about English society. Lords and Ladies. Camelot type stuff. Saul said Reno was fond of one tale Gentry told about Sir Walter Raleigh placing his cloak across a mud puddle so Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t get her shoes wet.”
Journey giggled. “How romantic.”
“Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentleman and Reno wanted to be just like him. From all accounts, he succeeded. Saul wrote how Reno loved little Tess so much he bought her beautiful dresses. Anytime it rained, he would carry her around to keep the boys from splashing mud on her skirt.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.”
“Yea.” Myra agreed with a sigh. “They don’t make men like Reno Black anymore.”
“They don’t?” Journey asked all wide-eyed and innocent. “What do you mean?”
“Well, he put others first. He was brave. Honorable. A knight in shining armor. And for the short time he spent with them, he was a good father to those children.”
“Short time? What do you mean? Did he die?” she asked, her voice holding a sense of panic.
Myra shrugged. “No one really knows. Everyone assumed so.”
“When?”
Seeing Journey’s dismay, Myra tried to soothe her. “Honey, he was born in 1843. He wouldn’t be alive now, no matter the circumstances.”
“I know.” Journey looked distraught. “I just wanted him to have lived a good life. What happened?”
“Well, Reno Black disappeared in 1869. During an Indian attack, he led a war party away from the Stanton children and vanished. His body was never found, and no one ever saw him again.”
Reno at 15 – 1856
“No. Please, Pa. Don’t go.” Reno ran behind his father as he hitched up one of the horses to the buckboard. “Don’t leave us.”
“My mind is made up, son. I’m sorry.” Silas Black didn’t even look up as he fastened the halter to the lead. “Cole, bring your things!”
“Do something, Mama.” Reno turned toward the door of the cabin where his beautiful mother stood stoically. “Stop him.” When she said nothing, he ran to her. “Please, I don’t want them to go.”
“Nor do I, beloved.” Sojourner placed a tender touch on Reno’s shoulder. “We can’t stop them. I saw this in the waters. The future is written in stone. Your grandfather demands your father leave us and return home or he will receive no inheritance.”
Pulling away, Reno ran into the yard, turning in a circle. He didn’t know what to do. His life was falling apart – and he didn’t understand what was going on. “Why does Cole have to go with him?”
“Do you mean…why do you have to stay?” she asked with sorrow.
“No. I don’t want to go to Boston. I want to be here with you. I want us all to be here. Together!” Reno was adamant in his sorrow.
Sojourner shook her head sorrowfully. “Your grandfather demands an heir and Cole was created in his father’s image.”
Reno understood. He looked like his mother. Indian.
“What will we do?” he whispered softly, the reality of their situation beginning to sink in.
“I’ll send money.”
Silas Black’s voice broke through the fog surrounding Reno. He wanted to refuse. To yell. To cry. Instead, he pushed passed his mother to run into the house to find his brother. “Cole?”
“Yea.”
Reno didn’t have to go far. The cabin was small. He found his brother on his knees by the bed, stuffing his clothes into a small satchel. “What’s going to happen to us?”
“I don’t know.” His brother’s voice sounded choked. Like he was just about to cry.
“I want you to stay.”
“Me too.” He spoke on a sob. “I don’t want to leave Mama.”
Reno stood behind his older brother, a million things running through his brain. The good times. How they played in the woods. Fished in the creek. Told stories by the firelight. He could hear his father’s happy laughter and his mother’s sweet singing. “How could this happen?” They were a family.
“I’m not sure. Pa won’t say.” Cole stood and turned around. Reno had grown in the last year, but Cole was still a half foot taller than him. “You’ll forget me.”
Reno shook his head. “Never. You’re my brother. You’ll always be my brother.”
“Cole! Now!”
Their father’s voice roared.
“Come here.” Cole pulled Reno to him, hugging the boy hard. “We’ll see each other again. I promise.”
“Cole!” Another bellow from Silas Black.
“Let’s go. I’ll help you.” Reno took Cole’s satchel. He could hear their mother’s voice, quietly pleading. He could also hear his father’s voice shutting down her protest.
“This is not what I want.” Silas cleared his throat. “I just don’t have a choice.”