ATOP Chapter Nineteen

Letter from Daniel Asher to Ronnie Stewart, July, 1946

Hey, Chief! It feels like forever now, doesn't it? Look at us... all home again and safe, with no Krauts shooting at us. I heard about your wedding... guess it's been a while now... but congratulations! Couldn't have happened to a better guy. I've been meaning to write for months, but things kept happening, so here's everything, all at once. 

I was so glad to hear that you found them... Rachel and the baby. I remember those days like it was yesterday... my final days in combat. I never thought we would make it... or you, either. Thought we had seen the last of you. You know what we did, as soon as we had gotten out of sight of those Krauts and you had disappeared... we all stopped there and prayed, right there in the middle of nowhere in the snow. Prayed for you and prayed for us, that we would somehow get to American lines... You should have seen Rachel then, kneeling in the snow, clutching that baby as tight as she could, her head almost touching the ground. She was weeping and it always makes me nervous to hear a woman cry... never really know what to do, y'know? She prayed on and on out loud, mostly in German, but I caught words and as much as I know, she was begging God to take care of you, to keep you safe... you've got a treasure in her, Chief, and I'm glad for you. 

I think I must have passed out at some point on the rest of that awful trek, because the next thing I remember, right after praying, was being carried into a hospital tent on a stretcher. Rachel was following along beside the stretcher, looking down at me with big dark eyes that looked so scared and the baby was crying. Sandy was telling her not to worry, that I'd be okay, but she wouldn't believe him until I said so myself, although I felt like I was about to die. That was the last I ever saw of Rachel, Sandy taking her out of the hospital tent and telling her he'd find out about you as soon as he could. They told me later that they had managed to get her evacuated with some of the other civilians that had hung around till after the battle started.

I got shipped off to England in the next couple of days after that and they had to take off my left arm, it was too messed up by then and they couldn't save it. But at least I'm right-handed, so I can still write and all that. I tell you what though, buddy, it was torture coming home again... a sort of blessed kind of torture, if that even makes sense. And facing my Janie with only one arm... only one arm to hold her with. That hurt even worse than the surgery itself. And my little baby Elsie... so grown up I couldn't recognize her. And she didn't recognize me. That hurt the worst of all. Imagine coming home to a child that knew no more of you than hearsay and the picture on the coffee table. Poor, dear Janie... she tried so hard, but Elsie was just afraid of me and that's all there was to it. 

Took a long time. But we're the best of friends now, my little girl and I. And I thank God every day for bringing me home again to my family... even if not all of me could come along. I told them about... well, you remember those kids, Chief? The ones we found after D-Day in that little village... Ruthie and Frankie and Madeleine? Well, I told Janie and Elsie about them and we all agreed... we decided to find them and adopt them.

And would you believe it? We did find them. They're in almost the same place they were before... just moved to a children's home that was started a little bit ago, just a few miles from the convent where we left them. We'll be headed on to France in a few weeks to finalize the adoption. That's actually what made me think of finally writing to you, remembering those days in France and how you insisted on taking care of those kids when there were those who wanted to leave 'em and go on. Bless you for that. 

Letter from Katherine Scott to Emma Campbell-Hayes, July, 1946

Dearest of Big Sisters

I am terribly sorry I haven't written in so long! I know, it's been over three weeks since the wedding and I have neglected you abominably. And here I have so much I want to say... and as soon as I finish this ridiculously long scribble-in-the-making, I owe an enormous one to dear Rachel, she has written at least once a week already...

Minnesota is lovely, and Lanesboro just darling. It's like Jefferson... that beautiful, homey, down-to-earth feel where everyone knows and likes everyone else. There's a little soda shop that puts me in mind of Pop's, and a general store like unto Pfyffer's , and a dry goods just as good as Dillinger's! And a library that I know you would love... it's the dearest library and has all the Montgomery books, even her latest! 

Mac is still working on our house and Jafe is helping valiantly. I'm trying to decide if Jafe is more father-in-law or brother-in-law or uncle-in-law and I just don't really know. All three, perhaps. He can be awfully fatherly at times but at other times he's just like a big brother, and then there are times when he's just the funny-favorite-uncle type... and then he can be everything at once too. I love him dearly, he's just wonderful. I'm surprised he's never been married... you'd think he would have been snatched up at once... especially with those Scott looks! I'm guessing he's got some tragic story in his past... he's never let on one little bit, but sometimes you can just sense those things, you know?

Our house is set about a half mile back from the road with a long gravel lane. There is to be a barn eventually, but Mac wants to finish the house first. A two-story farmhouse, white, with green roof and shutters. There will be a porch wrapping halfway round the side of it... the house is mostly up just now, but they haven't started on the porch yet. It's being built in the middle of a lovely green meadow, and there are already a few grand old trees up. There's a gorgeous shady oak right next to where the front of the house will be, it will shadow the porch and be wonderful on sunny days. The barn will be right across from the house, and there will be a chicken coop too, so I can have fresh eggs every day. Mac wants to add some beef cattle to the farm, just for a bit more income. 

Oh! I forgot to add the woodshop, which will be just beside the barn. Therein lieth Mac's dream... he's been doing carpentry for a while now, but the big things, like houses and all, are hard for him now because of his leg. So he's going to do more cabinets and tables and chairs... and someday, he tells me... someday soon, we hope... he'll be building a baby cradle. 

Oh, it's all so exciting, watching our home come to life like this! Right now... oh, Emma, did I tell you there is a honeymoon cottage here, just a mile back from where our new house is? He didn't tell me at all until we got there, he wanted it to be a surprise. It's the darlingest little stone cottage you ever saw... his father built it for his mother... a Scottish style stone cottage, the kind they have way up there in the Highlands. It's the most charming thing I ever saw. And they had it all ready for me when we got there... pink and white roses planted all around and beautiful new curtains... there is a winding little cobblestone walk up to the front door and right beside it is a laughing little brook. It's like heaven there, I couldn't have dreamed up anything more beautiful. Soon as you and Josh get out this way, we're going to let you stay there. You'll love it!

Anyway, that's where we're living right now, while Mac and Jafe finish the house. It's hard to believe the war even happened at times, it seems so far away, all those horrible memories... and everything is so beautiful and happy right now. I cannot, can NOT believe I ever told Mac no, I can't imagine life without him... he's made my world complete in a way I never knew was possible. He's the most wonderful man who ever lived, truly, dear sister. He's so gentle and kind and thoughtful... even if it wasn't for the cottage and the beautiful new house and everything... I'd gladly live in a Quonset hut with him... as silly as that sounds. But anyway. God knew I needed him. And He has blessed me beyond measure, filled up and overflowing. 

Telegram from Marci Morrison to Emma Campbell-Hayes, August 1946

SETH AND I COMING THROUGH OHIO ON WAY TO SEE MY FAMILY STOP WILL BE IN JEFFERSON ON THE SEVENTH HOPE TO VISIT AND MAYBE STAY A COUPLE DAYS STOP CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AGAIN STOP HAVE EXCITING NEWS STOP MARCI