,A ,,HE>T ,,= ,,ANY ,,FATE
        ,WE/W>D 6,OREGON--#AHDE

             ,,L9DA ,,CREW

              ,PUBLI%$ BY
   ,OREGON ,HI/ORICAL ,SOCIETY ,PRESS
            ,PORTL&1 ,OREGON
       ,COPY"R #BJJE 0,L9DA ,CREW
  ,FUR!R REPRODUC;N OR 4TRIBU;N 9 O!R
  ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4

       ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL
             ,0,$ ,GODFREY
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           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON

             ,9 #D ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #B
        ,PAGES ;I-;II & #AJG-BAH

          ,"U ! ,SPONSOR%IP (
  ,WA%+TON ,TALK+ ,BOOK & ,BRL ,LIBR>Y
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                                     ;II
























       ,A ,,HE>T ,,= ,,ANY ,,FATE   #AJG

                 ,SEV5

  8,9DIANS60
  ,MY ,GOD4 ,I DROPP$ ! POT ( B1NS ,I'D
BE5 /IRR+4
  8,GET 9 ! WAGONS60
  ,I SCOOP$ UP ,ME7IE & MADE A DA%4 ,ALL
>.D ME ! O!R WOM5 DID ! SAME--SNAT*+ A
SCR1M+ * "H1 A SIL5T1 PETRIFI$ "O "!4
  ,! M5 SEEM$ PANICK$1 RUNN+ E : WAY4
  ,I H1V$ ,ME7IE OV] ! TAILGATE1 HOI/$
MYF UP & TUM#D 9 AF4
  8,GET D[N10 ,I ORD]$ ,S,Y1 :O 0 BRAC$
AG/ A WAGON B[1 DOZ+1 NURS+ ,JIMMY4 ,UN-
AW>E (! AL>M1 %E LOOK$ ANNOY$ = AN IN-
/ANT4
  8.,LOVISA4 ,H"O/LY1 ,I DON'T "K :Y
Y--8 ,A GUN CRACK$4 ,H] EYES FLEW WIDE4
  8,S,Y60 ,I CD H>DLY BR1!4 ,NI<TM>I%LY1
^WS WDN'T -E4 8,GET D[N60 ,I F9,Y MAN-
AG$4 8,J4 ,GET4 ,D[N60
  ,DRA9$ PALE1 %E OBEY$4
  ,I W$G$ ! :IMP]+ ,ME7IE D[N AM;G !
BOXES & LAY OV] H]4 ,MY HE>T P.D$   #AJH
L 6BUR/4 ,\TSIDE1 ! M5 YELL$1 ! FE> 9 _!
VOICES MY UNDO+4
  ,? 0 X6 ,! ,9DIANS WD SCALP U ALL6
,OH1 WE N"E %D H RELAX$ \R GU>D4 ,N"E %D
H MOCK$ ! M5 = KEEP+ _! GUNS S CLOSE AT
H& :5 WE />T$ \4 ,N[ WE'D PAY4 ,X ALL
CAME BACK--A HUNDR$ HORRID IMAGES1 E AW-
;L /ORY ( GIRLS C>RI$ (F 0SAVAGES T ,MR4
,COLL9S US$ 65JOY TELL+1 ,CAPTA9 ,WAY-
MIRE W>N+ T ! ,9DIANS WD SCALP U1 E "O1
T]RIFY+ SC5ES ,MAMIE LIK$ 6REC.T F C]TA9
=BI45 NOVELS4 ,N[ ,I SAW !Y 7 "R AB !
,9DIANS4 ,WE N"E %D H -E \ "H6 ,NO?+ 9
,OREGON CD 2 WOR? X4 ,:Y _HN'T WE LI/5$
6! W>N+S8
  8,OH1 MY ,GOD10 ,S,Y PANT$4 8,OH1 MY
,GOD40
  ,& !N1 F \TSIDE ! WAGON1 A MAN YELL$1
8,WAIT6 ,HOLD YR FIRE60 & ANO!R MUTT]$1
8,WELL1 ,I'LL BE40
  ,AF A MO;T1 ,R[L& APPE>$ AT ! WAGON
FLAP4 8,X'S ALL "R10 HE SD4 8,FALSE
AL>M40
  ,I SAT UP4 8,:AT80
  ,HE PE]$ "R PA/ ME 6HIS WIFE &    #AJI
BABIES4 8,>E Y ALL "R1 ,S,Y8 ,ME7IE80
  8,:AT'S HAPP5+80 ,I ASK$1 FA9T & %AKY4
  8,X'S J ! CAVALRY40
  ,S,Y BUR/ 96TE>S1 CLUT*+ & ROCK+ ,JIM-
MY4
  8,COLONEL ,KE>NY'S M510 ,R[L& SD4 8,I
GUESS ,BR[N DIDN'T GET ! ^W !Y'D 2 -+
AL;G 2H U1 S HE J ASSUM$1 :5 HE SAW T
BIG CL\D ( DU/ & M5 ON HORSEBACK '''0
  8,R[L&10 ,S,Y :ISP]$4 8,OH1 ,R[L&40
  8,OH1 = L& SAKES60 ,I SPUTT]$1 Z ,R[L&
& ,I TRAD$ PLACES & HE GA!R$ ! O!RS 9 8
>MS4 ,I PU%$ PA/ HM1 \ 6! WAGON S1T4
  ,*N SW>M$ F ! O!R WAGONS1 LAU<+ 9
?RILL$ RELIEF4 ,LYDIA LET H]F D[N F
,PA'S WAGON & /A7]$1 REEL+4 ,ANNIE HUR-
RI$ 6POOR ,/EPH51 /&+ "! ) 8 RIFLE4
,HE'D RIS5 6! O3A.N B N[ L1N$ AG/ ! BIG
RE> :EEL Z IF HE MI<T PASS \4
  ,! RE/ (! M5 LOOK$ %EEPI%4
  ,I CLIMB$ D[N & M>*$ BACK 6! COOK
FIRE4 ,F9E ?+4 ,! B1NS 7 BURN$4 ,7 WE
SUPPOS$ 6/>T COOK+ ALL OV]8 ,4GU/$1 ,I
/>T$ DI%+ UP PLATES4 ,LET 'EM EAT BURNT
SUPP]1 !N4 ,!Y "\ 6BE M C>E;L1      #AAJ
SC>+ "EYBODY L T4 ,S M* = ALL "PIES "K+
:AT 6D 9 AN EM]G5CY4 ,WE'D E "O ( U BE5
RAC+ >.D CRAZI] ?AN BUGS "U A RIPP$-UP
C[ *IP6 ,& ,S,Y--WELL1 ? WD SET H] BACK
A GD =TNI<T4 ,? MADE H] FE>S SEEM R1SON-
A#4 ,%E'D 2 A# 6?9K ( NO?+ B ! BAD ?+S T
MI<T HAPP5 9 ! "DS AH1D4
  ,Z =! SOLDI]S !MVS1 :5 !Y RODE UP1 RE-
SPL5D5T 9 _! R$ & BLUE UNI=MS1 ,I'LL 2
BLAM$ IF ,I DIDN'T CAT* "S?+ ( SMUG;S 9
_! SMILES4 ,:Y1 !Y ?"\ X 0 FUNNY6 ,!Y
?"\ \R PANIC J %[$ H[ PA!TIC WE W]E1 H[
GRATE;L WE "\ 6BE = _! 4CIPL9$ MILIT>Y
PRES;E4
  ,! WOR/ "P ( ALL 0 ! WAY ,A2IE & ,LY-
DIA FAWN$ OV] !M4 ,S RELIEV$ !Y W]5'T
,9DIANS1 !Y GREET$ ! SOLDI]S Z IF !Y _H1
9 FACT1 D>+LY RESCU$ U ALL F ! HORRI#
SAVAGES WE'D BE5 IMAG9+6 ,9/1D ( M]ELY
SC>+ ! "DLI<TS \ ( "EY"O4
  ,PLOPP+ \ BURN$ B1NS1 ,I GL.ED BACK AT
\R [N WAGON4 ,R[L& 0 / 9 "!1 -=T+ ,S,Y4

  ,AF SUPP]1 ,A2IE -B$ \ ,LYDIA'S BRAIDS
& P9N$ H] HAIR UP 96A *IGNON4 ,!N   #AAA
! TWO ( !M RAN (F 6! ,WILLIAMSES' CAMP-
FIRE1 ": ! SOLDI]S _H -E BACK 6VISIT AF
SETT+ UP CAMP NE>BY4
  ,F S"EAL FIRES AWAY ,I CD HE> ! 3VIVI-
AL 3V]S,N & PICTUR$ ! SOLDI]S WALK+ AB )
PU6$ *E/S1 TRY+ 6LOOK BOLD & MANLY =
,ORL5A4 ,H] LL BRO!R 0 PLAY+ A JAUNTY
TUNE ON 8 H>MONICA4 8,! ,GIRL ,I ,LEFT
,2H ,ME40
  ,I SAT 0\R [N FIRE1 B\NC+ ,JIMMY ON MY
KNEE4 ,FUNNY1 E "T A BUR/ ( LAU<T] ES-
CAP$ ! ,WILLIAMSES' CAMP1 8 EYES WD G
WIDE & HE'D TWI/ >.D1 TRY+ 6FIGURE X \4
,ANNIE CAME & SAT ) ME A MO;T1 CRO*ET+ !
L5G? ( LACE %E'D BE5 "W+ ON "E S9CE ,/4
,JOE1 B 2F L;G %E ROSE 6RETURN 6H] WAG-
ON4
  8,/EPH5 GETS L"O"S :5 HE HE>S "EYBODY
(F AT ANO!R CAMPFIRE4 ,I C'T LET HM ?9K
,I'VE G"O OV] "!40
  ,I NO4$4 ,"! .0 "S?+ H>D AB HE>+ FUN
2+ _H :5 Y W]5'T 9 ON X4 ,N[ & !N ,I'D
CAT* ! TRILL+ NOTES ( ,ORL5A'S MUSICAL
VOICE1 FOLL[$ 0ANO!R R.D ( APPRECIATIVE
LAU<T]4 ,OBVI\SLY1 ALL ! "Y M5      #AAB
F.D H] F> & AWAY ! WITTIE/ ?+ "E 6SWI% A
PETTICOAT4
  8,DON'T Y WANT 6G OV] "! )! O!RS80
  ,I JUMP$4 ,R[L& 0 /&+ AT MY %\LD]4
  8,Y SC>$ ME40
  8,SORRY40
  8,FIGUR$ X 0 MY JOB 6/AY "H10 ,I SD1
RECOV]+ MYF4 8,LOOK AF ? LL FELL]4 ,I
IMAG9E ,S,Y'S / R POORLY40
  8,%E'LL 2 ALL "R40 ,HE LOOK$ T[>D !
,WILLIAMSES' CAMP4 8,S.DS L !Y'RE HAV+ A
GD "T4 ,Y "\ 6G40
  8,S ,I C FLIRT ) SOLDI]S80 ,I CUT MY
EYES AT HM4 8,NO1 ?ANKS40
  ,HE LOOK$ BACK AT ! WAGON4 8,SUIT YRF4
,B ,S,Y WANTS ! BABY 9 N[ ANYWAY40 ,HE
SCOOP$ ,JIMMY AWAY F ME & H1D$ (F4
  ,OH1 DE>4 ,R[L& 0 J TRY+ 6BE NICE4
,:Y'D ,I H 6ACT S 9SULT$8 ,N[ ,I 0 COM-
PLETELY AL"O & 4CONSOLATE4 ,)\T ,JIMMY1
,I DIDN'T EV5 H AN EXCUSE = N GO+ OV] 6!
,WILLIAMSES'4 ,NOBODY NE$$ ME "H4 ,NO-
BODY C>$ A SNAP :AT ,I DID4 ,I SAT />+
96! FIRE1 GRUDG+ AUDI;E 6! 4TANT RIPPLES
( M]RI;T ON ! NI<T AIR4 ,>.D ME     #AAC
%AD[ /ORIES 7 2+ 5ACT$ ON ! CANVAS COV]S
( EA* WAGON Z MY OLD] SI/]S TUCK$ 9 _!
*N4
  ,"H ,I WAS1 9 ! MI4LE ( ? HUGE FAMILY1
YET ,I FELT Z L"OLY Z "S POOR ORPHAN
GIRL4
  ,I /OOD UP4 ,I CDN'T SIT "H L ?4 ,IF
,MA SAW ME1 %E'D -E \ & GIVE ME A JOB1
PUT "S BIT ( "W 96MY IDLE H&S4 ,I MOV$
2T ! WAGONS & \ 96! D>K;S4 ,"EYBODY ELSE
_H A PLACE1 A PURPOSE4 ,B N ME4 ,N RE,Y4
  ,I ?REW MY H1D BACK & />$ AT ! SKY1
:ITE ) />S4 ,WASN'T ? ! SAME SKY ,I'D
?"\ MADE S* A PRETTY D.E CANOPY 2F8 ,B
"SH[1 IF Y'RE HAV+ A GD MOPE1 T WIDE
PRAIRIE SKY IS ! V ?+ 6MAKE Y FEEL ALL !
SMALL] & M 9SIGNIFICANT4
  ,I WRAPP$ MY %AWL TI<T]1 WI%+ "SBODY
WD MISS ME & -E \ "H LOOK+ = ME4 ,I WI%$
"SBODY WD ASK :AT 0 WR;G S ,I CD SAY H[
L"OLY ,I FELT4 ,I WI%$ ,I _H ! FA9TE/
CLUE :O ,I WANT$ T "S"O 6BE4
  ,N[ ! RE$Y NOTES (A M\? ORGAN PI]C$ !
NI<T )! PLA9TIVE /RA9S ( 8,%5&OAH40
  ,T S;G6 ,SWELL+ ANTICIP,N4        #AAD
,LOVE & L;G+4 ,UNUTT]A# SORR[4 ,X 0 ALL
"!1 TI<T5+ MY ?ROAT1 MAK+ TE>S /+ MY
EYES4 ..,AWAY6 ,I'M B.D AWAY1 'CROSS !
WIDE .,MISS\RI ''' ,I SWE>1 HE>+ X 0 L
HAV+ "S"O R1* \ & SQUEEZE YR HE>T1 MAKE
Y WEEP = E SAD ?+ "E HAPP5$1 !N WEEP =
ALL ! SAD ?+S SURE 6-E4

