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I’ll rest for a while before leaving again, Ben. It looked to me as if that fence had been intentionally damaged. I wonder…anyway, ask Patty to hold my breakfast for a while.” Fallon heard the door to Trader’s room close, and finally she drifted off to sleep.
    She awoke as Patty was filling her washbasin with fresh water. “Good morning, Patty. Is it very late?” Patty smiled and came to sit next to her on the bed.
    “ Almost noon, dear. You must have been very tired!”
    Fallon sat up. “Yes, I heard Trader leave last night and had trouble sleeping afterward.”
    Patty stroked her hand. “He’s often about at night. It’s his liberated time, you see. You’ll get used to it. He’s already left again. He should take some time to settle down, but work is his remedy, I suppose. Now come into the kitchen when you’re ready. We’ll bake up some pies today if you’re up to it. Not much of a wedding night, was it, love?”
    Fallon forced a smile, “It wasn’t meant to be much, Patty, and that’s the way he…we want it.”
    “ Is it, love? Really?”
    Fallon stood up and smiled. “Now, I’ll be out in just a minute. It’s been ages since I’ve made pies! I’m so glad to have you here, Patty.”
    “ And I’m glad to have you here, sweetheart,” Patty said, smiling. “You’ve no idea how glad.”

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The next few weeks were agreeable enough for Fallon. She began to be more comfortable at the ranch house, to feel as if she actually belonged. Trader was kind, but gruff, and had presented her with a lovely bay mare just days after their wedding. Fallon had named the horse Kelly and relished the freedom of riding for several hours each day. Patty was a great comfort and friend, and Fallon found great satisfaction in helping Patty with planning and preparing meals. Everyone in the household ate together, and it made for a comforting, safe atmosphere. Trader was at home most evenings. Things were moving smoothly with his properties, and he and Ben worked daily repairing the fences on the ranch and attending to other matters. He spoke to Fallon quite often, and she savored her time with him. He was more than merely civil and seemed to almost enjoy conversing with her at times.
    Several days after the wedding, Fallon found herself browsing through some sheets of music she had found lying on the piano in the parlor. Included were several Stephen Foster pieces. As she sat down and began to play, however, her momentary joy at finding the music was lost as tears welled up in her eyes. Her father and mother had both loved Foster’s music and lyrics, and she was put in mind of a particular evening in the past.
    Her mother, while sitting near to her father as he read, began singing a very familiar piece. Her father had looked over and smiled at her mother. Fallon had realized, in that moment, the deep love they shared. Her mother set aside her sewing, and her father discarded his book. They stood and waltzed together, singing the song to each other and ending with a kiss. Fallon had watched in awe, wishing from that moment on to be blessed with a love like theirs when she was grown. Her fingers faltered on the keys as Trader unexpectedly spoke from behind.
    “ I had no notion you played. The song…is it sad for you?” he asked. Fallon could only nod.
    “ It bothers me as well.” She felt his hand on her shoulder. Tears escaped her eyes and traveled down her cheeks. “But for different reasons than it does you, no doubt.”
    “ They loved each other so much. Then death parted them. Mother nearly died of grief.” She turned and looked up at the towering, hooded figure. “They loved me! They were my very life. It was the song they danced to last.” Trader took her hand and coaxed her to her feet.
    “ It was popular near the end of the war. The flames of many a campfire flickered to the strains of it.”
    Then Fallon could no longer restrain the pain of loss that tore at her heart. She threw