Will set his empty glass on the bar.
“Another one?” Kelly said.
“No, Kelly. I’ve gotta keep a clear head. When the girls get home, we’ve got some talking to do.”
“Oh?”
“Whatta you think? Can an old man start over?”
“They say you’re never too old, but… I don’t know. I’m lookin’ forward to retirement myself.”
“And you’re a young man.”
“I don’t feel so young. Shoulder’s gone.” Kelly rotated his arm and winced when he raised it above his head. “Lifted too many kegs.”
“It’s tough to grow old,” Will said. “It’s not for sissies, that’s for sure.”
“Better than the alternative, I suppose,” Kelly said.
“You’re right on that score. I don’t look forward to that eternal underground rental.”
Will eyed the uneven walk as he rushed toward home. This was no time to be helped through the door. He felt excited but a bit apprehensive, too.
When Will stepped into the living room, Mary sniffed the air. “You’ve been in Kelly’s again. Will, don’t you think it’s time to get hold of yourself?”
“I only had one.” When she shook her head and frowned, Will could see that she wasn’t convinced.
“The girls will be home soon. Supper’s almost ready.”
“I thought Catherine would be out with her young man.”
“She put him off for tonight.”
“She must think this is serious.”
“And you better be, Will. Why else did you want this meeting?”
Their supper finished, Mary and her daughters cleared the table and stacked the dirty dishes in the sink. “We’ll do these later,” she said.
“Girls, did I ever tell you about the last time your mother left the dishes undone?”
“Will, you didn’t call us together to tell one of your stories,” Mary said. “Let’s go in where the chairs are soft.”
They walked silently to the parlor. Will sat in his big horsehair, and then he turned to Sharon and Ruby who sat on the sofa.
“Mother and Catherine know that Gusta and I are planning to start a cheese business,” Will said. “The more I think on it, the more I think this may be opportunity calling. I want your opinions. It’ll affect us all.”
“Tell us more, Dad.” Ruby said.
“You know that Gusta needs a middleman up here. To buy cheese and send it down there. I think that’s a job for me.”
“Are you up for it?” Sharon said.
“Do it,” Ruby said. “It’ll be a chance to recover.”
“I don’t know,” Sharon said. “You can stay here. The yard’s gorgeous with all your work. What do you think, Catherine? You’ve helped outside.”
“Yes, the yard’s been good for Daddy,” Catherine said. She reached for her father’s hand. “Good for us both. The work softens the loss. I’ve grown to love the flowers, and Daddy has, too.”
“Sharon, my dear,” Will said. “I know you need the income. It’s time I pulled my own weight.”
“It’s been kinda rough,” Sharon said. “But Ed just got another loan. He thinks that lead mining will be profitable again. Why, maybe we’ll get rich. You can stay on here; surely you know that, Daddy?”
“What’s this talk about staying,” Mary said. “I don’t know that the decision affects our staying one way or the other. We’ll have to live someplace, and it won’t be Texas.”
“Mary, do you think I can do it?” Will said.
“Let’s get this on the table right now,” Mary said. “A few people think what happened with those cows was your fault. I don’t.” Her voice shook. “You’re too good a man to be wastin’ away at Kelly’s. I’ll admit, when you first proposed this to Gusta, I was unsure, but I’m glad you’re getting your gumption back.”
Mary dropped her head into her hands.
Will rushed to her side. “Oh, Mary.” He put his arms around her.
She looked over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, girls.”
Ruby stood and faced her father. “Mother’s right. You may be a bit older, but you’ve still got your brains. You can make this work.”
“No one knows dairy products better than you,” Catherine said. “Besides, if it’s successful, you can spend the coldest weather in the Texas sun. You can cultivate your clients, teach them about Wisconsin cheese.”
Will liked that part of it. He smiled. “It looks like we’re together on this,” he said. “What do you think, Sharon?”
“Where’ll you get the money?”
“Gusta said she’d bankroll the venture,” Mary said. “She says she’ll take out the loan, put up the collateral.”
Will returned to his horsehair. “And there’s no problem finding good Wisconsin cheese.”
Gusta called the next night. “Hold on a minute, Gusta.” He set the receiver down and turned to Mary.
“Gusta’s pushing for us to get started. What should I tell her?”
“Seems to me that you’re ahead of her, don’t you think?”
“I guess so.”
He picked up the receiver. “Gusta, I’m ready to go. I’ll get on the road right away. I’m sure I can get good prices. You send the orders, and I’ll fill and ship them.”
The next morning, Will sat with Mary at the breakfast table. “I’d sure like to make amends for the trouble I caused at Willow. If only they made a Swiss cheese down there. It’d be closer and more convenient than buying in Monroe or New Glarus. Though, I must admit, they do make good cheese in those towns.”
“Will, you needn’t feel guilty. But if it’d ease your mind, why don’t you go talk with Swinstein?”
“I think I will.”
That afternoon Will called Frank and asked if he’d send Fanny Too and the buggy over. He said he’d made arrangements to board her with a farmer who lived near Logan Junction. Frank agreed to send her with his hired man.
