After many tears and explanations, Rosa and Elise were finally able to sit and converse quietly in their mother tongue since John had gone back to work.

“How long have you felt this way?” Rosa asked, her hands on her sister's.

“It's so hard to say. Sometimes it feels like months, and other times longer. I can't pinpoint it.”

Rosa tried to think. “Your youngest is just six now, right? Your letter said that you have felt poorly since he was born.”

“I don't know if I ever fully recovered. It was a difficult pregnancy and an even more difficult childbirth. John said he hoped God was finished giving us children. I told him that was up to God.”

Rosa understood. It was clear that John loved his wife deeply. Losing her would be like losing his own life. Elise returned those feelings of course, but John didn't just love Elise. He cherished her as well. At first, it seemed they wouldn't be able to convince him to go back to work, but Rosa promised that she wouldn't leave Elise's side and would ring the dinner bell if she needed him.

The afternoon waned and Elise described more of her symptoms to Rosa. Aside from headaches, she was also short of breath from time to time and her hands and feet felt cold. Rosa listened carefully, taking careful notes of her sister's ailments.

“I remember a neighbor of ours suffered with similar pains, and she was greatly strengthened when she ate red meat, especially liver. Have you been eating well enough?”

Elise shook her head. “I don't believe so. My stomach has been bothering me since the birth of Samuel.”

Rising from her seat, Rosa began to pace the room. “I will take over cooking for you. And you will eat whatever I make, whether or not you find it appealing. Agreed?”

A small laugh burst from Elise's mouth. “How grown you are, dear sister. Not just a shy young girl of sixteen, are you? Ah, has it really been nearly twelve years since we've set eyes on each other?”

More tears were shed, but as much for joy as for the sadness of the separation.

“Well, I am here now, an offering of our family's love, and I will stay until you cast me out.”

The two of them laughed now, both knowing that as long as they were both alive, nothing would separate them again.

Jacob couldn't believe how things had turned around in the course of one day. First his dream had thrived, then been crushed, and was now alive again. The young men planned to go to town with him the next day, but for now, he needed to see the land again.

Traveling across the homestead, he passed by the Porter residence and was surprised to see a stranger walking with Elise. The woman was younger than John's wife, but other than that, could have nearly been her twin.

“Good morning,” he called, pulling his horse to a halt and dismounting. “How are you today?”

Elise smiled sweetly, but the other woman regarded him coolly.

“Jacob,” Elise said, holding out a hand to him. “Meet my sister, Rosa. She's come to stay with us.”

He smiled at the woman. She nodded a little and the corners of her lips turned up slightly, but not enough to produce a sincere smile.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, miss...uh, ma'am?”

“I suppose I am a miss,” Rosa replied, her accent similar to Elise’s, but a touch stronger. “As I am not ever married.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to say that he found that to be surprising, given how beautiful she was, but somehow he didn't feel she would appreciate the mildly flirtatious comment.

“Neither am I,” he said instead. “But that's pretty common around these parts. There are more men than women. You'll have to watch out. Once word gets around that you're single, all manner of men will be showing up at your door.”

He tried to grin a little, to lighten the mood, but the woman only blinked and continued to regard him without emotion.

“Yes, I have heard about this...shortage? Is that the right word? Well, you may inform all these manner of men that I am not at all interested in marriage. If I were, I could have married any number of fine men in Italy.”

Her words were formal, but the meaning was not lost on him. He may not have had a fine education, but he could understand her well enough.

“Forgive my sister,” Elise broke in. “She's very tired from her long journey, as you might imagine. It's a long way from Italy.”

“I am not very tired,” Rosa corrected—somewhat crossly, Jacob thought. “I still know my own mind. Now, Mister...”

“It's just Jacob.”

“Mister Jacob, we are out for exercise and will not keep you from your work.”

He was sure that he was being dismissed, but it didn't work. Perversely, he flung the reins of his horse over the porch railing and secured them.

“That sounds nice. And I'm not working today. I'm taking a walk around out a piece of property nearby. If all goes well tomorrow, I'll be part owner of the land surrounding Falls Creek.”

Elise clapped her hands twice and smiled widely. “Truly? Oh, how wonderful. Let's walk over there together now. It really is a beautiful area. Come, sister, it's less than an hour from here. You'll keep us company, won't you, Jacob?”

The sister appeared to accept defeat but managed to arrange it so that she walked on her sister's other side with Jacob as far away from her as possible. She said no more until the waterfall was in sight.

