Of all the things I had not expected after Coltlumbia, it was having Laura Lee still with me on my staff after she was finished with her maternity leave. While she is a supernumerary, she still has been a large help in rebuilding the 2^nd Battalion. I will miss her when she heads back to Harness with the 3^rd Battalion at the end of their rotation. Of course, that is when all of the mothers who came from Harness and the Hackamore region to Site Paddock will return home as well.

As I waddle home after almost 10 and a half months of pregnancy she and I are engrossed in our conversation when we see Mama Shelta’s caravan approaching us from the direction of Manesville.

We begin to move to the side of the road as they come close. Then I hear Tinner, the bandolier's accented voice call out, “Good afternoon Colonel and my good Jenny. It is good to see you again.”

“It is good to see you as well my good bandolier,” I reply as I give a slight curtsey to him, which I notice brings a smile to his and his pulling team's face.

Then he asks, “Would you like a ride?”

I look at Laura Lee and she nods to me, “Goddesses yes,” I answer and I see their wagons stop and the back door open so we can climb in.”

As I climb into his home I am struck by how small, but comfortable it is. Then he asks, “We can use our normal spot still?”

I smile and tell him, “But of course, our normal arrangements if you and your people would like?”

Then I hear him tell the team, “Ok, they is ready, now we go again.” And the wagon begins to move once more.

I see his wife sitting to the side, grinning and she nods as he does. Then she asks, “Which one of your spouses are you carrying this time?”

I surprise her when I tell her, “I am not carrying one of theirs.” Then I explain to her about Site Paddock.

I see her look at Tinner and she asks, “If they have some of our peoples, do you think we should? I mean it would help the bloodlines so much.”

I see him think and he tells her, “I tink it is a good idea, yes, but we need to tink it through and I wants to ask Shelta about it.”

His wife nods her head in acceptance and tells him, “That makes sense to me.”

As we approach the farm, I hear many of the local youngsters as well as my families getting excited. Then I see the wagons get buzzed by several young mares and a hippogriff. Those along this part of the road come out and greet the caravan as they pass the entrance to our farmyard. Then once they get to the right spot, they pull off the road and into the field next to our family cemetery. It is as we pull into the field that I hear Tinner ask in surprise, “Colonel, what is that big wall with all the names carved in it for?”

I smile as I tell him, “That is the list of those who died fighting or serving the Co-op and the NCR.” We have a few names carved there that we want you to make sure they are spelled right, as well as making sure we carve their cutie marks properly.

He looks at his wife as he stops his wagon and the others begin to pull into their now-familiar pattern. Then he asks, “But why would you want us to check any of them?”

This time I sadly smile and I tell him, “Because some of those names were from your caravan. They died on your way back to here during what we call the Expedition.”

“But why include us, we no live here?”

I stand up and gently put a hoof on his shoulder as I tell him, “Because as I told you a long time ago, you and your people are a part of us. You are bonded in blood with some of us, and as they are included in your caravan’s tales, so your people are in ours.”

Then Laura Lee speaks up and says, “The Hackamore region and the Manesville region are the same way. That is why we now have some of our troops here after all those years of them having them with us.”

“Ah, so you too are not from here?” Tinner asks.

Laura Lee laughs lightly, “No, but I am family to some who are here, and when I leave, I will miss both them and this place.”

I see a smile come across both Tinner and his wife’s muzzles as she says, “Ah, so you know da feeling as wells. We feel dat way too.”

After we climb down from the wagon, I watch as Tinner and some of his people go over to the memorial and I see some of them running their hooves over the names there. Some of them are smiling, others I see fight back tears.

As I begin to head across the road, I am stopped by one of the members of Tinner’s pulling team. He is polite when he does it and then he tells me, “Tank you Kernel, most would not even tink of us. This way we know we not forgot.”

While Laura Lee waits next to me, I tell him, “We could never forget you and your caravan. We have broken too much bread and shed too much blood to do that. Besides, my family could never forget all of you either. After all, we could never have expanded our home as much as we have without all of your help.”

I see the big stallion blush and he touches his hat, “Tank you, now I best help wit de otters.”

