it was. But I’m remembering something the preacher said about loving everyone in your family. Being kind to them.” He waved a hand. “Miz Daly here is your aunt. She’s given up her own plans to come back here to look after you and your mama. That means you have to respect her and do what she says.”
“Even if she’s wrong?”
“She’s a smart woman. I don’t reckon she’ll be wrong too often. But I’d say yes, even when you think she’s wrong, you still have to mind her. Not because she’s bigger than you and can take a switch to your hides, but because you’re a family.”
“Fine,” Caleb said. “But I am still keeping my slingshot.”
Nate fished a coin from his pocket. “I’ll pay you to make another one for your little brother.”
Caleb reached for the coin. “Deal.”
“Not so fast.” Nate’s fingers closed over the coin. “How do I know you’ll keep your promise?”
“You’ll just have to trust me, I guess.”
“Ah.” Nate straightened. “The way you must trust your Aunt Carrie to do her best by you. See how it works?”
Caleb kicked at a dirt clod. “I reckon so.”
Joe tugged on Nate’s leg. “It’s not fair. I want a dime too.”
Carrie sent Nate a helpless look and massaged the throbbing at her temples.
“Well, sir,” Nate said thoughtfully. “I’m not in the habit of giving out free money. The way I see it, a man ought to earn his pay.”
“I can earn it,” Joe said. “What do I have to do?”
Nate looked around. “Let me see. First off, I reckon you could help your aunt tote that valise up to her room.”
“All right.”
“And after that, maybe you could fetch a bucket of water from the well. And bring in some stove wood so she can fix supper.”
The little boy frowned. “That seems like a powerful lot of work for only a dime.”
“Times are hard,” Nate told him. “Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll take it, I reckon.”
“Good lad.” Nate tossed both the boys a coin and climbed onto the wagon. “We’ll see you, Carrie.”
“’Bye, Carrie,” Rosaleen trilled. “Good luck.”
Joe ran to the porch and grabbed Carrie’s valise. “Mama said you can have your old room back, on account of me and Caleb are used to this place now, and we growed up and we ain’t afeared of robbers no more.”
Despite herself, Carrie smiled. “I’m glad you aren’t afraid anymore.” She picked up the box of books Nate had given her. “Can you hold the door open for me?”
“All right.” Joe held the door, then dragged her valise into the front hallway and peered into the box. “What’s in there?”
“Some books from Mr. Chastain’s shop.”
“Anything good?”
“I suppose that depends upon what you like to read.”
“Oh, I ain’t learnt to read yet, on account of there’s no school here anymore. But I know my letters and everything. And I’m real good at listening to stories. Mama used to read to me, but now she’s too sick.” He bumped the valise up the stairs and opened the door to Carrie’s old room. Joe shook his head. “I swear to you, Carrie Daly, I ain’t never seen so much puking in all my born days. Why, some days she—”
“That’s enough, Joe. I can well imagine.” Carrie set the books on the floor beside the bed and opened the window. Her prized morning glories had died. Wispy brown vines drooped from the trellis in the yard.
Joe joined her at the window. “I told her she shoulda watered ’em, but she was too sad when Pa first left, and then she got sick.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” She turned from the window. “Let’s see what we can find for supper.”
Griff led Majestic into his stall and removed the tack. The horse nickered and nuzzled his trainer, looking for the sugar cubes Griff kept in his pocket.
Griff grinned and gave Majestic his reward. “Good boy.”
He took his time brushing the horse, enjoying the cool quiet of the autumn evening and the companionship of the magnificent animal. He ran his hands over every inch of the horse’s flesh, teaching Majestic to trust his touch, feeling for anything that might cause discomfort. He checked each hoof for signs of abscesses. They could form fast if foreign matter became lodged in the horse’s shoe.
Majestic quivered and jerked and Griff found the culprit—a small stone that had worked its way beneath the curve of the shoe. Griff dug it out with a hoof pick and made a mental note to check the hoof again