“They get more valuable every day.I’ll sell it for twice that, and we’ll both feel like we got a good deal,” Rusty said.
“You have yourself a deal!”Jasper told the other man.He could sell it himself, but it would take time he didn’t want to waste.
“Good doing business with you,” Rusty said, offering a huge hand for Jasper to shake.
They got into their boat and started down the river.“I made a big enough profit on that mule that it will cover a lot of the money I didn’t make at work,” he said.
“That’s good!”she said.“He’s certainly a character.”
“That he is.He’s a good man, though, and I’m proud to call him friend.”
“Is it really going to be another few weeks?”
He nodded.“It is.There’s not a thing short or easy about getting where we’re going.”
“I’ve noticed that!”she said, laughing softly.
*****
It was twenty-threedays later, near the end of August, when they arrived in Yeti.When he docked the boat in the middle of the day, she grew excited.“Are we close?”Agnes asked.
Jasper nodded.“We’ll be there before the sun goes down.”
“I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to hear those words.”
“I’m as ready to be home as you are.”They quickly unloaded the boat and tied it to a tree.“Someone else will need it.”
“All right,” she answered.“We’re going to be carrying a lot.”
“I’ll take the bulk of it.You carry what you can.”
Once they were loaded down, they started the very last leg of a long, arduous journey.But she was excited now, and had so much more energy than she had.They were almost home.
“My cabin is just this side of Yeti, so we won’t be walking through town tonight.I’ll take you to the store in the morning, so you can meet Mrs.Johnson, and she’ll help you get in contact with the other ladies.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“I’ll work most of the day, but you’ll at least be able to get what you need for supper and anything else.”
“And I can talk to my friends!It will be so good to see them again.”
He smiled.“I forget how excited you are to see people you already know.I feel like I should stay with you and introduce you around to everyone, but there’s no need.”
“I’m sure Sally will take care of that.Oh, I’m so excited now!”
“I can see it all over your face.”
“I thought I was hiding it well.I guess when you’re this excited, you just can’t hide it.”
Even through her exhaustion, Agnes found herself walking faster and faster.She wanted to be there.
“You need to slow down a bit,” he finally said.“I’m carrying too much to keep up with you.”
She forced herself to slow down a bit.“I just want to be there.It’s been so long!”
“It’ll be nice to have a bed to sleep in tonight.”He looked over at her, and she smiled.Other than that one night, they hadn’t made love.It was time, and they both knew it.
“Is there food I can cook at your cabin?”