  ,! ,S\? ,PLATTE ,RIV] 0 WIDE & %ALL[ &
S&Y1 TREE.S EXCEPT =! SCRU2Y WILL[S ON !
ISL&S1 ! ONLY %RU2]Y 6"SH[ ESCAPE ! RE-
L5T.S GRAZ+ (! VA/ BU6ALO H]DS &! PRAI-
RIE FIRES FOLKS SD ! ,9DIANS SET4
  ,E NI<T ,I DIPP$ UP BUCKETS (! ?ICKE/1
MU4IE/ WAT] Y'VE "E SE54 ,WEEK AF WEEK
WE FOLL[$ ? /RET* (! RIV]1 & ,I H>DLY
KNEW : 0 M TIRE"S1 ! HORRID WAT] XF OR !
(T-REP1T$ JOKE AB ! ,PLATTE 2+ TOO ?ICK
6DR9K1 TOO ?9 6PL[4
  ,Y'D ?9K ! CL\DY WAT] WD SETTLE ."S"T1
B ! SC\TS :O KNEW SD X 0 ! BU6ALO H]DS
AH1D T N"E GAVE X A *.E4 ,/OOD 6R1SON4
,IF A GIRL'S FOOT MADE BR[N CL\DS BILL[
9 ! WAT]1 :AT WD ! *URN+ HOOVES (A GRT
BU6ALO H]D D8                       #AAE
  ,EA* EV5+ Z ,I WAD$ \ 6BR1K WILL[
BRAN*ES F ! ISL&S = COOK-FIRE FUEL1 MY
B>E FEET WD S9K DEEP 96T S(TE/ ( S&1
LIQUID P[D]4 ,MIR+ 6MY CALVES1 ,I'D WOR-
RY--H[ ON E>? CD H1VY WAGONS & OX5 PULL
"? ? MUCK8
  ,I WASN'T ! ONLY "O DR1D+ ! UPCOM+
CROSS+4 ,MRS4 ,BR[N1 ,MAMIE'S "M1 0 DO+
H] BE/ 6MAKE SURE "EY"O /AY$ N]V\S AB X1
REM9D+ ANY :O'D LI/5 ( H[ _M WAGONS _H
BE5 LO/ AT ! ,S\? ,PLATTE CROSS+ LA/
YE>4 ,& :AT AB #'DC1 :5 ! RIV] FLOOD$ A
MILE WIDE & "O -PANY SP5T SIX :OLE "DS
GETT+ ACR8 ,S"EAL WAGONS N"E MADE X4
,RIV] SWEPT !M F ! 5D (! *A9$-TGR L9E1 X
0 SD1 & TUM#D !M "U ! CURR5T4
  ,:AT A PL1SANT SURPRISE = \R -PANY1
!N1 6F9D1 AT ! =D+ SPOT1 ! RIV] RUNN+
CLOS] 6A HALF MILE WIDE & N DEEP AT ALL4
,WE D\#D ! OX5 ON HALF ! WAGONS & BR"\ !
F/ BAT* ACR4 ,!N ! M5 SPLA%$ ! T1MS
BACK1 REHIT*$ !M & DROVE OV] ! RE/ (!
WAGONS4 .,KEEP .'EM .MOV+1 0 ! ^W4
..,DON'T LET 'EM /OP & S9K 9 ! QKS&
.BOTTOM4 ,! TREM5D\S NOISE IS :AT   #AAF
,I'LL ALW REMEMB]1 ,I ?9K--! AL>M+ RO> (
! S&-LAD5 ,PLATTE ,RIV] RU%+ "? ! :EELS'
WOOD5 SPOKES4 ,9 ! 5D1 ?\<1 ! :OLE BUSI-
;S REQUIR$ ONLY TWO H\RS1 & WE DIDN'T
LOSE A S+LE WAGON OR ANIMAL4
  ,_SS 7 HI< 9 CAMP T NI<T4 ,A MILE/"O
6CELEBRATE6 ,WE'D MADE X "? ? T$I\S
/RET* & SU3ESS;LLY -PLET$ ! CROSS+--A
*ALL5GE WE'D BE5 DR1D+1 ,I RECKON1 M ?AN
MO/ ( U _H C>$ 6ADMIT4 ,N[ WE'D D"O X6
,! RELIEF 0 L CORKS POPP+ (F BOTTL$ FIZZ
DR9K4
  ,FI4LES MADE A JOLLY "T ( X1 & WE D.ED
'TIL ! DU/ FLEW & \R H&S SM>T$ F CLAPP+4
,Y N"E SAW S* B"R EYES1 S* LIVELY /EPP+4
,:AT AN 5T]PRIS+ \TFIT WE W]E6 ,BE/ D>N$
-PANY ON ! TRAIL1 TRU? 2 TOLD4 ,WE _H M5
:O CD BR+ D[N BU6ALO6 ,BRAVE "Y "MS :O
CD *OP ! H1DS (F RATTLESNAKES6 ,LIVELY
GIRLS :O CD WALK ALL "D & CUT CAP]S ALL
NI<T6 ,-MON S5SE1 T'S ALL X TOOK4 ,GD
PLANN+ &A P9* ( GRIT4 ,GOD ,HMF 0 ON \R
SIDE1 & WE 7 GO+ 6,OREGON6
  ,"EYBODY PAIR$ UP--,AMOS & ,MEL9DA1
,A2IE & ,PRICE4 ,LL ,BITSY GOT      #AAG
,SOL 6:IRL H] >.D1 & ,LYDIA W5T AF ,OR-
L5A'S OLD] BRO!R ,JONT ,WILLIAMS4 ,^? :O
DIDN'T D.E WAT*$ & CLAPP$4 ,EV5 ! CAP-
TA9S4 ,EV5 ,R[L&4
  ,T BOY1 ,JOHN ,NO#1 CAME /RAI<T = ME1
&1 Z ! MUSIC PLAY$ ON1 ,I 2GAN 6?9K HM R
ATTRACTIVE4 ,MAYBE SOON ,I'D 2 PAIR+ UP
L ! RE/ (! GIRLS6
  ,I _H N"E D.ED S L;G OR S H>D1 & ,I
REMEMB] ?9K+1 ..,? IS X--WE >E HAV+ ! "T
( \R .LIVES4 ,MY HE>T P.D$1 MY *EEKS 7
HOT1 MY LUNGS PUMP$ T GD AIR (! PLA9S4
,WE ALL ACT$ A REGUL> P>CEL ( FOOLS1 &
:5 ,JOHN ,NO# PULL$ ME 96! %AD[S1 ,I EV5
LET HM KISS ME4
  ,6BE H"O/1 ,I KISS$ HM "R BACK4
  ,JUDG+ F ! GI7L+ 9 ! D>K ALL >.D U1 WE
W]5'T ! ONLY "OS4
  ,FUNNY4 ,I'D ALW IMAG9$ A MO;T L ? WD
MO/LY 2 AB ! BOY ,I 0 KISS+4 ,9/1D1 X
SEEM$ 6H M 6D )A BLAZ+-/> SKY &! H1DY
?RILL ( MAK+ X OV] ! ,S\? ,PLATTE ,RIV]
ALIVE4
  ,B T'S ! WAY X SEEM$ 6G \ "H ON !
PLA9S4 ,L"OLI;S FELT L"OLI]1 EX-    #AAH
CITE;T M EXCIT+4 ,J 2+ ALIVE 0 S M* M
9T5SE1 & "EY?+ 0 DI6]5T--EV5 F/ KISSES4






















                 ,EI<T              #AAI

  8,FOLKS >E TALK+1 Y "K10 ,MAMIE ,BR[N
:ISP]$ OV] MY %\LD]4
  ,I PULL$ MY TOO?BRU% \ ( MY M\? &
SPIT4 ,!N ,I TURN$1 REG>D+ H] W>ILY4
  8,AB ! D.E LA/ NI<T4 ,AB Y4 ,& YR SIS-
T]S4 ,H[ Y W5T (F 9 ! D>K )! BOYS40
  ,I BLU%$ R$-HOT4 8,IS T S40
  8,MY MA SAYS Y BETT] 2 C>E;L4 ,%E SAYS
Y KEEP ? UP1 %E WDN'T 2 "O BIT SURPRIS$
IF Y ALL GET 6,OREGON ) YR APRONS RID+
HI<40
  ,MY M\? FELL OP54
  8,I'M ONLY TELL+ Y = YR [N GD40
  ,& 2F ,I CD ?9K (A SNAPPY REPLY1 %E 0
G"O4
  ,WELL4
  ,A2IE & ,I GOT A FULL TWO MILES \ (
,MAMIE'S SAY+ ?1 FURI\SLY REC.T+ \R \T-
RAGE Z WE WALK$4 ,! AUDAC;Y (! GIRL6
,LYDIA JO9$ U1 ?RILL$ 6LE>N %E'D BE5 IN-
CLUD$ 9 ! 9SULTS4
  8,>E Y SURE ,MAMIE M1NT ME TOO80 ,LY-
DIA ASK$ AG4
  8,WELL1 %E SD .SI/]S4 ,:O ELSE    #ABJ
CD %E M1N80 ,SU45LY ,I /OPP$ & RE,Y
LOOK$ AT H]4 8.,LY4IE6 ,:O .7 Y (F 9 !
D>K )80
  ,%E BLU%$ FURI\SLY1 HAPPILY4 8,JONT
,WILLIAMS40
  ,OH1 M]CY4 ,:5 DID \R ,LYDIA /OP 2+ A
LL GIRL8 ,I GUESS %E WASN'T LOOK+ S BONY
ANYMORE1 N[ T ,I TRULY PD ATT5;N4
  8,TELL ME AG10 ,A2IE DEM&$1 CLE>LY
HAV+ GIV5 UP ANY LA/ FEEL+S ( ADMIR,N
%E'D H>BOR$ = ,MAMIE4 8,TELL ME EXACTLY
:AT %E SD40
  ,H"O/LY1 WE DIDN'T %UT UP UNTIL T L;G1
MIS]A# HILL AT LA/ REQUIR$ ! FULL M1SURE
( \R 5]GY & ATT5;N4
  8,? IS ALL YR FAULT10 ,A2IE HU6$ & !N
MIMICK$ ME 9 S+S;G4 8,J %[ ME A HILL60
  8,I N"E SD '''0 ,I /OPP$ = BR1?1 8'''
,I NECESS>ILY WANT$ 6CLIMB X60 ,ANYWAY1
AT L1/ HILLS %[$ WE 7 GETT+ "S":4 ,IF WE
7 CLIMB+1 WE MI<T ACTU,Y 2 A# 6SEE F>!R
AH1D AT ! CRE/4
  ,B :5 ! WE>Y OX5 _H SNORT$ & BELL[$ &
/RU7L$ 6! SUMMIT1 ,I SCANN$ A FULL
CIRCLE & ''' CDN'T SEE A ?+4 ,X 0   #ABA
L WE 7 ON TOP (! _W4 ,S CLOSE 0 ! HORI-
ZON1 ! L& J SEEM$ 6DROP AWAY 96! SKY'S
BLUE OBLIVION4
  ,? PULL OV] ! RIDGE 2T ! ,S\? ,=K (!
,PLATTE &! ,NOR? 0 PROV+ Z DI6ICULT Z
ANY?+ WE'D YET 5C.T]$4 ,6MAKE X WORSE1 !
PILOTS L$ U ! WR;G WAY1 =C+ U 6D\# BACK
& M>* LATE 96! NI<T4 ,AF A MIS]A#1 WAT]-
.S CAMP1 WE FAC$1 AT "DLI<T1 ! DESC5T (
AN 9CL9E S /EEP WE _H 6R\<-COCK ! :EELS
& RIG ROPES 6EASE ! WAGONS D[N4
  ,B !N WE 7 REW>D$ ) >RIVAL AT ,A%
,HOLL[4 ,CL1N1 BURBL+ SPR+ WAT]6 ,TREES
BIG 5 6CA/ %ADE4 ,WILDFL[]S4 ,SPRUNG
FREE (! WAGONS1 WE RAN >.D L A GI4Y1
B\QUET-PICK+ PACK ( LUNATICS4
  ,TOO BAD ,JOHN ,NO# _H 6SPOIL X4
  8,I FEEL BAD AB :AT HAPP5$10 HE SD1
CORN]+ ME 9 ! M1D[4 8,Y "K1 AF ! D.E40
  8,DON'T WORRY AB X10 ,I SD LI<TLY1
PLUCK+ A YELL[ FL[]1 WOND]+ :E!R X WD
MAKE A DEC5T WOOL DYE4 ,I LOOK$ UP AT
,JOHN & SMIL$4 8,I =GIVE Y40 ,9 ? PL1S-
ANT PLACE1 ! SUNLI<T XF FELT L A KISS1 N
! USUAL DAILY PUNI%;T1 & PUT ME 9   #ABB
A 2NEVOL5T MOOD4 ,:O C>$ :AT P 7 SAY+8
,X 0 PROBABLY J ,MAMIE & H] "M ANYWAY4
  8,B1 ,LOVISA40 ,HE HESITAT$4 8,! ?+
IS1 Y KISS$ ME BACK40
  ,I /OOD UP /RAI<T1 BLU%$4
  8,MY PA SAYS ''' WELL1 GD GIRLS DON'T
D T40
  8,OH1 = ,PETE'S SAKE6 ,Y RAN & .TOLD
HM80 ,I :IRL$ & />T$ AWAY Z FA/ Z SKIRTS
DRA7+ 9 DEEP GRASS ALL[$1 !N /OPP$ &
TURN$ BACK4 8,G KISS ,MAMIE ,BR[N1 :Y
DON*A8 ,IF Y'RE LOOK+ 6GET SLAPP$1 ,I'M
SURE %E'D 2 HAPPY 6OBLIGE60
  ,I /OMP$ (F FUM+1 & AL? "S MI<T CALL
ME OV]-HA/Y ) MY DECI.NS1 T 0 X = ME "R
"! REG>D+ ,JOHN ,NO#4 ,I DIDN'T C>E IF
HE 0 MY ONLY HOPE =A SWEETHE>T4 ,A BOY
MAD ,I'D KISS$ HM6 ,& 0 HE MAD AT HMF1
PRAY TELL8 ,N S'S Y'D NOTICE4
  ,"S?+ TWI/$ AB T1 6MY M9D4 ,"S?+ D>K4

  ,WE CD H HAPPILY RE/$ AT ,A% ,HOLL[ A
:OLE WEEK1 B Z ,PA PO9T$ \1 A GD CAMP-
SITE "H 9 ,JUNE WDN'T D A ?+ 6/ALL (F ^?
E>LY SN[S 9 ! ,BLUE ,M.TA9S4        #ABC
  ,HURRY4 ,WE ALW _H 6HURRY4 ,WE _H TO
KEEP MOV+4
  ,M "DS ( DRE>Y MONOTONY Z ! ,NOR?
,PLATTE WE N[ FOLL[$ LOOK$ PRETTY M* L !
,S\?4 ,0 X POSSI# ! TALES ( MAGNIFIC5T
SC5]Y ON ! ROAD 6,OREGON 7 PURE HUMBUG8
  ,& !N ! T]RA9 2GAN 6*ANGE4
  ,F9,Y1 ^? CA/LES4 ,^? ANCI5T CITADELS
( : WE'D HE>D TELL4 ,I F.D MYF -PLETELY
5*ANT$ 0! TAWNY BLU6S & ROCKY CRAGS RIS+
UP AL;G ! ROAD4 ,I 0 A GIRL1 AF ALL1
:O'D N"E 2F LAID EYES ON A GEOGRAPHIC
F1TURE M DRAMATIC ?AN A HILL4 ,I WALK$
_M AN EXTRA MILE ) ^? :O *OSE 6CLIMB1 J
6CLAIM ! VIEW AH1D4
  ,"O ( ^? 0 ,JOHN ,NO#1 & AL? =! LIFE (
ME ,I CDN'T "U/& :Y1 X 0 NO "T AT ALL 2F
HE 0 ONCE AG FOLL[+ ME >.D4
  8,Y BETT] WAT* \10 ,I TOLD HM4 8,DON'T
WANT YR PA SEE+ Y GO+ (F )A BAD GIRL60
  ,HE R$D5$ Z IF BA6L$ 0HIS [N 3TRADIC-
TORY FEEL+S1 !N W5T "R ON DO7+ MY /EPS L
,I _H HM ON "S K9D ( HALT]4
  8,CDN'T WE J =GET ,I SD T80 HE PL1D$4
  8,OH1 NO1 X'S A S]I\S MATT]1 YR   #ABD
_SUAL WELF>E4 ,I CDN'T BE> 6H YR D[NFALL
ON MY 3SCI;E40
  ,MAYBE ? P]T TALK 0 J ME TRY+ 6COV] MY
[N UNEASI;S1 ?\<4 ,CD HE POSSIBLY 2 "R8
,0 ,I A BAD GIRL8 ,ONCE1 ,I BR"\ X UP TO
,S,Y4
  8,C ,I ASK Y "S?+80 ,I SD4
  8,WELL1 ( C\RSE40
  8,B X'S K9D ( ''' P]SONAL40
  8,LOVISA1 Y'RE MY .SI/]40
  8,ALL "R1 !N4 ,UM1 :5 ,R[L& KISSES Y1
D Y KISS HM BACK80
  8,LOVISA60 ,H] FACE W5T BEET R$4
  8,:AT80 ,I SD1 9/ANTLY MORTIFI$4 8,Y
TOLD ME ,I CD--0
  8,I DIDN'T "K Y M1NT A "Q L .T60
  ,WELL4 ,S1 MAYBE ,I .0 BAD4 ,Y C BET T
0 ! LA/ "T ,I S"\ ANY"O ELSE'S OP9ION ON
! SUBJECT6

  ,Z WE MOV$ WE/W>D1 ,I REVEL$ 9 ! WAY
NEW SC5ES UNFOLD$ DAILY4 ,E NI<T WE
CAMP$ AMID ! MO/ ROMANTIC & FANTA/IC,Y
%AP$ BLU6S4
  8,S,Y1 Y'VE GOT 6-E \ & LOOK AT   #ABE
! SUNSET10 ,I TOLD MY SI/] "O EV5+1
LIFT+ UP ! CANVAS AT ! SIDE (! WAGON4
  8,TOO TIR$40
  8,B X'S GLORI\S6 ,-E ON1 X'LL MAKE Y
FEEL BETT]40 ,S,Y WASN'T BUDG+1 POOR ?+4
  ,S ,I WAT*$ ) ,ME7IE Z ! SLANT+ RAYS
TRANS=M$ ! BLU6S 96! COPP]Y DOMES ( AN-
CI5T CITIES1 & 9 GRT MAJE/Y ! R$ SUN
SANK4
  8,SEE1 ,ME7IE8 ,X'S L A B1CON4 ,L !
SUN IS SAY+1 ..,YES1 ? WAY4 ,KEEP -+ ?
WAY4 .,WE/40