“Ok, I will talk to you later then sir,” I tell him then Laura Lee and I head to the house to get ready for dinner.

As we cross the road she asks me, “So, that is the Gypsy Pony band that Ginger and Xochitl talked about so much?”

I smile and tell her, “Yep, they come through here about once every year or two, depending on how their travels are going and any new dangers that may come up.”

She shakes her head, “An interesting way to live, but honestly, I would have to say it is not for me.”

“Me neither, but hey, it works for them. And they really are good people.”

She nods, “They sure seem it. I have never met any of them before.”

“To be honest with ya, neither had I before the expedition. But they saved some of our people by taking them with them and one of them gave me some good warnings I needed.”

As we enter, I see Sumac at the sink washing some dishes and looking out the window. She smiles and says, “Good to see the Caravan is back.”

“Yeah, Tinner was kind enough to give us a ride most of the way home.”

She smiles, “That was really good of him, I am really looking forward to visiting with them this year, it has been too long.”

“So, are you saying after dinner you want to go visit them Sumac?”

She laughs and replies, “Yeah, besides we should introduce them to our newest members, Honey and Double.”

Beside me Laura Lee beams, “Speaking of Honey and Double, how were they today?”

Sumac smiles and says, “Not too bad, Persimmon helped me the few times they were acting up. But other than that, they are fine. Speaking of our youngsters, have you seen Sutures yet? Purchase came home early from work and is not feeling up to snuff. She says her lower back is bothering her something fierce today.”

Laura Lee and I look at each other. Oh boy, it may be time for her soon I think to myself. Laura Lee then asks, “Sumac, do you think we should send out someone to bring her home?”

I see the consternation on Sumac’s face as she considers it. Then she says, “No, not yet, besides, Moon will be home from school with the others soon. She can help until her mother gets here if we really need her too.”

I tilt my head as I consider it and tell her, “Yeah, that makes sense. No need to get everyone excited if it is just false labor.”

“My thoughts exactly Mollygirl, but why don’t you two go upstairs to her room and talk to her a bit to help keep her calm.”

“Ok, Sounds good,” I tell her and begin to slowly climb the steps.

As I get to her bedside, I see her laying on her side and notice she is sweating and breathing a bit hard. I put a hoof on her shoulder and ask, “How you doing dear?”

She leans into my hoof and tells me, “Ok, I guess, but it really hurts ma.”

I kiss her on her forelock as I hold her hoof, “I understand dear. I think you have begun to go into labor. Once Moon or Sutures get here, I am going to have them check to see if your foal has shifted to the birthing position.”

“Ok Ma, thanks. Please don’t leave me,” she says in a scared tone of voice making her almost sound like a young filly.

Instead, I move a chair next to her and hold her hoof as we continue to talk. As we talk, I hear one of Laura Lee’s foals crying and she looks at us with a guilty expression and says, “Sorry guys, but I will be back as soon as I can.”

It is not too long after this I hear Epona’s voice downstairs, she sounds winded and asks, “Where is Purchase Ma? Pa sent a message via PipBuck to us letting us know she was in labor.”

I hear a very surprised-sounding Sumac answer, “She is in your two’s room with Mama Mollygirl, but how did papa Archer find out?”

Then I hear Raven say, “We heard from Mama Laura Lee that she was in labor so we sent Rain Water to find papa on his way home and let him know to hurry.”

I then hear Sumac say, “I appreciate it dears, but you should have waited until Moon or Mama Sutures checked her first to tell everypony she is in labor.”

“Yes ma’am, sorry,” I hear Raven and Xailynn say in chorus.

“OK then, you two go on back outside and wait a bit.” Sumac tells them as I hear hoofsteps on the stairs. I am still holding Purchase's hoof when Epona comes into the room and sits on the other side of the bed and kisses her.

“Sorry I am late love,” she tells Purchase.

Purchase smiles at her and tells her, “No dear, you are not late yet, I think it is only mild labor right now.”

Right after she says this, I see her face cringe as she cries out in pain. And I see an expression of panic come over Epona’s face. I put a hoof across to her and tell her, “Relax dear, that is normal.”

