Uncle Tony hadn’t been simply a construction worker. He’d been a true artist. One article said he was buried in Texas State Cemetery in downtown Austin. According to the article, he died with no living kin.

The last line noted that Anthony Raine never owned a home but left his mark on Texas.

Ketch leaned back and stared at the screen. Tuesday’s great-great-uncle’s home was Primrose.

Chapter 12 - Benjamin

Chapter 12

Benjamin

Dr. Benjamin Monroe planned to make it in to work on time every morning though it was spring break and the college was officially closed. If he kept to his work schedule, he’d still have time to get his lesson plans for the rest of the semester mapped out. Somewhere during the week he had to make time to complete at least a first draft of the survey with Professor Clark.

Now the hallways were empty and he relaxed as he stared out the long row of windows on the third floor at his peaceful town. A college town, he thought, with school colors flying, shops for the young, and sidewalk chalk announcing every sorority fundraiser or party. Campuses were tiny worlds inside the real world, and only those enrolled were natives. The campus seemed to be paused, waiting for the students to come back.

Memories of his first year in grad school had filled his mind all weekend. The few days when he was twenty-one and searching for his North Star. He’d almost dropped out after a semester working toward his master’s. The only time in his life that no order reigned. The only time he’d truly doubted himself. The only time he’d fully made love without boundaries.

Those cold January nights he’d been an adventurer running wild, lost without direction. One woman had affected his direction more than anyone ever had. He’d only known the girl they called Red a few days, but she’d changed him forever.

She’d done more than just make him a man. She’d made him believe in himself.

The redhead beauty had told him how smart he was. And how kind. She’d held his hand and, like a fortune-teller, said she saw his future. He could be anything he wanted, and she’d made him promise he’d never stop until he’d climbed the mountain of his potential.

She’d laughed when he’d told her he was shy. This woman he hardly knew explained that he was an inside thinker and if he didn’t let his feelings out, he’d explode one day.

After growing up ten miles from Clifton Bend, then attending his first two years of college here, this place would always be home. His mountain seemed to be only hills surrounding a wide valley, and his inside thinking would have to stay hidden.

Those few days with Red, he’d felt like he’d stepped on the moon.