The Argo Goes West

61, Welcome home, my boy

John Braddock paid the bank and bought groceries in town, then drove home in the evening. His wife Jacqueline was waiting fidgety at the door. She told him she had someone to introduce. She took him into the drawing room. There was a tanned young man. Blonde hair, blue eyes. A buckskin shirt, shotgun chaps, and a bandana around his neck—the typical shepherd outfit.

"Jay," Jacqueline introduced.

Jay held out his hand and John shook it. They were about the same age and height.

"What is he like?" John asked Jacqueline.

"He has been working at our ranch for a while now. He's been working very hard and Doug says it's been helpful."

"That's good," John turned to the young man with a smile. "So, what kind of business do you have for me? Do you want me to raise my salary?"

"No, I..."

Jacqueline said on behalf of Jay. "No. No, Doug happened to find it."

"What?"

"Birthmarks. He had birthmarks on his ankles."

"On the ankle?" John frowned. "What kind of birthmark?"

"I'll show you," said Jay. He sat down in a chair and took off his left and right spur boots and his dirty socks. Then he got up and spun around. He had birthmarks on his left and right ankles.

John was stunned and continued to stare at Jay's birthmark.

"He's Eddie," Jacqueline explained to John. "I told you about Eddie before, my son who was taken away when he was a baby. Eddie had birthmarks on both feet that looked just like these. If it's on one leg, it might be a coincidence, but if it's on both legs, it's not."

John came to himself. He started to say something, but stopped midway through. Instead, he stared at the young man's face.

"That's not all. There's also the wooden horse. Come on, Eddie, tell him that story."

Jay nodded and whispered. "I have a dream that has been stuck in my head ever since I was a child. The wooden horse is shaking. The wooden horse has letters written on it. Rosebud, and..."

"This is it!" Jacqueline cradled a hand-carved rocking horse from the corner of the room.　"Look, it's written here. Rosebud."

Jacqueline was very excited and John didn't argue with her. "Yeah, it's definitely written."

"Right. So this is Eddie." said Jacqueline, then asked Jay. "Can I call you Eddie? Or Jay?"

"Call me Eddie," the young man smiled sweetly.

"Oh, Eddie!"

Jacqueline spread her arms wide, and the young man shyly hugged her. Jacqueline lovingly stroked his wavy blonde hair.

"Oh, Eddie, my boy. Welcome home."

John stared at them coldly.