It's a love story

Every year we talk about what to do with the old abandoned and derelict barn at the edge of the property. Everything else has been replaced, fixed, torn down or rebuilt. It has been here as long as anyone can remember. My wife, Annie, and I had our first kiss in that barn and we got married there too. I think it’s the memories that keep us from tearing it down. It is not safe anymore for anyone to use. We can’t keep anything in there, the animals and bugs can get in and the roof leaks when it rains. It is too expensive to fix at this point, really our only option is to demolish it.

However, it has been said that there is a love story and a murder that happened in that barn and that makes me want to leave it alone. I feel like it is a part of history that will be forgotten if it is gone. Maybe if I write it down it will help me let go….

A long time ago, in a land right here there was a barn on the edge of the woods that belonged to a family. There was a wife, husband, and two daughters. It was one of the two daughters this story concerns and of course a knight in shining armor or should we say a military uniform. Bekka and Liza were 14-year-old twins, alive at the time of war. Since their town was small most generals were occupying the homes of local famers and allowing the families to stay there if they served them. If they refused, they were sent off to work camps. Along with the General came his young aid, Henry. It did not take long before Henry and Bekka started to take interest in each other. This was a love story that could not happen. Not only were they on different sides but it was dangerous. Whole families have been put to death for less, but for one of them to seduce a person of authority this would be unacceptable and would certainly not be allowed. Her parents tried to warn her, but Bekka would not listen she knew Henry felt the same way. As the war escalated, more and more people were being sent away and Henry fearing the worst decided to plan an escape for Bekka and her family. He did not tell Bekka he knew, she would never let him do it.

Bekka and her family knew their time was coming when they would have to leave. They heard stories of families being sent to the work camps and knew it was only a matter of time. Bekka knew that Henry would try to save them, so she did not tell him of there plan. They were going to go to the old barn where they had long ago prepared a place to hide for several days. Their plan was to plant a trail in the woods to look like they ran but hide in the barn until the hunt was off then they would really escape and disappear forever.

The plan went wrong for both of them from the beginning. Henry caught them running to the barn and thought Bekka was leaving him. Heartbroken he yelled for her calling attention to their escape. They never even made it to the barn before the General came out to see what was going on. The General was yelling and angry directing Henry to go and get his pistol, Henry did but instead of giving it to him he pointed it at him and shot. Stunned the General fell to his knees screaming. Everyone seemed to move at once- except Henry- he just stood there for what seemed like hours holding the gun staring at where the General fell. Of course, his body was not there anymore. The family had covered it and moved it to the barn and put it in the cellar. Dirt was being swept to remove the blood and drag marks and now Bekka was standing in front of Henry asking him for the gun. Once the gun was also thrown in the cellar with the General the panic could begin.

They would need to leave before people came looking for the General. They had Henry and that was going to have to work. He was young himself, only 17 at the time. In love with a pretty girl and scared to death about what he just did to save her. He was even more scared about the thought of living his life without her- that is the day he knew he would marry her. They did escape they made it to the border and with Henry in the lead he was able to pretend he was taking them to the work camps. Two months later they hit US soil and were married.

Now I wonder if I tear it down if I will find the bones of that General and the pistol that shot him? Guess there is only one way to find out.