by Joel Baker
****
The East Ridge road out of Haven was lined with people even though the hour was early. Everyone waved, but there was a melancholy feeling in the air. They reached the end of the road and glanced over to the crosses standing above where Colter Creek bubbled out of the ground. James had a premonition he would never see Haven again. Yet he was equally certain baby Matthew would.
The town of Eagle Rock turned out for the three wagons rolling through town. The sun broke out from behind some early morning clouds. James slowed the wagons in front of the church. As they rolled by he thought he saw Molly’s father in a window smiling as Molly, holding the baby, went by.
Just out of town the wagons took the fork in the road leading to Cherokee country and Waya’s village. Just around a curve in the road, James pulled the lead wagon to a halt.
“I don’t know why, Molly, but this all seems familiar,” James said.
Sitting in a line by the side of the road were seven dogs. When the wagons stopped, Samson and two very pregnant females stood and led the other four to the door of the Dog wagon. James jumped down, walked to the back of the wagon, and opened the door. The pregnant females waddled up the steps and into the wagon, followed by the others. Samson looked up at James for a moment and entered the wagon last.
Shannon and Susan stuck their heads out of the school wagon and smiled at the dogs being with them at last. Everyone turned as James climbed back up on the driver seat.
“Tell us where we’re headed, James. I think you’ve known all along,” Molly said.
“We are going north, Darling,” James said smiling. “We’re going back to where it all started. We’re headed for Ohio and a little town called Liberty.”
Acknowledgements
I want to thank all the readers who chose to go on this journey with me. I especially thank those of you who took the time to review, encourage, and comment. Thanks also to my family for reading, critiquing, and making sure I stayed true to the story.
But most of all I want to thank the love of my life, Roxane. We’ve been on our own journey together and how blessed we have been.
Other Books in the Colter Saga are:
Friends of the Family - Book 1
The Dogs of Liberty - Book 3
The Dog People - Book 4
Land of the Dogs - Book 5
I end this story the same way Jesse Colter always began his. He would wait for all the children to gather in front of the fire, quiet and still, their legs drawn up to their chests and eyes wide with the waiting. Jesse would look at each of them and begin the story always in the same way.
"It seems just like yesterday... "