  ,& !N T "O "PICUL>LY MEMORA# "D4 ,X 0
HOT & GL>+1 & ,I _H J CLIMB$ 6! WAGON
S1T 6TRADE PLACES TAK+ C>E (! *N & LET
,S,Y WALK A:ILE4 ,Z ! WAGON HAUL$ UP ON-
TO A RISE AF=D+ A VIEW ACR MILES (
PLA9S1 ,I SAW X &--M]CY--TE>S SPRANG 6MY
EYES4 ,^W.SLY1 ,I SEIZ$ ,S,Y'S =E>M4
,"!1 AG/ A B& ( \TCROPP+S AT ! HORIZON
ROSE T MO/ CELEBRAT$ ROCK SPIRE "S TRAP-
P]S _H "ND ! *IMNEY1 A S+UL> =M,N PO9T+
HUNDR$S ( FEET 96! H1V5S1 GL[+ A PALE
GOLD4                               #ABF
  8,LOVISA1 :AT IS X80 ,S,Y SD1 SEE+ ME
S MOV$1 LOOK+ 6,*IMNEY ,ROCK H]F 6SEE
:AT SIGNIFIC.E %E M/ H MISS$4
  ,I %OOK MY H1D1 J />+ AT ! L&M>K4 ,=A
MO;T1 ,I H"O/LY CDN'T SP1K4
  8,:AT'S WR;G80 ,ME7IE :ISP]$4
  ,H] GRAVE 3C]N BROKE ! SPELL & ,I
LAU<$1 LIFT+ ! CORN] ( MY APRON 6DAB AT
MY EYES4 8,NO?+1 SWEETHE>T4 ,TRULY6 ,X'S
J T ''' !Y TOLD U ,*IMNEY ,ROCK 0 \ "H &
''' WELL1 "! X IS60
  ,S,Y SMIL$ QUIZZIC,Y4 8,Y 7 WORRI$ X
WDN'T BE80
  ,ALL "R1 ,I WDN'T TRY 6EXPLA94 ,B 6HE>
(A ?+1 "S?+ "EY"O TALKS AB1 & !N 6F9,Y
SEE X ) YR [N EYES '''
  ,R[L& _H HALT$ )! OX51 & ,I SAW 9 8
/.E T HE1 TOO1 _H BE5 OV]TAK5 0? SAME
UNEXPECT$ ?RILL4
  ,S,Y 0 TRY+ 6FREE A LOCK ( H] HAIR F
,JIMMY'S FI/ :5 ,R[L& LOOK$ BACK1 S M9E
7 ! EYES 8 MET4
  ,X 0 UNSETTL+ "SH[4 ,"L "KS ,I DIDN'T
WANT 6BE 9 AGREE;T ) HM ON ANY?+1 ALM
DIDN'T FEEL ,I %D4 ,L X WASN'T Q    #ABG
"R T HE & ,I %D FEEL ! SAME AB A ?+ :ILE
,S,Y WASN'T EV5 PAY+ ATT5;N4 ,B "! 0 NO
D5Y+ WE 7 /RUCK 0! SAME NO;N1 T ? 0 "SH[
AN IMPORTANT MO;T4 ,! RUTS (A ?\S& :EELS
_H 3/ANTLY BE5 3FIRM+ WE 7 ON ! "R ROAD4
,/1 ? =M,N1 APPE>+ Z PROMIS$1 0 REASSUR+
9 A WAY T'S H>D 6EXPLA94 ,! SI<T ( ,*IM-
NEY ,ROCK SEEM$ 6(F] VISI# PRO( T "EY?+
0 GO+ 6BE ALL "R1 & WE WD R1* ,OREGON 9
DUE C\RSE1 J Z WE PLANN$4
  ,ME7IE 0 />+ UP AT ME1 F> M 9TRIGU$ BY
MY REAC;N ?AN 0,*IMNEY ,ROCK XF4 ,NO
WOND]4 ,I PROBABLY DID LOOK A BIT SIM-
PLEM9D$1 WEEP+ OV] A ROCK6
  ,N[ ,S,Y CLIMB$ D[N 6WALK 2S ,R[L&4
  8,GEE UP60 HE CRI$1 &! WAGON ROLL$ =-
W>D4 ,Z WE W5T 96A DIP &! SPIRE SANK 2L
! HORIZON 9 T ODD WAY ?+S 4TANT W1 ,MEG-
GIE /RAI<T5$ 9 AL>M4
  8,X'S G"O60
  8,OH1 NO10 ,I SD4 8,X'S / "!4 ,J 2C Y
C'T SEE "S?+1 DOESN'T M1N X'S N "!4 ,J
WAIT4 ,Y'LL SEE40

                                    #ABH
  ,= TWO FULL "DS ,*IMNEY ,ROCK WD REMA9
TANTALIZ+LY 9 SI<T & YET 3T9U,Y 4TANT1 Z
IF "S UNSE5 H& 7 PULL+ X AWAY AT \R AP-
PROA*4 ,F9,Y WE 2GAN 6GRASP H[ ! FAI?;L
OX5 _H 9DE$ BE5 PULL+ ! WAGONS GRADU,Y
HI<] 9 ELEV,N EA* "D1 = UP "H ! ATMOS-
PH]E 0 ?9 & 4ORI5T+4 ,AT "O PO9T WE N]V-
\SLY KEPT WAT* ON A B& ( ,9DIANS AH1D1
ONLY 6H !M SPR1D W+S & RISE 96T DECEP-
TIVELY CLE> AIR4 ,TURN$ \ 6BE A FLOCK (
CR[S6
  ,A "D PA/ ,*IMNEY ,ROCK WE >RIV$ AT !
MO/ MASSIVE =M,N YET1 ,SCOTT'S ,BLUFF4
,A LAY-BY "D 0 PLANN$1 & AT DAWN1 A
SMALL B& ( U 2GAN XS ASC5T4 ,AMOS & ,ME-
L9DA L$ ! WAY4 ,2H ME CAME ,SOL1 ,PRICE1
,LYDIA1 ,JONT ,WILLIAMS1 & ,JOHN ,NO#4
  ,CLIMB+ T /EEP1 EA/SIDE TRAIL1 ! SUN
W>M+ MY BACK1 ,I _H N"E FELT S ALIVE4
,PAUS+ 6GL.E OV] MY %\LD]1 ,I R1LIZ$ H[
SPECTACUL>LY HI< WE 7 GO+ 6BE4 ,:Y1 F !
TOP A P]SON WD PROBABLY 2 A# 6SEE ALL !
WAY WE/6 ,MY HE>T P.D$1 MY LUNGS PUMP$ )
EXHIL>,N4 ,= "S R1SON1 ,I F.D MYF
REMEMB]+ FOLKS BACK 9 ,MISS\RI :O   #ABI
CALL$ U FOOLI% = H1D+ \ ON ? TRIP4 ,:AT
WD !Y ?9K 6SEE U N[8 ,LOOK AT ME1 ,I 0
?9K+4 ,I1 ,LOVISA ,K+1 AM ACTU,Y CLIMB+
? M.TA94
  ,I FELT LUCKY 6BE GETT+ AWAY ) X4 ,R[-
L& _H WORRI$ ,S,Y WD 2 NE$+ MY HELP T
"D1 & ,S,Y H]F FE>$ ,I'D FALL & HURT
MYF4 ,MA SD X SEEM$ L A WA/E ( 5]GY1 B
,PA /UCK UP = ME4 8,LOVISA'S GOT FEET L
^? M.TA9 GOATS !Y TALK (10 HE SD4 8,%E'S
N GO+ 6FALL4 ,& IF !Y'RE WILL+ 6CLIMB =!
VIEW1 LET 'EM4 ,J ! SORT ( ?+ "Y FOLKS
"\ 6D1 & ,I'D SAY N['S _! *.E4 ,I SURE
DON'T EXPECT 6BE HAUL+ !M ? WAY AG40
  ,AMOS & ,MEL9DA R1*$ ! TOP F/4
  8,:AT C Y SEE80 ,I CALL$ AH1D4
  ,ANY ANSW] GIV5 0 LO/ ON ! W9D T RAT-
TL$ ! SCRU2Y P9ES CL++ 6! ROCKY BLUFF
CRE/1 & 9 A MO;T ,I _H SCRAM#D \ ONTO !
OP5+ ON ! SUMMIT MYF4 ,"L1 WE 7 WAY UP 9
! SKY6
  ,BR1?+ H>D1 ,I TURN$ WE/4
  ,I SQU9T$4
  ,NO?+4
  ,I RU2$ MY EYES1 SCANN$ ! :OLE    #ACJ
HORIZON4 ,MILES & MILES ,I CD SEE1 M (!
E>? ?AN ,I'D "E 9 MY LIFE TAK5 9 AT "O
"T4 ,B X 0 ALL S DEPRESS+LY FLAT4 ,I
SI<$1 SA7+ ) SU45 FATIGUE4
  8,>E Y ALL "R80 ,JOHN ASK$4
  ,I NO4$1 SL[LY REGA9+ MY BR1?4
  8,AMAZ+ VIEW10 HE SD4 8,WAT]80 ,HE (-
F]$ ME 8 CANTE54
  ,I TOOK A SWALL[1 GAVE X BACK4
  8,LOVISA6 ,:AT ! DEVIL'S ! MATT]80
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,I SD4 8,I GUESS ,I J
?"\1 GETT+ UP ? HI<1 WE'D SEE ! ,ROCK-
IES4 ,OR ."S?+4 ,I ?"\ WE'D SEE WE 7
GETT+ "S":40
  ,I NOTIC$ ,JONT ,WILLIAMS TAK+ ,LY-
DIA'S H&1 & ,I QK TUCK$ MY [N H&S "U MY
>MS 9 CASE ,JOHN TRI$ ! SAME4
  ,SOL PO9T$4 8,LOOK OV] "!4 ,ISN'T T A
M.TA980
  8,L>AMIE ,P1K10 ,AMOS 3FIRM$4
  ,I SQU9T$1 MAK+ \ A FA9T TRIANGLE 9 !
F>!/ 4T.E4
  ,TGR WE ALL /OOD "!1 SIL5TLY 3TEMPLAT+
! VA/ EXPANSE OV] : \R WAGONS WD SOON 2
ROLL+4 ,! W9D SI<$ =LORNLY 9 !      #ACA
NE$LES (! TWI/$ P9ES4
  ,I C'T SAY :AT ! O!RS 7 ?9K+4 ,I SUP-
POSE X'S N IMPOSSI# !Y FELT "S S5SE (
TRIUMPH = HAV+ CLIMB$ S HI<4
  ,B = MYF1 R1*+ ! TOP _H ONLY %[N ME J
H[ SMALL WE RE,Y W]E4 ,I FELT DEF1T$ 0!
4T.E 2F U4 ,I 0 ?9K+ T ! ,WE/ 0 A :OLE
LOT BI7] ?AN ,I _H "E IMAG9$4
  ,& T WE / _H A 4MAY+LY L;G WAYS 6G4















                                    #ACB
























                  ,N9E              #ACC

  8,A DOLL> A Y>D60 ,A2IE :ISP]$ 9 4GU/1
%OV+ ! DU/Y BOLT ( BLUE CALICO BACK ONTO
! TRAD+ PO/ %ELF4 8,& POOR /UFF TOO40
  ,=T ,L>AMIE'S ADOBE -P.D _H BE5 A
?RILL+ SI<T 6EYES T _HN'T SE5 ! /RAI<T
L9ES (A MAN-MADE BUILD+ 9 SIX L;G WEEKS4
,B ,PA _H BE5 "R 9 W>N+ U WE'D LIKELY 2
4APPO9T$ 0! TRADE GDS (F]$4 ,N 6M5;N !
PRICES4
  8,LOOK "H10 ,I SD1 9DIGNANT4 8,SUG>'S
A DOLL> A P.D6 ,C(FEE TOO40
  8,Y'RE N BUY+ ANY1 >E Y80
  8,WELL40 ,! C(FEE SMELL$ S GD4 8,R[L&
DID GIVE ME TWO DOLL>S 6GET "S4 ,I EX-
PECT HE ?"\ X WD G FUR!R1 ?\<40
  8,R[L& GAVE Y M"OY 6SP5D8 ,M]CY1 ,JOHN
WDN'T TRU/ ME )A NICKEL40
  ,I SUPPOSE X 0 NICE ( ,R[L&1 SAY+ IF
"S SUG> & C(FEE WD P]K U UP1 HE DIDN'T
2GRUDGE ! M"OY4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 X 0 MY [N
,PA'S M"OY ON LOAN 6HM4 ,:Y %D ,I H TO
FEEL 2HOLD58
  ,A2IE & ,I PD = \R PUR*ASES & LEFT4
  ,\TSIDE1 BROK5-D[N WAGONS 7       #ACD
H1P$ L S _M SKELETAL C>CASSES AG/ "O (!
=T'S CORN] T[]S4 ,LOTS ( FOLKS L !
,BR[NS :O'D 9SI/$ ON />T+ \ F ,/4 ,JOE )
H1VY WAGONS N[ S"\ 6TRADE = LI<T] "OS4
,MR4 ,BR[N -PLA9$ 6,PA AB ! SMALL AM.T
!Y'D BE5 (F]$1 9SI/+ T1 Z "O ( \R L1D]S1
,PA "\ 6MAKE ! =T P PAY FAIR4 ,B ,PA
TOLD HM ! PRICE .0 FAIR4 ,"H AT ,=T ,L>-
AMIE1 ! VALUE (A ,3E/OGA T CDN'T MAKE X
OV] ! M.TA9S 0 J AB EQUAL 6! PRICE ( S
M* FIREWOOD4
  ,I GUESS IF Y'RE ! ONLY TRAD+ PO/ =
HUNDR$S ( MILES1 Y C *>GE :AT Y WANT &
PAY :AT Y WANT TOO4
  ,ALL >.D U ! GR.DS /IRR$ )! -+S & GO+S
( EMIGRANTS1 TRAPP]S1 & ,9DIANS4 ,HUN-
DR$S ( WAGONS ( V>I\S -PANIES 7 CLU/]$ 9
CAMPS ON ! BOTTOML& L9+ ! ,L>AMIE ,RIV]4
,ON ! =T'S SIDE1 ! ,SI\X _H ERECT$ VIL-
LAGES ( PA9T-DECORAT$ TIPIS4 ,I VE]$
T[>D !M 6LOOK AT ! TRADE GDS !Y'D SPR1D
\ 9 FRONT4
  ,A2IE HESITAT$4 8,Y'RE GO+ OV] "!80
  8,I WANT 6MAKE A TRADE40
  8,Y'RE SURE X'S ALL "R80          #ACE
  8,PA SD ,I CD4 ,SD J 2 SM>T AB X1 &
DON'T 2 EXPECT+ "S?+ = NO?+4 ,^! ,SI\X
>E %>P40
  ,I F.D !M AL ! H&"S/ ,NATIVES WE'D YET
SE54 ,I M* ADMIR$ _! PR\D BE>+ & ELE-
GANTLY FA%ION$ DE]SK9 CLO!S4 ,Z WE PASS$
AM;G !M1 ! RAV5-HAIR$ WOM5 SMIL$ & BECK-
ON$ %YLY 6U1 P]FECTLY FRLY & EAG] 6D
BUSI;S4
  8,^! >E :AT ,I'M GO+ 6NE$10 ,I TOLD
,A2IE1 PICK+ UP A PAIR ( B1D$ BUCKSK9
MO3AS9S4 8,LOOK AT ?40 ,I HIK$ MY SKIRT
6%[ ! SAD /ATE ( :AT _H />T$ \ Z ! /UR-
DIE/ FOOTWE> ON ! ,MISS\RI FRONTI]4 8,I
DON'T "U/&4 ,H[ C WE 2 ONLY A ?IRD (!
WAY 6,OREGON IF MY F/ PAIR ( BOOTS IS
ALR %OT80
  8,WELL1 M9E >E TOO40 ,A2IE /UCK H]
BATT]$ BOOT \ = -P>ISON4
  8,B ,PA FIGUR$ TWO PAIR EA*4 ,%DN'T WE
2 HALFWAY80 ,& ,I WASN'T SAY+ ? 9 JE/6
,OH1 LOOK+ BACK1 ,I WD N"E 2LIEVE H[
TRU/+ ,I'D BE54 ,I N"E SAW MY [N 9NOC;E1
H[ P]FECT & UN%AKA# _H BE5 MY FAI? 9 MY
"F'S PLANN+4                        #ACF
  8,I'M N SURE AB ^!1 ?\<10 ,A2IE SD1
EXAM9+ ! MO3AS9S4 8,>E !Y ?ICK 5\<8 ,!Y
DON'T RE,Y H PROP] H>D SOLES40
  8,WELL1 X'S :AT .!Y WE>4 ,Y DON'T SEE
!M LIMP+ >.D ) BLI/]S L \R FOLKS1 D Y8
,I RECKON !Y "K :AT "WS BE/ \ "H40
  ,N[ ,I TOOK F MY BAG ! MUSL9 %IRT ,I'D
MADE BACK 9 ,MISS\RI = ? V PURPOSE4 ,"O
( ,PA'S OV]L& TRAVEL PAMPHLETS _H SU7E/$
%IRTS Z A LIKELY TRADE ITEM4 ,I REMEMB]$
SITT+ 0! FIRE "O W9T] NI<T1 SEW+ ON !
LA/ BUTTONS1 WOND]+ ": ,I'D 2 :5 ,I W5T
6TRADE X & :AT ,I'D 2 TRY+ 6BUY4 ,N[ "H
,I 0 AT ,=T ,L>AMIE1 FAC+ A SP>KL+-EY$
"Y ,9DIAN "M ) L1!R-B&$ BRAIDS4
  ,I CD TELL %E 0 IMPRESS$ ) MY NE$LE"W1
B L ,PA SD1 !Y 7 %>P TRAD]S4 ,A %[ ( EN-
?USIASM WDN'T D4 ,X DIDN'T HELP H]
CAUSE1 ?\<1 :5 ! O!R ,9DIAN WOM5 NE>BY
NOTIC$ MY %IRT & />T$ MO;N+ ,A2IE & ME
6LOOK AT _! GDS4 ,I "PICUL>LY ADMIR$ ?
GIRL'S MO3AS9S1 ?\<4 ,9 ! 5D1 ) LL -MON
LANGUAGE = B>T]+1 %E & ,I SIMPLY MADE X
A /RAI<T TRADE & 7 BO? PL1S$1 ,I ?9K1 TO
L1VE X AT T4                        #ACG
  8,DID Y NOTICE H] PAPOOSE80 ,A2IE SD Z
SOON Z WE 7 \ (! GIRL'S HE>+4 8,X _H
BLUE EYES40
  ,I NO4$4
  8,WELL1 T M1NS %E M/ H A :ITE HUSB&4
,"O (! TRAPP]S40
  8,I 2LIEVE T'S -MON1 ,A2IE4 ,Y NE$N'T
LOOK$ S %OCK$40
  8,B1 DIDN'T X />TLE Y8 ,^? EYES80
  8,I SUPPOSE10 ,I ADMITT$4 ,X MADE ME
?9K ( T L9E 9 ! ,%5&OAH S;G AB ! :ITE
MAN LOV+ ! ,9DIAN MAID54 ,X WASN'T H>D
6SEE :Y4 ,"S (! ,9DIAN GIRLS 7 Q -ELY4
,& !Y SEEM$ S CALM4 ,? 0 _! C.TRY4 ,!Y
KNEW H[ 6D = _! HUSB&S & *N \ "H4 ,!Y
DIDN'T H T T5SE1 HALF-FRANTIC LOOK Y SAW
ON ! FACES ( S _M ( \R WOM54 ,! ,SI\X
PROBABLY W]5'T ALW WORRI$ & ASK+ !MVS WD
"! 2 5 FOOD8 ,WD "! 2 5 WAT]8 ,WD !
PAT*$-TGR WAGON :EEL BR1K AG TD8

