“Perhaps not.But I reckon most of these folks don’t have a choice about where they’ve got to live.”
“True.But they don’t have to be so churlish when approached by a stranger,” Oscar muttered, referring to those efforts we’d made to speak to several of the local residents.
“This is the place,” I said as we got closer to Cal’s homestead.“Just behind those trees, there.”
“It’s a pretty spot,” Miss June says, her forehead creased with concern.
“Sure,” Oscar says.“Fine piece of land, but nobody to work it with Cal’s husband gone.She’s got her hands full.”
“I’m sure she does,” Miss June says.“Three children are a lot to look after.”
“Did you ever want wee ones?”Oscar said, looking at Miss June with an eyebrow raised.
Miss June snorted.“I’m the second oldest girl in a family of twelve.I’ve already looked after enough children for my own satisfaction, thank you very much.”She gazed at Trick.“Now I’m a momma to the grown women in my care, and that’s much more rewarding.”
We rode around the trees and up the gentle slope toward the house.Miss June noticed the small barn.
“Do they have any animals?”
“Not even poultry or a milk cow,” I said.“Things seem pretty desperate.”
I took off my hat and swiped it against my leg.“I’m not sure Cal’s husband is much of a worker, to tell you the truth, whether ’tis here at home or out and about.”
Trick spat into the dirt.“I agree.I wouldn’t be surprised if Cal’s lyin’ through her teeth about him sendin’ any money.I don’t think he’s comin’ back.”
Miss June contemplated this.“Why wouldn’t she tell us?If she was so desperate?”
“Pride,” I said.
“Shame,” Oscar added.“She left her security at The Angel for a dream that didn’t turn out so good, seems like.”
Miss June gave a nod as we dismounted.
“I’ll go in by myself and see if I can persuade her to send the children out to see the horses.And you keep them busy, all right?”
“Of course,” I said.“I wanna have a look in that barn and see if ’twould be all right for stock, if Cal had any.”
“All right,” Miss June said, nodding with approval.
I figured maybe we could get Cal a cow or some chickens.Peter and Lizzie were old enough to help with milking and feeding, and at least they’d have fresh milk and eggs to eat, without having to spend on anything but grain and hay.I was willing to build a coop, but a cow would need the barn.
We waited with the horses until the children came out of the house.Peter led little Samuel by the hand, with Lizzie following.
When they got near to us, Trick crouched down and extended her hand to the little girl in the ratty dress that was a mite too short.
“Hey there, Lizzie, you wanna feed Willow a carrot?”She took the vegetable out of her pocket and held it up in front of the approaching children.
They stopped, Peter and Lizzie’s eyes going wide as they homed in on the huge orange root in Trick’s hands.Samuel started to cry.Lizzie whispered something to Peter, who nodded and straightened up, giving Trick a sober stare.
“We ain’t had any breakfast,” he said, in a small voice, as if he was too scared to ask for the carrot outright.
Oscar and I exchanged a glance as Trick lowered her hand.
“Well now.You know, Willow had some grain back at The Angel.So, I reckon she don’t need this here carrot,” Trick said, holding it out to the children.“You want it?”
“Yes, ma’am.I reckon ‘twould hit the spot,” Peter said, taking it from her like ’twas made of pure gold.
He held it carefully, blinking at it, as if he couldn’t believe he was holding a whole carrot in his hands and was only waiting for someone to snatch it away.When that didn’t happen, he took a deep breath and broke it into three pieces.He gave the long, narrow end to Lizzie, the fat end piece with the greens on it to Samuel, and he took a bite from the middle piece.
