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

Frank woke with a start and realized he had been dreaming. The dream usually took the night off when they were able to sleep together. The prospect of Mrs. Young catching them in the same bed must have been stressful enough for the dream to return.


Frank slipped out of bed carefully without disturbing Gregory. After they’d both thought Mrs. Young was asleep, Frank had joined Gregory in bed. The sound of gushing water pulled Frank to the window, where he saw Mrs. Young pumping her water for the morning. He was mesmerized as he watched her draw the first bucket. In the still of the morning, Mrs. Young took her time to wash her face. The sound of the wagon averted both Frank’s and Mrs. Young’s attention; Harley had arrived for the day.


“How’s the water this morning?” Harley asked as he drove up.


“I remember the first day I caught you in your morning routine.”


Chapter 10