I’ve never heard singing like that.”“That’s all right, dear, there’ll be more singing. I’m just so glad Cap—Mr. McHenry is back.” Ruby shook her head. “Fiddle. I’ll never be able to address him without his rank. That’s just who he was.”“Was is right. He said he retired from the army, and his rank retired with him.” Opal sat cross-legged at the foot of Ruby and Rand’s bed with Ruby nursing her baby and Rand sitting in the rocker, pipe smoke circling his head. “We sure missed you, but everyone said to tell you congratulations and they’d be by to see the baby when she gets a bit older.” Opal cocked her head. “Seems like I got home just in time.” The wind had picked up and now whined at the eaves of the low log house that had started as a log cabin and grown as needed. Both front and back walls were shaded by porches that stretched from one end to the other. Now the back porch that faced into the trees at the base of a bluff was stacked to the roof with firewood.
