1940s: Setting up a new life
Over the next few weeks, Thomas is busy finding a place for himself in Betty's life. He has dinner with her family, talk to her mother, grandmother, brother, sister and father.
But he also brings Betty home to the ranch. Anna greets her with warmth as she has dinner there the first time.
He also introduce her to the horses, and show the treehouse he's built. That part turns out to be a bit more steamy than Thomas had envisioned. Not that he minds. Who cares about a splinter or two after all, when you can hold the woman of your dreams in your arms?
But in order to afford a wedding, Thomas needs to have a job, and so he applies for several doctor's positions in the area. He gets hired at Oasis Springs hospital to the great delight of his mother who sees the chance of having her baby boy closer again.
And as Oasis Springs is fairly far from the ranch, she might just get her way. A two hour commute, each way, is hardly desirable, and so Thomas and Betty takes the day to look at houses in the newly developed area Parched Prospect. It doesn't sound very nice, but the brochure talk of modern, luxury living at affordable prices: "Escape to the serene beauty of Parched Prospect in Oasis Springs, where modern comfort meets desert charm. Enjoy spacious homes and year-round sunshine. Your dream home awaits in this exclusive desert retreat. Come home to luxury today!"
The firs home looks really modern and speaks to them both.
But the kitchen might be a bit on the small side. Betty does like the colors though, and that vinyl flooring!
The landscaping is a bit... lacking. "Perhaps if we built a fence? And a pool? Eventually, when I've made enough money?"
The second home is right next door. The landscaping looks really good on that one.
But the kitchen doesn't speak to Betty at all, so even if the garden already is fenced in, she says no straight away. This is not her future home.
The third place looks good from the outside, and has a spacious layout inside.
The kitchen looks really nice, with a door directly to the yard outside which is spacious, if entirely devoid of landscaping.
The bedrooms too are spacious and nice, and while touring them, Betty feels a bit frisky, which turns into a steamy encounter in the closet.
Thomas is pretty sure there is a rule about that, but he certainly isn't complaining, and Betty looks pleased. "This will do," she says with a smile. And as he watch her smile, Thomas feels something inside changing, softening. The little part of him that has been angry, at the world, himself, politicians, people in general - ever since the war - is becoming less pronounced as a giddy form of cheerfulness takes its place.
Josephine is certainly delighted at all this, as is he too finally meet her future daughter-in-law as Thomas brings her home to dinner later that night. She's less pleased with Grace, who in her mind, should be doing exactly what Thomas and Betty is doing, but who instead has moved out of her family home to live with a friend and co-worker in a tiny flat. "I don't know what she is thinking. It's right across he street, why in the world could she not just stay at home? And David is taking his sweet time making a name for himself in the restaurant business. I realise it's not always easy, but it does seem like they have the wrong priorities!"
Thomas certainly doesn't mind his sister finding her own place rather than rushing into a marriage she doesn't seem sure about. "But did you have to move in with Donna?" he asks her.
"It's not my fault that you chose to date a friend of mine, or that you left her for someone else. I'm not going to change friends because you had a change of heart. You made that bed, and it's yours to sleep in."
But while Thomas is happy and almost giddy with excitement for his upcoming marriage, all is not well with the world, and while Thomas' mind is mostly elsewhere, he is sometimes worried about the state of the world. Back at the ranch they still discuss politics and world events almost daily and there is certainly not a lack of things to talk about for those who read the news carefully enough. Thomas knew there was a war brewing in Tomarang, between the French and the locals about independence. The news didn't report much, but having been there, it interested Thomas enough to pay attention. Then there were rumblings in Korea on the new border. But it was of course the situation in Europe that was his main concern. In Germany the western allies now stood against Russia, and Churchill had spoken about "and iron curtain" over eastern Europe. In Berlin a blockade had just started, and an airlift was being set up. Harold, still in the army, had announced that he was being transferred to Windenburg as a result, bringing Bernadette and Pearl with him.
It's not the first time that Anna has been truly proud of her nephew. "We need people who are ready to defend democracy," she says to Johnny and Thomas. With that said, she's happy it's not either of them going as it means she can focus on the horses, and not worrying about the men in her life. She knows it's hypocritical, but she can't help what she feels. Instead she focuses on her horses. Little Gale that is growing for every day and is now learning to eat hay, and Stormcloud who is such as fast learner.
Anna couldn't be prouder! The foul she raised, now a true champion. There isn't a gold medal he has not earned. Of course it also means that she's getting offers for him. Offers that are too steep to be ignored. He's already fathered two fouls of his own, and those are a handful. In the end, as sad as it makes her feel, Anna needs to let him go in order to focus on the two youngsters.
Thomas, too, will miss Bronco, who has meant so much to him over the years and helped him through rough times again and again. But for now, he's too preoccupied with everything else to really take it in. Between his new job, buying his future home and the wedding, there isn't much room for anything else. The next few months will be busy, but for Thomas they cannot go fast enough. Only when they are over will he and Betty be able to start life for real, and right now that is all he wants to do.