  8,LOOK AT ? NE$LE"W10 ,I SD1 %[+ !
MO3AS9S 6,S,Y :5 ,I GOT BACK 6! WAGON4
,S* N1T1 TI<T /IT*+1 S* C>E TAK5 9 !
9TRICATE PATT]N ( B1DS4 ,SURELY     #ACH
^! FL[]S 7 Z CL"ELY EXECUT$ Z ANY :ITE
WOMAN'S EMBROID]Y4 8,MAKES Y WOND]1
DOESN'T X80 ,I SD4 8,H[ FOLKS CALL !M
SAVAGES80
  ,B MY SI/] WASN'T LI/5+ AT ALL4 ,ONLY
N[ DID ,I NOTICE ,I'D 9T]RUPT$ H] ,BI#
R1D+4
  8,S,Y40 ,I SET ! MO3AS9S ASIDE4
8,:AT'S WR;G8 ,:AT'S HAPP5$80
  ,%E SI<$4 8,! ,VICK]S GIRLS40
  ,I CAU<T MY BR1?4 ,ILL = WEEKS1 ^! LL
"OS _H BE5 ! 3C]N (! 5TIRE -PANY4
  8,DID !Y--80
  ,S,Y NO4$4 8,IN ! MI4LE (! NI<T40
  ,I LOOK$ (F 6! L[ HILLS R++ U4 8,N ALL
( !M '''80
  8,WELL1 ,ELL5 W LIVE1 !Y ?9K1 !Y HOPE1
B ,KATIE &! BABY '''0
  ,I D>T$ A FE>;L GL.E AT ,ME7IE1 :O 0
SQUATT+ ) ,HOPE'S LL ,ISAAC1 SCRAT*+ !
DU/ )A /ICK4
  8,I *ECK$ H]10 ,S,Y SD1 PATT+ ,JIMMY4
8,NO SIGN4 ,POOR ?+1 %E'S S TIR$ ( ME
LOOK+ = M1SLES E O!R M9UTE4 ,OH1 ,I M/
SEEM L A CRAZY WOMAN 6Y1 ,LOVISA4   #ACI
,B Y C'T IMAG9E H[ X FEELS4 ,ONCE Y H ^!
LL "OS1 ! ?"\ ( ANY?+ HAPP5+ 6!M ''' ,Y
FEEL Y'D DIE YRF40
  ,I NO4$4 ,%E 0 "R4 ,I DIDN'T "K H[ X
FELT4 ,N ! WAY A P]SON "KS A ?+ :5 X'S
HAPP5+ 6H]4 ,B ,I'D 2COME ATTA*$ 5 TO
,ME7IE & ,JIMMY N[ T ,I CD 2G9 6IMAG9E4
  8,DID Y "K X 0 M1SLES ,JAMES DI$ (80
,S,Y SD4 8,BACK :5 ,I 0 J F\R OR FIVE80
  ,JAMES 0 ! BRO!R :O'D H BE5 2T U 9
AGE1 ! "O AF :OM ,S,Y "ND H] [N ,JIMMY4
,I KNEW ONLY T HE'D BE5 TAK5 0A SICK;S (
"S SORT4
  8,I REMEMB] HM DY+ Z PLA9 Z ANY?+10
,S,Y SD4 8,T'S H[ ,I "K ! LL "OS L ,MEG-
GIE "U/& A LOT M ( :AT'S HAPP5+ ?AN MO/
FOLKS GIVE !M CR$IT =4 ,T'S :Y WE H 6BE
BRAVE 9 FRONT ( !M40
  ,I NO4$4
  8,I J FEEL S HELP.S10 %E W5T ON1 H]
VOICE SU45LY CLOSE 6BR1K+4 8,I FEEL L
ALL ,I C D IS PRAY40
  ,I /OOD "! A MO;T1 FEEL+ HELP.S MYF4
,!N1 AWKW>DLY1 ,I PATT$ H] H&4 .,Y
.PRAY1 ,I ?"\4 ..,I'LL D ! .LAUN-   #ADJ
DRY4 ,S,Y'S PRAY]S _H A BETT] *.E ?AN
M9E ( R1*+ ,GOD'S E> ANYWAY4 ,HE C]TA9LY
HE>D F H] M (T54

  ,AT ! RIV]1 ,A2IE 0 ALR B>E->M$1 "W+
ON A PILE ( DIRTY DUDS F ,JOHN & ,SU-
SAN'S WAGON4 ,%E1 TOO1 _H J HE>D AB !
,VICK]S GIRLS4
  8,I CDN'T /& X IF T HAPP5$ 6,LEXIE10
%E SD4
  ,I NO4$1 ROLL+ UP MY SLEEVES4 ,I PULL$
\ "O ( ,R[L&'S %IRTS & SLAPP$ X ON MY
WA%BO>D4
  ,! ,L>AMIE RE,Y 0 ! NICE/ LL RIV]1 !
F/ WAT] RUNN+ "R D[N F ! M.TA9S &A M*-
APPRECIAT$ *ANGE F ! ,PLATTE4 ,! SUN
W>M$ \R BACKS4 ,ABV ! RIV]'S S(T GURGLE1
! TWITT]+ ( BIRDS1 &! MU6L$ BITS ( *IT-
*AT F ! O!R WOM5 SCRU2+ _! ?+S UP/R1M1
WE CD HE> ! NOISE F ! BLACKSMI? %OP4 ,\R
-PANY _H R5T$ ! FACIL;Y =! 5TIRE "D1 &!
R+ ( HAMM] ON ANVIL WD N 2 /OPP+4 ,_M (!
OX5 NE$$ NEW %OES4
  8,DID Y HE> :AT ,SOL 0 SAY+80 ,A2IE
ASK$4 8,T "S TRAPP]S >E (F]+ TO     #ADA
TAKE LRS BACK EA/80
  ,I NO4$4 ,I'D SE5 ,ANNIE P]*$ ON H]
WAGON T;GUE1 "W+ A P5CIL 6A NUB4 8,Y
WRIT+ 6,ROB80
  ,A2IE ROCK$ BACK ON H] HAUN*ES4
  8,ROB80 ,I SD1 NE$L+ H] A BIT4 8,ROB
:O CDN'T BE> 6SAY F>EWELL80
  8,OH1 /OP X4 ,H[ 0 ,I SUPPOS$ 6"K H[ X
WD 2 ) ,PRICE80
  8,S Y'RE N WRIT+80
  8,I ?"\ AB X1 B H[ CD ,I 2G9 6EXPLA9
"EY?+ T'S HAPP5$8 ,& ANY?+ ,I WRITE TD
MI<T N EV5 2 TRUE 0! "T HE R1DS X4 ,T'S
:AT HAPP5$ 6,SUSAN4 ,%E'S GOT A :OLE
PACKET ( LRS = H] "M1 B N[ %E DOESN'T
WANT 6S5D ! F/ "OS4 ,SAYS !Y S.D TOO
SAD4 ,%E'S WRIT+ A NEW "O 6SAY H[ WELL
,LEXIE'S DO+1 H[ ,JOHN CALLS H] 8 LL
,GIRL (! ,GOLD5 ,WE/40
  ,I /OOD & BRAC$ MY H&S AG/ MY BACK4
8,LUCKY = ME1 ,I DON'T H 6WORRY AB X4
,NOBODY BACK "!'S WAIT+ 6HE> F ME 9 ! F/
PLACE4 ,AL? "!'S A FEW ,I'D L 6WRITE &
SAY1 ,8,TOO BAD = Y1 WE'RE N D1D YET60'0
  8,LOVISA60                        #ADB
  ,I B5T BACK 6MY TASK4 ,GRATE;L Z ,I 0
=A NICE LAUNDRY SPOT1 WA%+ CLO!S REMA9$
AN ODI\S *ORE1 EV5 ?\< WE'D L;G AGO GIV5
UP ANY ?"\ ( H1T+ WAT]1 BL1*+1 />*+1 OR1
H1V5 =BID1 GETT+ \ ! FLATIRONS4 ,/1 AL?
? 0 J A "PIAL EF=T1 ? QK R9SE 9 ! RIV]1
X 4MAY$ ME1 "U/&+ N[ H[ FA/ \R "W WD 2
UND"O4
  8,REMEMB] T "D AT ! ,/4 ,JOE L&+10 ,I
SD1 8:5 ,LEXIE & ,ME7IE _H ON ^? BR&
CL1N P9A=ES & WE 7 J SITT+ "! WAT*+ !M
SPLA% >.D 9 ! MUD80
  ,A2IE NO4$ %EEPI%LY4
  ,I %OOK MY H1D4 8,I DON'T "K :Y ,SUSAN
DIDN'T SMACK U60
  8,SAY10 ,A2IE SD4 8,SEE T GIRL 9 !
BR[N BONNET8 ,! "O D[N "! ON ! FLAT ROCK
)! WA%TUB8 ,:5 ,I CAME 6GET WAT] ? MORN-
+1 %E 0 "H & %E />T$ TELL+ ,SUSAN'S
SNAKE /ORY L X HAPP5$ 9 .H] -PANY40
  8,NO6 ,RE,Y80
  8,YES1 ONLY X 0 TWO SNAKES1 & "O 0 ALR
WRAPP$ >.D ! LL GIRL'S LEG40
  8,Y M1N ,LEXIE80
  8,WELL1 YES1 B %E DIDN'T SAY      #ADC
,LEXIE1 ( C\RSE4 ,B ! RE/ (! DETAILS 7 S
CLOSE--! "M *OPP+ ! SNAKE & ALL--,I J
KNEW X 0 ! SAME /ORY S ,I SD1 ,8,WAIT1 ?
HAPP5$ 9 .YR -PANY8 ,Y SAW X80' ,& !N1 (
C\RSE1 %E ADMITS X 0 ANO!R -PANY B SWE>S
H] GD FR SAW ! :OLE ?+60
  ,I %OOK MY H1D4 ,P SURE D LOVE PASS+
ON A GD /ORY4 ,TRUE OR N1 !Y DON'T C>E4
,0! "T ? "O CAME >.D AG1 X WDN'T SUR-
PRISE ME 6HE> TELL ( .?REE SNAKES &
,LEXIE Z A GOLD5-HAIR$ B1UTY ( SIXTE54
,&( C\RSE "!'D 2 "S :O CDN'T TELL X AT
ALL )\T "W+ 9 A WAY 6BLAME ! :OLE ?+ ON
! ,9DIANS6

