The long way home

James had been walking for days. He was promised Land. His wife and daughter were on the wagon trail...The air was dry and dust was the prominent color of almost everything. With every step he wonders if he made the right decision..

A lot of folks was interested in obtaining land but the West was clear on the other side..It could easily take months on foot.. Some of the land had been given away if folks would just take care of the land and make it a homestead.

Billy had been on horseback for days..His horse was worn and needed shoes badly.. When his path crossed James they knew they was as different as day light and dark. But one huge thing in common the need to get to Nevada territory..

As other settlers were taking the risk to also go west..The new land that was promised was far and wide and plenty of it..

James was a hard working average man..He made a honest days pay and he wasn't afraid of work.

Billy on the other hand was full of bad habits and manners too...They said he was a killer..There was tales of him back in Virginia.

It wasn't easy to take families on that journey. The water was scarce and the food was in rations..Children often were hungry.

James had agreed to ride the trail with Billy. He had convinced James it would be faster if they teamed up..

At this time the train that connected the north only went half way. The train that connected to the West wasn't complete yet.

James told his wife and daughter to meet him at the train station and they would go together from there. His wife,Lacy begged him not to go. She had a bad feeling and their daughter, Janewas only 4.. James told her she was worrying over nothing... Lacy went to Ben, the man in charge of the wagon trail..She wanted him to know that her and Jane would be meeting James at the station.

As soon as Lacy described Billy ,Ben said" I know that killer". Back in Virginia City he had killed an entire family just to get a horse and a few coins the family had saved.

Ben decided to let Lacy help Maynard with the wagon train while he would ride ahead to check on James..Ben didn't even begin to tell Lacy half the truth about how dangerous the man her husband left with really is. He had killed women and children. He was more like an animal than a man. He didn't clean up, even at the bath houses..He smelled of dirt and sweat..He cursed with every word and then spat. His beard had food crumbs from several different meals...The dirt under his nails added another flaw that made him almost unbearable.

With Maynard and Lacy holding the reigns of the wagon trail BEN took the best horse and Rode fast to hopefully be in time to save James.

Ben had barely been gone out of sight with the dust still stirring when Lacy told Maynard she was taking the other Riding horse to get to James. There was no talking her out of it...Lacey saddled up the Mustang and packed for the trail...She told Jane that they would both be back to get her.

When Ben finally came upon Billy and James he had no idea what Billy's plan was.Billy had planned on killing James and taking his land too but with Ben in the way he had to get a new plan.

James had taken the horses to the drinking hole when he heard the shot...He could see Ben was dead.. James knew the plan and where he was suppose to be.

James was on his horse and had brought Billy's horse too. He thought that would give the Marshall time to find him...Without a horse Billy couldn't get far.

Lacy rode fast and hard...She could hear the chug a chug a sound of the train .She knew she had to get to the meeting spot that they had talked about..

James was worried about Billy's horse..It needed shoes and a long rest..James let the horse go...He too was on a time limit and the sound was getting closer...

As Lacey got off her horse she stood waiting on James..A million worries went through her mind..Would she have to travel west with just her and Jane? Was James on his way?

As soon as James was in sight the tears were flowing..Just as they planned they had met in time to meet the train..Now Nevada wasn't looking so far away.

James and Lacey had indeed met exactly where they said they would.. James shewed the horses towards the lake just for a drink and a place to rest.

For the first time they were back together..Lacey told James that the Braden family would be watching over Jane.

Once in the train it seemed that all problems went away....They did indeed arrive in Nevada and claim their land...Within a week the wagon train was there and so was Jane. James had already begun to build a cabin.

The wagon train had picked up the horses and brought them too..They were finally at home .. Livestock was in the field and crops were plentiful

The whistle of the train would blow daily and they could hear the chug a chug noise that they loved so much...One day Jane ask her parents" why do you love this train so much.." ?. " I find it noisy and distracting'.. James and Lacey asked Jane to take a ride with them on the train..She didn't see a point in it but she did it to please her parents. By now the Railroad connected the north all the way to the West.

Jane could tell her parents were so happy about riding the train that they were almost giddy...From the time they boarded Jane saw nothing but big smiles on the faces of her mother and father..She noticed they were holding hands. Something she had never seen before..

On the 3 Rd day Jane said" I want to know what is so special about this train"?

James said" your mother and I met on this train..Jane instantly lit up and said" I had no idea" James looked at Lacy with a smile that was only for her. Lacy said" my dear sweet Jane meeting your dad was just the beginning of our love story" Jane smiled and said" I wish I had a memory like that". James said" Jane you were born on this train..".. Your mom and I cherish this old train because this is where we first met you"

Jane got up to sit by the window..In a solemn voice she said" you are right. This train is pretty special".