Charlotte had a thought come to her that she didn’t need.  “Samuel’s paying you, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is.  That’s the way it’s done.’

“Is it a lot?”

“That too.  But I give what I’ve got no matter what, and looking at you, there’s not many who wouldn’t want to do the same.  I don’t believe you deserve where you’ve ended up.”

“And I’m not even there yet.”  She bowed her head, humiliated.  “But thank you, I appreciate it.”

6

6

The wagons had already reeled off into their broad circle.  Ellis Gray eased Charlotte’s wagon into the space at the back left open for it.  The cattle were herded out to pasture, the horses turned to grazing within the wagon enclosure.  He’d assured them that the local tribes would steal the horses out from under anybody, but would leave the cattle every time.

“No water today,” Ellis said, “but we’ll be on a creek by tomorrow.  Do you always haul your own firewood?”

Charlotte was building herself a fire from wood in the wagon.  “I was near a good supply back there.  Might as well keep some.”

“There’s a council meeting tonight, which is a polite way of saying yet one more mule-like shouting match.  There’s a woman that cooks for the men on meeting nights.  But after dinner, folk usually gather to socialize or have music or whatever eases their minds after a long day.  I can bring you into it, obviously they’re aware that you’re here.  Or I can leave you be, say you’re tired or shy.”

“Say I’m tired or shy, whichever.”

“Another thing, I’ll be sleeping here.”  Charlotte started up in alarm.  “On the ground,” he said.  “Like I always do.”

“I wake up screaming sometimes,” she said.

“So do I.  You just have to talk yourself out of it.”

What was that about?  “Sometime tell me how you accomplish that exactly.”

She’d brought river rocks too and laid a grill across them.

“You’re resourceful,” he said.

“I came up that way.  I’ll contribute to the food.  I know that’s required.”

“I told you, there’s already money being paid, enough to cover far more than your share.”

“I’ll contribute anyway.”

“Do what you want,” he said.  “The meeting usually ends up around dark.”

Charlotte ate her dinner sitting on the ground.  The people in the wagons to either side of her pitched their tents then went off.  All she’d seen were men.  They glanced at her then quickly away and she never met their eyes at all.