  ,T EV5+ WE _H -PANY AT \R CAMPFIRE1 A
GRIZZL$ OLD TRAPP] ,PA 9VIT$ 6%>E SUPP]4
,PHEW6 ,I'LL BET ? FELL[ _HN'T SAT HMF 9
A T9 TUB S9CE AB ! "T HE LET 8 L;G HAIR
& BE>D />T GR[+ UNCUT4 ,& 8 SK9 0 J A
WOND]1 L T\<1 DEEP-TANN$ L1!R4 ,I MET 8
/A9$-TOO!D GR9 )A SMILE Z ,I SPOON$ \ 8
%>E ( BU6ALO /EW1 B ,I DCL1 ,I 0 HOLD+
MY BR1? :ILE ,I DID X4
  ,"EY"O 0 TELL+ TALES ( TRAD+ )!   #ADD
,SI\X & -P>+ ! D1LS !Y'D MADE4 ,! CL"E-
E/1 6MY ?9K+1 0 ,SUSAN'S PUR*ASE (A F9E
LL B1D$ PURSE 6S5D HOME 6H] "M4 ,!
PRICE8 ,"O T9Y SEW+ NE$LE1 : WEI<$ NO?+
& TOOK UP NO SPACE4 ,WE %D H BR"\ PACK-
ETS & PACKETS4
  8,WE HE>D ! ,SI\X'LL TRADE PONIES =
GIRLS10 ,SOL SD1 /RAI<T FAC$1 & !N A4$ )
A W9K4 8,WE 7 ?9K+ ( TRAD+ ,LOVISA40
  8,V FUNNY1 "Y MAN10 ,I SD1 SWI%+ PA/
HM4 8,NO EXTRA HELP+S = Y40
  8,N ,LOVISA1 ?\<60 ,AMOS SD4 8,GOD
,ALMI<TY6 ,WE'D H ! :OLE ,SI\X N,N
TRAIL+ U1 TRY+ 6TRADE H] BACK60
  ,MY *EEKS BLAZ$ Z ALL MY BRO!RS _H A
GRT LAU<4 ,! OLD TRAPP] TOO4
  8,F9E BUN* ( G5TLEMAN10 ,MR4 ,FULL]
SD1 GR9N+4 8,:AT A WAY 6TR1T YR SI/]40
  8,NO?+ B ! TRU? "H10 ,AMOS SD4 8,TRY+
6M>RY ? "O (F HAS PURELY BE5 A TRIAL4
,"R1 ,PA80
  8,WELL10 MY "F SD1 8%E DOES H A HABIT
( MAK+ ME TURN AWAY H] SUITORS40
  8,ONLY TWO60 ,I PROTE/$4 ,2SS ,MR4
,COLL9S "!'D BE5 T PR1*] MAN4 ,Z    #ADE
IF ,I'D MAKE ANY K9D (A PR1*]'S WIFE6
,H"O/LY1 X 0 J 2Y ME H[ A MAN CD SPOT A
GIRL SLOPP+ HOGS & F "O LOOK TAKE UP !
NO;N ( M>RY+ H]4 ,Z IF HAIR ! "R *E/NUT
%ADE OR A WAI/ T NIPP$ 9 J S 0 ALL T
MATT]$4
  8,PA ALW TELLS 'EM HE'S N A MAN C /&
HAV+ A MULE RETURN$10 ,AMOS W5T ON1
8LIKEWISE A /U2ORN DAU<T]60
  ,MY M\? FELL OP54 ,I LIFT$ ! LADLE Z
IF 6/RIKE1 H>DLY "K+ :E!R 6LAU< ) !M OR
2 MAD4
  8,OH1 WE'RE J JO%+1 H"OY10 ,PA SD4
  8,SURE10 ,AMOS SD4 8,& DON'T WORRY4
,PA'D N"E TAKE Y BACK60
  ,BLU%+ FURI\SLY1 ,I KEPT LADL+ ! /EW4
,! BANT] DID FEEL A6EC;NATE "SH[1 ?\<1 &
:5 ,I GL.ED AT ,A2IE1 ,I'D H SWORN %E
LOOK$ L %E WI%$ .%E 7 ! "O 2+ T1S$4
  ,:5 ^W GOT \ WE 7 5T]TA9+ ? BUCKSK9-
CLAD AU?OR;Y ON ! T]RITORY AH1D1 FOLKS F
O!R WAGONS />T$ DRIFT+ OV] 6GET 9 ON 8
/ORIES4 ,EV5 ,MAMIE ,BR[N CAME M9C+ AL;G
2H H] FOLKS4
  ,9DIANS4 ,T'S :AT "EY"O WANT$     #ADF
6HE> AB4 ,:AT CD WE EXPECT8 ,_H "! BE5
REPORTS ( ATTACKS ON WAGON TRA9S AH1D8
  ,! TRAPP] WAV$ AWAY ^! 3C]NS4 8,M BOYS
GETT9' %OT 0_! [N GUNS ?AN KILL$ 0,9DI-
ANS4 ,9DIANS WON'T GIVE Y ANY TR\#40
  8,Y DON'T CALL X TR\#10 ,MR4 ,BR[N SD1
8/1L+ \R HORSES80
  ,! TRAPP] LAU<$1 MAYBE "PLY 9 SUR-
PRISE4 ,MR4 ,BR[N _H AN O4LY HI< VOICE =
S* A BIG MAN4 ,I "S"TS WOND]$ IF HE MADE
A PO9T ( TALK+ T\< J 6TRY C.T]+ ! E6ECT4
  8,G /1L 'EM BACK10 ! TRAPP] SD4 8,J A
GAME 6!M4 ,!Y DON'T M1N NO H>M40
  ,MR4 ,BR[N BRI/L$1 & EV5 ,PA DIDN'T
LOOK L HE FELT T]RIBLY =GIV+ T[>D ! ,IN-
DIANS4 ,X ._H BE5 ANNOY+1 ? REC5T ?IEV-
]Y4 ,& !Y 7 J S GD AT X4 ,:Y1 ,JOHN ,NO-
#'D _H 8 HORSE TE!R$ 6HIS [N WRI/ :ILE
HE SLEPT1 &A "Y BRAVE _H MANAG$ 6LOOSE X
)\T EV5 WAK+ HM4 ,F> TOO M* "T _H BE5
SP5T *AS+ AF ! MISS+ LIVE/OCK2 F> TOO M*
_H BE5 PD 6,9DIANS 9 8F9D]'S FEES40
  8,NO D5Y+ ,9DIANS C 2 PESKY10 ! TRAPP]
W5T ON4 8,B /1L+'S N ! SAME ?+ 6!M4 ,X'S
N A S91 X'S A SKILL4 ,%[S :O'S      #ADG
CL"EE/4 ,FELL[ :AT'S HOLD+ ! HORSES "R ?
M9UTE IS ! [N]1 SIMPLE Z T40
  8,/1L+'S /1L+10 ,MR4 ,BR[N SD4
  8,X .IS "O (! ,-M&;TS10 8 WIFE A4$4
  ,MA PURS$ H] LIPS4 ,L ! RE/ ( U DIDN'T
"K \R ,BI#4
  8,Y1H80 SD ! TRAPP]4 8,WELL1 "!'S O!R
WAYS 6LOOK AT X4 ,LET ME ASK Y FOLKS ?4
,9DIANS "E BR+ .Y ANY?+80
  8,GAVE U "S BU6ALO /1KS10 ,SOL (F]$4
  8,ANY?+ ELSE80 ,HE LOOK$ AT ,MR4
,BR[N4 8,Y80
  ,MR4 ,BR[N %RU7$4 8,"S ANTELOPE M1T4
,J EXTRA !Y DIDN'T NE$40
  8,M ?AN ONCE8 ,H[ _M "TS80
  ,MR4 ,BR[N LOOK$ ANNOY$4 8,I C'T KEEP
TRACK ( /UFF L T40
  8,Y C'T8 ,WELL1 DANG1 T'S FUNNY1 2C Y
SEEM 6"K E LA/ H1D ( LIVE/OCK T'S G"O
MISS+40
  ,& N"O ( X 0 EV5 HIS1 ,I FELT L SAY+4
,X SEEM$ HE J DIDN'T WANT 6MISS A *.E TO
2 MAD4 ,8 FACE _H G"O D1D R$ N[4
  8,SEE1 :ITES J DON'T "U/& ! ,9DIAN
WAYS10 ! TRAPP] SD4 8,FOLKS >E      #ADH
SUPPOS$ 6TRADE GIFTS4 ,!Y GIVE Y "S?+1
Y'RE SUPPOS$ 6GIVE "S?+ BACK4 ,:5 Y
DON'T1 !Y FEEL JU/IFI$ 6TAKE X40
  8,B !Y'RE BE7+ FOOD (F U ALL ! "T10
,MRS4 ,BR[N SD 9DIGNANTLY4 8,& X'S N L
WE'RE HAUL+ A LOT ( EXTRA40
  8,WE D H 6BE C>E;L H[ M* WE GIVE !M10
,>NOLD ,FULL] SD4 8,I'M 3C]N$ !Y'LL J
KEEP WANT+ M4 ,FOLKS -+ AF U WON'T "K
:AT HIT 'EM :5 ! ,SI\X EXPECT 6BE F$ ALL
! "T L ?40
  8,WELL1 T'S GONNA 2 TRUE :AT"E Y D1 GD
OR BAD10 ! TRAPP] SD4 8,WA/E A LOT (
BU6ALO1 = 9/.E1 !Y'LL EXPECT ! SAME F !
NEXT -PANY4 ,C'T BLAME 'EM = GETT+ GR\*Y
:5 !Y SEE ANO!R BAT* ( WAGONS -+40
  8,SAY1 Y'RE Q ! ,9DIAN LOV]1 >5'T Y80
,MR4 ,BR[N SD1 BELLY+ UP CLOSE4 8,I'LL
BET Y GOT A SQUAW ( YR [N TUCK$ \ 9 A
TIPI "S":1 HUH80
  8,:AT IF ,I D80 ! BUCKSK9-CLAD MAN
ASK$ MILDLY1 MAK+ A PO9T1 X SEEM$ 6ME1 (
N /&+ 6A FI<T4
  8,ALL "R N[10 ,PA SD 6,MR4 ,BR[N4
8,LET'S KEEP ? A FRLY CAMPFIRE40    #ADI
  ,MR4 ,BR[N BACK$ (F1 LOOK$ >.D = SUP-
PORT4 ,SEE+ N"O1 HE />T$ 6L1VE4 ,!N HE
/OPP$ & TURN$ BACK )A HI<-PIT*$ B>K AT 8
WIFE4 8,M>?A6 ,-E60
  ,/ICK+ _! NOSES 9 ! AIR1 %E & ,MAMIE
FOLL[$ HM 96! %AD[S 2Y ! FIRE R+4
  8,DON'T M9D HM10 ,R[L& SD 6! TRAPP]4
8,HE'S J SORE ?+S >5'T GO+ L HE PLANN$4
,LOOK+ = "SBODY 6BLAME4 ,8 HIR$ BOYS
QUIT ON HM TD4 ,HELP$ !MVS 6A C\PLE ( 8
HORSES & LIT \ AH1D40
  8,LEMME GUESS10 ! TRAPP] SD4 8,^!'D 2
8 LILY-:ITE HIR$ BOYS1 "R80
  8,T'S "R10 ,R[L& SD1 ) T WRY GR9 (
HIS4
  8,DANG4 ,A9'T FOLKS FUNNY80
  ,:5 \R GUE/ LET X 2 "KN HE'D REC5TLY
BE5 Z F> Z ! ,WILLAMETTE ,VALLEY1 P P]K$
UP ) M "QS4 ,OR R1 ! SAME "Q ) FRE% 9T5-
S;Y4 ,9DIANS4 ,:AT 0 ! SITU,N 9 ! ,WIL-
LAMETTE ,VALLEY8
  8,A9'T NO ,9DIAN SITU,N40 ,! TRAPP]
WIP$ BR1D "? ! LA/ ( 8 /EW4 8,!Y'RE
G"O40
  ,WE LOOK$ AT EA* O!R1 UNC]TA94    #AEJ
  8,Y N"E HE>D T80
  8,WELL10 ,R[L& SD1 8WE'VE "U/OOD !
,9DIANS 9 T "P (! C.TRY W]5'T TR\#"S40
  8,HA6 ,GOT T "R4 ,H>D 6BE TR\#"S :5
Y'RE D1D40
  8,D1D80
  ,! TRAPP] NO4$4 8,T51 FIFTE5 YE>S BACK
! PLACE 0 FULL ( VILLAGES4 ,!N ! F/
:ITES %[$ UP & ^? ,9DIANS J CDN'T /& UP
6! FEV]S T CAME AL;G4 ,LAID D[N & DI$1
PRETTY NE> ALL ( !M40
  ,NO "O SPOKE4 ,:AT CD WE SAY8
  8,PITI;L BUSI;S10 ! TRAPP] A4$1 8RUNN+
96"O ( !M AB&ON$ VILLAGES4 ,NOBODY LEFT
6EV5 BURY ! D1D40
  ,! FIRE CRACKL$4 ,I GL.ED >.D1 WOND]+
IF ANY"O ELSE FELT L ,I DID1 A BIT RE-
SPONSI# "SH[4 ,N P]SON,Y1 ( C\RSE4 ,T5
YE>S AGO ,I 0 A * BACK 9 ,OHIO4 ,/1 ,I 0
:ITE4 ,:ITES BR"\ ! 41SES4 ,EV5 N[ \R [N
TRA9 0 C>RY+ ! M1SLES A LL F>!R WE/ EA*
"D4 ,WE'D "KN ! ,VICK]S FAMILY _H X :5
WE LEFT ,/4 ,JOE1 & X _HN'T /OPP$ U4 ,I
CDN'T FEEL GD AB T4 ,& YET1 6BE H"O/1 ,I
0 RELIEV$ 6?9K T ONCE WE GOT TO     #AEA
,OREGON1 WE CD /OP WORRY+ AB ! POSSIBIL-
;Y ( 2+ ABDUCT$ 0,9DIANS4
  8,OH1 "!'S / A H&;L ( ,KALAPOOIAS & S*
\ "!10 ! TRAPP] W5T ON1 8B :AT ! HELL--J
! NUMB] Y GOT ON ! ROAD ? "O S1SON Y'LL
PRETTY M* \TNUMB] 'EM1 L1/ AL;G ! ,WIL-
LAMETTE4 ,NAW ''' YR PRO#M A9'T GONNA 2
,9DIANS4 ,GONNA 2 ? DANG DR"\40
  ,DR"\8 ,I LOOK$ >.D4 ,F/ ,I'D HE>D (
X4 ,I SAW ,R[L& FR[N1 L MAYBE HE ._H
HE>D ! RUMOR B WASN'T PL1S$ 6H X 3FIRM$4
  8,GRASS N"E 0 M* F "H 6,=T ,HALL10 !
TRAPP] SD1 8B ? YE>'S ! WOR/ "E4 ,J
HAV5'T _H ! RA94 ,X'S P>*$ \1 DRY Z DU/
F ! PASS ON40
  8,NO GRASS AT ALL80 ,AMOS ASK$1 QUIET-
LY AL>M$4
  8,WELL1 Y'RE ALW GO+ 6F9D ."S4 ,B ONLY
>.D ! WAT]WAYS4 ,& Y GOT A LOT ( WAGONS
& H]DS \ "! AH1D ( Y4 ,N Z _M Z 2H1 T'S
TRUE4 ,B / '''0
  ,PA & ,AMOS TRAD$ A D>K LOOK4 ,O!RS
MUTT]$4 ,I ?"\ ( ALL \R PLANN+4 ,H[ CD Y
PLAN = ?8 ,:O CD H "KN BACK :5 WE />T$ T
! ,WE/ WD H AN UNUSU,Y DRY SPR+8    #AEB
  ,S,Y CLE>$ H] ?ROAT4 8,MAYBE10 %E SD
T5TATIVELY1 8MAYBE WE %D ?9K AB GO+
BACK40
  ,/>TL$1 "EY"O TURN$4 ,/>$4
  8,2C 2Y ? WE .C'T TURN BACK40 ,MY SI/]
TOOK A DEEP BR1?4 8,I HE>D A WOMAN SAY+
,L>AMIE'S ! PO9T ( NO RETURN40
  8,S,Y10 ,R[L& SD1 OBVI\SLY 4TURB$4
  ,! GR\P FELL 6MUMBL+ AM;G !MVS4
  ..,! PO9T ( NO .RETURN--T S.D$ S F"R5-
+4 ,YET MY HE>T SANK AT ! NO;N ( GIV+ UP
AF HAV+ -E S F>4 ,:AT1 TRAVEL BACK8 ,&
:AT WD WE D 9 ,MISS\RI8 ,WAIT & TRY AG
NEXT YE>8 ,=GET \R DR1MS (! ,WE/ & TAKE
UP ANO!R MOSQUITO-9FE/$1 FLOOD-WA%$ F>M8
,I GL.ED >.D AT ! O!RS4 ,SURELY NO "O WD
EV5 3SID] X4
  8,N[1 ,S,Y10 ,PA SD4 8,Y DON'T NE$ 6BE
WORRY+ AB ! CATTLE4 ,Y J LET U TAKE C>E
( X1 ALL "R80
  ,S,Y HUNG H] H1D4 ,I DON'T ?9K X 0
RE,Y ! CATTLE T 3C]N$ H]4
  8,N 64C.T YR REPORTS10 ,PA SD 6! TRAP-
P]4 8,APPRECIATE 'EM4 ,B ,I'M SURE WE'RE
ALL AGRE$ WE'VE GOT TOO M* 9VE/$    #AEC
9 ? 6TURN BACK N[40 ,ONLY AF MAK+ ?
/ATE;T DID HE LOOK 6! O!RS = SUPPORT1 :
E MAN GAVE HM 0WAY (A QK1 DELIB]ATE NOD4
8,WE N"E SET \ ) GU>ANTEES1 AF ALL4 ,&
PL5TY ( ?+S WE 7 TOLD 6WORRY ON HAV5'T
-E 6PASS4 ,RIV]S W]5'T Z BAD Z FOLKS SD4
,WE DODG$ ! BIG /ORMS4 ,HAV5'T LO/ ANY-
BODY 6! ,9DIANS YET40
  ,P NO4$1 GLAD 6BE REM9D$1 9 ! MI4LE (
ALL ! WORRY+1 (! WAYS WE'D BE5 B.S$4
  ,N[ ,AMOS SPOKE UP4
  8,Y ALL "K ,I'VE MADE ! GETT+ ( ? H]D
6,OREGON MY MA9 GOAL4 ,B IF WE DON'T1 WE
DON'T4 ,WE C / GET \RVS "! & CLAIM \R
L&4 ,!Y'VE ALR GOT "S H]DS UP "! F ,CAL-
I=NIA4 ,WE MI<T CD BUY "S ( ^? & />T T
WAY4 ,B = N[1 ,I'M N NE> R1DY 6GIVE UP )
! "OS WE'VE GOT ? F>40
  ,9 ! WAGON LAT]1 ,S,Y SAT WEEP+4
8,"EYBODY'S MAD AT ME = SAY+ T1 ,LOVISA1
B ,I CDN'T HELP X40
  ,I RECKON %E EXPECT$ ME 6REASSURE H]
NOBODY 0 MAD1 B FRANKLY1 ,I ?9K FOLKS
W]E1 A LL4 ,AT L1/ Z MAD Z WE CD 2 AT A
SWEET1 HELP.S P]SON "EYBODY         #AED
ADOR$4 ,B X DID SEEM L %E'D BROK5 "S K9D
( UNSPOK5 RULE1 "S?+ AB N 4C\RAG+ O!R
FOLKS 0PUTT+ FE>S 96^WS4
  8,I J H ? AW;L FEEL+10 %E SD1 BR1K+ !
RULE AG1 ? "T = MY B5EFIT AL"O4 8,I H ?
T]RI# FEEL+ T "SH[ WE'RE N GO+ 6MAKE X40

  ,NEXT MORN+ 2F WE PULL$ \1 ,A2IE1 ,LY-
DIA1 & ,I REPRES5T$ ! ,K+S AT ! BURIAL (
! ,VICK]S GIRLS 9 ! =T GRAVEY>D4 ,"S"O
_H PA9T$ ! *N'S "NS ) AXLE GR1SE ON A
B>REL /AVE =! D\# TOMB/"O4 ,Z ! LI<T (!
RIS+ SUN FLOOD$ ! HILLS & HOLL[S >.D U1
,R"E5D ,MOORE R1D ,BI# PASSAGES AB LAMBS
& ANGELS & LL *N 5T]+ ! ,K+DOM ( ,H1V54
,! HYMN 2GAN1 B ,I 0 H>DLY HE>+ ! ^WS4
,BABIES DY+ ANY": WD TE> AT YR HE>T1 B \
"H ''' ,OH1 X 0 J A HORROR = _! "M1 HAV+
6L1VE _! GRAVES 2H4 ,POOR ,ANN ,VICK]S
CD H>DLY /& UP4 ,H] HUSB& KEPT %IFT+ TO
SUPPORT H] WEI<T4 ,Z WE SANG1 Y CD SEE
%E J WANT$ 6LIE "R D[N 9 ! DIRT ) ^? *N
& N"E G "O /EP F>!R4
  ,! S]VICE 3CLUD$1 ,I GL.ED D[N ! SLOPE
6! WAGONS1 : 7 L9$ UP1 R1DY 6/>T4   #AEE
,! OX5 7 NEWLY %OD1 SUPPLIES RE/OCK$1 !
WAGONS /RAI<T5$ & CL1N$4 ,P /OOD WAT*+1
%IFT+ IMPATI5TLY1 WAIT+ = U 6-E & TAKE
\R PLACES4
  ,! FUN]AL _H ALR HELD U UP4 ,WE _H TO
KEEP MOV+4
  ,! M9I/] GAVE A SLI<T NOD & WE TURN$
AWAY4 ,2H ME1 ,ANN ,VICK]S LET \ A
BLOOD-*ILL+ WAIL4 ,H] HUSB& &! M9I/] 7
HAV+ 6DRAG ! POOR WOMAN F ! GRAVES4
  ,%E KNEW1 Y SEE4 ,NO MATT] :AT !Y SD
6-=T H]1 NO MATT] H[ !Y LI$1 %E KNEW4
,%E WD N"E 2 A# 6-E BACK 6? PLACE AG4











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                  ,T5               #AEG

