1930s: A death in the family

Having competed once, Anna has got a taste for the thrill, and so for the next few months she enters her horses into competition regularly. She focuses on the stallions, leaving Ranger to spend time with her foal. Both Starbuck and Crimson loves competing, and have quite a few wins as they rise through the ranks of ever more difficult competitions.

With the competitions, Anna's lust for adventure is awakened again. She reads with eagerness about Amelia Earhart becoming the first person to successfully fly solo from Hawaii to California, and about Caroline Mikkelsen becoming the first woman to set foot on Antarctica. She cannot help but to wonder what it would feel like to fly. To soar above the clouds like men were never supposed to do.

Yet at home, there is plenty of things to keep her busy. The horses need constant care, grooming and training. Anna also takes care to teach Thomas how to handle the horses. She even manages to persuade Johnny to try riding more often, though he doesn't really do so gracefully. Yet, Anna points out.

In town a washeria has popped up, and Josephine is delighted at now having this so close to her new home. Even Anna visits from time to time. She might be a hard working woman, but laundry needs doing and it's not like she can leave such a thing to Johnny! At least here it's modern, fast and much easier than in the washing tub back at the ranch. 

Anna and Josephine have also gotten involved in the church charity work. On Saturdays the church is now turned into a place where food, clothes, and other necessities are given to the ever increasing amount of poor people looking for new jobs. They also serve hot meals and soup to those who has no money to eat for. It's one of the church activities that Anna actually find really useful.

Whenever he can manage it, Johnny tries to make sure Anna is not all work and no play, bringing her to the local bar for some drinks and dancing, reminding her just why she loves him (the fact that he doesn't require her to cook, of course).

But as 1935 turns to 1936, Abigail calls her children. Their father is getting on in years and she worries that they won't have so much time left. "He hides it well," she says, "but he's more tired than he used to. Takes more naps. You should come home." While they all think their mother is exaggerating, their father is only 65*, they still decide to heed her and come home. Once more Johnny and Nash stays behind, along with Barbara and Arthur who has a cold and cannot go on such a journey. The others pack onto a train and arrive home in Willow Creek a few days later. Even Alice has left Del Sol Valley to join them. 

 

It's a pleasant reunion, as the house in Willow Creek is rearranged to house them all. For the first time they really get to know William's wife Amanda, who has taken it on herself to help Abigail as much as possible with the housework. Anna get a chance to sit down with her father and talk again, about books, travels and politics. They are both horrified about the news coming out of Europe. "Someone ought to do something about that mad man, but please tell me you won't be going off this time," Joseph pleads with his daughter. "I'm too old, daddy, I doubt they'd want me there."

The next day, the entire family goes out to the park, where a small bistro has opened since they were last there. Joseph takes some time fishing, and the kids love playing in the park while Abigail talks with her daughters in the bistro.

Back home, Joseph goes to take a nap while Amanda and Abigail arranges for dinner. 

As the family settles in for a nice night, the girls are sure their mother exaggerated and there father is just fine. So what if he takes a nap after a full day outside? So that is why they aren't at all prepared when he instead of sitting down at the chess table with Anna falls down on the floor. As his family gather's around him, his spirits slips away for good. 

Abigail is heartbroken. As much as she - unlike her children - saw it coming, the shock is still there. Joseph was her companion for so long, and such an important part of her life. That night she cries herself to sleep.

The next morning, arrangements are made. Abigail is dressed all in black for mourning, and later in the day the family gathers in Willow Creek church, the church where Abigail and Joseph were married so many years ago and she holds a deeply moving eulogy for him before he is buried in the churchyard out back. It's a sad day as the man that has meant so much to them is laid to rest. 

As they gather back home Anna tries to persuade her mother to come back with them. "You should be with your grandchildren," she argues. "We'll find the room and rebuild the house." But Abigail just shakes her head. "This is my home. I will stay here, where I am close to your father's final resting place and can be laid to rest next to him."

William, on the other hand, has locked himself into his father's office, pouring over the contents of his will. He has no issue with the first part of it, that Abigail be left with the estate until her own death, but he is both surprised and frustrated by the second part of the will. That after Abigail is gone the house will be donated to the city and turned into an archive and library. For his sister, this means nothing less than a slightly smaller inheritance, but for him it means looking for a new home after their mother dies. "Are you okay?" Josephine asks as she steps into the room. "Not really," William answers. "But I will be, with time."

It's the last night for Anna, Alice and Josephine in the house. At breakfast, William shares the contents of his father's will with his sisters, and at noon they all head off for home. It will take some time to get back, and when they do return it's almost Barbara's birthday. It feels strange that life just goes on, but it does. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Anna asks her mother one more time before they leave, but Abigail is every bit as stubborn as her children. "This is my home, and it will remain my home." There is nothing Anna can do but return home, and hope her mother changes her mind with time. 

• In 1935 the average lifespan in the US was 64 for women and 60 for men, and I have set in game lifespans to reflect this. However, this number also include a fairly high infant mortality rate. If you had lived to 65, you could expect to live longer (an additional 12-13 years or so), but for game purposes it's easier to go with something similar to the average lifespan.