Under the Wire

When Sue and I married 35 years ago, along with a brilliant partner in love and life, came new family members for me, the Carnahans, including the family patriarch, Fred Carnahan.

My new father-in-law was a farmer, cattleman, hunter and fabulous story teller, all the while acting as the magnet that drew his family to his home located on the farm that had been the “Carnahan Place” as long as any neighbor could recall. With five daughters and a son, there was a constant stream of advice seekers making their way to Riverton, Kan. to sit before Fred in his well-worn recliner.

Since none of the fam...