Cooney Mills (continued)

Dearest Johnny,

  I am writing to inform you that I will be in town on Saturday September the 5th for the Annual Harvest days dance. I am hoping that you will be able to attend and that you will be so kind as to spare me a dance.

 Should you not be able to attend I do understand although the night will be lonely without your presence.

Missing you and far from giving up on you.

Lila Dearden

   Johnny let out a sigh allowing the hand that held the letter drop to his side. He must have read the letter at least five times as he stood in the middle of his bedroom preparing to turn in for the night. He had to remind himself fiercely that calling off the engagement had been the right thing to do irregardless of how much it had hurt both of them. Running the farm even with the help of his brother and their two cousins Paul and Jack was still a before sunup to sundown effort. Trying to give Lila the devotion and time she deserved when he finally arrived back at the house every night was simply more than he had to give. 

   On top of that men all over were continually being called up to fight in the war and he worried that his own number would come up sooner or later. Were it not for the farm he would readily join the ranks of those going to fight overseas but the farm was here and going away would be devastating to those left behind.

   Pushing all of those thoughts aside for now Johnny undressed, blew out the lantern on his old dresser, and climbed into bed. The two milk cows they had were used to being milked early and he was the only one that was particularly good at it. Plus, it meant they had fresh milk for breakfast every morning.