Chapter 4: Ready for the Run

A couple of days later, Alec sat near the Simpsons’ wagon, watching his father exercise Sunshine. Controlling the beautiful mare entirely by the way he swayed his body and with a very light touch on the reins, Jed Simpson put Sunshine into a canter. Then he drew her back to a trot, and Alec sighed wistfully.

Tomorrow was April 22, the day of the great Run, and it was impossible not to share the excitement that mounted all along the border. Alec tried hard to calm down. He was not going to make the ride into Oklahoma, and he knew it. His father had asked him to stay with the wagon and take care of his mother and sisters. Duty was plain, and there could be no shirking. All the Simpsons had to work together for the good of all.

He must not, Alec told himself, even wish that he could make the ride. But because he couldn’t help wishing, he felt a little guilty. His father brought Sunshine back, staked her on the picket rope, and began to rub her down.

“She’s in shape,” he called to his son. “She’ll make it.”

Alec said, “I’m sure she will.”

“Come a little closer, will you, Alec?”

Alec went nearer, and his father lowered his voice. “I want to talk to you confidentially, son. You’ll take good care of your mother and the twins?”

“Yes, Dad.”

Mr. Simpson grinned nervously, and Alec sensed that he too had given way to the general excitement. His father spoke again, “I know I can depend on you.”

“Yes, you can.”

“Pete and I are going as light as possible, with only a little food,” Mr. Simpson said. “The important thing is to get the claims staked. Nor do I want your mother out there until there is a good house ready for her. I want it to seem like home when she comes. But we’ll need one wagon and some tools as soon as possible after the land is ours. If we take Pete’s, his father and mother can move into ours until we send for that too. Now, after this crowd gets out of here, your mother and the twins will be all right, and I won’t be afraid to leave them alone. Think you can bring Pete’s wagon up when I send for you?”

“Oh, yes. I can handle the team.”

“Good. Of course I’ll send someone to show you the way. Now—What in tarnation is that sister of yours up to?”

Hands clasped around and chin resting on her knees, Cindy was looking intently at a big and battle-scarred old cat that had strayed into the camp. With his tail curled around his paws, the cat stared back at the girl. Presently he rose, walked over to her, and began to rub himself against her legs. Cindy stroked him and continued to watch closely. Jed Simpson chuckled.

“What does she find so interesting about that old cat?” he asked.