Even If They Don't Ride Horses Anymore

Unfinished Business. Episode 5

July 30, 1900

Willie and little Jake came to check on Jacob that morning, like they had done every morning that summer. They would talk about the day ahead and what needed doin’. Jake would play on the porch with the animals Jacob had whittled for him. Then after a while he would walk the fields out back preparing already for the day when he would have a farm and responsibilities of his own.

“Willie, there’s somethin’ I need to tell you.”

“Sure Pa, what’s on your mind?”

“I love this house you made for me. It’s been so nice to be back with those I love. Want you to know that.”

“I know that Pa. I know that. I love you Pa. Glad you came back to us.”

“There’s somethin’ else I need to say.” Jacob’s face told how difficult this was for him and Willie saw it.

“What’s wrong Pa?”

Jacob took a deep breath and began. “There’s somethin’ I’m fixin’ to do, somethin’ I need to do.”

“It’s alright Pa. I’ll help you.”

“It’s somethin’ I need to do, it’s not here. I need to go for a while, don’t know for how long, don’t know when I’ll be back.” Jacob looked at Willie then. And Willie looked at him, like he always did, with only love in his eyes, and much pride.

Then Willie asked, afraid of the answer, “Will you be comin’ back? You know, definite like? You will be back one day, won’t you Pa?”

“I will be back, Willie. I promise you that. I know you probably don’t understand. You might think the house is not right for me, there are too many memories of your ma in this place, all that stuff people think when someone goes away. And you must be thinkin’ of the times I’ve left before. But it’s different now, you’ll see. Please trust me. I do love you son, more than you will ever know.”

Willie just looked at Jacob for a few moments, his mind wondering what this all meant and his heart all jumbled up with emotion. “Pa, you go do what you have to do. I’ll be here waitin’ for you when you get back. And while you’re gone, I might just have a look at that back window that’s been stickin’ on the hot days. Maybe I can get it fixed so it won’t cause you problems anymore when you get back. I love you Pa!” Jacob hugged his son as they both wiped tears from their eyes.

Jacob called Jake in from the fields and told him he had to go away for a while. “Jake, I need you to take care of your daddy and your ma and your brother and sister for me while I’m gone. You’re my little man and I know I can depend on you. Would you do all that for me?”

Jacob’s little man fought back tears and told him proudly that he would. Then he asked Jacob, “Do you really have to leave me Grampa?”

“I do son, but I will be back, I promise. I love you Jake.”

Jake hugged his grampa tight and reached into the pocket of his overalls to pull out a dog-eared piece of paper. “Grampa,” Jake announced, “On accounta I don’t want you forgettin’ me and on accounta if wherever you go they don’t ride horses anymore, here’s that picture I drew of me on a horse, so you can remember me and what riding horses was like, in case you’d be a forgettin’. I love you Grampa, this much!” And he stretched out his arms as far as he could.

Jacob swooped him up in his arms and hugged him. “Now don’t you go forgettin’ what I told you.”

“I won’t Grampa. I’ll make you proud!”

It was time to go. Jake grabbed Willie’s hand, and, as they started down the porch steps for home, Jake turned around and smiled at his grampa. And Jacob smiled back as Jake said, “Don’t worry Grampa. I’ll take care of things around here till you get back. I promise.”

Previous Episodes. Even If They Don’t Ride Horses Anymore
Aunt Daisy & Caleb. Episode 1
July 4th, 1900. Episode 2
Keepsakes. Episode 3
A Better Way. Episode 4