  ,! METAL-RIMM$ WOOD5 :EELS GR.D ! PALE
ROCKY ROAD 6F9E S& T ! W9D DROVE 96\R
EYES4 ,9 ! N>R[ PASSAGES1 ! H1VY WAGONS
7 WE>+ ! RUTS 96TR5*ES4 ,_H WE RE,Y ?"\
T F/ HILL PA/ ! CROSS+ (! ,S\? ,PLATTE S
DI6ICULT8 ,X SEEM$ NO?+ N[1 -P>$ 6? MIS-
]A# REGION ": ! TRACK 0 9T]RUPT$ 0"O RA-
V9E AF ANO!R1 EA* ( : WE _H 6SKIRT4 ,"?
! D>K1 C$>-/U4$ HILLS1 _M A TWI/$ MILE 0
TRAVEL$ )\T \R C>AVAN ACTU,Y PROGRESS+
ANY F>!R WE/4
  ,UP AH1D1 ,I CD HE> ,MR4 ,BR[N1 /RU7L+
) 8 OX54
  8,I _C .BE> T MAN'S VOICE10 ,I -PLA9$
6,S,Y4 ,DIT*$ 0HIS HIR$ BOYS1 HE 0 N[
-PELL$ 6DRIVE 8 T1MS HMF1 EMPLOY+ A TE*-
NIQUE T RELI$ H1VILY ON :IPP+ & :9+4
  8,HE'LL KILL !M10 ,S,Y SD4 8,Y WAT*40
  ,OX5 .7 />T+ 6DIE4 ,! POOR B1/S WD
GIVE _! ALL1 B ONCE !Y F9,Y W5T D[N1 NO
CRUELTY ( :IP OR K9D;S ( WAT] F A BUCKET
CD MAKE !M RISE AG4
  ,9 "O HORRI# SPOT1 ,S,Y & ,I _H 6PRESS
\R DU/Y APRONS 6\R FACES 6BLOCK !   #AEH
/5* (! ROTT+ C>CASSES WE PASS$4 ,J 2Y 7
! REMA9S (! WAGON R5D]$ USE.S 0! LACK (
LIV+ B1/S 6PULL X4 ,"H WE 2GAN 6WIT;S !
:OLESALE AB&ON;T ( E IMAG9A# ITEM (
EQUIP;T1 />K EVID;E (! FAILURES & LOSS (
_S ( ^? :O'D PASS$ 2F4 ,! F/ ITEMS ?R[N
\ SEEM$ 6BE ! H1VIE/--CL"E COOK OV5S
WOM5 _H S PR\DLY DEMON/RAT$ BACK AT !
JUMP+-(F CAMP1 CA/-IRON WA% KETTLES1
PL[S1 ANVILS4
  ,R[L& PAUS$ 6EXAM9E A 4C>D$ MILL/"O4
,HE GL.ED AT \R [N WAGON4 ,HE CDN'T POS-
SIBLY 2 3SID]+ CLAIM+ & C>T+ ! /"O HMF1
CD HE8 ,IF S1 HE REJECT$ ! IDEA1 9/1D
PICK+ UP A BOOK1 : HE SET ON ! WAGON
S1T4
  8,S _M ( ^! ?+S LOOK P]FECTLY F9E10
,S,Y SD1 EYE+ A PLUM$ HAT TOSS$ ON :AT
LOOK$ 6BE A SACK ( BACON4 8,X'S J A
%AME40
  8,P 7 W>N$10 ,I SD4 8,X'S _! [N FAULT
IF !Y DIDN'T PAY ANY ATT5;N4 ,H"O/LY1 A
HAT L T8 ,PA N"E WD H LET U GET AWAY )
X4 ,"EY?+ 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE .USE;L40
  ,S,Y SI<$4 8,WON'T Y 2 GLAD1      #AEI
?\<1 :5 ? IS OV] & WE DON'T H 6HE> T ALL
! "T8 ,?+S C J 2 PRETTY =! SAKE ( PRET-
TY8 ,ANYWAY1 A LOT ( ^! ?+S ;">E USE;L4
,A MAN NE$S A PL[40
  ,I DIDN'T APPRECIATE HAV+ ? PO9T$ \4
,6SEE ALL ! TOOLS NE$$ 6BUILD A HOME &
F>M CA/ (F ? WAY 0 4TURB+--SIL5T TE/IMO-
NY 6A DESP],N ,I DIDN'T C>E 63TEMPLATE4
,I WANT$ 6SIMPLY ASSUME ^! P _H BE5
FRIVOL\S OR _H MADE BAD DECI.NS4 ,\R
FAMILY WDN'T 2 MAK+ S* MISTAKES1 ,I FIG-
UR$1 & ,I CLUNG 6! REASSUR.E ( 2LIEV+ T
BAD ?+S CD HAPP5 ONLY 6P :O DID4
  ,HUNDR$S ( MILES WE'D FOLL[$ ! ,PLATTE
& N[1 F>EWELL4 ,6L1VE ? RIV] & TAKE UP
ANO!R1 WE M/ =D X "O LA/ "T & !N /RIKE \
ACR A M1N & =EBOD+ /RET* ( T]RITORY4 ,M
WAYS = WAT] 6BE DI6ICULT--RIVULETS T
SIMPLY SANK 96! S&1 \ ( SI<T1 \ (! R1* (
A WOOD5 BUCKET4 ,WORSE 7 ! TR1*]\S ALKA-
LI POOLS1 FA/ 2COM+ R+$ 0! ROTT+ C>CASS-
ES ( CATTLE ^: [N]S _HN'T BE5 HALF-C>E;L
5\<1 ,I ?"\1 9 KEEP+ !M AWAY F ! POISON4
  ,H[ CD WE APPRECIATE ! FLAT "PS (!
ROAD :5 X M1NT MILES ( WALK+ 9      #AFJ
CL\DS ( *URN$-UP ALKALI DU/8 ,WE _H BE-
-E A PLO4+ <O/ C>AVAN--WAGONS1 ANIMALS1
& P ALIKE1 ALL DU/$ :ITE4 ,\R EYES
BURN$1 \R LIPS CRACK$4 ,! DRY AIR SUCK$
E BIT ( MOI/URE F \R SK9 S T MY FACE
FELT TI<T 6BUR/+ & 2GAN 6BLI/]4 ,! O9T;T
9 ! M$IC9E KIT 0 QKLY US$ UP 9 VA9 AT-
TEMPTS 6SOO! ! R$ EYES (! :IMP]+ *N1 &
WE GIRLS RESORT$ 6SME>+ \R [N M\?S ) AX-
LE GR1SE4

  ,"O AFN :5 "T & 4T.E _H -PRESS$ 6NO?+
& "! 0 ONLY ! HELLI% PRES5T1 ! WAGON
RATTL$ SU45LY & LUR*$ 6A HALT4
  8,GODDAMNIT60
  ,N[ ,I'D HE>D MY %>E ( CURS+4 ,X
WASN'T Z IF ,I'D N"E SE5 A MAN GET KICK$
0A MULE & MUTT] A CRUDE ^W OR TWO4 ,B
,I'D N"E SE5 ,R[L& GET S MAD HE =GOT TO
KEEP ?+S NICE 9 FRONT ( ,S,Y1 &! EXPLO.N
( ANGRY EPI!TS HE UNL1%$ N[ 0 L\D 5 ,I'M
SURE %E HE>D E AW;L ^W1 EV5 9SIDE ! WAG-
ON4
  ,! O!R WAGONS DIVID$ >.D U 9 PASS+1
BILL[+ UP EV5 M DU/4                #AFA
  ,SKIRT+ \RS1 ,I SAW ! LEFT RE> CANT+
BACKW>DS4 ,S,Y /UCK H] H1D \ 6SEE :AT _H
HAPP5$4
  8,TIRE POPP$ (F ! :EEL10 ,I TOLD H]4
8,! METAL "P40
  8,GOD DAMN X 6HELL60 ,R[L& WIP$ 8 :IS-
K]$ FACE )A B&ANNA1 SQU9T+ AH1D1 !N 2H1
Z IF "SBODY MI<T -E RID+ AL;G )A CLUE AB
:AT 6D4
  ,S,Y & ,I GL.ED AT EA* O!R1 N D>+ A
^W4
  8,Y'LL H 6GET \10 ,R[L& TOLD ,S,Y4
  8,"H80
  8,"H'S ": WE BROKE D[N1 ISN'T X8 ,H>D
5 6JACK ! DAMN ?+ UP )\T Y &! KIDS 9 X40
  ,S,Y SWALL[$ H>D4
  8,LET'S G1 ,ME7IE10 ,I SD1 R1*+ = MY
LL NIECE4
  8,DON'T WANNA6 ,\ "! HURTS MY EYES40
  8,I "K1 SWEETIE1 B WE H TO40
  8,:Y80
  8,S YR DA4Y C FIX ! :EEL40
  8,:Y80
  8,2C X BROKE1 T'S :Y60
  ..,I N"E PICTUR$ .?1 ,I ?"\1      #AFB
HUNK]+ D[N 9 ! DIRT1 TRY+ 6%ELT] ,MEG-
GIE'S FACE AG/ MY *E/4 ,SITT+ 9 ! BLAZ+
SUN )\T A SCRAP ( %ADE1 HOT W9D BLA/+ S&
H>D 5 6TAKE ! PA9T (F ! WAGON1 ! SK9 (F
YR FACE4
  ,S,Y :ISP]$ :AT A BAD OM5 X WAS1 HAV+
BROK5 D[N \ "H ON ! ,F\R? ( ,JULY :5
"EYBODY KNEW T 0,9DEP5D;E ,"D WE 7 SUP-
POS$ 6BE AT ,9DEP5D;E ,ROCK4
  ,I WAT*$ ,R[L& CRANK UP ! JACK4 ,I
WANT$ 6ASK HM H[ F> 2H WE 7 RUNN+1 SEE
IF HE KNEW :5 WE'D R1* ! L&M>K1 B N[
WASN'T ! "T4 ,I'D LE>N$ T4 ,Y DIDN'T
TALK 6M5 :5 !Y _H A PRO#M 6"W \4 ,Y
WAIT$ PATI5TLY1 LETT+ !M ?9K4 ,Y BETT]1
2C SAY "O LL ^W & !Y'D JUMP AT ! *.E TO
YELL AT Y L ! BROK5 :EEL OR :AT"E 0 YR
FAULT4
  ,I HOP$ WE W]5'T TOO F> 2H S*$ULE4 ,I
SURE DID PREF] RUNN+ AH1D4 ,H[ SMUG WE'D
FELT T "T BACK AT ! =D (! ,BIG ,BLUE1
F9D+ A DATE C>V$ ON A TREE 0"S"O 9 A
-PANY T _H CROSS$ ! PREVI\S YE>4 ,\R
-PANY _H BE5 AH1D ( _!S 0A FULL MON?6
,NO?+ 6FEEL SMUG AB N[4             #AFC
  ,R[L& _H ! :EEL (F & 0 TACK+ A N>R[
/RIP ( WOOD >.D ! RIM1 TRY+ 69CR1SE !
CIRCUMF];E S ! METAL TIRE WD FIT TI<T
AG4 ,HE 0 J AB 6TRY RESETT+ X :5 ,SOL
CAME RID+ UP4
  8,WE'RE /OPP+10 HE TOLD U4 8,"EYBODY4
,WE GOT TIRES POPP+ (F "R & LEFT40
  ,R[L& NO4$1 SU45LY LOOK+ N Q S FRUS-
TRAT$4 ,MAYBE HE FELT BETT] F9D+ \ ?
WASN'T "S?+ HE'D P]SON,Y D"O WR;G4 ,NO
MORAL FAIL+1 NO LACK ( PLANN+4 ;J A TE*-
NICAL PRO#M PLAGU+ "EY"O4
  8,M/ 2 ! AIR'S TOO HOT & DRY10 ,R[L&
SD4 8,WOOD J %R9KS UP4 ,METAL -ES
LOOSE40
  8,PA'S WAGON'S LO/ TWO10 ,SOL SD4
  8,I'VE J AB GOT ?10 ,R[L& SD 6,S,Y4
8,Y C GET BACK 9SIDE 9 A M9UTE40 ,HE
LOOK$ UP AT ,SOL4 8,TELL YR PA ,I'LL 2
UP "! PRETTY QK4 ,I ?9K ?IS'LL "W1 H[ ,I
FIX$ X4 ,I'LL -E %[ HM40

  ,?ANK ,GOD WE F9,Y /RUCK ! ,SWEETWAT]
A FEW "DS LAT]4 ,J 2Y ,9DEP5D;E ,ROCK X
FL[$ "R "? ! MO/ AMAZ+ CLEFT 2T     #AFD
CLI6S ?REE HUNDR$ FEET HI<4 ,:Y !Y CALL$
? ,DEVIL'S ,GATE 0 2Y ME4 ,%D H BE5 !
,GATES ( ,$54 ,T P]FECT LL RIV] TURN$ !
"D F MIS]A# 6H1V5LY 9 ! "T X TOOK 6BR+ !
WAGONS >.D ! %ORT PASS & P>K !M ON XS
BANKS4
  ,I JUMP$ D[N F ! WAGON1 RAN 6! GRAVEL-
LY %ORE1 & ?REW MYF FULLY DRESS$ 96"O (
XS POOLS4 ,X 0 %ALL[1 NO M ?AN A CREEK
RE,Y1 & J ! "R TEMP]ATURE4 ,I LAY BACK &
LET ! COOL WAT] RU% PA/ ME1 C>ESS+ MY
LIMBS L A B.S+4 ,= J A LL :ILE ,I WANT$
6ESCAPE ! HOLL]+ (! *N1 ! BAWL+ ( CAT-
TLE1 &! %>P VOICE ( ,MRS4 ,BR[N1 BICK]+
) P OV] ^: WAGON %D 2 /AK$ ":4 ,I TIPP$
MY E>S BACK 96! RU%+ /R1M4 ,WASN'T ?
,GOD'S [N REVIV+ MIRACLE1 6F9D A ?+ L ?
\ "H 9 ? O!RWISE P>*$ C.TRY8
  8,I HOPE ,PA'S CLAIM HAS A /R1M L ?10
,I SD :5 ,A2IE CAME 6JO9 ME4 8,DON'T Y80
  ,%E SANK 96! WAT] )A BLISS;L EXPRES.N4
8,I DON'T ?9K M* AB ,PA'S CLAIM40
  8,Y DON'T80 ,I SAT UP1 BL9K+ WAT] F MY
EYES4 8,:AT D Y ?9K WE'RE .DO+ ? =80
  ,%E SMIL$ MY/]I\SLY4 8,I DON'T    #AFE
?9K AB ,PA'S CLAIM1 2C ,I'M ?9K+ AB
,PRICE'S CLAIM40
  ,OH4 ,( C\RSE4 ,H[ FOOLI% ( ME4 ,I
KEPT =GETT+4 ,? WASN'T J AB F9D+ \R
PLACE 9 ,OREGON1 \R L&4 ,E /EP1 E "D1
FOLKS 7 SORT+ \ :O !Y'D 2 %>+ T PLACE )4
  ,A2IE :IPP$ BACK H] WET HAIR4 8,HAS
,JOHN ,NO# TOLD Y ": HE HOPES 6TAKE UP 8
CLAIM80
  8,NO10 ,I SD FLATLY4 8,:Y WD HE80
  8,OH1 ,LOVISA1 DON'T 2 T WAY4 ,:AT D Y
?9K X M1NS :5 "S"O C>VES YR "N ) 8 ON T
CLIFF L HE DID8 ,HE'S A P]FECTLY NICE
BOY4 ,& HE LIKES Y4 ,D Y .WANT 6BE AN
OLD MAID80
  ,I DUNK$ "U ! WAT]1 %UTT+ H] \4 ,DID
,I H 6PAIR UP )! F/ SUITA# "Y MAN :O
CAME AL;G IMAG9+ HE LIK$ ME8 ,SEEM$
SMITT5 ) ME EV5 IF HE DIDN'T Q .APPROVE
( ME8 ,:5 ,I CAME UP = AIR1 ,A2IE 0 / AT
ME4
  8,LOOK AT LL ,LYDIA1 = H1V5'S SAKES10
%E SD4 8,GETT+ H]F C\RT$ 0,JONA?AN ,WIL-
LIAMS4 ,& HE'S N9ETE56 ,LOVISA1 Y CD H
G"O AF .HM60                        #AFF
  8,L1VE (F1 W Y8 ,:Y >E Y S SET ON
PAIR+ ME UP8 ,I AM N T OLD4 ,LOOK AT
,HOPE4 ,%E DIDN'T GET M>RI$ UNTIL %E 0
TW5TY-F\R40
  ,A2IE SD1 8& Y SEE H[ T TURN$ \40
  ,A2IE 0 "R2 ,HOPE WASN'T ! MO/ =TUNATE
( EXAMPLES4 ,N"O ( U _H "E 5VI$ ? SI/]
H] HUSB&1 :O 0 ?REE YE>S "Y] ?AN ,HOPE
&1 ACTU,Y1 \R C\S94 ,N T]RIBLY ROMANTIC1
N 6M5;N WE CDN'T REMEMB] A "T :5 HE
WASN'T SICK4 ,I WASN'T UNSELFI% & PATI5T
L ,HOPE4 ,I CD N"E 2 HAPPY )A M>RIAGE L
H]S4
  ,OH1 :AT .0 ,I GO+ 6D8 ,:AT IF WE GOT
6,OREGON & ,I / _HN'T PAIR$ UP ) ANY"O8
  ,WELL1 ,I CD /AY ) ,PA & ,MA4 ,MA ALW
SD X WD 2 F9E ) H] IF "O ( H] DAU<T]S
N"E M>RI$ & /AY$ 6HELP H]4 ,B !N %E'D =-
"E 2 ! BOSS (! H\SE1 ! BOSS ( ME4 ,I DID
L ! IDEA ( HAV+ MY [N PLACE1 RUNN+ ?+S
MY [N WAY4
  8,LOVISA60
  ,I LOOK$ T[>D ! WAGONS4 ,R[L& 0 /&+ "!
HOLD+ ,ME7IE1 WAV+ ME BACK4 ,I /OOD1
WAT] /R1M+ F ME1 WET SKIRTS CL++    #AFG
6MY ?I<S4
  8,LOVISA10 ,A2IE SD1 />+ PO9T$LY AT MY
SKIRTS4 8,Y DON'T H ALL YR PETTICOATS
ON1 D Y80
  8,OH1 = H1V5 SAKES40 ,I PLUCK$ ! FAB-
RIC AWAY F MY LEGS4 8,ISN'T "O M ?AN
5\<80 ,I DRA7$ \ & W5T 6FET* ,ME7IE4
  8,-E AL;G10 ,I SD1 SCOOP+ ! DU/Y LL
GIRL F H] "F'S >MS & TROTT+ BACK T[>D !
CREEK4 8,I'M GO+ 6WA% Y & WA% Y & WA%
Y60
  ,%E SQU1L$ ) LAU<T] Z ,I TOSS$ H] 9 !
AIR1 CAU<T H] & SWUNG H] D[N =A DUNK+4

  ,SLEEP 0 SWEET T NI<T1 & 9 ! HOPE;L;S
(A NEW MORN+1 )! WOM5 & GIRLS HAV+ _H \R
M* L;G$-= BA?S1 ! M5 ALL FRE%LY %AV$1 &!
BABIES 9 CL1N DIAP]S1 WE 7 A *E];L -PANY
T LEFT ,DEVIL'S ,GATE REC$+ 9 ! 4T.E4
  ,AH1D1 ! MORN+ LI<T FLOOD$ A FAIR
PROSPECT1 A RIS+ PLAT1U ( OP5 C.TRY
PROMIS+ GD TRAVEL+1 ! RIDGES 2Y H9T+ AT
PROGRESS 96! ,ROCKIES4
  ,WE 7 6FOLL[ ! WOND];L ,SWEETWAT] ALL
! WAY 6! ,S\? ,PASS4                #AFH