She looks at me and tries to smile, and says, “Maybe Ma, but I don’t like seeing Purchase in pain like this.”

I see Purchase try and smile as sweat begins to form on her forehead. Soon I hear two more sets of hoofsteps coming up the stairs. One I am not sure on, the other because of the odd sound that it makes, I know is Sutures.

As she and Archer enter, Archer slides to the corner of the room so Sutures can go to work. As she continues to examine Purchase, she tells her, “Sorry dear, but it does not look like you are going to have a short labor.”

I see Purchase’s eyes go wide and she asks, “What do you mean? How long can it go?”

All of us look at each other, and finally Sutures tells her, “Dear, I have seen some mares go almost a whole day of heavy labor before they had a normal birth, with no complications. Each foal is different, and from what I can tell, you just started.”

From the doorway I hear Sumac say, “Mollygirl, why don’t we give them some room and you can come help me prepare dinner.”

I hear her say this and absent-mindedly tell her, “Ok.” Then I look at Purchase and Epona and I ask them, “Do you mind dears?”

Epona shakes her head no, but Purchase has her eyes open wide and she says in a nervous voice, “I guess not ma, but if anything happens, promise you will come up here quick?”

I put a hoof on her shoulder as I tell her, “I will dear, now I best move.” I then give both her and Epona a quick kiss on the forelock. Both smile at me, but I can see the worry on Epona’s face.

“She will be fine; we are all here,” I whisper to Epona.

She again tries to smile and says, “I know, but I am still worried ma.”

Once downstairs Sumac has a bit of a worried expression on her face, then she asks me, “Could you cut up some vegetables for me, I will need them for the stew tonight.”

“Sure Sumac, what are we going to make for Purchase?”

“Honestly, broth, that is all she can have right now, if the contractions get too bad, we don’t want her throwing up,” she tells me.

“Makes sense, sorry I did not think about that.”

“No problem Mollygirl, I just want to get everyone feed, I have a feeling it is going to be a long night.”

I nod my head, “Yeah, you are right. But maybe one of us should take the youngsters across the road for a bit to give Epona and Purchase some peace.”

I hear her laugh, “Mollygirl, I think we are good, but maybe I will go talk to Tinner and let him know what is going on. Besides, I saw Raven and her brothers heading across to the Gypsy camp a little while ago.”

I sigh as I cut up some potatoes and I tell her, “I hope they don’t cause any trouble.”

I hear her more then see her laugh as she fills the pot with water and begins it to boil. In answer she tells me, “Dear, I don’t think so, I saw them carrying a bucket of scrap over with them. I got a feeling they are going to try to make a few caps.”

“I guess that is a good thing. I just never would have thought to have done such a thing at their ages.”

“You and Ivy might not of, but Ginger, Xochitl and Sunny sure did, and these youngsters learned it from them. Now I am just wondering what mischief those two you are carrying will figure out to earn caps.”

As she says that, I reach a hoof down to my belly and smile around the knife I was using to prepare our dinner. “Who knows Sumac, they may come up with a whole different way to make me grow old fast.”

She nods her head, “Youngsters always seem to do that dear. Even the good ones. Goddesses, I still remember when you were drafted along with Bullet and then Ivy decided to enlist to stay with you.”

I smile sadly as I look across the road towards the cemetery and Ivy’s grave. “You know Sumac, it is hard to believe that next month I am set to retire finally.”

She stops from stirring the broth and tells me, “I know, but I will be glad to have you home more and not have to worry about you running all around Equestria for the NCR.”

“Same here Ma, same here,” I tell her with a smile.

Purchase is still in labor when I get up in the morning for work. When I check on Purchase, I see Doula is still awake with her, but Sutures is taking a nap in the spare bed.

Doula waves a hoof at me and nods in my direction. This is followed by Epona stirring in the chair, and then Purchase having a major contraction.

As the contraction subsides, I hear Sutures ask, “How far apart now ma?”

Doula quietly answers, “About 20 minutes. Hopefully not too much longer for her,” as she dips a cloth into some water and let’s Purchase suck the end so she can keep her mouth from getting too dry.

