Without an assigned task for the day, Reno set out to do whatever his hands found to do. First, he fed Fancy’s chickens and gathered the eggs. After taking the full basket to the kitchen, he repaired a damaged plank on the corral fence. Once he returned the tools to the shed, he noticed a stray calf wandering in the adjacent pasture, lowing for its mother. Concerned for her safety, he saddled Traveler and headed out to see if anything was amiss. Luckily, he came across the mama cow tangled in a bramble bush. He freed her with little trouble, slapping her rump to send her in her offspring’s direction. From there, Reno checked on the herd, noting the new acquisitions. He couldn’t help but be proud, King’s Ransom was fast becoming a successful operation.
Of course, it wouldn’t last. Nothing lasted.
Just a couple of weeks prior, he’d walked this same earth with Benjen Blackhawk. Other than a handful of faded pictures and a few yellowed newspaper articles, the men of the Cumberland Guard were long gone and forgotten. Nothing but a faint memory of the men who worked King’s Ransom lingered in too few minds. Reno rubbed his chest, trying to relieve himself of the faint ache distracting him from his work. If he didn’t find a way back to Journey, he’d be nothing more than a memory himself.
As he rode over familiar ground, he was glad of the solitude. He didn’t look forward to mixing with the others tonight, not if they were going to watch him like a hawk, expecting him to do or say something crazy. But by the time supper rolled around, Reno was surprised to find his friends with a different attitude. He didn’t have to wonder why for long. As he filled his plate with smoked meat, Jericho filed in behind him. “I’m sorry I gave you a hard time, Reno. I am glad you’re here.”
“Don’t worry about it, Jericho.”
“King told us to give you all the support you need. He said we should trust you whether we understand everything or not.”
“Well, I appreciate that.” He gave Jericho a forgiving pat on the shoulder.
“Reno! Sit with us.”
Emory’s familiar voice drew his attention. “Sure, thing.” He carried his plate to a smaller table set up for the children. “Do you have room for me?”
“Always.” Saul patted the empty chair between him and Emory.
Reno started to sit but saw something in his chair. “What’s this?”
“Oops.” The small boy scooped up his turtle. “She was holding your place, Reno.”
He chuckled. “I see. I’m glad Doe is still alive and kicking.”
“Me too.” Emory kissed the top of the box turtle’s shell.
Reno settled down in the chair, giving Tess a wink and a smile. “How’s the prettiest little girl in Texas?”
“I’m good.” She gave him a smile in return, a big one that sported a big gap where she’d lost one of her front teeth.
“Why, look at that. You’re almost toothless!”
“I’m not,” she protested with a mouthful of giggles. “I have plenty of teeth left. See!”
“I’d swear you had a tooth there this morning. What happened?” Reno asked as he buttered a biscuit.
“It was mighty loose. She let me pull it,” Huck announced proudly. “I tied a string around the tooth and the other end around the doorknob. Then I slammed the door. Wham!”
Reno covered his mouth, imagining how it felt. “Did you cry?” he asked Tess with sympathy.
“A little.” She held up a shiny piece of quartz. “Huck paid me a diamond for it though. I’m rich now.”
“I see.” Knowing Huck’s future career as a dentist, this amused Reno no end.
With the future in mind, he turned to Saul. “Do you think I could borrow your journal?”
Saul appeared confused. “Why?”
Reno grasped for an explanation. “I want to put something in it for safekeeping.”
“I’d give it to you if I could, but…” He dropped his head, clearly upset.
“What’s wrong?” Reno was immediately concerned.
“I need to tell you something,” he whispered for Reno’s ears only. “When you went missing, I didn’t know what to do. With our home burned to the ground and you gone, our plans were all torn up. Mrs. Fancy has been really good to us. Everyone’s been good to us. Especially Mr. Gentry. He invited his sister to come visit, and she offered us a home.”
Even though Reno already knew this, the news hit him like a ton of bricks. “Well, that was nice of her.” He glanced at the three younger ones. “They don’t know do they?”
Saul shook his head. “No, I haven’t told them. They liked her, I guess. Before she left, she took us to town and bought all kinds of clothes and toys. We were supposed to join her there in a couple of weeks. Mr. Gentry has all our new things packed up and some of our old things too. My journal is in one of those trunks. I can get it for you.” He hurried to add. “In fact, now that you are back, we don’t need to go at all. We can stay here and live in that cabin you promised us.”
Reno didn’t know what to say. Considering the wonderful future awaiting the children, he knew Boston was a good idea. He also couldn’t forget he’d be leaving again, God willing. “Don’t worry about that now. Let me talk to Gentry. We’ll work something out.” Perhaps the move could be postponed while he was here. This time, he’d have to think of some explanation, some way of preparing the children for his absence. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll ask Gentry to return your journal. I’d still like to
