Page 31 (2/2)

“Of course, Mr Calder,” Mary Stanton agreed, and gath

ered her long calico skirts to climb down from the seat

Pivoting his horse, Benteen trotted it over to the chuck wagon, where Jessie was talking to the cook, Rusty “Tell Joe Dollarhide he’ll be driving the Stanton wagon this ”

Both men had noticed the bride’s white, teary face, but both men knew better than to mention it to Benteen With a nod, Jessie wheeled his horse away froalloped out to the re rider

When Mary Stanton crawled onto the wagon seat beside Lorna, she felt a surge of pity for the young bride “Your husband thought we could keep each other co,” she explained with a quiet smile

Lorna nodded stiffly but didn’t speak Her fingers had wadded the kerchief into a tight ball on her lap Across the way, Mary saw the cranky old cook preparing to start his team out, so she unwrapped the reins and adjusted theon would lead the way to the day’s nooning, a little off the route the herd would take

“We’ll be following the chuck wagon,” Mary said Her glance rested on the sunbonnet hanging loosely down Lorna’s back “You’d better tie that bonnet on your head,” she advised “Else the sun’ll ruin your pretty skin” In tie to herself

In her present state of anguish, Lorna didn’t particularly care, but she nuly under her chin A young boy rode by and dis his horse behind When the chuck wagon rattled into rabbed hold of the wagon seat again as it lurched forward She looked for Benteen, catching a glinaled to move the herd out

“It’s hard leavin’ home that first time,” Mary re when you ain”

“Yes,” Lorna ad directly at the woman only a few years older than she was She sensed that Mary Stanton actually understood what she was feeling “Have … you seen your parents since you left home?”

“No,” Mary adrave e get to Ioway”

Her answer gave Lorna no reassurance that her fears were groundless Yet the words werefrom Mary than from Benteen

“A woman’s lot in this world is a lonely one,” Mary said “You’ll find that out—and find a way to make the best of it”

“I don’t feel so sure about that,” Lorna murmured

“Right now, you’re thinking about what’s behind you, but when you get to your new ho ahead Grief passes That’s the way it is”