“Why are you here, Alma?” he asked softly, as he brushed the hay from her hair.

She hiccupped between sobs, trying to explain, but the words tumbled out all at once, a whirlwind of emotions that told him everything he needed to know.

The town had known hardship, but in his prolonged absence, his own family had faced trials he had not been there to see or share. Yet, here was his daughter, resilient and strong, a testament to perseverance.