Mary’s younger brother ran up to him and exclaimed, “I hope you brought bacon.” “It’s been weeks since we’ve had bacon.” His face had become emaciated. Franklin, at the age of five, resembled an elderly gentleman.
“Like we did at the parting of the ways, we should have a huge feast to celebrate,” Virginia Reed suggested. Her eyes shone with a passionate radiance. The kids were morphing into bizarre, stalky insects, complete with eyeballs, spikes, and frantic twitches.
Even after weeks in the saddle, Stanton seemed like a man in colour among a wash of wraiths. “Now, just hang on,” he said calmly. She did see, though, that he was standing between the settlers and his mules. “We’re still not out of the woods.” Take it easy with these suggestions.
We’re quite a distance from Sutter’s Fort.”
Amanda McCutcheon pushed her way to the front of the line. “Where has my Will gone?” “Doesn’t he seem to be with you?”
Mary’s heart became hollow. She hadn’t even noticed McCutcheon was missing in her enthusiasm. She didn’t think the others had noticed it, either. They couldn’t think about much else because they were so hungry.
Stanton remarked gently, “He got sick on the trail.” “But don’t worry, he made it to Sutter’s Fort and is now sleeping there.” He’ll be there waiting for you.”
“Ill? He must be a powerful sick person if he doesn’t come back for us…”
“The doctor says he’ll make a full recovery.” I didn’t want to wait any longer as the weather began to change.”
The weather had begun to change, which Mary had not noticed until he mentioned it. It had happened during the last few days. Even the hot afternoons had lost their edge and the earlier sunsets brought longer, cooler evenings.
And that signified that winter was on its way.
She’d stayed up late the night before with her brother William. They lay down on the cold earth on their backs to gaze up at the stars, a favourite activity in Springfield. That night, the enormous black sky, which usually made her feel hopeful, made her feel small and vulnerable. Nature had showed them how vulnerable they were in recent months. Her brother must have felt the same way, for he asked Mary if she agreed with him.
She wasn’t surprised because the question was on everyone’s mind, but it enraged her. Not because of the unfairness of it; she knew life was unfair, and she had never expected anything less. Fear and pessimism had taken root so quickly among them, which enraged and surprised her. Mary believed in a few fundamental truths, one of which was life’s perseverance—in each of us having an incredible desire to keep going, to thrive, to improve, and, when tested, to do good.
Despite the fact that he had yet to gaze in her direction, she found her way next to Stanton with fresh purpose as the crowd shifted.
She was able to whisper gently beneath the din of the crowd, so no one else could hear her. “You returned to save us.”
“I said I’d do it, didn’t I?” As he began to remove the rope rigging on the nearest mule, he grimaced.
Had he forgotten about her during his absence, or worse, come to assume that she was behind the widespread persecution of Tamsen? After all, it was Mary who had led the others to Halloran’s murder scene. She couldn’t blame him if he thought that of her. But she has the ability to correct him. She didn’t ask for his favour because she needed it, but because she wanted it.
Unfortunately, it didn’t appear like he would give her that chance, which only increased her desire.
He turned back to address the gathering with barely a glance in her direction. “We can disperse the rest of these provisions if everyone is ready.” There will be no shoving or arguing. Everything has been organised based on the amount of money you put in. “Let’s begin with the Murphys…”
THE PARTY ENDED FOR THE DAY EARLY. To commemorate their redemption, everyone was looking forward to their first nice dinner in weeks. Mary wasn’t ready to rejoice yet, not until she’d finished her speech.