Mattie stood beside Laurel, her eyes trained on the boy. “He doesn't want Alex to race,” she said, her voice laced with hurt and resentment.
Luke straightened and stepped up to the bully. “This is a free country, and we'll race if we like, John.” He said the boy's name with venom.
John glanced over his shoulder at his pals who, for the most part, were keeping their distance. “There ain't no stinkin' Indians allowed.”
Luke's face turned red, and he shoved the young tyrant. “He races! You hear?”
“Will, stop this,” Jean said.
Without taking his eyes off the boys, Will said evenly, “They're not children. They need to settle this on their own.”
“Stinkin' Indian!” John taunted, wearing a smirk. “Siewash!”
Luke lunged at the boy, swinging his fist. It landed squarely on the bully's broad nose.
John fell on his backside, a stunned look on his face. He clapped a hand over his nose. “What did you do that for?” He looked at his bloodied hand.
Luke stood over him. “Don't never say nothin' like that again.” He looked at the other boys. “Alex is my friend, and he's just as good or better than any one of you!”
John pushed himself to his feet and brushed dirt off his pants. Giving Luke a dirty look, he walked back to the starting line. Laurel didn't feel sorry for him. It wasn't the first time he'd taunted Alex and Mattie.
Luke walked back to his friend and proceeded to tie the string around their ankles. “Now we're really gonna beat their pants off,” he told Alex with a grin.
Alex smiled and threw an arm over Luke's shoulders.
Laurel could see tears in Mattie's eyes.
Jessie patted the native girl's hand. “Don't let someone like him bother you. He's just one boy.”
“It's not just one boy,” Mattie said, her voice hard.
“Well, I think it's awful,” Celeste said. “If Luke hadn't hit that John, I would have!”
Mattie smiled at Celeste. “Thanks.”
A gun was fired, and the boys took off. Luke and Alex made a good team. They charged ahead of the others. Several got their legs out of sync, tangled their feet, and fell. John and his partner didn't make it more than ten yards. Laurel smiled with satisfaction. However, just at the finish line, another team lunged ahead of Luke and Alex. The two comrades ended up in second place. It didn't seem to bother them at all. They fell on the grass laughing and clearly happy to have run a good race.
“So, how are the wedding plans coming along?” Jessie asked Laurel and Robert.
“Good,” Robert said.
“We still have plenty of time.” Laurel tossed a braid back over her shoulder.
Robert took her hand in his. “We can hardly wait. It's too far away. I'm beginning to wish we'd picked June.” He smiled at Laurel, and she returned the gesture.
“I get to be in the wedding,” Brian said. “Laurel said I can carry the rings.” He smiled broadly. “It's a very important job.”
“That it is,” Jessie agreed.
Ed Ketchum and Miram were across the clearing from the Hasper group. Ed was stretched out on the ground. Miram sat beside him, giving him sips of lemonade and bites of cookies.
“I don't think yours is the only wedding coming up,” Jessie said. “Seems Miram and that young Ed Ketchum will be tying the knot soon.”
Laurel chuckled. “I never would have thought those two would get together. Ed's looking pretty good these days. Seems love has helped him to turn over a new leaf.”
“Love can bring about things you never thought possible,” Celeste said dreamily.
Robert looked at Will. “Heard you have a new calf.”
“We do.” Will leaned back on his hands. “Can't decide whether to sell her or keep her though. I'd like to build a small herd of milk cows. We can't produce enough milk and butter for the folks around here. Trouble is, it'll be a long while before that calf comes fresh, and we could use the money now. It'll take a few more seasons to get the rest of my land cleared and producing.”
“I'll buy from you,” Jessie said. “I'm getting too old to keep up with a garden.”
“Thanks.” Will shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder why I ever decided to be a farmer.”
“It's in the blood,” Robert said matter-of-factly. “It's somethin' we have to do.” He smiled. “I love working the soil—the smell of fresh-turned earth, the feel of the sun on my back, green sprouts shooting up. There's nothing like it, when I stand and look at rows and rows of crops, knowing they're growing because of my hard work and sweat.” He leaned back on his hands. “I don't think I could do anything else.”
“It's backbreaking,” Luke said. “Makes you old before your time. You can never count on a crop. Weather and pests can wipe you out. I was thinking about hunting or tracking.”
“Yeah. More and more folks are coming in from the outside to hunt. They need guides.”
At that moment Ray Townsend approached them.
“What's he doing here?” Celeste asked, watching her father approach. “Daddy?”
Will stood.
“Now, Will, don't interfere,” Jean cautioned.
