Jodi's Journey (36 page)

She nodded.

Hunt returned the body to his family. His
father was broken up about it, but he was grateful to Hunt for
bringing him home. The old man looked up, shook his head, and said,
“He was a reckless, fool kid, but he was my son, and I loved
him.”

Hunt nodded and left. He wouldn't add to the
old man's misery.

≈≈≈

Three weeks later, Jodi and Hunt attended a
local dance in town with their babies on their hips. The town hall
building was the only one big enough to support so many people. It
seemed there were more people here now, and that everyone had
suddenly come alive.

Hunt proudly supported Rebecca, and Jodi
carried Luke. Everyone gathered about them, wanting to hold them
and pat them. Jodi smiled with such happiness that Hunt felt
complete at last. The past was truly over, and a new future had
begun.

As Jodi watched the people gathering for
dances, she saw Willy shyly approach Sarah. Sarah went into his
arms eagerly. It was obvious that this was going to be a union.
Jodi hugged Hunt to her. Then, half an hour later, Cole came riding
up in a buggy to the dance, bringing Miss Lucy with him. She was
wearing his engagement ring. They were smiling and laughing as he
took her wrap and hung it up. Then, after greeting everyone and
hugging the babies they began to dance.

Jodi looked around the room and sighed
happily. Mrs. Hartman came over and took both babies over to show
another neighbor. The twins were the hit of the entire dance.

“Oh Hunt, it's just so perfect.” Jodi
said.

“What?” he laughed.

“Look at them.” She nodded toward Willy and
Cole. “Willy and Sarah, and Cole and Lucy…they are so happy, and we
have two of the cutest babies in the county. I am just bursting
with joy.”

“You, my darling wife, have had quite a
journey.”

“And I wouldn't change a thing.” She wiggled
into his arms as the band struck up a lively tune that everyone
whooped over.
Dixie
. Hunt immediately asked Jodi for a
dance. She practically floated onto the dance floor.

Hunt was right, it had been a long journey,
in which she had come back more whole than when she’d left. She
could imagine Clem smiling and watching over her for the rest of
her life.

She’d put the war behind her, she'd put
Hershel behind her, and she had a future in front of her. She'd
come full circle in her journey of life, and she made a promise to
herself, to her husband, and to Clem that she'd never look back
again.

---------------

About the Author: Rita Hestand

Deep in the Heart of Texas comes author Rita
Hestand. Mother, grandmother and even great-grandmother. A widow,
Rita spends a lot of time with her grand children, making movies of
their exciting times in life. She writes a variety of work, you'll
find her hand in contemporary, as well as historical, romance,
children's stories and children’s books. And even poetry on
occasions. She believes in God, family, and the motto of never
giving up.

Music moves her, movies enrapture her to
write, children give her purpose. She is constantly stimulated by
the urge to learn more, and believes that life is never over until
you stop learning.