Mac spotted Will as the boy led Shanty and four mules across the fort’s open yard. Jonah and Joel Pershing were with him. Mac ran toward Will, calling his name. Still holding the leads for the five animals, Will turned to look at Mac and moved toward him.
A sergeant stepped between Will and Mac. “Not so fast, McDougall,” the man told Will. “You’re mine till you’ve dealt with your mules.”
“Yes, sir,” Will said.
The sergeant said to Mac, “This your son?”
“Yes.” Mac nodded.
“He’s a fine lad, but he has a job to do. He needs to finish it.”
Will shrugged, then followed the sergeant.
Mac turned to Daniel. “What do you make of that?”
Daniel grinned. “I’d say we have two soldiers instead of boys.”
Will was embarrassed by Mac’s shout across the stable yard. Though he was startled to see Mac, he realized he’d half-expected to be met at Fort Klamath. He’d known Mama would want Mac to find him. In fact, he’d wondered from time to time if Mac would appear over the hilltop along the trail between Boise and Klamath.
It took Will and Jonah most of the morning to get their mules inspected. Then they led the beasts to pasture. Will slapped his mules on their rumps to send them out with the rest of the herd. Shanty wanted to follow them, but Will pulled the gelding along to find Mac—they would face the music together. Jonah followed with his mare. Joel remained behind.
“Scared of Daniel, ain’t you?” Jonah taunted his brother.
“You see what’s what,” Joel said. “I’ll check on you in a bit. If Daniel’n Mac ain’t too mad, you wave, and I’ll join you.”
Will and Jonah found Mac and Daniel camped on the outskirts of the fort. The men had a noon meal cooking, and its savory scent made Will’s mouth water. They’d eaten all right on Army food, but this smelled almost as good as Mrs. O’Malley’s cooking.
Will stood apart from the campfire until Mac looked up. “You have a bowl, son?” Mac asked.
Will grimaced, but with Daniel and Jonah there, he simply replied, “Yes, sir.” He got the bowl and spoon out of his pack and let Mac ladle stew into it. Jonah did the same.
“Sit down, boys,” Daniel said. Then the four started eating.
“Why did you run away?” Mac asked after Will had taken a couple of mouthfuls.
Will rubbed his cheek as he glanced at Jonah.
“I wanted to prospect,” Jonah said. “I knew Joel was minin’ near Jacksonville. We went to find him, only to learn he’d signed on with the militia to pack mules.”
“And you?” Mac asked Will again.
Will shrugged. “Jonah asked me to go. Nothing better to do.”
Mac’s lips tightened and he looked angry. But he remained silent.
“Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to prospect?” Daniel asked Jonah. “We coulda written Joel first. Asked him, or at least let him know you was comin.’ We wouldn’t have worried so.”
“Esther would never let me go,” Jonah protested. “And you kept me farmin’ dawn till night. I wanted to make my own fortune, not work for you. I still got years afore I can file a land claim.”
“I meant to give you your own land for your birthday,” Daniel said. “But seeing’s how you don’t want—”
“My own land?” Jonah said, his eyebrows shooting up. “Really?”
“Forty acres,” Daniel said. “It ain’t much, but it’s enough for a cabin and some crops.”
“I could get hitched with forty acres,” Jonah said.
“Get hitched?” Daniel looked surprised. “You want to marry?”
“Iris Hayes,” Jonah said. “I want to wed her soon as I can build her a home.”
Daniel swore. “You’re only seventeen.”
Jonah sat up straight. “You was only nineteen when you married, and Esther just fifteen.”
Will listened to Jonah and Daniel argue. At least they talked—he and Mac seemed to have nothing to say.
After the four of them finished their meal, Daniel and Jonah ambled off to find Joel. Mac and Will cleaned up the stew pot in silence, then Mac said, “Walk with me, son.” Mac noticed Will’s jaw clench, but the boy nodded.
They walked along a path outside the fort along a little bubbling stream. “Does this creek have a name?” Mac asked.
Will shrugged. “It’s just called Fort Creek.”
