1940s: Anna finds a way to keep her promise
Making a promise is easy, keeping it is sometimes much harder. As Thomas completes his training to go to war, Anna is trying to figure out how to fulfill her promise to Josephine. It's not an easy promise to keep. How can she keep an eye on him, when he will likely be sent off to either Europe or the Pacific? Her first choice would be to join the WAC, but for that she is too old, and without that, and even if she wasn't, there would be no guarantee that she'd be sent the same place as Thomas. Or anywhere, for that matter.
And around them the war continues. Battles are raging in Stalingrad and northern Africa. Some guy named Peron takes over Argentina. In Italy Mussolini falls and Italy surrenders, but Nazi forces keep the war going. And in the Pacific one previously unknown island after another becomes known as the battles rages on.
But one morning, while checking the mail, Anna gets a surprise. It's her old publishing company who is asking her to write a follow up piece on one of her old articles, this time about the local home front in Chestnut Ridge.
Anna gets right to it. It's been a while since she wrote, but she remembers she kind of liked it. More importantly, it gives her an idea. If she can sell this piece, perhaps the paper could agree to pay for other pieces - more international pieces?
There are plenty of precedent here. While women war correspondents are rare, and has to fight much harder than men for the footage and access, they do exist. Names like Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, Peggy Horn and Marguerite Higgins are well known and the latter two are both in their 50s. If they can do it - surely Anna can too?
She brings it up with Johnny first. He isn't pleased. Why would he be, when she's threatening to run off again. The argument that follows is fierce.
"I thought you were done with that when we got married and moved out here!"
"But you knew who you married. You know me, I cannot sit by and do nothing. Well this is something!"
"But what about us? What about the horses? Misty is soon giving birth!"
"This is about Thomas! I promised Josephine, and I know I can't keep him safe, but I can at least make sure he doesn't die somewhere without ever being sent home. We haven't even been able to bury William! Just his dog tags. You can't ask me to abandon Thomas!"
Of course he can't, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to.
"I'll stay until the foul is here," Anna says. "And I'll need to arrange things, that takes time. Just promise you'll take care of mom for me." Of course Johnny promises that.
The next step is harder. Convincing her mother. But Abigail is not willing to listen to reason. The war has already claimed one of her children, she is not ready to lose another. "You went in the last war, wasn't that enough+ You really want to put me through that one more time? After just losing William?"
Just like last time, this is one fight either of them can win. Anna will never get her mother's approval - and Abigail will never be able to stop her from going. The best they can agree on is a stalemate.
As fall settles on Chestnut Ridge, the horses are moved out of summer pasture into the stable, and Misty is getting every bigger, until one morning when her time is due. Anna is with her, soothing her, until she delivers a beautiful colt. Anna names him Stormcloud from the cloud-like formations in his coloring.
With the birth of Stormcloud, things start moving. Thanksgiving is coming ever closer, and the Saturday that follows is another championship weekend. Anna intends to ride Bronco to try and take the gold medal this time, but more importantly she's selling Starbucks.
"But you've had him longer than any other horse." Johnny objects.
"I need the funds to be able to go. Thomas has received his orders - they're sending him to Tomarang. I need the money and I want to keep Bronco to breed him again." With that settled, there is nothing else to say.
On Thanksgiving, the family arrives to a celebration that is just as much about sending Anna off as it is about spending the holiday together. Johnny has been fixing up the house lately, installing new wall papers, and replacing the old worn sofas that Anna bought when she bought her first apartment nearly 20 years ago. But Anna cares more about seeing her family than any decorations. She hugs her sisters, gives her condolences to Amanda and joke around with Hazel, Grace, Arthur and Barbara. As the evening wanes and people go home, she cleans up as her mother goes to bed. Her trip has been ordered, her deal with the paper is secure. All that remains is the competition and horse sale on Saturday.
For Abigail and Johnny time moves too fast, and before long Saturday is here. The entire family is up in the early dawn of morning, getting ready for the sale and the big championship. Without Thomas, Anna struggles to get the horses done in time, but even so they arrive at the Equestrian centre early in the morning. It's Stormcloud's first glance at life outside the ranch, and there are a lot of things to explore.
For the other three horses this is business as usual. First up are the lower competitions, before its time for the big one. This time Anna joins with Bronco. Unfortunately, they don't win, but only come at third place. Still, Anna isn't too displeased. Bronco is still young, and has plenty of time to reach that gold. She gives him a careful brush afterwards as a reward for doing so well.
And around them the war continues. Battles are raging in Stalingrad and northern Africa. Some guy named Peron takes over Argentina. In Italy Mussolini falls and Italy surrenders, but Nazi forces keep the war going. And in the Pacific one previously unknown island after another becomes known as the battles rages on.
