“Who was your family that you could grow up out here where there’s nothing?”

“Them,” he said simply.  “Those on the ridge.”

“How?”  Her heart went out to him.

“I don’t know.  I was too young to remember anything but being part of the tribes, having them as my family, this being my home.  I have a way better recollection of when we went to the fort that winter when we had no food.  The government agent saw me and took me away.”

Charlotte calmed.  Everyone’s life was heartache and there was nothing to be done about it.  “Then what?” she said quietly.

“I got adopted.  But it didn’t last long.  I stole a horse and rode as far and as fast as I could.”

“How old were you?”

“I don’t know.  Could’ve been nine, or maybe ten.”

“Where did you run to?”

Charlotte saw that now they had come down to the truth of it.  “To Ellis.  He knew all about it so I was sure he’d let me stay and he did.  Now I’m a help to him, so it’s even better.”

“Ellis Gray,” she said and turned the puzzle of him over in her mind.

Charlotte raised her head as another person headed slowly her way, his horse trailing behind him.

“Sit down,” she said to Ellis.  “Eat something.  He did.”

“Already ate, but thank you.”  He tethered his horse with Miller’s and took a seat next to the fire.  Charlotte thought that he suddenly looked older than his years, whatever those might be.

“Miller’s been here talking with me for a while.  It’s your turn.  Tell me the rest.  I already know there’s nothing good in it.”

Ellis took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly as if he was willing all the pain to go away. “It’s the old one.  He grieves for how much his people suffer, how much they’ve lost.  I understand that, but going to Washington City won’t help.  They didn’t listen the last time, they won’t listen now.  He thinks they will if I’m the one making the argument.”  Ellis seemed to be talking to himself.  “I have to go.”

“What about the wagon train?”

“I’m leaving, that was obvious, but they voted on it and threw me out anyway to make it official.  I told them Miller has to stay, they won’t make it without him and hopefully they understand that.  Now they’re debating who’s to be captain.  Contentious as they are, the probability exists that they’ll still be fighting about it come morning.”

“What about me?  I’m in hell already so it doesn’t exactly matter what you have to say.”