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

Once the improvements were done on the house, Frank and Gregory put a roof on the stable. Just like building it, the stable roof ended up more snug just from their experience. After their work was completed, Frank and Gregory stood back and admired their accomplishments. It had taken them a little over three weeks from the time Frank had returned from town to complete their projects.


“Maybe one day, we’ll be able to order windows already built,” Frank said to Gregory as they relaxed outside in the warm evening after another day of hard work.


“And have framed walls instead of logs?”


“Sure. What about screens on the windows next year to keep the bugs out?”


“I guess that’s where the framed walls come in. With insulation and plaster to help keep them out, too.”


“I’m pretty proud of those windows, if I do say so myself.”


“The next storm will be the test. We did pretty good on the roof and floor, too, but we made the same mistake twice.”


Chapter 38