Martha is a young woman living on her own and also taking care of her farm. She is waiting for her husband James, a soldier fighting for the Union, to return from the war. She leads a hard, lonely life on the land, but the thought of his return gives her courage.
But then, one cold evening at the start of her third winter alone, she hears someone knocking on the door. It's James, but he is not the man she said goodbye to, three years ago. He seems distant and easily upset, he's lost a lot of weight, and he suffers from nightmares.
Can Martha cope with the sudden return of her husband after so long, especially when he seems to have changed so much? And when James reveals a secret to Martha that threatens their renewed life together, will their marriage be able to survive?
A Standalone Short Story with no cliffhanger!