“Keep me informed please,” I tell them and I see Doula nod her head and I hear Sutures say, “We will love, now don’t be late for work.”

Once at work I keep finding myself worrying about my family. Paper Work enters my office with my tea and asks, “Are you, ok Colonel?”

“Yeah, just worried about Purchase. She has been in labor since I got home last night.”

He then asks, “Ma’am, if you don’t mind me saying, my mother was in labor for three days before she had me. The heavy labor only lasted about ten hours of that, but for some mares, it happens that way. I am sure she will be fine.

I sigh, “I know, but you know how I am with family.”

He smiles, “Yes I do, and so does the rest of the staff. Ma’am, if you want, why don’t you head home after all the XO can cover for you and we can let you know if anything important happens.”

I sigh, “That would be nice, but Paper Work, How can I expect things from my troopers that I do not do myself.”

I see him shake his head, “Ma’am, more than once when we have been home you have allowed troopers to be there for the birth of their calves and foals. I know it is not your spouse, but your daughter-in-law to be having the foal, but ma’am, you really are not doing anything that can’t wait today.”

I snicker a bit and jokingly ask, “Sergeant, are you saying this just to get rid of the boss?”

He laughs back and tells me, “No, I am looking out for my commanding officer and family.”

I shake my head, “So you and Choo really planning on getting married then?”

He shakes his head, “Nah, we decided to leave it like it is between us, besides, with as long-lived as she is, I don’t want her to be a widow who thinks she should not love anyone else. That would just not be fair to expect from her.”

I nod my head and I think of how funny it is that we slide our conversation the full circle to include both the beginning and end of life. I also find it interesting that neither of us was upset by it and that we both accept both as part of the way things go.

Finally, I take another sip of my tea and I ask, “Is Windy in her office?”

He smiles and tells me, “Last I knew she was Ma’am.”

“Ok, I think I may take your suggestion. If I don’t see the Sergeant Major, please let him know what is going on.”

“Will do ma’am, I think he is making his rounds and checking with the battalion Sergeant Majors and 1^st Sergeants today.”

“Very well, thank you for our talk Sergeant, I will see you in the morning.”

“Or maybe tonight ma’am, Choo told me she wants to go visit with the Gypsy caravan tonight, so perhaps we can stop in and visit.

“That would be nice. Sounds good Paper Work. Have a good day.” I tell him as I head to Windy’s Office.

As I enter, she looks up from her desk, “Yes ma’am?” she asks.

“Windy, Purchase has been in labor since I got home last night, and I am worried, so I can not concentrate. If you need me, I will be back at the farm.”

“Ok, I got things here then. Ma’am, do you want me to arrange a ride for you, I mean you look like you are about ready to have yours right now too.”

I think about it briefly and tell her, “No, I will be fine.”

Then she tells me, “Tek will be heading that way to visit the chapel in White Cloud, would you do me the favor of allowing him to escort you home at least.”

“I will be fine, but if he is heading that way, I would not mind his company. Let him know to meet me at the porch.”

She smiles, “Doing it now ma’am.” She tells me, then she says, “Oh, and let us know what she has if I do not stop by first.”

“I will Windy, thanks for asking though.”

As I head out, I am feeling my age as my muscles begin to ache. Tek is walking alongside me and he asks, “How are you doing today Colonel?”

I smile at his attempt to be polite, “I am doing ok, but I am worried about Purchase.”

He nods his head, “I understand, so am I, but I am sure Epona will be there with her.”

I am surprised he knows that she is back and tell him so. In reply, he smiles and tells me, “Colonel I found out they were back last night when I shared a pint of cider with Xochitl and Ginger at the pub.”

“I am glad you got to see them. I was not sure they were back yet. I only saw Epona last night.”

He smiles and tells me, “I understand, they just wanted a night to relax themselves and they knew that Epona would be there for Purchase.”

“Is that why you did not stop to ask about her?”

He shakes his head, “No, not at all, she is my friend, but Epona is her mate. My mate is Xzandrea, she might have thought wrongly if I had gone.”

I nod my head, “I can understand that, sorry for asking.”

