Part 25 (1/2)
She picked up the envelope and studied it thoughtfully. The block letters had been carefully penned and looked almost like a child's. The postmarkread Fort Worth, Texas. It must have been from one of Winn's companions fromthe cattle drive.
She smiled to herself as she dropped the letter to the table and returned tothe supplies. This might be just what Winn needed to cheer him up. News from his friends would let him know he hadn't been abandoned after all.
She was setting a box of baking soda on the shelf when she froze. If it was news that Winn's friends were returning for him, it would plunge her into asdeep a despair as Winn seemed to be in now. She stared at the letter from across the room. She was tempted to open it, read it, perhaps even answer itwithout let ting Winn know it had arrived.
She heard Winn and Greg coming in the front door and scolded herself for herdeceitful thoughts. She called Winn into the kitchen before she could changeher mind.
”A letter came for you,” she said.
Greg climbed on a chair and looked into the box his mother was unpacking.
”Did a letter come for me, too?”
”No, silly.” Cynthie ruffled his dark hair.”But Louie bought you a piece of hard candy. I think I lost it, though.”Greg laughed.”No, you didn't.”Cynthie smiled at the little boy.”No, I didn't.” She produced the candy from her ap.r.o.n pocket. ”Can't fool you, can I? Now run and thank Louie.”In a second, the back door slammed behind the little boy.Cynthie took a knife from a drawer and slit the envelope. Winn had taken a seat at the table and waited patiently during her conversation with Greg.
She glanced at him as she dropped the knife in its place and withdrew the
letter. Either he was very good at hiding his feelings or he didn't care at all about the letter.
She cleared her throat.
”It's from a Theodore Jack- son, Junior.”
”Slim,” Winn provided.
She took a step toward him and, with an effort, drew her eyes back to the
letter.
”Dear Winn,” she began. She scanned the letter quickly, noting several
misspellings. It was all in the same careful block letters and not difficult to read.
”I did not want to leave you alone but Mike would not wait and I do not know
how to get home. I will speak to Mother and Father.When they know that you saved my life they will let you come live with us.I must hurry now or Mike will leave without me. ”She looked from the letter to Winn.”His address is at the bottom,” she added. Her heart ached for him but his expression was closed and she didn't know how to comfort him.
When he said no thing she whispered, ”You saved his life?”Winn shrugged. After a moment he managed a small smile.”Nice of him to write.”Cynthie watched him closely. He had a choice now, though she prayed he wouldn't go. After a moment, she asked, ”Shall I answer the letter?”Winn sighed.”Not yet. Let me think about it.”Cynthie watched him rise and leave the kitchen. In a moment she heard the door to his room close quietly. She reread the letter and shook her head.What could she do for him? How could she make him happy? In a few daysthere would be an Independence Day celebration in Wichita. Winn was going along with her and Greg. She had a feeling that wouldn't make any differenceto Winn, since no thing else did.”Can you hear all the people, Winn?” Greg was too excited to sit still.Winn had held Greg as they crossed the river and now they were on their way to the livery stable to leave the horse and wagon.
”Have you ever celebrated Tendence Day?”
Winn grinned.
”Every year,” he lied. He hadn't celebrated anything during the War, least
of all Independence Day.
”But every place does it differently so this will be new.” He didn't saythat almost everything seemed new to him now.Greg had come and sat down beside Winn to talk to him. In a moment, though, something else caught his attention and he scrambled across the wagon bed to
get a better look.
He was the first one out of the wagon at the livery stable and was practically jumping up and down,
waiting for the others to be ready to go.Finally, he was walking toward the source of all the noise and excitementwith his mother on one side and Winn on the other. From the smile on his face anyone would have thought he was the happiest boy in the world.
Peter was trailing a short distance behind carrying the basket with platesand utensils for the four of them and the cake Cynthie had baked as hercontribution to dinner. Louie had chosen to stay behind, unwilling to haveeveryone away from the ranch at once. Jeremiah had gone in early to get Maryso they could attend the celebration together.
At Waterman's Grove a plank stage had been constructed and the orator of theday, William S. Jay of Emporia, was already drawing a crowd.
Cynthie led her group to the table that had been set up to hold the food.
”I'm glad you made it.”
Cynthie turned at the familiar voice.
”Good morning, Kyle.” She smiled at her little boy and^ added, ”We wouldn't have missed this for anything.” She turned away from Kyle,toward Peter, and opened the basket.
Winn's attention was centered on Cynthie's voice. Had that cheerful greetingbeen meant for Dempsey? He felt a wave of anger just as Greg pulled away.Winn tried to catch the little hand but it was gone before he knew it.
”Greg?” The lack of an answer might not mean he was gone, just not answering.
”I still think you should have let me bring you,” Kyle said. He glanced ather companions. A little child, a blind man and a half-grown orphan. He didn't think they were proper escorts for a beautiful woman, but he knew
better than to say so.
Cynthie was trying to take the cake out of the basket Peter held open for her while Kyle stood so irritatingly close she could hardly move.
It wasn't all Kyle's fault. She knew she would be having a completely