Little Star poked her head from around her papa’s leg. “What’s the boy’s name?” A smile dimpled her cheeks.
“The boy can talk,” Charlie mumbled and turned sideways away from her, closed-lipped.
Ben arched his eyebrows. Still sore? “This is Charlie. I’m helping his sister, Miss Cora Scott, and him with their ranch about ten miles southwest of town. Thankfully, they know much more about ranching than I do.”
“Just the three of you?” Garret’s smile dimmed. “That’s a lot of work.”
“I’m up for the challenge.”
“Well, as I said, we’ll have to confer. We may not be cattle experts, but my family and I know the frontier. In addition to my service at Camp Cooper, Lieutenant Reynolds was a frontier scout and served in the army at Fort Belknap before the war. My wife and her sister spent their youth beyond the borders of what we call civilization.” The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes deepened. “Once we build a couple cabins and get settled, we’ll have all of you over to our place. We bought a few hundred acres west of here in Palo Pinto County. I’ve never seen it, but I estimate it’s around thirty miles from Weatherford. From what I hear, this town is still the last major supply stop between here and the frontier.”
“I’d be honored to pay you a visit, and even before that”—dare he be so bold as to speak on Cora’s behalf?—“you’re welcome to stop by our—the Scott ranch if you need anything at all.”Our? Cora would have his tongue. And for his own sake and for the sake of Philadelphia, Olivia, and all they entailed, he’d best wash that word right out of his brain.
“We’ll be sure to do that.” Garret tugged on his coat lapels. “Meanwhile, you must meet my wife and the rest of my family before we depart.” He nodded toward three prairie schooners. “We’re off to a late start today. I anticipate seeing our new home tomorrow. There’s a valley and a canyon. I scouted near the area years ago, and my brother-in-law rode through there on more than one occasion during his scout years. We’re all eager to see what we can make of the place.”
“I bet.” Ben fell in step beside him. “I’d very much like to meet your family.”
Still attached to her father’s coat by a hand, Little Star skipped along between him and Ben, peaking back at Charlie who trudged behind. “You and I are going to be friends.”
Charlie glowered.
“I have my own horse,” she said. “I’m a good rider.”
“I’m a better rider.” Charlie jutted his chin.
“We’ll see.”
“I’m going to shoot a buffalo someday.”
“Why would you want to hurt a buffalo?”
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Girls. Don’t know nothing.”
“Charlie.” Ben nudged his arm.
“I know a lot.” Little Star stuck out her lip.
“I’m Comanche.” Charlie puffed out his chest. “Comanche hunt buffalo.”
“I’m Comanche too.” She stretched as tall as her three-and-a-half feet could take her.
Ben exchanged a look with Garret. A couple stories there, and nothing that would win either of them favor with the rest of the community. The bullies on the corner would likely not be the last of it.
Trying to hold on to her father’s coat and look at Charlie at the same time, Little Star almost tripped. “My mother has a buffalo robe.”
“Someone had to kill it, then.” Charlie’s voice had firmed with finality.
She rolled her lips in. “Hmmm. You’re right. Maybe you’ll give me a buffalo robe.”
“I’m not giving you anything.”
“We’ll see.” The dimples returned. And so did the skip in her step.
Ben chuckled. Charlie was going to have his hands full.
Little Star was a bold little thing. As strong-willed and determined as Cora. Only, Cora seemed to have lost her skip long ago, buried beneath an avalanche of hardship that a shovel couldn’t penetrate.
But what if he could find a crack in her wall?