  ,ON ,JULY #BE1 ,PA TURN$ SIXTY-TWO1
,S,Y TW5TY-TWO4 ,2C WE _H R1*$ ! V]DANT
,BE> ,RIV] ,VALLEY1 WE 7 A# 6PUT TGR A
HALFWAY DEC5T CELEBR,N M1L4 ,SUSAN ROA/$
A NICE MESS ( SAGE H5S ,JOHN & ,ISAAC
BR"\ IN1 & ,I MADE WILD-CURRANT PIES F !
*N'S PICK+S4 ,MA MANAG$ A CAKE ( SORTS1
: WE MI<T H 5JOY$ M IF %E CD H /OPP$
SAY+ H[ X LACK$ = E7S & WE %DN'T EXPECT
H] 6BE A# 6KEEP 6H] USUAL /&>DS4
  8,WE "K1 ,MA10 ,I SD Z MY BRO!RS &
SI/]S & ,I ALL SUPPRESS$ SMILES AT EA*
O!R4 ,0N[ "EYBODY "U/OOD H[ H>D X 0
KEEP+ 6ANY K9D ( /&>DS \ "H4 ,Y DIDN'T
SEE ME MAK+ APOLOGIES =! T>T;S ( MY PIE
ON A3.T ( SCANT SUG>1 AF ALL4 ,"EYBODY
"U/OOD4 ,NOBODY WD D>E -PLA94
  8,LL ,S,Y "H 0 ! BE/ BIR?"D PRES5T ,I
"E GOT10 ,PA REM>K$ Z HE DID E YE>1 "S?+
(A TRADI;N4 8,B :AT D Y SAY1 GIRL80 ,HE
GAVE MY SI/] A FOND W9K4 8,P]SON,Y ,I
FEEL AB T5 YE>S OLD] ?AN ,I DID ON MY
LA/ BIR?"D60
  ,S,Y NO4$1 SMIL+1 & WE ALL JO9$   #AFI
9 ! G5TLE LAU<T] AC"KL$G+ H[ B1T5 D[N WE
7 FEEL+1 = WE _H -E "? "S DI6ICULT "DS4
  ,S\? ,PASS XF _H BE5 NO?+1 J Z !
GUIDEBOOKS PROMIS$1 A RAMP OV] ! DIVIDE
S WIDE & FLAT WE'D H>DLY H "KN WE 7
ROLL+ OV] X IF ,SOL _HN'T GOT ^W F !
GUIDES & TOLD "EY"O4
  ,B O!R /RET*ES WE'D N"E WORRI$ OV]
PROV$ M *ALL5G+4 ,A FEW "DS 96! ACTUAL
,OREGON ,C.TRY1 ,PA 9=M$ U WE'D 2 BY-
PASS+ ,=T ,BRIDG] 9 ORD] 6TRY A %ORTCUT
"KN Z ! ,GRE5WOOD ,CUT(F4 ,9 TAK+ ? *.E1
WE ULTIMATELY SAV$ A NUMB] ( TRAVEL+
"DS1 B ! TW5TY-F\R-H\R =C$ M>* ACR A B>-
R51 =TY-MILE TRACT ( WORMWOOD TOOK XS
TOLL4
  ,& X WASN'T ! PHYSICAL EXHAUS;N AL"O4
,AT ! ,GRE5 ,RIV] CAMP1 A * 9 A NE>BY
-PANY DI$4 ,X 0 AW;L1 T KE5+ WAIL F ! LL
BOY'S "M1 &! WAY ,ME7IE'S EYES W5T WIDE
Z %E LOOK$ 6ME SAY+1 8,:AT'S T80 ,& !N !
WOLVES TAK+ UP ! H[L4 ,"L4 ,SITT+ AT !
CAMPFIRE T NI<T Z D>K;S FELL OV] ! WIL-
D];S1 ,I DID N FEEL "O BIT ! /\THE>T$
GIRL ,I LIK$ 6?9K MYF4              #AGJ
  ,! TRAVEL+ XF N"E SEEM$ 6GET ANY EASI-
]4 ,:AT WE GA9$ 9 PRACTICE & EXP]I;E 0
C.T]$ 0! 3/ANT BR1KD[N ( WAGONS &! IN-
CR1S+ DI6ICULTY (! T]RA94 ,9 ! LA/ TWO
"DS WE _H /RU7L$ 6PULL ! WAGONS UP YET
ANO!R "PICUL>LY MIS]A# HILL1 & ,I _H -E
62LIEVE ! DEVIL HMF _H LAID \ ! ROAD'S
C\RSE 6,OREGON1 ) E NEW TWI/ ( GEOGRAPHY
M =MIDA# ?AN ! LA/4
  ,N[ ,I WAT*$ ,S,Y /&+ 0! FIRE1 ,JIMMY
ON H] HIP1 H] SMALL FRAME SLUMP$ ) 8
WEI<T4 ,TW5TY-TWO4 ,%E _H ALW SEEM$ S M*
OLD] ?AN ,I1 A LOVELY WOMAN :5 ,I 0 / A
SK9NY GIRL4 ,N[ ,I _H GR[N1 &! 3TRA/
WASN'T NE>LY S GRT4
  ,OH1 DE>4 ,%E LOOK$ S T]RIBLY TIR$4 ,0
%E ACTU,Y F>+ WORSE ?AN ! RE/ ( U--WE 7
ALL PRETTY WELL PE7$ \--OR 0 X J T ,I
LOV$ H] ESPECI,Y & FELT RESPONSI#8
  ,%E LOOK$ UP1 B 2F %E CD SEE ALL ? ON
MY FACE1 ,I PUT ON A QK SMILE4 ,"K+ H[
,I WORRI$ = H] WDN'T D H] ANY GD AT ALL4

  ,PA CDN'T GET U PA/ ,=T ,HALL FA/ 5\<1
EV5 IF "! 0 GD GRAZ+ & NICE TR\T    #AGA
6BE _H F ? /RET* (! ,SNAKE ,RIV]4 ,HE SD
! ,HUDSON'S ,BAY ,-PANY PRICES 7 \TRA-
GE\S &! =T 0 FULL ( HALF-DRUNK5 M.TA9 M5
>GU+ )! EMIGRANTS4 ,\R -PANY WD DELAY
DE"PURE = ONLY "O MORN+ S T P CD MAKE _!
NEC TRADES1 !N WE'D 2 ON \R WAY4 ,PA
WDN'T EV5 LET U GIRLS VISIT ! TRAD+ PO/4
  ,I TRI$1 ?\<4 ,T MORN+ ,I />T$ M>*+
T[>D ! ADOBE =T1 IGNOR+ ! :OOP+ "Y ,9DI-
AN BRAVES :O SWOOP$ 0ON _! SLEEK PONIES1
CUTT+ "R 9 FRONT ( ME4 ,!Y DIDN'T SC>E
ME4 ,I 0 US$ 6,9DIANS N[4 ,& ^! 7 J L
:ITE BOYS1 %[+ (F4 ,I _H ALM R1*$ ! BIG
WOOD5 GATES :5 ,R[L& RODE UP AL;GSIDE
ME1 R1*$ D[N1 & GRA2$ ME 0MY UPP] >M4
  8,[6 ,R[L&6 ,LEMME G60
  8,SORRY4 ,YR PA'S ORD]S40
  ,HE PULL$ ME UP 9 FRONT ( HM & H"O/LY1
,I CD H DI$ ( EMB>RASS;T1 HAV+ 6RIDE
BACK ) 8 >MS >.D ME L T4
  8,I'M SICK & TIR$ ( 2+ KEPT \ ( ?+S60
,I RAG$4 8,& ,I DON'T SEE :Y X'S ANY
BUSI;S ( YRS60
  8,? =T'S NO PLACE = GIRLS10 HE SD4
8,TOO _M R\< TYPES40                #AGB
  8,WELL1 MAYBE ,I'D L 6SEE ^? R\< TYPES
= MYF60
  ,HE LAU<$4
  8,DON'T LAU< AT ME6 ,I M1N X1 ,R[L&4
,Y H 6MAKE ? UP 6ME4 ,IF Y G 9 "!1 Y H
6PROMISE 6TELL ME ALL ! GOSSIP Y HE>40
  ,T AFN Z WE PULL$ \1 ,I DO7$ ,R[L&'S
HEELS1 MAK+ GD ON MY ?R1T 6PE/] HM = RE-
PORTS F ! =T4
  8,ALL "R1 IF Y WANT 6"K10 ,R[L& SD1 8!
BIG DEBATE 0 :E!R FOLKS %D /AY ! C\RSE =
! ,WILLAMETTE ,VALLEY OR TURN (F = ,CAL-
I=NIA4 ,UP "H AT ,RAFT ,RIV]'S :AT !Y
CALL ! ,"P+ (! ,WAYS1 S ANYBODY *ANG+ _!
M9D1 N['S ! "T4 ,&! FOLKS AT ! =T WANT
6/E] Z _M 6,CALI=NIA Z !Y C4 ,GOT AN OLD
M.TA9 MAN 9 "! TALKS A F9E /R1M ( SC>E
/ORIES--! ,BLUE ,M.TA9S1 ! ,9DIANS AH1D1
! RAPIDS (! ,COLUMBIA4 ,PROBABLY 9 ! PAY
( ,HUDSON'S ,BAY4 ,!Y DON'T WANT ,AM]I-
CANS SETTL+ 9 ,OREGON AT ALL1 SEE8 ,H[ C
!Y HOLD X =! ,BRITI% IF WE TAKE UP ALL !
L&80
  ,I REMEMB]$ ,PA TALK+ AB T TOO4 ,& H[
Y H 6?9K :Y P SAY ! ?+S !Y SAY4     #AGC
  8,& !N ! FOLKS D[N "! AT ,SUTT]'S ,=T
S5D UP ^W H[ EASY T R\TE IS10 ,R[L& W5T
ON4 8,WANT U ALL 6-E D[N ,CALI=NIA WAY4
,GET M ,AM]ICANS IN1 HELP HOLD .T T]RI-
TORY40
  8,B :O'S GO+ 6SETTLE = ,CALI=NIA :5 !
:OLE IDEA 9 ! F/ PLACE IS TAK+ UP L& 9
,OREGON80
  8,Q A FEW FAMILIES1 LOOKS L4 ,P GETT+
WORN \4 ,I S'POSE :AT"E S.DS EASI] AT ?
PO9T1 S.DS BETT]40
  8,WELL1 T'S J WR;G-H1D$10 ,I SD4
8,:AT'S ! USE ( EASI] IF X ONLY GETS Y
"S": Y DIDN'T WANT 6G 9 ! F/ PLACE80
  ,R[L& FLA%$ A QK GR9 AT ME4 8,I L !
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  ,GD 6"K WE AGRE$ ON ?1 ANYWAY4 ,= U
,K+S1 ,CALI=NIA 0 N"E A POSSIBIL;Y1 N =
"O M9UTE4
  ,WE 7 = ,OREGON1 & T 0 T4



                                    #AGD
























                 ,ELEV5             #AGE

  8,D /OP SCRAT*+1 ,M>G>ET10 ,S,Y SD TO
,ME7IE4 8,LOOK1 ,LOVISA1 %E'S MADE ALL
H] MOSQUITO BITES BLE$4 ,X'S DR1D;L40
  ,I LIFT$ ,ME7IE D[N F ! WAGON & LOOS5$
! TIE ( H] DIRTY CALICO SMOCK4
  8,IT*Y10 %E SD4 8,& MY M\? HURTS40
  8,Y POOR LL PU49'40 ,H] TUMMY 0 COV]$
) BLOODY SORES4 ,I />T$ 6C9* UP ! DRAW-
/R+1 !N /OPP$1 PICK+ A CRAWLY ?+ F H]
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AWAY4
  ,S,Y TURN$4 8,:AT80
  ,I WR9KL$ MY NOSE AT H] OV] ,ME7IE'S
H1D & M\!D ! LOA?"S ^W3 .,LICE4
  8,OH1 ,"L10 ,S,Y SD4 8,I N"E6 ,WELL4
,%E'S J GOT 6H A BA?1 T'S ALL40 ,H]
VOICE W5T TREMBLY1 L %E SU45LY WANT$ A
GD CRY4 8,RE,Y1 ,I C'T /& ?1 ! *N S
FIL?Y "D AF "D & N 2+ A# 6D A ?+ AB X40
  ,I LOOK$ >.D4 ,"! 0 NO /R1M4 ,"! WD 2
NO BA?S4 ,"H WE W]E--ANO!R H>D "D'S
TRAVEL 6R1* ANO!R DIRTY1 -=T.S PLACE TO
SLEEP ! NI<T4 ,"L1 ,I HAT$ MAK+ DRY
CAMP4 ,NO?+ 6D B SCRAPE ! BABIES'   #AGF
SOIL$ DIAP]S & LAY !M 6DRY1 / /A9$4
  ,LOOK+ >.D AT MY EXHAU/$ SI/]S Z !Y
LIFT$ BOXES & B>RELS F ! WAGONS1 RUNNY-
NOS$ TO4L]S SQUALL+ AT !M1 ,I SUSPECT$
,S,Y WASN'T ! ONLY "O R1DY 6CALL ? :OLE
EXP$I;N A BIG MISTAKE4 ,6ME1 REMEMB]+ H[
WE'D />T$ \1 X DIDN'T EV5 SEEM L ! SAME
TRIP4
  ,WE _HN'T _H MUSIC 9 WEEKS4 ,"!'D 2 NO
DANC+ TN OR %>+ ( ,OREGON PLANS4 ,NOBODY
WD 2 /&+ UP 6DELIV] PATRIOTIC SPEE*ES AB
B1T+ ! ,BRITI% \ (! ,NOR?WE/4 ,ALL T
SEEM$ A V L;G "T AGO4 ,? /RET* ( SAGE-
BRU% B>R5S 0 ! ROCKIE/1 MO/ MIS]A# WE'D
YET TRAV]S$4 ,&! ,SNAKE ,RIV]6 ,GOD'S
CRUEL JOKE1 Y ASK ME1 ! WAY X MO/LY RAN
AL;G 9 A CANYON HUNDR$S ( FEET DEEP4 ,Y
CDN'T EV5 GET 6X4 ,ALL Y CD D 0 />E D[N
AT ^? GLITT]+ GRE5 POOLS & :ITE RAPIDS1
WI%+ Y CD 2 NEXT 6X 9/1D ( UP 9 ! HOT1
PITI.S SUN4
  8,OH1 MY ,"L10 ,S,Y SD4 ,%E _H H] H&
ON ,ME7IE'S =EH1D4 8,%E'S BURN+ UP4
,LOVISA1 -E "H6 ,%E'S RE,Y SICK60
                                    #AGG
  8,HAIRCUT "T60 ,I ANN\NC$1 WAV+ ! ,K+
FAMILY'S "O TR1SUR$ SET ( SCISSORS4
8,ALL *N1 REPORT 6\R WAGON40
  ,SUSAN1 ,MEL9DA1 & ,LYDIA />T$ SITT+ !
"Y/]S "O 0"O ON ! WAGON T;GUE S ,I CD
CLIP _! DIRTY CURLS 6! DU/4
  8,Y RE,Y ?9K ?IS'LL HELP80 ,LYDIA
ASK$1 TRY+ 6HELP ,SUSAN HOLD ,LUTE /4
  8,X'S "S?+ 6TRY10 ,I SD1 TRIMM+ >.D
,LUTE'S E>4 8,IF WE C'T BA! !M1 AT L1/ X
MAKES A LL LESS 6KEEP CL1N40
  8,BODY LICE10 ,SUSAN MUTT]$ 9 4GU/4
8,:AT NEXT80 ,B / %E CDN'T BE> 6LET ME
TAKE M ?AN A TOK5 SNIP ( ,LEXIE'S GLORI-
\S GOLD FLOSS4 8,I'LL CUT X ALL1 ,I
PROMISE10 %E TOLD ME APOLOGETIC,Y1 8! V
F/ "T ,I SEE ANY40
  8,NO1 NO1 N ME EI10 ,BITSY SD1 Z ,ME-
L9DA TRI$ 6POSI;N H] ON \R MAKE%IFT B>B]
*AIR4
  8,N[ -E ON1 ,BITS10 ,MEL9DA SD1 8DON'T
MAKE ? H>D40
  8,Y'RE N CUTT+ .YR HAIR10 ,BITSY PO9T$
\4 8,I'M N "O ( ^! BABIES1 REMEMB]4 ,I'M
"O (! BIG GIRLS & ,I WANT 6BE       #AGH
PRETTY TOO60
  ,MEL9DA & ,I TRAD$ A WE>Y LOOK4 ,?REE
MON?S AGO WE'D H BE5 *>M$ 0S* TALK2 N[
,BITSY'S FEI/I;S J WORE U \4
  8,ALL "R1 !N10 ,MEL9DA SD RESIGN$LY4
8,I RECKON ! CRAWLY CRITT]S C J H Y40
  ,I "K %E DIDN'T M1N T1 B ,I'LL BET X
BO!R$ H] LAT]4 ,IF %E REMEMB]$4