When he heard a horse’s hooves on the road—an uncommon sound in 1947—Will knew it must be Fanny Too. He hailed Frank’s man, Lester, when he jumped off the buggy. Then Will forgot the man and rushed to his horse. Will grabbed her halter and patted her neck. His heart thumped as he ran his fingers through her mane.
“Well, old girl, we’re back on the road again.”
Fanny Too nickered softly and nuzzled Will’s shoulder.
“Maybe we’ll have a few more years together.”
Fanny Too whinnied loudly.
“It would be nice, wouldn’t it? I didn’t think we’d get the chance again.”
When Will offered to drive Lester back to Frank’s, he shook his head and said, “I made arrangements to ride back with a neighbor when he comes through from Madison. I’ll meet him downtown.” He turned up the walk.
Will knew that Lester had little time away from Frank’s supervision and that Kelly would see a new face today.
Will and Fanny Too spent the next two weeks driving Iowa County, bargaining with the best cheesemakers. While Fanny Too moseyed along the roads, Will took pleasure in surveying the countryside. The grass had never looked greener, the corn ears never so full, and the sky had never been bluer. Life was good. “Fanny Too, this is the most fun we’ve had since you were a colt. This work’s not too hard, now is it?”
Fanny Too tossed her head and whinnied softly as she looked back toward Will.
Will drove past his old farm on the way to Willow. He couldn’t forget how hard it had been, but also how much he’d loved it. He winced when he looked toward the buildings, now radiant in new red jackets. His soybeans had been replaced by a cornfield. It was a good farm, full of potential. But he couldn’t think about that now. He drove on to Willow and hitched Fanny Too in front of Swinstein’s office.
“Hello, Will,” Swinstein said when he came through the door. “It’s good to see you again. What brings you back to these parts?”
“I want to talk business, Jacob.”
“I thought you were out of business.”
“I’m getting back in.”
“You were good to me. You hired me to manage the co-op when things were tough, and I’ll always be grateful.”
“I guess my name’s mud in these parts.”
“Most don’t blame you. Bangs disease is a terrible problem. Roberts—”
“I heard that he was quarantined the longest. He was my friend.”
“He’s still bitter. It almost cost him his farm.”
“It was a bad time for us all,” Will said. “I’m sorry, Jacob, terribly sorry. That’s why I’m here.”
Will explained his Texas cheese business. “My niece Gusta believes that we can sell tons of our best cheese. If she’s right, I’ll take all the cheese that our—your co-op can make. Maybe more.”
“I’ll see what the members say.”
“I can buy your cheddar now. Then if the business prospers, I’d sure like for you to get into the Swiss business. Swiss seems to be the favorite cheese down there.”
“I’d have to hire another cheesemaker.”
“Maybe I can make it worth your while. Either way, cheddar or Swiss, I’ll pay you ten percent over market. I owe my friends that, even if it comes outta my profits.”
“You’re a decent man, Will. Too bad what happened here.”
“I appreciate that, Jacob.”
Will drove Fanny Too toward James Henning’s farm. “I haven’t talked to James since I left,” he said. “I hope he’ll see me.”
Fanny Too remained silent but plunged ahead with renewed vigor.
Will reined Fanny Too toward the tool shed when he saw James in the doorway. “Hello, James. Passing through. I thought I should stop.”
“Good of you, Will. How’s life treating you these days?”
“It’s getting better.” Will explained the Texas cheese venture and his conversation with Swinstein.
“I’ve missed your guidance on the board.”
“James, I’ve never apologized properly for your troubles. It was my fault. I should have known better.”
“I never did trust Finian. I’m not blamin’ you, Will.”
“There were signs, but I was blinded by opportunity.”
“Some still think it was Jesse.”
“It wasn’t Jesse.”
“I don’t think so either, but that’s water over the dam now.” He closed the shed door. “Come to the house. I’ll brew a pot of coffee.”
“Good of you, James.” Will stepped from the buggy, led Fanny Too under a large elm, and looped the reins over a low hanging branch. He turned to Henning. “I’d like a cup of your brew. It’s good and strong, if I remember right.”
* * *
A week later, a large purchase order arrived with a letter from Gusta. Mary scanned the page and handed it to Will.
Dear Uncle Will,
This is for Aunt Mary, too, but I wanted especially for you to know how I feel about you and doing business with you. You didn’t have to take me in. I was no kin of yours. You treated me like a daughter. Better than some fathers treat their daughters. But then, that’s your way. You said that some people think you’re too gentle for your own good. Don’t you believe it, not for one minute. I didn’t like the North, especially its weather, but I love you and Aunt Mary. And the girls, too. Remember that as we go ahead with our venture. We’ll make this work. And I’d sure like to see you come down here to visit. You’re always welcome. You know that.
With my steadfast love.
Gusta
“How about that? Would you believe it? Our little Texas cowgirl. This is going to succeed, Mary. I know it will.”
“Let’s go to bed. We’ve got work ahead.”
Will didn’t go to his horsehair chair. He didn’t take the Meerschaum out for his nightly smoke. The stars would shine bright tonight. A new beginning, and just when he thought he was at the end.
* * *