Clemmie beamed as Rusty led the cow into the yard. She walked around the animal, petting her, rubbing a hand along the smooth hide. “I’m sure glad to see you back, old girl.”

Rusty explained the circumstances. She said, “Daddy was over at the Gaskin place a couple of times, thinkin’ she might’ve strayed in that direction.”

“She strayed all right, with a little help.”

“How come you figured it out so easy?”

“With Fowler Gaskin for a neighbor, nothin’ is safe unless it’s nailed down tight or too heavy to carry.”

He did not worry about Fowler Gaskin carrying his complaint to the sheriff. Tom Blessing knew the old reprobate as well as Rusty did. But mention of Blessing set Rusty to thinking he should ride over and visit Daddy Mike’s old friend. He intended to take Len Tanner along, but Len seemed to be enjoying himself hoeing the garden with the two girls.

He told Rusty, “These Monahan sisters are different. Somehow I can talk to them without my tongue tyin’ itself up in a bow knot.”

“They’re still just kids.”

“Kids? Maybe you’ve been hurtin’ so bad over Geneva that you ain’t taken a close look, especially at Josie. Country girls turn into women fast. Ain’t no make-believe like with them town girls, no flirty put-on.”

Rusty did not need Tanner to remind him of Geneva. She was never far from his thoughts.

“Well, you keep choppin’ those weeds and don’t get too close to the girls. You wouldn’t want their mother comin’ after you with a singletree.”

Tom Blessing was a large man whose natural leadership drew others to follow him no matter how long or difficult the trail. He had led local volunteer minutemen companies in pursuit of raiding Indians and by example had been a strong moral force in the community. Daddy Mike had always looked up to him, and Mike Shannon had not been one to give honor where honor was not due. He had always said Tom Blessing’s word was like gospel. Blessing had been present when Mike and Preacher Webb had found a frightened little red-haired boy on the battleground at Plum Creek back in 1840. Later it seemed he was never far away when the Shannons needed help.

As a boy, Rusty had looked upon Tom Blessing with an awe that had never entirely left him though now he stood as tall as Blessing and could look him squarely in the eyes.

Blessing had added a wing onto his cabin since Rusty had last been there. It was typical of him that he never let “well enough” alone. He was not content with existing conditions if he could see a way to improve them.