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A few years had sifted through the calendar like fine sand through an hourglass, each grain marking days of struggle, growth, and ultimately, peace. On a golden summer evening, with the sun painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink, the Randolph family gathered for an outdoor dinner behind their expansive homestead. Laughter mingled with the clink of dishes and the soft shuffle of boots on dirt as Sophia and Cynthia set the long wooden table with hearty helpings of roasted chicken, fresh bread, and garden vegetables.
Sophia paused to look around, her heart swelling with pride at the sight of her family thriving, the hardships of the past now mere shadows against the bright future. Yet, there was a noticeable absence at the table—Luke. Ever since the turbulent events that brought so much change to their lives, Luke had become a restless soul, driven by a need to unearth truths buried deep within dusty archives and old records.
That very evening, as the Randolphs enjoyed their family dinner, Luke was miles away in the dimly lit Golden Plains town archive, poring over old documents and newspapers. The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and forgotten stories, a sanctuary of silence that Luke had come to appreciate more than the bustling activity of farm life.
His fingers trembled slightly as they traced the faded ink of a particularly old record—a report detailing the events of a day that had changed their lives forever. It was the account of a prisoner, fatally shot in a fit of rage by the then-sheriff, Ben Morgan. Luke’s eyes widened in shock as he read the name of the prisoner: Sampson Gore. A cold realization washed over him; Sampson was the brother of Mason and Kelly Gore, the very same siblings whose actions had nearly destroyed his family.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Luke dug deeper, driven by a mixture of dread and curiosity. It wasn’t just the echoes of past misdeeds that haunted him; it was the possibility that there was more to Ben Morgan’s story than anyone in Golden Plains knew.
Hours slipped by, and Luke’s search uncovered another startling piece of information: Ben Morgan had kin. Despite the man’s claims of having no family, there was a record of a birthplace and relatives in a small Kentucky mountain town. This revelation, hidden away in a minor clerk’s note, suggested that Ben had come from a place called Lone Creek, and there were Morgans still living there.
The night grew deep, and the archive’s clock ticked towards midnight. Luke couldn’t shake the feeling that these discoveries were leading him to a path he needed to follow. Resolute, he packed away the documents, his mind made up. He would go to Kentucky. He needed to meet the family Ben had left behind, to understand the man who had become both a hero and a source of deep loss to his own family.
***
As the early morning mist clung to the lush landscape, Luke steered his horse through the winding paths that led deeper into Kentucky’s serene countryside. The journey was long and the terrain unfamiliar, but the promise of uncovering Ben’s past spurred him on. After several days of travel, the outlines of the Appalachian Mountains rose majestically against the sky, framing the small mountain town of Lone Creek that Ben had once called home.
Upon arrival, Luke found the town to be little more than a collection of weathered wooden buildings scattered along a single dusty road. He dismounted, his boots kicking up small clouds of dust as he approached the first person he saw—a grizzled old man sitting on the porch of a general store, whittling a piece of wood.
“Excuse me, sir,” Luke began, tipping his hat politely. “I’m looking for the Morgan family. I heard they used to live here.”
The old man looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took the measure of the stranger before him. “Morgans, eh? Haven’t heard that name in a long spell. Old Tom Morgan’s place is up the ridge. Been empty for years, though.”
Thanking the man, Luke followed the directions given, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. The path turned from dirt to gravel as he ascended the ridge, the dense foliage occasionally breaking to offer sweeping views of the valley below. Finally, he came upon a modest cabin, its wooden sides gray and weathered by time, but still standing stoic among the towering pines.
Luke hesitated at the door, his hand hovering over the knocker. This was it—the home where Ben had grown up, where secrets lay buried and truths waited to be uncovered. Taking a deep breath, he rapped sharply on the wood, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet mountain air.
After a moment, the door creaked open, and a young boy, no more than ten, peeked out. His features were strikingly familiar—the same strong jawline and intense eyes that Luke had come to recognize in Ben.
“Can I help you, mister?” the boy asked, his voice cautious but curious.
“Yes, I hope so. I’m looking for Abigail Morgan. Would she be home?” Luke replied, trying to keep his voice gentle to not frighten the child.
The boy opened the door wider, revealing a woman in her mid-thirties standing behind him. Her hair was the color of autumn leaves, and her face, though marked by the trials of widowhood and hardship, was still striking.
