Page 107 of Return to Telegraph Creek

He blushed and pushed me away, then threw off the sheets and sat up.

“We got stuff to do.We need to get all our packs in, then we gotta go tell Irene and Clarence we’re back.”

I sighed.“You’re right.What was I thinkin’?”

“Come on!”

We got dressed and washed at the basin that I’d filled before we went to bed.Then I made some coffee on the stove, and we ate some of the bread and cheese we still had left, neither of us wanting to waste time on a big breakfast.

“You know, we can get a dog, if you want—and name him Buck like the dog inThe Call of the Wild.I reckon it’d be a good idea to have a dog about the place.”

Oscar’s eyes lit up, and he nodded with enthusiasm.“Okay.Sure.”

I fed and watered the animals, while Oscar made a start on unpacking and bringing in our supplies.We didn’t have that much, but for the tent and the food we’d brought along.Trick had given Oscar the red silk robe with the dragon on it, and the corset and bloomers that she didn’t need, now that she was wearin’ men’s things, and I reckoned I was gonna be treated to some kind of a burlesque show one night very soon.I smiled to myself, and my cock plumped a bit with the anticipation ofthat.

After getting everything sorted at the house, we saddled Dixie, I helped Oscar up behind and we headed out on the familiar path to our neighbors’ place.

It seemed Sprite didn’t wanna let us out of her sight, so she followed at Dixie’s heels the whole way, as we rode through the familiar trees and past the landmarks we knew so well, until we came out into the little clearing near their place.

There were two familiar figures in the distance.It looked like they were working in the small vegetable garden Irene kept in the summers.Oscar saw them a little bit after I did, and I could sense his excitement as he straightened up behind me.

“Look!It’s them,” Oscar said.

I laughed.“A’course it’s them.Who else would it be?”

But even before I’d finished speaking, Oscar slid from Dixie’s saddle, landed in the grass and moved with haste toward them.

Clarence turned and leaned on his hoe, shading his eyes from the morning sun.Irene followed his gaze and grabbed Clarence’s arm, then let go, gathered her skirts and started running, waving her hand with excitement.

I watched Oscar race toward her, as I thanked God again for putting Irene and Clarence in our path.I didn’t quite know what the future held for us in this place, but I knew we were surrounded by love and friendship—and I had high hopes for it.