But one morning, while checking the mail, Anna gets a surprise. It's her old publishing company who is asking her to write a follow up piece on one of her old articles, this time about the local home front in Chestnut Ridge.
Anna gets right to it. It's been a while since she wrote, but she remembers she kind of liked it. More importantly, it gives her an idea. If she can sell this piece, perhaps the paper could agree to pay for other pieces - more international pieces?
There are plenty of precedent here. While women war correspondents are rare, and has to fight much harder than men for the footage and access, they do exist. Names like Martha Gellhorn, Lee Miller, Peggy Horn and Marguerite Higgins are well known and the latter two are both in their 50s. If they can do it - surely Anna can too?
She brings it up with Johnny first. He isn't pleased. Why would he be, when she's threatening to run off again. The argument that follows is fierce.
"I thought you were done with that when we got married and moved out here!"
"But you knew who you married. You know me, I cannot sit by and do nothing. Well this is something!"
"But what about us? What about the horses? Misty is soon giving birth!"
"This is about Thomas! I promised Josephine, and I know I can't keep him safe, but I can at least make sure he doesn't die somewhere without ever being sent home. We haven't even been able to bury William! Just his dog tags. You can't ask me to abandon Thomas!"
Of course he can't, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to.
"I'll stay until the foul is here," Anna says. "And I'll need to arrange things, that takes time. Just promise you'll take care of mom for me." Of course Johnny promises that.
The next step is harder. Convincing her mother. But Abigail is not willing to listen to reason. The war has already claimed one of her children, she is not ready to lose another. "You went in the last war, wasn't that enough+ You really want to put me through that one more time? After just losing William?"
Just like last time, this is one fight either of them can win. Anna will never get her mother's approval - and Abigail will never be able to stop her from going. The best they can agree on is a stalemate.
As fall settles on Chestnut Ridge, the horses are moved out of summer pasture into the stable, and Misty is getting every bigger, until one morning when her time is due. Anna is with her, soothing her, until she delivers a beautiful colt. Anna names him Stormcloud from the cloud-like formations in his coloring.
With the birth of Stormcloud, things start moving. Thanksgiving is coming ever closer, and the Saturday that follows is another championship weekend. Anna intends to ride Bronco to try and take the gold medal this time, but more importantly she's selling Starbucks.
"But you've had him longer than any other horse." Johnny objects.
"I need the funds to be able to go. Thomas has received his orders - they're sending him to Tomarang. I need the money and I want to keep Bronco to breed him again." With that settled, there is nothing else to say.
On Thanksgiving, the family arrives to a celebration that is just as much about sending Anna off as it is about spending the holiday together. Johnny has been fixing up the house lately, installing new wall papers, and replacing the old worn sofas that Anna bought when she bought her first apartment nearly 20 years ago. But Anna cares more about seeing her family than any decorations. She hugs her sisters, gives her condolences to Amanda and joke around with Hazel, Grace, Arthur and Barbara. As the evening wanes and people go home, she cleans up as her mother goes to bed. Her trip has been ordered, her deal with the paper is secure. All that remains is the competition and horse sale on Saturday.
For Abigail and Johnny time moves too fast, and before long Saturday is here. The entire family is up in the early dawn of morning, getting ready for the sale and the big championship. Without Thomas, Anna struggles to get the horses done in time, but even so they arrive at the Equestrian centre early in the morning. It's Stormcloud's first glance at life outside the ranch, and there are a lot of things to explore.
For the other three horses this is business as usual. First up are the lower competitions, before its time for the big one. This time Anna joins with Bronco. Unfortunately, they don't win, but only come at third place. Still, Anna isn't too displeased. Bronco is still young, and has plenty of time to reach that gold. She gives him a careful brush afterwards as a reward for doing so well.
But it's towards the end of the day that the hardest part comes. The time to let Starbucks go. It's the hardest sale Anna has done yet, as Starbucks has been a part of her life for so long. "I'm so sorry," she whispers in his ear as she hugs him close. "I wish there was another way, but I'll make sure you'll get a good home."
It's a somber family that comes home, with one piece of the puzzle missing. But Anna keeps reminding herself that this is for her sister, and for Thomas's sake. For Johnny and Abigail the hardest goodbye comes the morning after, as it's time for Anna to set off on her journey. Anna gives her mother a hard and long hug, and her husband a deep kiss.
"I'll be back before you know it," she says, hoping she is right. Quelling any doubts she might have about the wisdom of her actions, she sets off alone, leaving her ranching life behind her. For now at least.
"I'll be back before you know it," she says, hoping she is right. Quelling any doubts she might have about the wisdom of her actions, she sets off alone, leaving her ranching life behind her. For now at least.
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