Walter built his house on a hill overlooking the land. Lush crop land of corn, soybeans, sorghum. Land that didn’t belong to him years ago, before the war. He returned from World War 2 with nothing but a dream. Not even a wife. Walter’s father a share cropper lived on rented land. He told his father and mother his dream. Of building a house on the hill behind their home. His parent’s home was cold in winter and hot in summer. A home that depended on the landlord. His parents had lived there for 10 years. In winter, his father stuffed rags in the holes around the windows. In spring, he pulled them out, letting the soft breezes blow through. Some nights, when the rain came, he stuffed rags back in the holes to keep the rain out.
Walter met the landlord as he came from the barn. He followed Leonard to the milk shed. The man listened to the boy’s proposal as he poured the mornings milking into 10 gallon milk cans.
“I want to buy the old tractor you got behind the barn.” He said as the man set down the milk pails.
“Now, son, that tractor ain’t worth much. Motor needs to be rebuilt.” Leonard said, leaning on the doorjamb to the milk shed.
“Yes, sir, that’s what I did during the war. Rebuilt motors transmissions backend. Sometimes in pouring rain just to get them back to their units.” Walter said, his heart in his throat. Leonard grinned.
“Well, you aint gonna have to do that. I’ll have my men roll it back in the shop for you. How long do you think it’ll take?”
“Shouldn’t take more than a few days.” Walter said, grinning.
“Ok, tell you what. You git the old gal running. I’ll sell it to you for fifteen dollars. And I’ll throw in a two-bottom plow.”
“Thank you. Could I borrow a disk and planter?” Walter said, daring to hope.
“Son, I like you. If it hadn’t been for you boys, we would all be eating sauerkraut.”
So, they struck a deal. He tore the tractor completely down. Walter put all the parts and bolts into separate piles. Cleaned them in gasoline. One evening, Leonard stood at the door of the shed watching him. “You get that thing back together. I got some bottom land I want you to try. Others won’t touch it.”
“I’d sure like to try. I’ll have it back together by tomorrow.” Walter said, smiling. That night, the man’s eighteen-year-old daughter Evelyn brought him a plate of food. He bowed his head, thanking The good Lord for the food and the opportunity to fix the tractor. Evelyn watched him work putting the back wheels on. He worked until midnight. Then slept in the shed. The next morning, Evelyn was back with breakfast. By noon, he fired up the tractor. The clatter of the engine brought the family to the shed. He backed out the shining machine.
That fall, he brought in a good crop of soybeans. The next year corn. He saved his money and bought a better tractor and plow. Then the land. Five years later, he stood at the altar as Leonard escorted Evelyn down the aisle of their local church.
Two years after that, Evelyn presented him with a son, a year after that, another son. He bought more land using only the profits from crops. Five years after they married, he built his wife a new house.
Walter was in the office one summer afternoon in July when his father-in-law visited him. Leonard shut the door and set down heavily.
Walter smiled at the elderly man. “What’s up?”
“My wife and I have been tossing it around for the last couple of years.” Leonard said. He leaned forward. “We’re getting up in years.” He looked at Walter intently. “End of this year, I’m gonna retire.”
Walter lay down the pencil on the sheet of figures he was working on. He waited, feeling there was more. “I’m turning the operation over to you,” Leonard said
“That’s not why I married your daughter. I love my wife. I would have married her even if we had to live in a shack.”
His father-in-law laughed. “I know. That’s what’s I like about you. Straightforward, no pretense. My farmers now live in better houses because you proposed it. Profits are up and I can’t think of anyone else I could trust my holdings too.” He stood to his feet.
That night Walter and his wife set on the back porch. “Your dad came to see me this afternoon. He is retiring and wants me to take over the operation of the farm.”
“I know. Mom talked to me in the kitchen.” Evelyn smiled, hugging Walter. “I love you. Just think of it. Our sons taking over from us and then their children and their children’s children.”
“I love you too. I can’t think of life without you.” Walter said, kissing her.
Then ten years ago, when his father-in-law passed away Walter and Evelyn inherited the farm.
Now Walter surveyed the valley below. Corn waved in the early morning breeze. The leaves of the soybeans shone in the sun. Evelyn joined him, carrying two cups of coffee. She handed him one. Together, Walter and Evelyn watched the sun rise on their little green valley