In the Utah Desert: Joseph's Eternal Sacrifice

Josephine wandered through the large empty house. It was a large place, with four bedrooms and two sitting rooms. Her mother said it would be perfect for her. There were two fireplaces and a large kitchen with a breakfast nook. The living room had a bay window with an odd stained glass design in it, that looked like a peacock. She didn't know who the previous owner was, but she was pretty sure her mom knew.

She walked up the stairs to the second floor and quietly opened the door to one of the bedrooms. It was Madeline's room. She liked it because it looked out over the rose garden in the back yard. Josephine sat in the rocking chair in Madeline's room and watched over her sleep as she gently rocked back and forth.

"There you are."

Josephine jumped when she heard his voice behind her. Joseph put his hands on her shoulders and bent down until he was at eye level with her. He smiled down at her and then kissed her on the forehead before taking a seat next to her in Madeline's rocking chair. Josephine smiled up at him and then continued to watch Madeline sleep while Joseph leaned back into his seat, propping his feet up on one of Madeline's nightstands.

"So this is your new home?" Joseph asked, "It's beautiful." He smiled at Josephine again before looking around the room again himself for a moment. "I'm surprised you want to leave all this for London though."

Josephine shrugged slightly at him, "I'm not that excited about leaving all this," she said pointing at Madeline's sleeping form, "but I have to live my own life too, you know? I can't just sit here watching over her forever." She turned to look at him now and smiled, "Besides she'll be going off to university soon anyway so I'll hardly get to see her anyways if I don't leave."

Joseph nodded understandingly before reaching down next to him and picking up some dirty laundry that was lying on the ground near where their feet were resting on the nightstands. He held it up for a moment before smiling sadly and tossing it back onto the floor again. Joseph picked up another shirt from where he had thrown it earlier before turning back towards Josephine with a grin that made his eyes crinkle a little bit more than usual.

"You know, there's nothing wrong with hanging out here for awhile longer," he said softly looking out across Madeline's sleeping form once more himself, "this is a great place for growing old together." Josephine laughed quietly before turning back towards him again and shook her head gently;

"You're not old yet," she told him playfully, "you're still only 29 years old." Joseph chuckled loudly now before leaning forward with his elbows on his knees;

"Oh really?" he asked mockingly, "Doesn't feel like it some days; so many responsibilities." Josephine rolled her eyes playfully as she reached forward pulling on one of his fingers playfully while they both looked at each other;

* * * * *

Joseph growled in anger as he stood outside of the barn door, staring down at his brother who lay bleeding out onto the dirt beneath him from an arrow wound in his stomach;

"They got you good mate," Michael said weakly rolling over onto his side so he could look at his younger brother who looked like he wanted nothing more than to rip apart every last one of their attackers' faces right then and there;