The Ballad Of a Bird~ Jack Marston Story

☙ ✯ ❧Chapter Twenty~Four☙ ✯ ❧

{listen while you read?~ I recommend Long Spring by Nick Shoulders}
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(not edited)

arriving in the late evening after the long journey they arrived at the entrance of the Farm Jack once called home and will again him and Birdie along with Kullen rode up front and when they saw other horses with riders near the entrance

"Everyone stay back we'll check it out"Jack told his gang and they all stop and few men got there long rifles out to watch there leaders backs

And the three rode closer and Birdie was the first off her horse when she saw who it was

The girl ran into an hug with Charles and greeted his tribesmen in the same manner

"Jack"Charles spoke and nodded to Kullen in an introduction "Kai had informed me of your arrival a few days ago"He spoke as his daughter came forward causing Birdie to smile brightly at her long lost friend

arriving in the late evening after the long journey they arrived at the entrance of the Farm Jack once called home and will again him and Birdie along with Kullen rode up front and when they saw other horses with riders near the entrance

"Everyone stay back we'll check it out"Jack told his gang and they all stop and few men got there long rifles out to watch there leaders backs

And the three rode closer and Birdie was the first off her horse when she saw who it was

The girl ran into an hug with Charles and greeted his tribesmen in the same manner

"Jack"Charles spoke and nodded to Kullen in an introduction "Kai had informed me of your arrival a few days ago"He spoke as his daughter came forward causing Birdie to smile brightly at her long lost friend

"It's so good to see you, Kai!" Birdie exclaimed, embracing her friend tightly. Kai returned the hug with equal enthusiasm, tears of joy streaming down her face.

"I can't believe you're finally here," Kai said, her voice filled with emotion. "We've missed you so much."

Birdie pulled away slightly, her eyes scanning Kai's face. "You've grown so much," she said, a mixture of pride and sadness in her voice. "I wish I could have been here with you all these years."

Kai shook her head, her smile unwavering.
"Don't worry about that now. You're here, and that's all that matters."

"Where could my little one be?" Charles inquired of the woman he considered his daughter.

She glanced at Jack, her betrothed and the father of her gone child. He gave her a subtle nod, a silent encouragement to share the news, as he held her hand in a gesture of support. She then turned her gaze to the man who had stepped into the role of father after her own had passed away, the man who had been a grandfather to Heidi in her brief two years of existence. She also looked at the woman who had become like a sister to her, a woman who had never had the chance to meet the little angel who had flown away too soon. She steeled herself to inform them of the little birds deathly swim.

"Dad, she's gone," Birdie murmured gently, her gaze fixed on Charles, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. Jack wrapped a comforting arm around her, his own eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Charles' breath hitched, but he managed to exhale a shaky breath. He stepped forward and enveloped the grieving mother in a comforting embrace, holding her close as she sobbed into his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Jack with a hand on Birdie's lower back, his own tears on the brink of falling. Charles extended an arm, beckoning Jack closer, his mind drifting back to the time when Jack was just Heidi's age, spending time fishing with him and Arthur while John was too preoccupied with his own affairs to be a parent.