Frank Greerson and Gregory Young have been discharged from the Army and are headed to their childhood homes. They both defied their parents in 1861 when they joined the Army. After battling southern rebels and preserving the Union of the United States of America, the two men set out to battle the Kansas Prairie and build a life together. Once they find their claim, they encounter common obstacles to life on the Kansas Prairie in 1866: Native Americans, tornadoes, wild animals, and weather.<br><br>When a prairie fire destroys their crops and takes their neighbor’s lives, Frank and Gregory are instructed to find their young son’s aunt. Faced with leaving a destroyed claim, the railroad coming through their land, and dwindling funds, Frank and Gregory must decide whether to leave the place they have worked hard to make their own or fulfill their friends' dying wishes.

A Place to Call Their Own

“It’s all right. I don’t know why either one of us thought it would be easy.”


“Do you think your ma is going to be as big of a problem as my family was?” Frank asked as he finished up cutting Gregory’s hair.


Gregory reviewed the trim job in the polished metal mirror. His thick reddish stubble shone in the late evening sun as he turned his head either way.


“Here, trim mine up,” Frank said after Gregory was done.


“Why don’t you grow it out again? That’s what I first noticed about you—your long dark hair.”


“I told you before, I haven’t decided if I’m going to grow it out again or not. Just trim up the ends. Ellen always told me that would help it grow better.”


Gregory trimmed Frank’s hair just a bit. “Remember when I had to shear your hair after Pea Ridge?” He laughed, recalling their first battle.


“Yes, don’t remind me. I had so much crap in my hair. We had no choice.”


“I’m serious when I tell you to grow it back out,” Gregory said as he finished up.


Chapter 3