‘‘We brought you pure Thoroughbreds, no crossbreeding.’’
‘‘Only four?’’
‘‘The two mares are bred to Domino. I couldn’t come until we weaned their babies, and those two fillies were too young to have made the trip well. Joker is the older stallion. He’s by Ahab, Dulcie’s foal when we were traveling west. Their papers are up in my bag.’’
‘‘Tie ’em in there.’’ He turned to look down at Thaddeus. ‘‘Can you ride?’’
‘‘Yes, sir.’’
‘‘Like all the Highwoods, he is a natural horseman.’’ Jesselynn nodded to Thaddeus. ‘‘Come tie your horse in that stall.’’
After settling the horses, the four of them stepped back out into the soft air of late afternoon. One of the horses whinnied.
‘‘I’ll feed and water them if you like.’’ Wolf nodded to the man still standing in the same place as though the post might fall over if he moved.
‘‘Why? You think I can’t?’’
‘‘Just being neighborly.’’ Wolf took a step closer to Jesselynn.
‘‘So you a breed, then?’’
‘‘Zachary!’’ Jesselynn only stopped because of Wolf ’s hand on her arm.
The one eye burned into her. ‘‘I had three sisters, and now I got one. One married a Northerner; one a breed. I ain’t got no truck with Northerners nor breeds. You can leave Thaddeus. He belongs here.’’
Jesselynn squeezed the small hand that had crept into hers. ‘‘We’ll be up at the cabin if you have any questions about the horses.’’ She turned and, taking Wolf ’s arm, led the way back to the cabin. ‘‘Daniel, if you want, you can stay here.’’
‘‘No, not to work for the likes of him. I got land in Wyomin’, free land.’’
‘‘For a free man.’’ Jesselynn finished the quote they all used from Meshach. She imagined daggers assaulting her shoulder blades but kept on walking. In spite of all Louisa had said, she’d hoped and prayed the return of the horses would melt the anger her brother carried. After all their work to bring the horses back, he didn’t even say thank-you or comment on how wonderful they looked.
‘‘I don’t have to stay here, do I?’’ Thaddeus tugged on her hand.
‘‘No, darlin’, you don’t have to stay here.’’
She stopped to gaze over the growing tobacco fields and the green, shimmering pasture. Tears made her sniff. ‘‘I . . . I’m sorry, Wolf.’’
‘‘Not your fault. Nothing to apologize for. Like Meshach warned us, we got to pray for our brother Zachary, pray that someone or something will help him see what he’s doing. We’ve got room in our hearts for that.’’
Jesselynn looked up at the man beside her. ‘‘How come I am so blessed to be married to you?’’
‘‘Because you had the foresight to hook up with a wagon train going to Oregon, whether the fool wagon master wanted you to or not.’’
Thaddeus giggled beside her. The story had been told many times, always to his delight.
Jesselynn glanced over her shoulder to see that Zachary no longer leaned against the post. ‘‘How will he handle those horses, take care of them?’’ She’d seen his hands shaking in spite of the tough show he put on. And the look of despair that flashed across his face so quickly she almost missed it spoke louder than his words. Northerners and breeds, eh? She sighed, this time for him. She and Louisa were both so happy, and Carrie Mae too, still in Richmond.
‘‘Someday we’ll be back. God says He answers the prayers of His people. Zachary will come out of this. We must believe it,’’ Wolf said, taking her arm.
‘‘God willing,’’ she responded.
‘‘Yes, God willing.’’
After eating the meal Lucinda prepared, they gathered their things. ‘‘I do wish you would consider coming with us. We have plenty of room for you, Lucinda,’’ Jesselynn entreated.
‘‘I stay here in my home. ’Sides, dese old bones need warm-in’, not cold winters like you tole me.’’
‘‘Write to me and tell me if you need anything, promise?’’
Lucinda nodded, and the two women hugged as if they’d never let go. Lucinda stood waving as they climbed back in the buggy. Daniel and Thaddeus squeezed in between the bags in the rear.
Jesselynn waved again, then looked toward the barns. Sure enough, Zachary stood there watching them leave. ‘‘I love you, brother, no matter what. We all do.’’ She sighed. ‘‘Please, Lord, heal my brother.’’ She wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
‘‘It’s a long way home.’’ Thaddeus leaned on the seat back in front of him.
‘‘Not really. With the fine trains and all, we’ll be there before you know it.’’ Wolf slapped the reins on the horse’s rump. ‘‘Get up there, horse. We got to get on home.’’
The Long Way Home Page 31