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"I guess that’s it," Caleb said, as he finished lashing the final crate He earing a long-sleeved work shirt and overalls; he’d let his hair grow long He checked the load on his rifle, a lever-action 30-06, and put it up on the seat "We really should getto make Hunt by dark"

They were headed to one of the outer settlements, a two-day ride on the buckboard The land had only just been incorporated, though people had been ho there for years Caleb had spent ing the well, laying out fences--before returning for Pim and the baby Good soil, the clear water of the river, woods heavy with gaht, to start a life

"You can’t go yet," Sara said "The girls will be heartbroken if you leave without seeing thened these words for Pim, who now turned to her husband with a stern look

You kno Bill is, Caleb signed We could be here all day

No We wait

There was no point in arguing when Pim had made up her mind Caleb always said it was the woether while he was stationed with the Army on the Oil Road, and Peter didn’t doubt it The two of them had ned his commission--not, as he often pointed out, that there was n fro else in Kerrville, the Army had scattered to the winds; barely anyone reo, when the Texas Code had been suspended It had been one of the great disappointht anylorified ditch digger, assigned to the construction of the telegraph line between Kerrville and Boerne It was a different world than the one Peter had known The city walls went unone out one by one and never been repaired; the gate hadn’t been shut in a decade A whole generation had grown to adulthood thinking the virals were little eymen in scary stories told by their elders, who, in the fashion of all old people since the dawn of time, believed theirs had been the vastly harder and more consequential life

But it was like Kate’s husband, Bill, to be late Thethan Kate, counterbalancing her often humorless hters But he was scattered and disorganized, liked the lick and cards, and lacked anything approxi him into the ad him a low-level job with the Bureau of Taxation that required little more than the ability to use a sta, and driving a transport, it wasn’t long before he drifted away Mostly he seehters, make Kate the occasionaland losing but, according to Kate, alinning just a little un to fuss Caleb used the delay to pick the horses’ hooves while Sara took Theo froun to seeirls, Bill bringing up the rear with a sheepish look on his face

"How did you get away?" Sara asked her daughter

"Don’t worry, Madaot it covered Plus, you love me too much to fire me"

"You know, I really hate it when you call er sister, Merry, who everybody called Bug, dashed to Pi abilities were lied I love you, circling their hearts with a flat pallanced up at Kate, who explained what she was asking

"Can we?" Bug asked eagerly "When?"

"We’ll see," Kate said "Maybe after the baby is born"

This was a sore subject; Sara had wanted Pim to delay their departure until after the birth of their second child But that wouldn’t be until nearly the end of the summer, far too late to plant Nor did Pim, in her obstinate way, plan to return alone for the birth I’ve done it before, she said How hard can it be?

"Please, Mos all around Peter glanced at Sara; she was feeling it, too Their children were leaving for good It hat you were supposed to want, the thing you worked for, yet facing it was a different matter