"Grandpa Was A Hero",Pt.1 of 14

Usual Disclaimer: Just taking our Friends out to play, will put them back when I’m finished.                                                            

                                                                                    PT.1
                                                                      “Grandpa Was A Hero”

Crackling sounds.. were coming from the fireplace…  Sitting in the Chair looking into the flames…
Tugging on the shawl pulling it tighter around her shoulders, then her fingers ever so slightly run over
the design of the roses and then down to the fringe… Remembering , the very day he gave it to her
as a gift after a long trip away.. from home.   Glancing slightly out the window, she noticed it had began to snow…Then , a small voice,   Tell us again, grandma ,tell us again.. The story.. About how you and Grandpa came here ..?    And how you saved all your friends in Dodge City?   Tell us Again how Grandpa was a Hero?    She now turned to look at the four little faces.. beaming up at her…Oh, My Precious Little ones… Yes, Your Grandpa is a Hero… He was always My Hero!   The small Boy at her Feet, now jumping up and down with excitement…. Again,… Again …Please?   Tell us again?   Oh, Alright James ..I’ll tell you all again.. But then ..it’s off to bed with you… OK?  ….Ok…James answered. We promise…!
Now the four , Small Boys huddled closer, around her feet… eyes wide… full attention hanging on ever word…..So she Began……



It seems our country was changing fast, back East the city life was at hustle and bustle pace that most of the
West still wasn’t use too, but, more and more families were moving west to stake a claim  ,not only on land
,but , a new life or a new way of life…   For some it was to make their fortunes in Gold? And for the others..
Well, it was the dream.. The dream of land… the dream of the life they have only read about in a book or
Just the dream of the unknown.  Something they could build,   build to leave as a legacy to their children…
Whatever it was…They were willing to pack up and forsake all.. And travel night and day. .for that Dream!

With many Slaves being freed, they too were traveling west.. as well as traveling up from the south…
With help in some places.. from a man Named “Benjamin “Pap” Singleton”  he was known to have assisted  freed slaves and their families up from the Texas area.   Also , 900 families from the Missouri area.
All headed towards Kansas.     Now Kansas,…………. had changed  quite a bit as well…

Dodge City, Kansas   Dodge.? It had grown ! Oh, twenty to Thirty years ago it was  a dirty little Cow Town. it was a thriving.. growing… busy …very civilized Place to live…Hotel’s and Restaurant’s, a School, church, shops..? Etc.  there was even talk of  a new way to communicate…it was called a Telephone, it was invented, by a man named Alexander Graham Bell.  They had them in Abilene, Kansas. So, it shouldn’t had been long before they are in Dodge too. 

My Business, was still doing well…Although, I really don’t know how many more years I wanted to stay in it.? That is something that we’d had to think about….A lot had changed… We’d gotten older…..  It seemed that we had all fell into a sort of easy pattern…So to speak…  Matt ,at the Marshal’s Office.. looking forward to retiring, didn’t think I’d ever see that day? Young Thad , found himself a Bride and they started a family… they live just outside of town , about a mile or so…?  Newly also found himself a bride and has a family. oh, and  now the title of Dr. O’Brien… Festus’ still liked to go fishing and tantilize Ol’ Doc… and make regular visits to see Abelia ..and her Children, although he won’t admit.. He was sweet on her. And Doc, He retired.. But, was still around… to give advice.. weather we wanted it or not..?      So, Dodge was Just ,Good Ol’ Dodge!..     Ummmmmmmmm!
Or so, We thought…. Until ……

                                                                         TBC