“Colonel, there is never shame in asking, that is now we find out the truth. Timing of the asking, now that can be a problem, but in this case, it is not.”

I smile and shake my head, “You are starting to sound more and more like Dharma and Khatri, you know that.”

He smiles and tells me, “That is a good thing, after all they are my mentors. I also believe that both are stunned that one of my kind could take so well to the teachings of Sweet Cream.”

I smile as we begin to get near my home and I tell him, “Maybe that is because so many forget that the truth is the truth, no matter which mouth speaks it. Unfortunately, the hard part is discovering what the truth is so we know which mouth to listen to.”

“Perhaps Colonel, perhaps, but I feel here, I have found the truth, and I while I want to share it with others, I understand that they need to ask me for the truth, rather than have me just throw it at them and hope that some of it sticks.”

I smile and shake my head, “You know, I like how you think Tek if you and your mare go to visit the Gypsy pony show in the next couple of days, why don’t you stop by the farm and say hello. I am sure Purchase and Epona would be very happy to see you.”

“Thank you for the invite Colonel, I will have to do that. I have not gotten to spend near enough time with my friends since we have gotten back.”

As I turn into the farmyard, he continues on his way to White Cloud. I am just opening the door when I hear a cry of pain from upstairs and Sutures telling Purchase, “That’s it, push dear hear it comes.”

After I have hung up my saddlebags and my uniform hat I head upstairs. I am almost to the landing when I hear a young foal begin to cry and I hear Epona says, “You did it, sweetheart, he is beautiful.”

As I get to the door of the room, I see a large newborn colt with an orange coat and freckles as well as a light green mane and tail. Sutures is just finishing cleaning him up when I enter. Then I hear Epona ask, “What shall we call him dear?”

Then I hear a very tired-sounding Purchase say, “The doctor said that our donors for our little one included a member of the Apple family, so I figured maybe we could give him an apple name.”

I see Epona smirk as she tells her, “Dear, when I came across one of the ghouls I met, had dated Mama Mollygirl’s ancestor Honey Crisp. He told us her family was a distant part of the Apples. So yeah, I think that would be good. So, what are you thinking?”

I see Purchase smile, “How about Apple Spice?”

I see Epona smile broadly as she hugs Purchase from the side and tells her, “That is a swell name,” Then she shifts over to the little foal and kisses him gently and tells him, “It is wonderful to finally meet you Apple Spice.”

After having her foal and feeding him for the first time, Purchase takes as long a nap as little Spice will let her. After she is back up, she tiredly brings her foal with her downstairs to the parlor to visit with the rest of us.

As she comes into the room, Mama Shelta, Tinner as well as Choo Choo and Paper Work are visiting us. They all look at her and Apple Spice. I see a smile come over Choo Choo’s face.

Tinner then asks, “So tis is really a baby froze for over two hunner years?”

Purchase nods her head, “Yeah he is Sir. Would you like to meet him?”

He nods his head and Purchase carries him over to him, setting Apple down at his hooves on the couch.”

“Well, hello little one,” I hear Tinner say, then I watch as he and Mama Shelta both look over our newest family member. “He is healty?”

Sutures nods her head and replies, “Yes Tinner, as healthy as any foal I have seen.”

They both look at each other and smile, “Maybe we can help rebuild our herd.” He tells Shelta.

Shelta and he both look back at us. In particular Sumac and say, “We appreciate your having let us use the lot across the road every year. We now have a few members who are getting up in years so that they can no longer handle the rigors of caravan life, along with this we would like to make use of your Site Paddick.”

I see Sumac nod her head, and then Tinner continues, “With your permission, we would like to build a few homes across the way for our people to use for these reasons.”

I see Sumac smile. Then she looks at the other members of our family and tells them, “Tinner, I have offered this to you many years ago. I would be pleased for you and your band to do so.”

“Are you sure?” he asks nervously.

She gets up and walks across the room and offers him a hoof, which he takes, she looks him in the eyes and tells him, “Yes Tinner, I am sure, before your band leaves here next, how about we start developing some plans for it.” She turns her head to me and asks, “Mollygirl, do you think Bailey Bridge might be interested in helping?”

