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

“Glad to meet you, ma’am,” answered Gregory.


“How long you men been traveling?” she asked as she looked back and forth at the two of them, taking in their rugged good looks.


“About six weeks now.” Frank answered.


About that time, her husband approached with his team attached to the plow.


“This is Mr. Young and Mr. Greerson,” she introduced them to her husband.


“Glad to meet you both,” he greeted them with a tip of his hat. “You two traveling through?”


“We’re looking for the free land the government’s giving away out here. We haven’t seen many people in a day or so and were thinking we were getting close to where we might want to stay.” Frank answered.


“You two together, or…” Mr. McAvoy asked with a puzzled look on his face.


Mrs. McAvoy raised an eyebrow, also curious about the situation.


Gregory gave Frank a nervous and mischievous look and answered, “Ah, yes, sir. We planned to each get a claim and build one house for now, help each other out.”


Chapter 20