bags on the floor. “I think I brought everything you’ll need until I get back.”
“Thanks. I…uh…appreciate it.”
“So…” He turned to Saul who was tending a pot hanging over the fire. “Busy as always I see.”
The young man met Reno’s gaze. “There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day.”
Reno nodded, understanding. He bent to place a wriggling Tess on the floor. “I have something for you, little girl.”
With wide eyes she waited while he fished the doll from his saddlebag. “Here you go. Miss Amelia made that for you.”
“Oh, it’s so pitty,” she whispered, gathering the gift to her cheek. “I wuv it.” Happily, she settled near the fire to enjoy some playtime with her new toy.
“Oh, and I have something else. Look, Saul.” He brought out the portraits Fancy had given him earlier in the day. “Isn’t that a fine likeness?”
Saul came close and grinned. “We all look mad about something, don’t we?” He laughed at Huck’s scowl. “He looks like he has an itch he can’t scratch.”
“This face isn’t much better, is it?” Reno held up the tintype of himself. “I look plum spooked.”
“Oh, no. That’s a good one.” He held out his hands. “May I have it?”
“Sure. What would I do with it?”
Saul hugged the portraits close. “Let me go put these in my journal. Where they’ll be safe.”
Reno waited until Saul returned to stir the pot of soup. “Seems like you have everything well in hand.” His eyes roved the one-room cabin, taking in the neat beds, folded clothes on a chair, and the McGuffey reader open on the table. “I see Buck’s schoolbooks came in.” He knew Saul’s mother, a former schoolmarm, taught Saul to read. Now, it fell on Saul to teach his brothers and sister.
“Yea, Clay brought it by on his way to Fredericksburg.”
“Good man.” Oh, they’d had their differences along the way, but Reno knew he could count on the man who’d essentially taken Cole’s place after his father ripped their family apart, leaving Reno and his mother alone. Hard times had followed. Single mothers never have it easy, especially when they aren’t white. The truth was if it hadn’t been for Clay Bennett, there’s no telling what would’ve happened to them. Their young neighbor took it upon himself to make sure Reno and his mother didn’t go wanting for any of the necessities. Since Reverend Thomas Bennett hadn’t considered Mrs. Black and her son to be worthy recipients of his church’s Christian charity, Clay incurred the wrath of his father more than once over giving them aid. The example his friend set was one of the reasons he couldn’t turn his back on the Stanton children.
“Look, Reno, look!”
“Let me see.” He squatted down to see what Emory was toting so carefully. “Gracious goodness, Em. He’s a beaut.”
The small boy placed the box turtle on the floor in front of Reno. “It’s a girl, silly.”
“Oh, really?” Reno laughed aloud. “How can you tell?” He winked at Saul. “You been looking under her little skirt?”
“No!” Emory hollered, blushing. “Her tail, it’s long and skinny, not fat and chubby.”
“Her tail tells the tale?” Reno asked in a joking manner.
“What?” Emory didn’t understand the question. “Domino said so.”
“Well, the good doctor should know. What do you call her?”
Emory rubbed the top of the turtle’s shell as the small reptile endeavored to make a run for it. “Her name is Doe, because she’s as swift as a deer.”
“Right.” Reno laughed again. “With that imagination of yours, you may be a writer when you grow up.” As Emory gathered up his pet, Reno stood to address Saul. “King and Fancy reissued their invitation for you all to come live at the ranch.”
“Yea.” Saul pushed a lock of hair from his eyes, weariness evident on his face. “She mentions it every time we see her.”
“She means it, you know. There’s plenty of room.”
“I appreciate the – thought.” The boy stuttered a bit giving his explanation. “I just hate to leave the home where they…”
“Where your parents lived, I understand.” Reno clapped him on the bank. There’d be plenty of time when he returned to convince him to move into the house he planned on building. “Have you had any trouble? Outside of hard work?”
“Nope. No trouble. Although, we did have a visitor the other day.” He gave the pot one last stir, then moved to begin unpacking the supplies.
“Visitor? Who?” Reno asked, looking up with concern as he registered the boy’s apprehension. “Did he bother you?”