Chapter 6

Charles hoisted the deer carcass onto a metal hook hanging from the smokehouse crossbeam. He cut off a sliver of meat and tossed it to Sal lying in the sun outside and still panting from her jog. The dog snapped it out of the air; a new trick.

The younger boy, Micah, came around the back of the farmhouse with a shout. “Did you really shoot a deer, Mr. Moss?” When he saw the bloody hide on the grass, he ran toward the barn yelling, “Steak for dinner!”

Charles stuck the butcher knife into one of the walls and closed the door on the small log house smelling of old smoke. Strips of jerky still hung on racks, and the remains of a ham, but this winter would be thin on anything except chicken if they didn’t hunt more game. Charles wiped his hands on the grass. A man’s job was never done when kids were around.

He pumped a tin cup of water and then joined the family at the barn. The boys were carrying their possessions from the bunk room to the main house where they were taking over Ma Duncan’s former bedroom upstairs.

“Where will you be sleeping now?” he asked the crotchety old woman.

She thrust a boney finger at him. “Don’t you wish you knew?”

“She’s taking Pa’s room downstairs.” Caleb toted an armful of clothing. “None of us can bear to go in there.”

“Finest room in the house,” she crowed. “It’s about time.”

He located Jenny still in the office looking through paperwork. Frown lines crossed her forehead, and he saw dried tears on her cheeks. “That bad?”

When she didn’t look up, he gently set a note from Colonel Hanks on the desk. She stared at it a moment before slowly unfolding the lined paper. Jenny gasped. “When did he give this to you?”

“This morning as I was leaving, why?”

“Horace Mitchell is coming to look at a horse this afternoon. I need to find him a suitable mare.” She pulled a black ledger from the shelf and ran her finger down a page. The tip of her tongue stuck out, reminding him of a student calculating a math problem.

Slamming the book shut, she pushed past and hurried toward the south pasture. He grabbed three halters off a peg in the barn and strolled after.

“Did the colonel say why Mr. Mitchell wanted a mare?” The horses were at the far end of the paddock, and she sounded breathless.

“Riding horse, I thought, maybe for his daughter headed to school?” Charles hadn’t paid any attention until the colonel handed him the note.

“Daisy might be a good choice,” Jenny said, “though she’s got a foal. Do you think he’d take them both?”

Charles heard Sal barking. A buggy turned off the road. “You can ask him yourself.”

Jenny bit her lip. “I wish I knew which horse would suit. Willow is a fine saddle mare and we just weaned her filly.”

“Go talk to him. I’ll bring some mares over.” Charles didn’t know the horses by name, but he saw several possibilities. He whistled for Sal. Micah came with the dog.

Charles tossed him a halter. “We want an easy riding horse. What about the roan?”

The boy tripped. “Princess?”

“Sounds perfect for a girl. How does she ride?”

“Pa liked her best,” the boy stuttered.

Charles stopped. “Princess was your father’s horse?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Show me Daisy.”

They led three mares to the farmyard, one with a foal dancing behind. A well-groomed man wearing a white Stetson waited with Jenny. A thin girl in a yellow gingham dress clutched his hand.

“The colonel said you had quality horses, gentle enough for my Emma.” The man peered at the selection.

“All three of these mares are excellent riding horses. I broke them myself.” Jenny’s face flushed. “You’re welcome to take one out for a ride.”

Mitchell pushed through the gate and ran his hands down the legs of all three horses. “Which one’s the dam? I don’t need another filly.”

“Oh, Papa, the baby is so cute.” Emma’s chin just cleared the top rail of the fence.

“Any of these horses take a sidesaddle?” Mitchell asked.

“They all do.” Jenny joined him to stroke the white blaze down the painted pony’s face. Daisy whinnied in response.

Mitchell puffed out his cheeks. “I’ll try the bay.”

“We’ll saddle her up.” Charles nudged Micah toward the barn. The boy ran off, tugging the horse after him.

“What’s the white one down there?” Mitchell pointed to one of the geldings. “Did your pa train it? I hear he was a good trainer.”

“Not for sale. We’re preparing him for the Army.” Jenny crossed her arms.

“We’ll get him for you,” Charles said. “You’ll want to escort your daughter while she rides the mare.” At Jenny’s look of protest, he shook his head. Caleb retrieved the horse to saddle him up.

Mitchell helped his daughter into the sidesaddle and mounted the gelding. Charles grinned at the surprised satisfaction on the man’s face and opened the gate. The two rode off together.

“You can always tell a mark,” he murmured.

“Rover’s one of the Army horses,” Jenny hissed. “Mr. Mitchell can’t buy him.”

“A sale is a sale,” Charles said. “He’s one happy man.”

Jenny shook her head. “I can’t sell him Rover. I may need that horse.”

“I thought you needed money.” Charles leaned down to scratch Sal’s ear.

Jenny bit her lip and stared at the barn. When the man returned wanting both horses, she wrote the bill of sale without a word.

“We’ll tie them to the back of your buggy.” Charles shook Mitchell’s hand.

“You the new teacher at Stovall Academy? Emma will ride her horse to school Monday morning,” Mitchell said as he helped his daughter into the buggy.

“Math and physical science. I look forward to teaching you, Emma.”

“I’m glad to buy your pa’s horses,” Mitchell said to Jenny. “He had a good reputation. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” Jenny watched the Mitchells depart with the horses. She looked thoughtful as she returned to the office. Charles followed.

“Why are you here, Mr. Moss?” she asked as he slung his saddlebags onto his shoulder.

“Room and board, ma’am.”

“Did Colonel Hanks send you out here to keep an eye on his investment?”

Charles frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Jenny plucked a piece of paper from the desk. “The colonel has a lien on my land. I just wondered if he sent you out here as a spy.”

“He told me you owned all this property.”

She shut the door in his face.