The Hayes Homestead

An Alleycat Crew Short

Kash circled the settlement, admiring the condition of the farmlands. The lush fields were nearly ready for harvest and dozens of animals grazed in the green pastures. The waves of bluish green water lapped lazily at the shores of the massive lake, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the forest that surrounded everything.

The main house sat up on a knob overlooking the bunkhouses, barns, and garages. It was constructed to resemble an old manor style house from Earth with large pillars flanking the entrance at the enormous front porch. The other buildings were all built to spec of the same time period. Other homes dotted the landscape — some along the tree line, others near the lake.

“If the vegetation wasn’t so different, you could swear you were looking at late industrial era Earth,” Kash smiled at Calynn.

“What is this place?”

“It was home for a while,” Kash said, reminiscently.

“Home?” Calynn asked, pulling herself closer.

Kash continued to smile and pulled Calynn into a half-hug. He kissed the top of her head and looked back out at the farm.

“Welcome to the Hayes Homestead,” he said fondly as they touched down.

Calynn stayed quiet for a long moment, taking it all in — the neat rows of crops, the animals content under the twin suns, the big wraparound porch that looked like it had hosted a thousand family dinners.

“You never told me you grew up on a farm,” she finally said, voice softer than usual.

“I didn’t,” Kash replied. “I was in the Legion when the old man passed. Mama Hayes didn’t want to stay on Earth after that so she and her sister, Nacori, moved the family out here…”

Kash paused and bowed his head. The next part was always hardest to say.

“Mama Hayes didn’t, um,” Kash continued in a solemn tone. “She never got to see it finished… after she passed is when I started adding Hayes to my name.”

“Aw, Kash, I’m so sorry,” Calynn said softly, wrapping herself around him.

Kash sat his chin on top of her head, closed his eyes, and said a silent prayer for the one woman who had actually been able to reach him.

Relyna Hayes was so kind and thoughtful, but firm when she needed to be. She never had to yell. If any of the kids misbehaved, she would just sit there quietly… waiting. Eventually, the kids would apologize and correct their own behavior because they never wanted to disappoint Mama again.

“There’s a lot of happy memories here too,” Kash said, smiling. “This was Mama’s dream and we all see her in it when we look around. The way she would talk about it was… well it always made me smile. Nacori and I took leave after she passed to get everything settled and make sure Mama’s dream became reality. We stop by to check in and keep things funded from time to time. Neither of us will ever let this place go.”

“What happened with the other kids?” Calynn asked with some trepidation. “Your stepbrothers and stepsisters.”

“There was a lot of paperwork to file to keep them together, but the older kids stepped up and took care of their younger siblings just like Mama would have wanted,” Kash answered. “They all grew up here and eventually started families of their own… some built houses here… and had kids, so don’t be surprised if some of them call me Uncle Kash.”

Calynn looked up at him with a smirk tugging at her lips.

“I know that look.”

“What look?” Calynn feigned innocence.

“Baby Girl…”

“I was just thinking of how cool Uncle Kash must be,” Calynn cut him off. “I can’t wait to see you with the kids.”

“That’s not why you were smirking… spill it.”

“And I think seeing you in a dad slash uncle role would be sexy as hell,” Calynn admitted, biting her lip.

“Uncle Kash?” a tiny voice hollered from the cargo hold of The Cat.

Calynn’s smile grew larger and her eyes lit up.

“Up here, Rosie,” Kash hollered back. “Come meet your Aunt Calynn.”