I smile and tell her, “I am sure of it, but maybe we should ask the Ghouls from Site Paddock too, they were all combat engineers. They might even know some things Bailey doesn’t.”

I see both Mama Shelta and Tinner blanche at the mention of ghouls. This time Epona speaks up, “Without those ghouls, we would not have my son here. We also may have lost a lot more people during the Enclave attack last year. They sheltered our people shortly after they had us clean out all of them that were still feral. Sir, Ma’am, despite how they look, they are still ponies inside.”

They both look at her, then each other, and I see them blush. Tinner finally says, “Excuse a us on our behavior, we forget sometime that we are not de only ones that are treated differently because of who we are and how we look.”

Epona smiles and tells them, “Nothing to excuse you for, we all were like that until we got to know them. They all ain’t perfect, but they also are not all bad either, they just are like everyone else.”

Next Tinner asks, “If you are feeling up to it tonight, please be my guest and come to our show.”

I answer for myself and tell them, “I would be glad to.”

Purchase still tired, smiles and tells them, “If I feel up to it, we will, but that took a lot out of me.”

Laura Lee puts a hoof on her shoulder and tells her, “It always does, but it is worth it.” Then we begin to hear her two newest little ones cry in the other room.

Blue Moon comes in with Raven and tells us, “Ma, I think they are both hungry again.”

I see the worn look on her face and she begins to get up. This time Magpie says, “I got one of them, Laura Lee.”

Both Mama Shelta and Tinner look strangely at her. Sutures seeing their expression tells them, “Magpie volunteered to be a wet nurse to help us with so many new foals. I cast the lactation spell for her.”

I see them both seem surprised and Tinner asks, “You can cast that spell?”

Sutures nods her head, “Yes, and if you want, I would be glad to teach some of your unicorns how to do so too.”

Shelta nods her head, “Yes, we could use that, we had a mother dry up last year and we almost lost the foal. Thank you.”

Sutures waves a hoof and tells her, “If it will save a life, I am more than happy to teach it. Besides, after being friends all these years, how could I say no.”

For the next two weeks Purchase and little Apple Spice are the centers of attention of our family. All his aunts and uncles spend as much time spoiling the little guy as they can.

When I go into labor finally, I am walking to work with Laura Lee. That is when the pains begin to really hit. I feel myself stumble a bit and Laura Lee catches me. “Mollygirl, are you ok?” she asks quickly.

I put my hoof to my stomach and answer, “No, I think I am starting my labor.”

We pause and she sends a couple of messages on her PipBuck, then she tells me, “I let Windy know you are in labor, she says she has the regiment for you. Also Ginger and Epona are on their way with a cart and Sutures.”

“Thank you, dear. I really appreciate it,” I tell her.

We are about halfway back to the farm when the second contraction hits and this time I do hit the ground. When it ends and as I get back to my hooves, I see a cart being pulled by Ginger and Epona, with Sutures in the back coming at a full gallop.

As they get me into the back of the wagon Sutures does a quick check. Then she tells Ginger and Epona, “OK, let’s get her back home quick. I don’t think we have too long.”

As we race back to the farm, I feel the wagon bounce as we hit the rough spots in the road. We are just pulling into the yard when the next contraction hits. We skid to a stop and I hear Tinner yelling out several names and he says, “We need to help with the Colonel!”

As Sutures lifts me out of the wagon with her TK, I see Xavier and Xochitl running up as well as Tinner and several of his larger stallions. I lay on a blanket and they carry me inside as I am hit by another contraction. Once inside I am taken to the back room where we still have the modified birthing bed from when the youngsters were born at home.

Once I am in the bed, I hear Sumac tell them, “Thank you so much for helping.”

“It tis the least we can do, after what you have done for us.” Tinner replies.

As I lay there another contraction hits and as I scream in pain, I feel my water break. Sutures is there holding my hoof and I hear Doula as she comes in.

