Bequest for Nathan

                Nathan Bandelow opened the gate to the split-pole corral next to weathered gray barn and slapped the big roan stallion on the rump to send him running for the watering trough.  Nathan had ridden the horse hard for the last hour and the brief rubdown left the animal anxious to feel freedom from the saddle and its’ rider.  The lanky young man took the worn leather hat from his shoulder length red hair and rolled it unthinkingly between his calloused hands as he walked toward the long, low shingle covered house standing on the grassy knoll overlooking the roadway. The house, new twenty years before, was seeing more travelers go by every day.

                “Nathan!” The front door swung open and a willowy black-haired woman ran toward the smiling  man.  “I’m so glad you’re home!  We were starting to think you weren’t going to be here today.” He picked her up and swung her around, “Sweet, sweet Esther, how glad I am to see you.”  She threw eager arms around his neck placing kiss after kiss on his stubbly cheeks.

                “That’s a welcome a man would ride hard to get home for,” he placed his hat on her head and drew her close for a more lasting kiss.

                “Nathan, your mother is looking out the window.  You can bet on it.”

                “What of it?” We’ve been married plenty long enough and little Gerald is somewhere close behind you I’ll wager.”

                She swung their intertwined hands and matched her stride to his as they moved up the stone path to the house.  “He would be here but he’s taking a late nap.  I know he’ll be up as soon as he hears your voice.  What did you find out while you were in Bradwell?”

                “It’s a long story. Let’s wait and tell it once for Ma and Pa. I can tell you it’s exciting for me and I hope for you. There’s Pa coming in from the barn now.” Nathan raised his hand in greeting to the wiry man who looked more like an older brother than his father.

                “Welcome home, boy. I’m glad it’s supper time so we can all sit down and listen to your adventures of the last few days.”  Smiles born of the contentment at being together glowed on their faces as they climbed the shallow stone steps to the front porch.

                “I’m glad, too, Pa. Esther is already nagging for details and I know Ma will be the same. I did do lots of talking, but the total amount of information doesn’t change much from what we’ve known for awhile.”      

                “Supper’s ready!” The short, round, redhaired woman turned from the stove with a smile, tossed her dishtowel in the air and patted her son’s broad shoulder. “Now don’t you just know when to come home!” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Your Pa just finished the evening chores and we’re all ready to sit and enjoy the evening meal and have a good rest.”

                “Ma, you’re absolutely right. I’ve never been more ready for a meal and a rest.” He splashed water in the tin basin while hurrying to wash his hands and face. As he turned he caught sight of the chubby child who was busy pulling over everything not fastened down.  “Here, young man. Is that a celebration for your dad or just a way to make work for your Ma and Grandma?” He tossed him into the air and the child laughed aloud fastening his hands in his father’s long red hair just the color of his own.

                The reunited family group sat around the scarred handmade table enjoying the steamy mashed potatoes and crisply fried deer steak.  As Nathan mopped up the meat drippings with a flaky biscuit he said,”I talked to Jed Trimble every day I was in Bradwell. I should say I mostly listened. There were so many people wanting to hear about Kantuck and beyond, it was like he was making a speech.”