Life had bucked her off. That was all. It had bucked her off, and now, she needed to climb back in the saddle.
She would have to work hard, and she had no idea how to make everything work out, but she reckoned maybe the dog was onto something with his lack of worry.
She needed to have faith in God. That and doing what she should do, when she should do it, whether she felt like it or not, would give her the best chances at a better life.
And even if she was in for more problems, even if everything she built came crashing back down again, at least she would know she had done her best.
Sometimes, in the wake of tragedy, that was enough. Especially when it was all you had.
Mary hugged the dog and stood and dusted herself off and went back to the wagon and decided to keep things simple. The boys weren’t hard to please. They would appreciate pork and beans.
She was just getting the fire started when George came riding back on the pony.
“Where’s James?” she asked.
George hooked a thumb over one shoulder. “He’s up the creek, trying to noodle a trout.”
She smiled. “Same old James.”
“Yup, same old James,” George said, climbing down from the pony. “But Mary, I’ve changed.”
She turned to him and saw determination in his eyes. As usual, she could see right through her little brother.
He wanted her to understand that he was a man now. Needed her to understand that.
And in ironically boyish fashion, he wasn’t willing to show her that. He needed to tell her.
Knowing all of this instantly, she showed kindness. “I know you’ve changed, George. It’s obvious. You’re not a boy anymore. You’re a man.”
His face lit up instantly—and childishly, she thought—and he nodded enthusiastically. “That’s right. I’m a man now.”
“Good,” she said, not wanting to belabor his announcement, “because I need a man’s help now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean here. I need help rebuilding.”
George frowned. “Mary, just come home with us.”
“No. I am going to rebuild.”
“Why? There’s nothing for you here. I’m sorry about what happened, but Cole’s gone, Mary. Everything you had here is gone.”
“You’re wrong, George. Cole might be gone, and our house might be gone, but the dream survives. And I’m going to see it through.”
“How?”
“I don’t know how, but I suspect it will involve a lot of work.”
George frowned again. “You’ve never had an ounce of quit in you, Mary, but if ever there was a time to take a break, it’s now. Come home with us. Come back and live with Pa and us. It’ll be like old times.”
She shook her head. “Nothing will ever be like old times again.”
He looked uncomfortable. “Well, maybe not. But maybe, someday…”
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe someday, things will change. Maybe you’ll meet somebody else.”
