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“Mommy!” Webb called as the hat turned askew “Daddy’s home an’ he’s all black Come quick an’ see!”

The door was opened the rest of the way by Lorna, who caht frown from her forehead as she stared at him with her mouth opened

“There was a prairie fire,” Benteen explained his appearance “We ed to put it out”

“Are you all right?” A little shiver broke the rip of surprise Shehesitantly to touch him “You look charred”

“It’s just smoke and ash,” he assured her tiredly “It ash off”

Her fingers caed when she touched his shirt Satisfied he was unhurt, Lorna grimaced at his blackened clothes “I don’t know if that shirt and pants will ever be clean again” She scooped the hat off Webb’s head, but it had already left a blackened ring on his forehead She shooed the little boy into the cabin ahead of the all dirty, too”

She handled his hat gingerly, hanging it on a peg inside the door Her nose wrinkled at the strong s to his clothes and skin It tainted the air in the cabin Little Arthur took one look at Benteen and let out a squawl of fright, trotting over to hide in Lorna’s skirts

“I know he doesn’t look like him, but that’s your daddy,” Lorna assured the toddler

“Wait until I get my face and hands washed” Benteen sent a weary ser son and crossed the cabin to the washstand As he filled the basin ater fro on the stove “Supper nearly ready?”

“Yes We’ll eat as soon as you’re washed” She picked up tater pails and started for the door

“Where are you going?” Benteen half-turned

“To bring so “It can be heating while we eat” Little Arthur hurried after, whied to his father but he still wasn’t sure it was him Lorna stopped at the door “Webb, mind your little brother until I come back”

Webb took his young brother forcefully by the hand and pulled him away from the door Arthur immediately sent up a loud protest despite Webb’s adultlike attempts to shush him

The soap lather turned into gray-black bubbles when Benteen scrubbed his face It took repeated soapings before the rinse water washed away clear When Lorna returned with the buckets filled, he was blotting his stinging eyes Arthur watched hier in his mouth; then a smile split his face

“Daddy!” He pointed a wet finger at Benteen in happy recognition