CHAPTER 41

In one way, the day it happened seemed like a picture show playing in slow motion, lasting for hours. But in another way, those same minutes sped by like a twister, stirring up so many things that you couldn’t see any of ’em clear.

“Are you okay?” Daddy’s words were soft, but I wasn’t finding any comfort.

“Not really,” I answered, standing next to Mr. Grayson’s truck. Daddy turned and hugged me.

I squinted to find Buster, who was running to the orchard, the glare of the sun burning more tears into my already-wet eyes.

Part of me hoped he’d run and just keep running. But there he was, eating a green apple off the ground like it was any other day.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Daddy said.

I’d never be ready for this—but that didn’t matter.

“C-c-come here, B-B- . . . Bust—!” My lips quivered too much to get it all out.

Daddy’s eyes glistened. “You want me to get him?”

I shook my head. I needed to do this. I took a breath. “Buster!”

He heard me. And he came running. Like always.

I gave him a last hug. “I’m sorry, Buster. You’re the best lamb ever.”

Baa! Baa! He butted his head against my hand, which I had to hold on to, to steady it enough to pet him.

Daddy opened the tailgate of the truck, which squealed with a shrill sound, and Buster followed my lead into the truck bed. He was too busy exploring the truck for me to be able to tell him everything else I needed to tell him.

Daddy cleared his throat. “Do you wanna go with us?”

As much as I wanted to be there for Buster, I couldn’t bear to. I shook my head and jumped off the truck. Daddy shut the gate, but not before I saw Buster look back at me. With his head tilted just so, the black patch in the middle of his forehead made him look like he was winking.

My heart hurt.

“It’ll be okay, Pru. I’m proud of ya,” Daddy said as he climbed into the truck. “Really proud of you.”

I felt arms around me and heard Grandma’s and Granddaddy’s voices, but I wasn’t hearing any words.

In no time, the big tires of the truck kicked up clouds of dust and dirt from the lane as Daddy drove off with Buster staring at me from the back. I could only imagine how confused my lamb was as he watched both the farm . . . and me . . . disappear from him forever.