West From Home

                                                           April 19th 1872

  
               The sun was barely up when the Barnes family set out for the west. The air was cool and crisp and the ground was still damp with morning dew. They packed everything they owned into their little covered wagon and left behind the little log cabin they called home. Eliza and Nicholas were sad to leave the home that they had shared so many memories in. From the early days of their marriage to the joyous births of their sons. But they were hopeful that they would be happy in their new home. There were new memories to be made now. Eliza watched baby Jonathan in her arms. Look at how peaceful he looks as he sleeps unaware of the things going on around him, dreaming little baby dreams. Thomas and Eli were in the back of the wagon playing a game of some sort without any cares in the world. How young and innocent they were, she wished they could stay this way forever. If only things were that easy. Nicholas was sitting beside her hands on the reins, eyes intent on the path which laid before them. They had talked endlessly the night before about where they would settle and about how frightening and thrilling it all was. She had never seen Nicholas with so much vigor, so much enthusiasm. The way he gleamed as he talked of the opportunities they were to have. To be completely honest she didn't particularly want to leave their home, and venture out into unknown land. In fact the very thought made her want to cry. But she tried her best to hide it and put on her brave face for Nicholas. She only wished she didn't have to say good-bye to her family and friends. She took comfort in knowing that they would write her and keep her in the loop on all the things happening with her loved ones back home. But no matter what happened she knew she had the four people she needed most, the ones for whom she'd travel to the moon and back. They were her life, and they were more than enough.