Joedan and his father shared a glance for a moment before his father motioned with his hand out towards the field.
Walking along the rows of the field, Joedan waited quietly for his father to speak. He wasn't sure what his father was going to say. He hoped he wasn't too upset with him.
"Your ma and I were worried, son," he started.
Joedan sunk further, hating that he had made them worry. He still didn't know what to say so he stayed quiet. His father kept walking by his side, considering something, but taking his time before he chose to speak again.
"Can you tell me what happened, son?" his father asked.
Joedan took a deep breath, straightening his shoulders, he looked his father in the eye as he began, "It all started a few weeks ago. I was out working in the fields like I normally do. I overheard the sounds of a struggle and went to check it out."
"Amelia," he said, taking a minute to point towards the woman standing by the porch with the group, "she was being apprehended by two men," he said, as he pointed at the man bound on the ground, "I couldn't just let them take her, so I created a distraction and managed to deal with one of them." He took another breath.
"I killed him, da." he shrugged his shoulders.
His father put a comforting hand on his shoulder, waiting for his son to continue with the story.
"Once I was able to get her away from them, I brought her back here and hid her in our shed until the nighttime. She needed help returning home, so I took it upon myself to help her get home."
He paused, "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you guys I was leaving."
Joedan's father gave his son a hug, "It's alright son, we know our boy. We knew you wouldn't just up and leave for no good reason. We trust you more than you think, son," he smiled encouragingly.
Joedan was having trouble keeping his tears from coming, "So we made our journey back to Restin, but when we got there, they apprehended me, saying they needed someone to hold accountable until the real culprits could be found," Joedan continued.
He chuckled, "Honestly, I didn't know if the duke was gonna let me out, but then Commander Griff," pausing to point at the commander, "he came to the cell and told me I had been released on a special assignment. We traveled by horse and when we got here…well you know the rest," Joedan breathed a sigh of relief after finishing the retelling.
Joedan and his father continued walking further and Joedan kept glancing over at his father waiting for him to say something else.
"Dinner is ready," came the sound of his mother's voice. They turned to head back to the house. Entering the house, it was full of life. Soldiers sat around the table, his mother moving plates around the room, setting them down in front of the soldiers. His little siblings sat by Amelia, doing what little siblings do. Amelia was smiling and playing along with them. His mother turned to them and told them to find a seat. The food was good, Joedan had missed his mother's cooking.
Joedan's father took a turn looking around the room at the various faces, his eyes settling on the Commander. Their gazes connected and Joedan's father gave the Commander a slight nod up, aiming towards the doorway. Commander Griff nodded, slowly standing to his feet. Joedan's father followed the commander as they both headed for the doorway. Joedan watched them as they left, not sure what they would have to talk about.
"So I think I owe you my thanks for looking after my son," Joedan's father started. "In fact, I know I do."
"You have a very capable son," the commander said before continuing, "if I had a son like him, I couldn't be more proud of who he's becoming."
"Frank," Joedan's father said, offering his hand.
"Bill," the commander returned, grabbing the man's outstretched hand, they shook.
"What are your plans for my son?" Frank asked.
Griff took a moment to think about the question before answering, "I think he has the makings to be one of the greatest soldiers we've seen in a long time." Raising his hand, before Frank could interject, "But it doesn't really matter what my plans are, the more important question is what is your son's plan?" The man held his gaze with Joedan's father.
Joedan's father stayed quiet. After a time, he turned to Griff, "Thank you, Commander."
The two headed back towards the house, joining the others they returned to their seats. Joedan locked eyes with Griff, but got no indication. He next looked at his father, but his father gave him no hints either. Joedan grabbed his fork and stabbed into another piece of chicken raising it to his mouth.
*****
It was the next morning when Joedan woke up. He raised himself from his bed. Caleb and Trevor had mats on the floor. Being as quiet as he could, he slowly put on his boots and headed for the door. They had made room to put up all the guests the night before.
Heading down the stairs, Joedan walked into the kitchen. His father stood at the counter. They smiled softly at each other. His father turned to leave and Joedan followed him out of the house. They both made their way over to the equipment shed. Father and son walked together out to the field like so many other mornings before.
Joedan set the point of the shovel to the hard dirt and pressed the tip down. Scooping the earth, he turned it over. His father a little further down the row did the same. The two worked in quiet harmony, steadily making their way down the row. Taking the sack of seed, Joedan reached in and grabbed a handful, opening his hand as he spread it along the row.
"Son," his father spoke. Joedan paused in his work, "This farm is all I've ever known."
Joedan figured this was where the conversation was going.
"Farming has always been my plan," his father said. "I hoped it would be your plan, too."
"I know, da." Joedan said, resuming his work. Taking another handful, he released it as he spread it around. The quiet resumed as they continued in their work.
"Son, maybe I have added to the difficulty, assuming this was the best course for you," his father said. "But I need you to know," he said as he stood the shovel up, resting his foot on the top of it,
"What I want more than you being a farmer is for you to follow your dreams."
Joedan stopped his work, turning to look at his father. "What are you saying, da?"
"I'm saying that if it is your wish to be more than a farmer, then you don't need my permission to do it," his father stated plainly. Joedan struggled, he had, had this conversation so many times in his head. The conversation never went this way before.
"You have my blessing, son. And as your father, I couldn't be more proud of the man you've become." His father grabbed his shovel and pointed the tip back towards the row, driving it in, he went back to work.
Joedan turned away from his father, grabbing another handful of seed. Turning inward, Joedan was having a hard time. Stupid dust must be getting in his eyes. He wiped the corner of his eyes with his hand and continued spreading the seed.
They finished their work and lunch time arrived, heading back towards the house, Joedan turned to his father.
"Da, everything I know I learned from you. I am the man I am today because of how you and Ma raised me."
Taking a moment, Joedan continued," I just want to make my family proud." He offered a tender smile.
His father embraced him, "Then I think you know the right choice, son."
The two turned and walked into the house. Griff and the other soldiers were gathered around the table. Amelia was talking with his mother. They all stopped their conversations as the pair entered the house.
Joedan choking back words, his father beside him, said, "Looks like you guys have a return trip to plan, " he said, placing a hand on Joedan's shoulder.
Joedan locked eyes with his mother, her eyes were watery but she smiled. Raising her arms, she beckoned him over. Holding her son, she whispered in his ear, "I love you, my boy. You be safe and you come back to us, you hear me?" She pulled back to look him in the eye. Joedan's eyes were watery, too.
"Okay, Ma."
Commander Griff spoke, "The plan is to head out in a couple of hours. We need to get the horses prepared and then we'll be ready to get on the road."
"Yes, sir," Joedan said.
Taking a seat at the table, the team began to plan the best course for their return trip to Restin.