“I’m Abigail,” she said, her voice tinged with suspicion as she regarded the stranger on her doorstep. “What business do you have with me?”
Luke removed his hat, holding it against his chest. “My name’s Luke Randolph. I came all the way from Golden Plains because I found out Ben Morgan was my… well, he was like family to us. I’m here because I recently discovered he was from here, and I wanted to learn more about him.”
Abigail’s expression softened slightly at the mention of her brother’s name. A flurry of emotions passed over her face—surprise, sadness, and a flicker of old pain.
“Ben… my brother Ben? You knew him?” Her voice cracked, the years of estrangement heavy in her tone.
“Yes, ma’am. He lived in Golden Plains for a long time. I’m sorry to say he passed away a few years ago. He died helping our town, our family. I thought you should know,” Luke explained, his words heavy with the respect and sorrow that Ben’s memory deserved.
Tears welled up in Abigail’s eyes as she digested the news. She stepped back, gesturing for Luke to enter. “Please, come in. I… I need to hear everything.”
As Luke crossed the threshold, a new chapter of understanding was about to unfold, bridging the distance between past grievances and the shared blood of the Morgans and the Randolphs.
Inside the cabin, the air was tinged with the aroma of pine wood and a faint trace of sage burning in a small dish by the window. The modest living room was neatly kept, with handmade quilts draped over a worn sofa and photographs lining the mantle—snapshots of a life and family ties that Ben had left behind.
Abigail motioned for Luke to sit at a small, round table in the kitchen area, where a kettle whistled softly on the stove. She poured two cups of tea, her hands trembling slightly as she handed one to Luke. They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of shared history and unspoken stories hanging between them.
“Ben was more than just a resident in our town,” Luke began, his voice steady despite the emotion he felt. “He was a protector, a friend, and in many ways, a hero. But we never knew much about where he came from or about his family. Finding you, learning about this place—it means a lot.”
Abigail sipped her tea, her eyes distant. “Ben left after a fight with our parents. It was foolish, all of it—about the life he wanted versus what they expected. After he left, we only heard snippets about him through the occasional letter that stopped coming years ago.”
She paused, collecting herself before continuing. “I always wondered if he found a place where he felt he belonged. It sounds like he did, with your family.”
Luke nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “He did. And he gave his life protecting it. It’s partly why I felt compelled to come here. Ben never spoke much about his past, but he was part of our family. I thought knowing where he came from would help us remember him better.”
The conversation shifted as Abigail shared stories of Ben as a boy—his wild spirit, his endless curiosity, and the mischiefs that endeared him to everyone despite his parents’ stern discipline. Luke listened intently, each tale adding depth to the man he thought he knew.
As dusk approached, the cabin filled with the golden hues of sunset, casting a warm glow over the room. “I have a son, Jacob,” Abigail suddenly mentioned, nodding towards the boy who had answered the door earlier. “He’s all I have left now. My husband died in the war, and it’s been just us since.”
Luke looked at Jacob, who was quietly drawing in the corner of the room. The resemblance to Ben was uncanny—not just in looks but in the contemplative furrow of his brow.
“Would you stay for dinner?” Abigail asked, a hint of hopefulness in her voice. “It’s been a long time since we had company, and I imagine Jacob would like to hear more about his uncle Ben from someone who knew him as a man.”
Luke agreed, touched by her invitation and eager to strengthen the newfound connection. As they ate, the bonds of family, though newly forged, felt as if they had always been there, invisible threads of kinship woven through their shared loss and memories of Ben.
The next day, with promises to keep in touch and perhaps visit again, Luke prepared to leave. Abigail and Jacob stood by the porch, waving as he mounted his horse.
“Thank you, Luke, for bringing him back to us, even just in stories,” Abigail called out as he started down the path.
Luke turned back, a warm smile on his face. “He never really left,” he replied, feeling a profound sense of closure and kinship.
With a lighter heart, Luke rode back towards Golden Plains, carrying with him not just the legacy of Ben Morgan but also the promise of a new chapter for the Morgans and the Randolphs. As the landscape rolled by, he pondered the unexpected turns of life—how the search for understanding about one man’s past had led to the discovery of family he never knew he had.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Guns and Justice in the West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed my new western adventure story as well as my extended epilogue! Let me know what you think below.