Page 82 of Return to Telegraph Creek

“Look.”

The view of Cal’s home was still blocked by the trees, but we could see the old barn in the distance.

“Is that Cal?”I said, squinting.

“And Miss June, I think.”

I could make out a hunched figure that must be Cal, sagging against the barn door, her hands planted flat on it and her forehead pressed against the wood.Miss June stood beside her, her lips moving and head bobbing, and she was holding Sam, who was crying and trying to escape her hold.Cal was rocking back and forth and shaking her head.A heart-wrenching sob rose from Cal’s crouched form.

“You keep the kids here.I’ll go,” Trick said.

“All right.”

We stayed behind, while Trick dismounted and approached them.

Cal didn’t seem to take any notice of her, and Miss June said a few things to Trick then took the baby back to the house, glancing to us and gesturing for us to come to the house with her.

“Looks like Miss June wants to speak to us at the house,” I said to the children.

Lizzie was peering at her momma crouched by the barn.

“Is Momma all right?”

“Trick’ll make sure she is,” I said.“Trick and Cal—your momma—have known each other a long time.”

We left the horses with Trick’s mount and walked to the house, the children glancing at their momma but obediently following us.

When we went inside the house, Miss June had Sam in his highchair with a wedge of seed cake in his small fists that he was taking bites off with the utmost concentration.The tears had made streaks through the dirt on his face, but he seemed content now that he had cake to eat.

“Hello,” I said.

“Well!I can see that your trip to town was a smashing success!”Miss June said.Her face was flushed as if she’d been crying, but she smiled and put on a pleased expression.“My, what a beautiful green dress, Lizzie!”

“’Tis my favorite color.Only, I got some ice cream on’t.”

“Never mind, we can look after that.Did you get some new clothes, too, Peter?”

“Yes’m.A pair of boots and some shoes—and a hat, too!”he took off the cowboy hat he was wearing and showed her.

“Well, that’s fine, isn’t it?You look the proper country gentleman now.”Miss June glanced at Sam, then looked at Peter.“Would you mind watching Lizzie and Sam for me while I speak with Jimmy and Oscar?”

“No, ma’am.I mean, yes, I’ll watch ’em.”

“Thank you.There’s fresh lemonade with ice on the counter for all of you.”

Peter’s eyes bugged.“Thank you, ma’am!”

She motioned to me and Oscar.

“Let’s go outside for a moment.”

We stepped out of the door and into the yard.Of course, the first thing I did was to check on Trick and Cal from a distance.They were sitting together on the grass by the barn.Trick had her arm around Cal, and she was talking to her, which was an improvement from before.

“We know what happened to Cal’s husband,” Oscar said, in grave tones.“When Lizzie got some ice cream on her dress, she let it slip that her other good dress got ruined with all the blood.”

Miss June glanced back at the closed door of the house, her hand o’er her mouth.“Those poor children.”

“I reckon they’re better off now, though,” I said.