The doctor’s wife gave us hot, sugary tea and a thick slice of bread and honey to stay us on the ride home. The doctor hitched up his wagon. He talked in a soothing voice to his horse, who pawed the ground uneasily.
The doctor had to drive slowly because of the puddles and the fallen branches. I huddled close to Mary. She was shivering.
“I’m so glad you came with me,” she whispered. “The wolf — it’s the first one I ever saw.”
I looked at Mary, surprised.
“I was scared to death,” she admitted.
“Me too,” I said.
We were quiet for the rest of the ride. By the time we got home, the sky was turning pale blue. I was glad to see that it was morning. I thought the long night would never end.
The cow Celery was bellowing in the field. She sounded mournful. Mary and I brought her to the barn and took turns milking her.
Mary was very stern with Celery. “You have to let her know who’s the boss,” she explained.
I was clumsier than Mary, and Celery kept turning her big head around to stare at me with her sad brown eyes.
But Mary said, “That’s better than my first try.”
After a while, Max ran out to the barn, full of news. “The doctor is giving Trevor medicine. He doesn’t want it. Ma is crying.”
Mary bit her lip. She looked frightened. I told Max to hush. I poured some of the milk into the kittens’ bowl and we watched them drink. Then I showed Max how to make Pirate leap in the air for a wisp of hay. Mary waited quietly. I knew she was thinking about Trevor.
After a long time, we heard the yellow dog bark and the doctor’s horse whinny. We ran outside. A wagon rumbled around the bend in the road. It was traveling quickly, the wheels splashing through the puddles.
Mary’s breath came out in a whoosh. “It’s your papa,” she cried.
I froze for a second. Then Papa stood up, pulling the reins. Beside me, Max shrieked.
I flew over the ground. Papa leaped off the wagon and swept me into his arms.
“Me too,” shouted Max, running, and Papa hugged us both.
I couldn’t stop staring at Papa. He looked so different. His face was brown and he had grown a bushy beard. But when he smiled, his eyes were the same.
The questions spilled out of Max. “Did you find our land? Did you build a cabin? Why were you so long?”
Papa laughed. “One thing at a time! Our land is just over a day’s wagon ride from here. I have been busy cutting down trees and building a shanty.” He smiled at me. “The cabin will be built soon.”
My heart thumped. I wasn’t thinking of the cabin. Papa said our land was not too far away. Mary and I could stay best friends.
“There is a lake,” said Papa. “We will build our cabin right beside it.”
“Does the lake have a name?” said Mary. “Ellie likes to give things names.”
Papa considered. “We must ask the Indians. They have a camp on the opposite shore.”
Indians! I shivered.
“I’m not afraid of Indians,” said Mary in a loud voice.
“I should hope not,” said Papa. He ruf-fled Max’s hair.
I felt dizzy with happiness. Then the cabin door opened. The doctor stepped into the sunshine. He nodded at Papa.
Beside me, I heard Mary suck in her breath. I squeezed her hand hard.
The doctor said, “The lad’s fever has broken.” His face broke into a wide smile. “He is going to be fine.”
“Ellie! Look at me!” shouted Max.
Max was standing on the top rail of the fence. His arms stuck out like a bird’s wings. He jumped to the ground. He stood up and dusted off his knees.
I took a big breath. I climbed to the top of the fence. I tried to straighten my legs, but my knees wobbled like jelly. I grinned at Mary and Max.
I could see far down the road where Mary and I had run in the night. The road looked different in the sunshine. I wondered where the wolf had gone.
Then I looked the other way. The road disappeared into the forest. Somewhere down that road was our homestead.
“Jump!” shouted Max.
I jumped. Whoosh! The ground rushed up to meet me and I landed with a thump.
I smiled up at Mary. “Tell Trevor,” I said. Mary nodded. Trevor was sleeping. The doctor had said that he needed a lot of rest. Papa and Max and I would be gone when Trevor woke up.
Mary’s Pa had come home the night before. He had brought new hair ribbons — red for Mary and yellow for me — and whistles for Max and Trevor. He helped Papa load our trunks in the wagon.
Max looked sad. Papa said, “Ma has enough to do looking after Trevor without looking after us anymore. It’s time we got started on our own cabin so we’ll be ready for the winter.”
Mary had a surprise for me, hidden in her apron. Pirate!
“For me?” I said. “For keeps?”
“Yes,” said Mary.
“In England,” I said, “I had a cat. But only for one day.”
Max hugged Ma hard. “I will miss you!” he cried.
I hugged Ma next. She felt like a soft pillow. She smelled like flowers and warm bread. Then Max and I climbed up on the wagon seat beside Papa. I cuddled Pirate against my chest. My heart was beating like a bird’s wings with excitement.
Inside me was a bit of sadness too. I wondered when I would see Mary again.
“Goodbye, Max. Goodbye, Ellie from England,” said Pa in his rumbling voice.
“Ellie from Canada,” I said firmly.
Papa clucked to Billy and George. I waved to Mary.
Then we set off for our new home.
