The year was 1817, and farmer John Bell was about to do something he would regret for the rest of his life. Standing outside his mansion in rural Tennessee, Bell took a deep breath of the hot, summer air.
He looked at his girlfriend, Kate. Her beautiful red hair shone like copper in the dappled light of the sun, while her brown eyes watched him, concerned at why he wanted to talk so urgently. “Kate…” John began.