy over.

"Where's daddy?" inquired Sarah Jane.

"He's out doing the morning chores," replied her mother.

"Is he going to gather the eggs?"

"Most likely, your father has the boys with him. You girls talked half the night and didn't get up very early," Abigail reminded. The expression on the youngsters' faces indicated their disappointment and also determination against these circumstances being repeated.

"Jack Junior and Jozef aren't very good when it comes to gathering eggs. They are afraid to look under the hens if they don't leave the nest right away," Sarah Jane said calmly.

"Why is that?" Susan asked honestly.

"They're scared of getting pecked," Sarah Jane answered as a matter-of-fact.

Voices heard from the open porch were those of the little fellows who were being previously discussed. With a joyful demeanor, the pair wrestled open the kitchen door and placed the egg basket on top the counter. "We gathered the eggs," Jack Junior announced with an overflow of self-satisfaction. His sister whispered a silent snicker.

"We all are proud of you boys," Abigail stated. "Now, go wash your hands while we set the table and bring in the food. We're having hot biscuits and plenty of strawberry preserves."

Final touches were underway as Abel and Amanda made preparations for their trip to Statesville and Jack Leffingwell's farm. Abel always looked forward to visiting his friend and Civil War comrade. The importance of this journey went beyond fellowship. Abel needed his friend's opinion on a decision that would transform not only him but also the rest of his family's lives. Faced with what could be good fortune or catastrophe needed the stalemate broken; and, the mountain man remains the only voice that can move the needle.

Abel hitched the conveyance to the same horse he rode while traveling from Richmond, Virginia to Statesville, Tennessee after the war ended. The animal was more than able to make a trip of twenty miles and seemed anxious to be on his way. It was early enough for the more brilliant stars to still be visible in the first blush of morning. Their two-year-old daughter Abby, wrapped in her warm blanket, was still in the arms of Morpheus.

The way to Statesville was a familiar route having been traveled several times previously. At a leisurely pace the Strawn family expects to arrive at their destination sometime in the early afternoon. Amanda had packed a lunch for the midway rest stop—a shady glade by one of the countryside's quiet murmurs of trickling water. It was a good place to rest the horse and give it a drink for the second half of the jaunt. It also provided another opportunity for Amanda to convince Abel that it was worthwhile having Pearle, her twenty-year-old brother, with them should they decide to make a move. Up 'til now the young man has shown few signs of settling down; a major concern for Abel, should he agree to the worrisome undertaking now tormenting his thoughts.

"You know Pearle thinks the world of you, dear. In fact, he idolizes you," reminded Amanda as she spread out the picnic blanket.

"He's engrossed by the war and associates me with it. Pearle is caught up in the idea of adventure. It's exciting for him, but that's not what war is all about. Because of his youth, he doesn't see the real side of war or the horrible atrocities that make up the truth," Abel replied, while holding Abby, who is now wide-awake and hungry.

"He listens to you and only needs to be around you more," she said tersely.

"I'm not even certain that we're going west. A lot depends on what I learn in Statesville," Abel responded. The subject was put in abeyance while Abby drew their attention. Finally, Abel got to his feet, stretched his tall frame, and inhaled a deep breath while admiring his surroundings. The area, on which he stood, was once used as a hunting ground by Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee Indians. Itself, a mildly rolling low-lying area, surrounded by the western and eastern Highland Rim. The Cumberland Mountains rise to the east, and the state capitol, Nashville, rested a few miles to the west. Nashville became an important Confederate stronghold at the beginning of the Civil War, only to become the first major Confederate city to fall to Union troops. Under Union occupation, Nashville was used to support the Union Army with supplies, weapons, ammunition, and medical care. The population of the city greatly expanded with soldiers, runaway slaves, and wartime entrepreneurs. The cotton-state faithful unsuccessfully made an attempt to recapture the city from the Union Army in December 1864. It marked the last significant offensive action taken by the South. Abel loved Tennessee and cherished its lofty mountain heights; another reason for uneasiness over the move to the endless prairie of a new home.

* * *

The entire clan from the two farms met them as their surrey pulled to a stop in front of Jack Leffingwell's open porch. Hope and Abigail ran to help Amanda and little Abby down from the buggy. Jack and Melvin shook hands with their visitor and the three men led Abel's horse to the corral. Jack's maintenance barn will hold the gig for the duration of this year's visit. Travel to and from Statesville will either be in the box wagon, Leffingwell's carriage, or on horseback. Naturally the men preferred the latter, however, when the whole family was involved, the women held sway. As customary, the talk mainly consisted of social amenities, such as, each other's health, fall harvest, and their wives and children. The main topic for Abel must wait for a more suitable time, perhaps at night once the children were in bed.

On the way back to the house, Abel received a heartfelt greeting from Abigail. As long as they both draw breath, Abigail will have no friend more genuine. She will always be indebted to Abel for whom she believes saved her marriage. Their relationship, which began in Richmond, Virginia, at the Robertson Hospital, turned out to be a blessing. Although fate played a more significant role, the mountain man's wife will everlastingly think otherwise.

That afternoon, the families took supper out of doors á la picnic style. Two wooden stands had been constructed for such an occasion. Resting atop the tables was the customary rural fare with fried chicken and an assorted array of fruit jars containing bounty from last year's canning session. On one end stood a vessel holding fresh lemonade made previously and stored overnight in the fruit cellar. Even in the absence of ice, it achieved a soothing coolness.

The children loved eating outside. Mothers tended to be more lenient while dining in the open air. It was like eating in the middle of their play area. They quickly gathered together at the table with the most jars of jam and preserves, planning to concentrate their appetites on fresh baked bread and the sweetened fruit spread.

During that momentary pause before digging in, Abigail requested Abel to give thanks. Rising to his feet, he asked that every eye is closed and all hearts open before saying,

"Dear Heavenly Father be present at our table this special day. We come to Thee to give thanks for all our many blessings. We're thankful for our many earthly gifts. We're thankful for Rebecca and Abby. May we be granted the wisdom to raise them according to Your Will. We ask Thy blessing on this food for which we are grateful. Watch over all of us Lord and keep us in Thy loving care. Through Jesus' name we pray, Amen."

As the October sun moved well past its apogee, sounds of muffled conversation, the tinkle of spoons touching plates and dishes and a mild argument between Sarah Jane and Jack Junior, over a jar of strawberry preserves, was the only audible noise until well into the late afternoon. Determining the main meal over, Abigail lifted the lid from the large pastry plate and announced, "We have chocolate cake for dessert."

Few had left room for the moist and delicious patisserie; however, once coffee cups were refilled with the steaming brew, everyone accepted a small piece.

Approaching the conclusion of a wonderful day, Hope and Abigail got to their feet and began to clear the tables. Amanda and the two pre-teen girls joined them. At this point, Jack turned to Abel and said, "I understand you have something to tell us this afternoon."

"Yes, that's true, but it will take a little time to relate the whole story," Abel replied.

"Then let's walk down by the lake and build a fire. I know a perfect spot to tell long stories," Jack stated while smiling reassured.

On the way to the lake Abel was reminded of the black bear and asked, "Do you still have the big bear?"

"We sure do. In fact, it was a female and now we have two cubs," Melvin interjected.

The animal in question is an American black bear first noticed when Jack bought the property three years ago. At that time, there was little concern for the safety of the cattle. The bison, cougars, and elk that once roamed Middle Tennessee have now disappeared, and the only large mammals remaining are the black bear and white-tailed deer. Timber wolves can still be found in the mountains, but they, too, are reduced due to lack of large prey and being hunted for bounty.