A bit of Josephine's history

Josephine Ayers was born on a lovely farm, just outside Eureka, California, the only daughter to Malcolm and Sarah Ayers. Her parent's had some money, from their parents who had scrimped and scrounged every coin and stretched each meal to last for three. Josephine had been raised with two older brothers, Grant and Mitchell.

There were two years between the boys and three between Mitchell and Josephine--Grant being the eldest. Josephine was smallish, with dark, molasses hair and clear blue eyes. Grant and Mitchell had that same deep-colored hair and hazel eyes. The boys might have been twins, they were so similar in stature and mannerism--both tall and broad shouldered, adept at sports and hefting the heavy bales of alfalfa on the farm.

They played well together, alternately teasing and watching out for each other. Jo liked trying to keep pace with her big brothers, whether it was climbing the massive oaks on their land or catching tree frogs. Grant and Mitchell never treated Jo like a sissy or like she was weak, but instead gave her a sense of independence and strength, as they knew she would one day need careful attention when the neighbor boys came calling. Josephine's life seemed idyllic and charmed, and for the most part, it was.

On a summer fishing trip, Grant and Mitchell having no luck with their flies, decided to take refuge from the searing sun in the cold water. Mitchell and Grant were taking turns dunking each other while Jo and their parent's laughed from the shore. The cold water and sun must have caused Mitchell to falter--he dipped below the water's surface. Mitchell drowned in the Trinity River.