“I understand,” Falcon said.
“I didn’t want to tell you this, because I didn’t want to spoil the surprise, but we are coming out to spend Christmas in the Valley,” Rosanna said. “In fact, we have cleared away our schedule so we can spend at least two months there, visiting everyone.”
Falcon smiled broadly, and shook his head. “They will like that,” he said. “They will like that very much.”
“What about you? When are you going to settle down?” Rosanna asked.
“Settle down? What do you mean settle down?”
“I mean get married.”
“I did get married.”
“Yes, and tragically, she was taken from you. But you are still a young man, Falcon. Somewhere there is a woman for you.” Rosanna smiled. “And she may be right here.”
“Here?”
“You aren’t blind, Falcon. I know you have seen the way Lorena Wood looks at you.”
“I’ve also seen the way she looks at Tom Custer.”
“Have you ever thought she might just be trying to make you jealous?”
“Uh, huh,” Falcon replied. “Or maybe she is trying to make Tom Custer jealous.”
Rosanna laughed out loud. “Well, I never thought about that,” she said. “It could be that you are right. I know that she has decided to stay out here with Libbie until the regiment returns.”
Andrew came back then. “I’ve got the luggage all taken care of,” he said. “We won’t even have to see it again until we reach New York.”
In the distance could be heard a train whistle.
“Is that our train?” Rosanna asked.
“It has to be,” Andrew said. “There is nothing else due right now.”
Rosanna stood up, and Falcon picked up the suitcase that would be going on the train with her. The three then walked out onto the wooden platform and from there, could see the train approaching from the west. A sense of anticipation spread through the others who were also standing out on the platform. Some began weeping at the prospect of telling a loved one good-bye, while others grew excited as they were eagerly awaiting the arrival of loved ones. The daily arrival and departure of the trains kept Bismarck connected, in a real and physical way, with the rest of the world. Nobody ever treated the occasion with indifference.
“When will you be coming back to New York?” Rosanna asked.
“I don’t know,” Falcon said. “Next time business takes me that way, I suppose.”
“You could come just to visit, you know.”
“Don’t knock it, Rosanna. He’s the only one who ever comes as it is,” Andrew said.
Rosanna chuckled. “I guess you are right at that,” she said. “Sometimes I could almost believe that Falcon is the only brother I have.”
“What about me?” Andrew asked, his face screwed up in response to her question. “Don’t you count me as your brother?”
“You are my twin,” Rosanna said, as if that answered Andrew’s question.
“Yeah, I guess I see what you mean,” Andrew replied, understanding perfectly Rosanna’s convoluted logic.
Falcon chuckled. Sometimes, he believed that Andrew and Rosanna shared not only the same birthday, but the same brain as well.
By now the train had reached the edge of the town and could be seen visibly slowing. A moment later, it rolled into the station, the bell clanging, steam spewing, and glowing sparks falling from the firebox.
Rosanna put her arms around Falcon’s neck, then kissed him. “Give everyone my love,” she said.
Andrew reached out to shake his brother’s hand. “It’s been wonderful seeing you,” he said. “Do keep in touch, will you, little brother?”
Falcon smiled as he watched them board the train; then he stood on the platform until the train pulled away. It seemed funny for Andrew to call Falcon his little brother, even though he was. It was not only that Falcon was a much larger man than Andrew. His experiences so far exceeded anything Andrew had ever done that he could never think of Andrew as his elder.
Once more the ringing telephone interrupted Falcon’s recitation of the story. Falcon took a swallow of his coffee as Rosie answered the phone.
“Hello?”
Again, those present in the room could hear a tinny voice over the telephone line, but they couldn’t understand what the voice was saying.
“Just a minute, I’ll ask him,” Rosie said. She reached up to put her hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, then turned toward Falcon.
“Big Grandpa, this is Mayor Presnell. He wants to know if the town can count on you as a guest of honor on the reviewing platform for the Fourth of July parade.”