My heavy labor lasts for three hours after this before I hear, “Ok, I see a forehoof.” Ten minutes later I get to meet my newest foal. As I look down, I see a beautiful brown coated with black mane and tailed colt that could almost match Lieutenant Cake, from the old photos he showed me. But before I can even hold him, I feel another contraction and I hear Laura Lee in the background say, “Let me start to feed him, we can get him on the colostrum as soon as she is done.”

It is another hour before I have my second foal. As they bring her to me, I notice how her coat, mane, and tail matches Laura Lee’s with her light brown coat and black mane and tail. As soon as I finish the birthing process, they bring my foals over to me to hold.

Sutures, smiling at me, ask, “What are we going to name them love?”

I smile back, “How about Coffee Cake and Clementine Cake?”

I see her thinking and nodding her head. From the side, I hear Laura Lee say, “I think those are wonderful names dear.”

Sumac then asks, “Why didn’t you name him after Milo or Gus?”

I turn to her and tiredly smile as I say, “I wanted them to be named by their heritage too. If I didn’t know who the parents were, I would have done so. I hope you understand.”

“We do, dear, we do.” She responds, just as Sutures puts my foals into position to suck, and for the first time in a long, long time, I feel like a young mother again.

Only two weeks after I have had my foals I return briefly to duty. I do this so I can finish my processing for retirement and prepare to turn over the Regiment to Windy. Honestly, I do not work as hard as I could during this time. But then again, Windy has taken over more and more of the duties.

During my lunches, I run back home to feed Coffee and Clementine. It is as I am returning from lunch one day that I run into Lieutenant Cake as he is heading back toward the stable to perform some training with Bailey Bridge and his company. As I walk alongside him, he says, “Good afternoon Colonel, it is good to see you out and about.”

“Good afternoon Lieutenant, how have you been?”

“I can’t complain ma’am. I was wondering if you would mind me stopping by to see my new siblings sometime?”

“No, not at all, please do. By the way, in case you haven’t heard yet, I named them Coffee and Clementine.”

I see him smile. “Good mule names, but they also fit in with the Cake line also,” he tells me.

I nod my head, “That is my intention. I want them to know about the biological family as well as their birth family.”

He then asks me, “How much longer before you retire ma’am?”

I grin at him as I say, “Two weeks and five days. But who is counting?”

He nods his head, “Excellent. I am very glad to hear that for you. Any thoughts about what you might do after you retire?”

I grin at him and tell him, “I think I might take a swing at just being a farmer and a wife. If that don’t work, maybe I can work as a constable someplace quiet.”

“You know Colonel, that does not sound too bad. Now I best let you get going, for now, I will see you soon.”

“See you soon Lieutenant,” I tell him as I watch him head towards Manesville while I turn off the main road and make my way back to my headquarters so I can finish out the day.

The next couple of weeks pass very quickly for me. Finally, the change of command ceremony occurs. As I give a brief speech to my troops, I catch my voice cracking a couple of times. But as I begin to think maybe I am making a mistake; I hear both Coffee and Clementine begin to cry for milk and I see Magpie begin to feed them for me briefly so they will be quiet.

After the ceremony, I reenter the headquarters for the 3^rd Regiment with Windy. I go to her office and recover my last few possessions that were still there. Then I head back downstairs. There My battalion officers and staff all await me. Paper Work comes up to me and hoofs me my paperwork transferring me to reserves. As I put them into my saddlebags I feel strange not to have them appear listed in my line of sight briefly. That is another thing I will miss and have to get used to, no more PipBuck.

I look at them all and tell them, “Remember, you are all invited to my retirement party tonight. I hope to see you there.”

After that, I turn and walk out the door where I am met by my family. I put on my chest carrier and place Clementine in it. Magpie already has Coffee in one on her. We then walk down the steps, turn south and begin the trek to our home on the farm, and my new life.

Dear DJ Pon3,

Recently my life has made some major changes. I am a mother again and tomorrow I will leave the only life I have ever known to finally be with my family. Tonight, I have had a song on my mind that describes best how I feel, if you could please play for me Starting Over.

Thank you

Colonel Mollygirl, NCR Army, Retired.

White Cloud NCR

For those who desire to listen to the dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LszRW4tW4Uc