“Oh, how lovely!” she exclaimed when the rushing water was in sight.

That had pretty much been his first reaction as well when he'd seen it. At this point in the season, the water burst forth from the craggy rocks at the top due to the spring runoff. Even though it was not a massive waterfall, the sound was nearly deafening.

“It's not always like this,” he shouted to Rosa. “You came at a good time.”

She frowned at him. “I came now because my father died, and because my sister is sick.”

“Rosa!” Elise scolded. “You don't need to be so forward.” Turning to Jacob, she asked, “I'm sorry. Please tell us, where is this land you own?”

Pointing to a flat area just beyond the falls, he smiled. “It's about three thousand acres, but it's not mine yet. Alex, Cole, and I are going to figure out the details tomorrow.”

“Well, I'm very glad for you.”

The trio turned away from the falls and walked along the trail in the wooded area nearby.

“I've wanted to break out on my own now for a while, but...well, it takes time.” He didn't want to admit that he hadn't had the money until now, even though there was no shame in it. Most men in these parts barely had a nickel to their names.

Rosa spoke now, but her voice was still sharp. “And what will you do with all this land? Cows, I assume?”

It was hard to know if she disliked him on sight because he was a man, or because he had somehow managed to offend her, but Jacob decided to pretend that he didn't notice.

“No, actually. We're going to raise horses for the Army. After what we went through fifty years ago, they need to be prepared.”

He was, of course, talking about the War Between the States, but Rosa didn't seem impressed.

“You Americans are always fighting. Why can't you just live at peace with one another? Your land is big enough.”

His ire rose. “I'm sorry, Miss Rosa, but as a very recent immigrant, you have no idea what you're talking about. It's clear that you don't know much of our history, or you'd know why that war was important.” Even though the woman was very beautiful, he wanted to be anywhere else now. How dare she come in here and presume to know everything? “Well, I'll see you around, I suppose.”

He was just about to leave when he saw Elise's expression change. Her eyes went wide as she gasped and slowly slid to the ground.

“Elizabetta!” Rosa cried out, immediately falling to her knees and cradling her sister to her chest.

Jacob rushed over and bent down as well.

“Did she faint from the heat, do you think?” he asked.

Rosa shook her head. “She has not been well. I told you already. This walk was too much for her. I need to get her back to the house.”

Without another word, Jacob slid his arms under Elise's slim form and easily lifted her from the ground. Despite carrying her, he moved so quickly towards the house that Rosa practically had to run to keep up with him.

Once they were back in the house, she directed him to put Elise on the sofa while she fetched some water.

“Ring the dinner bell,” she ordered him. “John will want to know.”

Although he didn't appreciate being directed in such a way, he knew she was right and complied without comment.

A short time later, John appeared, wild-eyed and harried.

“What happened?” he asked them.

They each tried to explain at the same time, but when Rosa sent him a dark look, Jacob held his tongue and let her tell the story.

“It's getting worse and worse,” he said miserably. “The doctors don't know what to do for her.”

“I wonder if she needs more red meat,” Jacob mumbled from a few feet away. “My ma didn't eat enough, and she was forever fainting.”

Rosa gave him a measured look. “This is what I told her just today. Yes, she should eat more, especially the liver is very good.”

“I'll make sure she has plenty,” John said, his face a mask of worry. “Anything she needs.”

A small groan let them know that Elise was coming around.

“What happened?” she muttered.

“You fainted, dearest,” John said, kneeling by her side and taking her hand. “How are you feeling now?”

It seemed that the situation was well in hand, so Jacob began backing up toward the door. But then he had a thought.

“Want me to fetch a doctor? I can go into town directly.”

John and Rosa nodded, but Elise shook her head. “I’m fine now, and there's no need for a fuss. I just didn't eat well enough today. The doctor can do nothing. He assured me of this on his last visit. Now the children will be home soon, and I would rather they not see me like this. Please help me up.”

Now Jacob really felt like an intruder. “Alright, well, if there's anything I can do, you know where to find me. Nice to meet you, Miss Rosa.”

The woman nodded a little, her eyes slightly warmer than they had been over the past hour.

“Thank you...” Rosa started, a frown pulling at her brow. It seemed difficult for her to say the words. “For your help with my sister. I am...glad you were there.”

He had to stop himself from grinning, and somberly replied, “It was my pleasure. Have a good day.”

Tipping his hat to them both and nodding at John, he turned and left the house, a smile on his face.