Laurie looked at Mary Gaines and wanted to ask what was happening. Why all the sad faces. The ladies were all dressed in black. The men were wearing black suits. Mary placed one finger against her lips indicating Laurie should remain silent.
Philip Gaines opened his Bible and began to read. Laurie thought the words sounded beautiful. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.” Laurie wondered about the Lord. She had never heard the term before. She turned towards Faith and Faith placed an arm around her shoulders.
A few minutes later Reverend Gaines picked up a handful of dirt and threw it on top of the casket. Faith held onto Laurie as the citizens of Junction City passed by the casket each picking up a handful of dirt and let it fall on the casket.
“What are they doing,” Laurie whispered.
“Saying goodbye,” Faith whispered in the child’s ear.
Mr. Hargadon threw his handful of dirt over top of the casket before coming to stand beside Faith.
“It’s your turn Dear,” Faith said gently as she stepped closer to the edge of the hole bringing Laurie with her. “You do want to tell your father goodbye,” she whispered as Laurie hesitated.
“Father,” Laurie said. She looked at Faith with troubled eyes then back at the wooden casket. While Faith waited she slowly realized the truth. Gulping for air big tears rolled down Laurie’s cheeks. “I didn’t know,” she wailed. “I didn’t know.” The child wrapped her arms around Faith’s knee sobbing into her skirt.
“We told you,” Faith reminded gentle. She knelt gathering the child close into her arms. “I am sorry you did not understand. Remember me telling you Mother will look after you.”
“I remember,” Laurie whispered her face buried in the folds of Faith’s black dress.
Royce picked the child up in his arms. “We need a few minutes alone,” he said and walked across the cemetery in the direction of the stables. Faith followed them Laurie peeking over Royce’s shoulder at her. Large tears rolled down the child’s face.
“Tell me what happened,” Royce cajoled patting Laurie on the back. The child hiccupped back her sobs. She was trembling with fear.
“Laurie is afraid of you,” Faith confided a few moments later placing one hand on Laurie’s back. The child’s breathing was labored. “She remembers seeing you somewhere and knows who you are.”
Royce sat Laurie on the top fence rail. One arm around the child’s waist held her securely by his side. “We’ve met before,” Royce asked.
Laurie nodded her head while her eyes searched Faith’s face. “It is alright Dear,” Faith said taking hold of one of Laurie’s hands. “Mr. Hargadon is a friend. You can trust him.”
“No one ever wants us,” Laurie said her words little more than a whisper. “The sheriff in Cooper Creek told Pa to move on,” Laurie sobbed then sniffed back her tears. Royce understood some of the child’s fears. On occasion he had asked men to move on. It was never a pleasant situation. More often than not heated words were exchanged. Laurie had witnessed these occasions and was now fearful of men that wore a badge.
“Then what happened,” Royce asked, “After the sheriff told you to move on?”
“Pa said we were coming here. He knew some men here and could find work. Only . . . Only when we got here the man on the funny looking horse came. He and Pa talked. I could not hear what was said.” Laurie took a deep breath. “When he came back the next day he shot Pa.”
“Does he know you saw him,” Royce asked. Suddenly, Laurie’s father’s death took on more sinister possibilities. Was her presence in their home endangering the Gaines family. “The funny looking horse,” Royce asked wondering what Laurie meant.
“Mr. Turner,” Faith whispered softly. “He rides a speckled gray horse. Laurie says the horse had poke-a-dots. I can see how to a child the coloring might look like poke-a-dots.”
“What has Walden done,” Royce asked knowing Sheriff Walden would have been told of this matter. The Gaines family was law biding citizens.
“Sheriff Walden rode out and talked to Mr. Turner but like he cautioned. The man had friends that swear he never left his ranch,” Faith stated her voice growing angry. Color was high on her cheeks. Fire was in her brown eyes turning them cherry red. “Coyotes always travel in packs protecting one another!”
Turner? Royce had not heard the name before. “What do you know about the man?”
“He has a small ranch,” Faith replied. “He comes to town every few months for supplies. I’ve seen him a few times over the years.”
“Mystery man,” Royce whispered. Not wanting to alarm Faith or Laurie.
“Sheriff Walden said he would not mention Laurie’s name. He was concerned about . . .,” Faith stopped talking and tilted her face to one side. Her eyes were expressive.
“Safety,” Royce said and watched Faith nod her head.
While they talked Get-a-long ambled over to the fence and nudged his nose against Laurie’s back. Hogan’s two horses followed stopping a few feet away. Lowering their heads to the ground they cut off choice pieces of grass. Noticing Royce’s interest Faith said, “They belong to Laurie’s father.” Slipping through the fence Royce approached the nearest horse. “You recognize the brand,” Faith asked.
“Yes,” Royce replied. His look was puzzling when he turned back to Laurie. “What is your name?”
“Laurie Hogan,” the child replied.
The light that shone from Royce’s green eyes acknowledged he knew the name. “I didn’t recognize you at first,” Royce stated coming to stand next to Laurie. “Must be the new dress,” he