But he also brings Betty home to the ranch. Anna greets her with warmth as she has dinner there the first time.
He also introduce her to the horses, and show the treehouse he's built. That part turns out to be a bit more steamy than Thomas had envisioned. Not that he minds. Who cares about a splinter or two after all, when you can hold the woman of your dreams in your arms?
But in order to afford a wedding, Thomas needs to have a job, and so he applies for several doctor's positions in the area. He gets hired at Oasis Springs hospital to the great delight of his mother who sees the chance of having her baby boy closer again.
And as Oasis Springs is fairly far from the ranch, she might just get her way. A two hour commute, each way, is hardly desirable, and so Thomas and Betty takes the day to look at houses in the newly developed area Parched Prospect. It doesn't sound very nice, but the brochure talk of modern, luxury living at affordable prices: "Escape to the serene beauty of Parched Prospect in Oasis Springs, where modern comfort meets desert charm. Enjoy spacious homes and year-round sunshine. Your dream home awaits in this exclusive desert retreat. Come home to luxury today!"
The firs home looks really modern and speaks to them both.
But the kitchen might be a bit on the small side. Betty does like the colors though, and that vinyl flooring!
The landscaping is a bit... lacking. "Perhaps if we built a fence? And a pool? Eventually, when I've made enough money?"
The second home is right next door. The landscaping looks really good on that one.
But the kitchen doesn't speak to Betty at all, so even if the garden already is fenced in, she says no straight away. This is not her future home.
The third place looks good from the outside, and has a spacious layout inside.
The kitchen looks really nice, with a door directly to the yard outside which is spacious, if entirely devoid of landscaping.
The bedrooms too are spacious and nice, and while touring them, Betty feels a bit frisky, which turns into a steamy encounter in the closet.
Thomas is pretty sure there is a rule about that, but he certainly isn't complaining, and Betty looks pleased. "This will do," she says with a smile. And as he watch her smile, Thomas feels something inside changing, softening. The little part of him that has been angry, at the world, himself, politicians, people in general - ever since the war - is becoming less pronounced as a giddy form of cheerfulness takes its place.
Josephine is certainly delighted at all this, as is he too finally meet her future daughter-in-law as Thomas brings her home to dinner later that night. She's less pleased with Grace, who in her mind, should be doing exactly what Thomas and Betty is doing, but who instead has moved out of her family home to live with a friend and co-worker in a tiny flat. "I don't know what she is thinking. It's right across he street, why in the world could she not just stay at home? And David is taking his sweet time making a name for himself in the restaurant business. I realise it's not always easy, but it does seem like they have the wrong priorities!"
Thomas certainly doesn't mind his sister finding her own place rather than rushing into a marriage she doesn't seem sure about. "But did you have to move in with Donna?" he asks her.
"It's not my fault that you chose to date a friend of mine, or that you left her for someone else. I'm not going to change friends because you had a change of heart. You made that bed, and it's yours to sleep in."
But while Thomas is happy and almost giddy with excitement for his upcoming marriage, all is not well with the world, and while Thomas' mind is mostly elsewhere, he is sometimes worried about the state of the world. Back at the ranch they still discuss politics and world events almost daily and there is certainly not a lack of things to talk about for those who read the news carefully enough. Thomas knew there was a war brewing in Tomarang, between the French and the locals about independence. The news didn't report much, but having been there, it interested Thomas enough to pay attention. Then there were rumblings in Korea on the new border. But it was of course the situation in Europe that was his main concern. In Germany the western allies now stood against Russia, and Churchill had spoken about "and iron curtain" over eastern Europe. In Berlin a blockade had just started, and an airlift was being set up. Harold, still in the army, had announced that he was being transferred to Windenburg as a result, bringing Bernadette and Pearl with him.
It's not the first time that Anna has been truly proud of her nephew. "We need people who are ready to defend democracy," she says to Johnny and Thomas. With that said, she's happy it's not either of them going as it means she can focus on the horses, and not worrying about the men in her life. She knows it's hypocritical, but she can't help what she feels. Instead she focuses on her horses. Little Gale that is growing for every day and is now learning to eat hay, and Stormcloud who is such as fast learner.
For Bronco it's time again to compete in the Ultimate Championship and this time he takes home the win.
Anna couldn't be prouder! The foul she raised, now a true champion. There isn't a gold medal he has not earned. Of course it also means that she's getting offers for him. Offers that are too steep to be ignored. He's already fathered two fouls of his own, and those are a handful. In the end, as sad as it makes her feel, Anna needs to let him go in order to focus on the two youngsters.
Thomas, too, will miss Bronco, who has meant so much to him over the years and helped him through rough times again and again. But for now, he's too preoccupied with everything else to really take it in. Between his new job, buying his future home and the wedding, there isn't much room for anything else. The next few months will be busy, but for Thomas they cannot go fast enough. Only when they are over will he and Betty be able to start life for real, and right now that is all he wants to do.
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