  8,Y "K :AT ,I MISS80 ,I SD 6,A2IE &
,LYDIA Z WE 2GAN ! NEXT MORN+'S TRUDG+4
  8,WAT]80 ,A2IE SD4 8,CL1N CLO!S8 ,HOT
BA?S80
  8,"S?+ 6EAT 2SS B1NS80 ,LYDIA GUESS$4
  ,I RU2$ MY ALR 5CRU/$ EYES4 8,COLORS4
,I MISS COLORS4 ,REMEMB] :5 A DRESS CD 2
BLUE8 ,OR R$80
  ,\R :OLE _W 0 DUN-COLOR$ N[1 COAT$ 9
DU/4 ,EV5 IF ! SKY ABV U 0 BLUE1 WE CD
R>ELY SEE X1 WALK+ AL;G 9 ? *OK+ CL\D1
DU/ PU6+ >.D \R ANKLES L HOT A%ES4
  ,:5 WE /OPP$ = NOON+1 ,ISAAC ANN\NC$ T
! !RMOMET] 9 ,PA'S WAGON R1D #AJD DE-
GREES4
  8,OH1 2 / ) T10 ,I SNAPP$4        #AGI
8,:AT'S ! USE ( "K+80
  ,I GL.ED AT \R WAGON4 ,I DIDN'T WANT
,S,Y HE>+4 ,%E _H A * BURN+ ) FEV] 9 "!
ALR4 ,:Y PUT A NUMB] ON ! MIS]Y8
  ,ALL ^! MOD]N SCI5TIFIC TOOLS ( \RS--
USE.S1 Y ASK ME4 ,LOOK AT ! ,9DIANS--!Y
GOT AL;G )\T !M J F9E4 ,6U1 ? 0 HELL4
,6!M X 0 HOME4 ,2C !Y _H "S?+ M VALUA#4
,!Y 7 ! "OS :O KNEW ! PLACES 6GET D[N 6T
RIV] & CAT* ! P9K-FLE%$ SALMON L1P+ AT !
FALLS4
  ,"O EV5+ TWO ,%O%ONES CAME 96\R CAMP1
CRY+1 8,SWAP6 ,SWAP60 & TRAD$ U "S FI%4
  8,!Y'RE S RA7$ & DIRTY10 ,A2IE -PLA9$
LAT] Z WE 7 EAT+ SUPP]4
  ,I J />$4 ,H] HAIR1 L ALL ( \RS1 0 A
GR1SY BRAID1 COAT$ 9 DIRT1 H] DRESS
_HN'T BE5 WA%$ 9 WEEKS1 & H] FACE 0
SMUDG$ ) DIRT4
  8,A2IE10 ,I SD4 8,LOOK AT U40
  8,:AT40 ,%E LOOK$ D[N AT H]F1 LOOK$
>.D AT ! RE/ ( \R FAMILY4 ,!N %E CAU<T
ON4 8,OH4 ,WELL4 ,T'S DI6]5T40
  ,I %OOK MY H1D1 TOO TIR$ 6>GUE4
,DIDN'T SEEM "R1 ?\<1 H] SAY+ S*    #AHJ
?+S AB ! ,9DIANS ) H] M\? FULL ( _! GD
SALMON4

  ,"O HOT EV5+1 :5 ! PRECI\S ODOMET] IN-
DICAT$ WE _H A3OMPLI%$ =! "D ONLY EI<T
MILES1 ! ORD] W5T \3 ,LI<T5 ! LOADS4
  8,B N U1 ,PA10 ,I SD4 8,"R80
  8,WELL1 ( C\RSE1 U4 ,Y ?9K WE'RE "S?+
SPECIAL8 ,\R OX5 >E Z BONY & WORN \ Z
"EYBODY ELSE'S40
  8,B1 ,PA1 WE ?"\ ( ? AH1D4 ,WE ALR
PLANN$ X ALL \ S ? WDN'T HAPP540
  8,C'T 2 HELP$40 ,HE LOOK$ >.D AT "EY"O
& SPOKE UP4 8,I "K X'S H>D1 GIRLS1 B ?9K
( X ? WAY--IF WE C'T GET "S?+ ALL ! WAY
"!1 :Y DRAG X "O MILE F>!R80
  8,CDN'T WE AT L1/ WAIT UNTIL MORN+80
,I SD4 8,WE'RE ALL S TIR$40
  8,OH1 NO4 ,Y "K H[ T GOES4 ,)A GD
NI<T'S SLEEP WE MI<T ALL WAKE UP ) 5
FOOLI% 5]GY 6TRY 6KEEP HAUL+ ! /UFF40
  ,BACK AT \R WAGON1 ,R[L& APPE>$ AT !
TAILGATE ) MY SP9N+ :EEL4
  8,R[L&6 ,I'LL NE$ T60
  8,N 2T "H &! ,WILLAMETTE ,VAL-    #AHA
LEY40
  ,B A SP9N+ :EEL WASN'T A FRIVOL\S ?+1
L A CLOCK %ELF "S"O PLANN$ 6NAIL ON !
WALL 9 H] NEW HOME OR A LACE-TRIMM$ P>A-
SOL1 Z IF "!'D 2 PAV$ B\LEV>DS \ WE/ TO
/ROLL4 ,A SP9N+ :EEL 0 A PRACTICAL TOOL4
  ,R[L& DROPP$ X 9 ! DU/4 8,TAKES UP A
LOT ( ROOM TOO40
  8,B ,PA WDN'T WANT ME 6L1VE ?4 ,G ASK
HM4 ,I'M ! BE/ SP9N] 9 ! FAMILY4 ,HE
SAYS S40
  8,SORRY1 ,LOVISA40
  ,OH1 ,"L1 ,I WASN'T GO+ 6CRY1 0 ,I8 ,N
OV] A SP9N+ :EEL4 ,N ) WORSE ?+S HAPP5+
--,ME7IE S SICK "R "! 9SIDE4 ,BL9K+
TE>S1 ,I SKIRT$ ! WAGON 6PUT ! CANVAS 2T
MYF & ,R[L& & R1LIZ$ DEBATES 7 9 PROG-
RESS "EY":4 ,MEL9DA ,FULL] WAT*$ H] "F
SET \ H] D1D "M'S ROCK]1 A PIECE C>RI$ ?
F> M = S5TI;T ?AN PRACTICAL;Y4 ,SOL UN-
LOAD$ ?+S Z ,ANNIE DIRECT$4 ,JOHN 0 TRY+
6-=T ,SUSAN OV] ! AB&ON;T (A LL *E/ T _H
BE5 A W$D+ GIFT F H] "M4
  ,ABV X ALL1 ,MRS4 ,BR[N 0 YAMM]+ AT
,PA1 SAY+ 8 2+ ON ! IDIOTIC ,COM-   #AHB
MITTEE ( ,SAFETY DIDN'T GIVE HM ! "R TO
ORD] H] >.D AB "EY?+4
  8,WE'RE PULL+ \R [N LOAD10 ,MRS4 ,BR[N
9SI/$4 8,WE'RE N ASK+ Y ,K+S = HELP40
  8,Y W IF Y BR1K D[N40
  8,WE W .N60
  8,GUESS T REMA9S 6BE SE510 ,PA SD4 8,&
S9CE ! RE/ ( U WDN'T FEEL "R AB L1V+ Y \
"H ON YR [N1 Y'RE J GO+ 6H 6G AL;G )!
RULES40
  ,H] :OLE BODY CL5*$ 9 A SPASM ( ANG]4
,%E CLIMB$ 96H] WAGON & ?REW \ A LOVELY
LL TRUNK1 : SPRANG OP5 ON IMPACT1 SPILL+
CLO!S4 ,/EPP+ D[N AF X1 %E 2GAN HURL+ !
PETTICOATS & %IRTS BACK 96! WAGON4 ,:5 !
TRUNK 0 EMPTY1 %E FLIPP$ X CLOS$1 SEIZ$
AN AX1 & L[]$ X CRA%+ "? ! BLUE-FL[]-
PATT]N$ LID1 L1V+ A SPL9T]$ HOLE4
  ,WILD-EY$1 %E LOOK$ UP AT ALL :O'D F.D
!MVS 9T]RUPT+ _! [N UNLOAD+ 6WAT* H]S4
  8,IF ,I C'T H X10 %E DCLD1 8NOBODY C60
  ,R[L& _H MADE A PILE 2S \R WAGON--A LL
TRUNK ( ,S,Y'S T HE'D EMPTI$1 A BUTT]
*URN1 A C\PLE ( FLATIRONS4 ,HE 0 EXAM9+
MY SP9N+ :EEL4                      #AHC
  8,*ANGE YR M9D80 ,I SD BITT]LY4
  ,HE IGNOR$ MY T"O4 8,I ?9K ,I CD MAKE
Y "O ( ^! :5 WE GET \ "!40
  8,OH1 ,R[L&40 ,"S"TS HE MADE X S H>D
6/AY MAD AT HM4 8,T'S NICE ( Y1 B '''0
,:O 0 ,I TRY+ 6FOOL1 ANYWAY8 ,X WASN'T
RE,Y ! :EEL T 4TRESS$ ME4 ,X 0 SEE+ ,PA
WORRI$4 8,X J SC>ES ME10 ,I ADMITT$ TO
,R[L&1 82C ? ISN'T H[ WE PLANN$40
  ,R[L& PRESS$ ! P$AL1 /UDY+ H[ X 3NECT$
6! :EEL4
  8,PLANS >5'T "EY?+10 HE SD4

  ,AT ,=T ,BOISE1 FIVE "DS D[N ! TRAIL1
\R M5 MET )! L1D]S ( S"EAL O!R -PANIES
:O'D REC5TLY 3V]G$ ON ! PLACE1 & AFWS
,PA ANN\NC$ AT \R CAMPFIRE T WE'D BE5
PRES5T$ ) AN 9T]E/+ PROPOSI;N 0A GUIDE1
,/EPH5 ,MEEK4
  ,I KNEW ( HM4 ,R[L& _H PO9T$ \ ,MR4
,MEEK & 8 WIFE 6U AT ,?REE ,ISL& ,CROSS+
": WE _H =D$ ! ,SNAKE ,RIV]4 ,MEEK 0 A
WILD-LOOK+ M.TA9 MAN 9 BUCKSK9S1 & EV5
?\< HE 0 OV] =TY1 8 WIFE1 FOLKS SD1 0 J
EI<TE54 ,!Y'D MET & M>RI$ ! V F/    #AHD
WEEK \ ON ! PRAIRIE4 ,N[ !Y TRAVEL$ FREE
& WAGON.S1 RID+ HORSEBACK SIDE-BY-SIDE4
,6ME1 TRUDG+ 9 ! DU/1 ? SEEM$ A R EXALT$
POSI;N1 & ,I'D 5VI$ H]1 CANT]+ 0ME1 *9-
/RAPP$ HAT & L;G HAIR B\NC+ ON H] BACK4
  8,MEEK'S (F]+ 6TAKE FOLKS 0A NEW
R\TE10 ,PA SD4 8,CUTS #AEJ MILES (F !
TRIP4 ,T5 "DS40
  ,HOPE LIT E FEMALE FACE4 ,WE 7 WORRI$
= \R SICK "OS4 ,CUTT+ T5 "DS M1NT CUTT+
T5 "DS ( SU6]+4
  8,SEEMS 8 PILOT+ 3TRACT ) ,CAPTA9
,WEL*'S GR\P ONLY W5T 6,=T ,HALL10 ,PA
EXPLA9$1 8S HE'S LOOK+ 6SIGN ON NEW
FOLKS4 ,ASK+ A DOLL> A WAGON40
  8,FOLKS >E TALK+ AB ,9DIAN TR\# ON !
REGUL> R\TE10 ,>NOLD ,FULL] SD4 8,CAYUSE
&! ,WALLA ,WALLA40
  8,SAYS HE'S TRAPP$ \ "! _M A "T10
,JOHN SD1 8& HE "KS ! TRAIL4 ,SAYS IF HE
DOESN'T L1D U /RAI<T "? 6,! ,DALLES 9
?IRTY "DS WE C KICK 8 H1D ALL ! WAY BACK
6! ,/ATES40
  ,:AT A WAY 6PUT X6
  8,I SPOKE )! MANAG] AT ! =T10     #AHE
,R[L& SD4 8,SAYS1 YES1 HE'S HE>D (A
TRAPP]'S TRAIL \ T WAY4 ,WE'LL H1D WE/
UNTIL WE /RIKE ! ,DES*UTES4 ,!N WE FOLL[
T RIV] NOR? 6": X -ES \ NE> ,! ,DALLES4
,T M1NS WE'D 2 %UT (! ,BLUE ,M.TA9S40
  ,AN AUDI# 9TAKE ( BR1? MET ? REVEL,N4
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*.E 6"SH[ AVOID ! ,BLUE ,M.TA9S N[1 :5
WE 7 S TIR$1 SEEM$ NO?+ %ORT (A MIRACLE4
,:Y1 X 0 ALM Z IF ? ,MR4 ,MEEK 7 /&+ "H
TELL+ U RAILWAY TRACKS 6! ,WILLAMETTE
,VALLEY _H BE5 LAID R1L QK1 & HE'D 2
PR\D 6H& \ TRA9 TICKETS6
  8,! ,GRE5WOOD ,CUT(F TURN$ \ F9E10 ,PA
REM9D$ U1 A 3CLU.N NO "O _H "E 4PUT$4
  8,S "EY"O'LL TAKE ! NEW TRAIL !N80 ,MA
ASK$4
  ,PA HESITAT$4 8,"S >E1 "S >5'T40
  ,MA'S M\? W5T SIDEWAYS4 ,%E 0 ?9K+ !
SAME ?+ T _H SU45LY O3URR$ 6ME1 ,I'LL
WAG]3 ,IF ? R\TE 0 S SUP]IOR1 :Y N8 ,&
:Y _HN'T ! WAGONS G"O T WAY LA/ YE>8 ,:Y
WASN'T X ALR ! MA9 R\TE8
  8,E MAN HAS 6*OOSE = HMF10 ,PA    #AHF
SD4
  ,& *OOSE = 8 WIFE & *N TOO1 ,I ?"\4
,AF ALL1 NOBODY 0 RE,Y ASK+ U4 ,! M5 9
\R FAMILY _H DECID$ 6TRY ? NEW ROAD2 WE
7 SIMPLY 2+ 9=M$4
  ,I LOOK$ >.D AT ! O!R WOM54 ,CLE>LY ,I
WASN'T ! ONLY "O ) QUALMS4 ,B AT ! SAME
"T1 W]5'T WE ALL WANT+ 62LIEVE 9 ! %ORT-
CUT8
  ,LAT] ,I WD ?9K BACK & WOND]4 ,:AT IF
WE'D DUG 9 \R HEELS & SD ..,NO1 WE WON'T
G4 ,X'S SAF] 6/ICK 6! REGUL> .R\TE4 ,WD
!Y H LI/5$ 6U8
  ,MI<T ?+S H G"O DI6]5TLY8










                ,TWELVE             #AHG

  8,MALHEUR80 ,I REP1T$ :5 ,R[L& F/ TOLD
ME ! "N (! /R1M4 8,:AT'S T M1N80 ,WE 7 A
"D'S TRAVEL F ,=T ,BOISE & _H J HALT$ !
WAGONS =! NI<T ON ! LL RIV]'S BANK4
  ,R[L& J]K$ D[N "O (! OXB[S4 8,N"E
M9D40
  8,:AT1 Y "K B Y WON'T TELL80
  ,HE SI<$1 EXASP]AT$4 8,!Y SAY X'S
,FR5* = ,8EVIL H\R40' ,ALL "R80
  8,OH40 ,ODD "N = S* A PRETTY /R1M4
  ,B\NC+ ,JIMMY ON MY HIP1 ,I WAT*$ MY
BRO!R-IN-LAW LIFT ! H1VY WOOD5 YOKE (F !
L1D T1M4
  ,HE GL.ED T[>D ! WAGON4 8,& DON'T G
TELL+ ,S,Y40
  ,I FLU%$1 TURN+ MY BACK4 ,H[ /UPID DID
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TAK+ A "N L ,DEVIL'S ,GATE Z AN OM54 ,I
WDN'T DR1M ( GIV+ H] A *.E 6FRET OV] !
SIGNIFIC.E ( .EVIL .H\R4
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ANY ATT5;N1 ANYWAY1 HAV+ FALL5 6! FEV]
EV5 Z ,ME7IE IMPROV$4
  8,PA80 ,ME7IE SD F ! WAGON S1T4   #AHH
8,IS ? ,O'G580
  8,WELL1 YES1 B N ! GD "P4 ,N ! "P ":
WE'RE GO+40
  8,B X WON'T 2 L;G N[10 ,I SD1 HELP+ H]
D[N4 8,"R1 ,R[L&80
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8,"R40

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  8,I PROBABLY WON'T SEE Y = A:ILE10 HE
TOLD ME1 SW++ D[N (F 8 HORSE4 8,\R -PA-
NY'S LAY+ 0A "D "H1 LET Y GET AH1D ( U40
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,A2IE1 FLA%+ M9D-YR-[N-BUSI;S EYES AT
H]4 ,I FELT SKITTI% 5 :5 ,JOHN CAME >.D
)\T H] ="E WAT*+1 MONITOR+ MY E ^W4 ,Z
SOON Z HE 0 G"O1 ,I KNEW1 %E'D 2 TELL+
ME :AT ,I'D D"O WR;G4
  ,JOHN TOOK MY H&S4
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  8,:AT80
  8,OH1 J ''' MY H&S4 ,!Y'RE AW;L40 ,I'D
N"E G"O S L;G )\T MY WOOL 6SP94 ,MY DRY1
CRACK$ F+]TIPS SORELY MISS$ ! LANOL94
  8,FEEL F9E 6ME10 ,JOHN LI$ GAL-   #AHI
LANTLY4
  ,I LET MY H&S RE/ 9 8 BRIEFLY1 !N EAS$
!M AWAY4 8,I'LL PROBABLY SEE Y AT ,!
,DALLES10 HE SD4
  ,I NO4$1 SCOOP+ ,JIMMY UP F ! DIRT1
HOLD+ HM 2T ,JOHN & MYF L A %IELD4
  ,Z SOON Z HE RODE (F1 ,I TURN$ BACK 6!
BAS9 ( T9 PLATES ,I 0 WA%+1 PRET5D+ ,I
DIDN'T SEE ,A2IE -+ = ME4
  8,H"O/LY1 T BOY IS DEVOT$ 6Y10 %E SD1
/&+ "! ) BABY ,*>LIE 9 H] >MS4 8,NO MAT-
T] H[ Y TR1T HM1 HE / LIKES Y40
  8,:AT D Y M1N1 H[ ,I TR1T HM8 ,WASN'T
,I NICE80
  8,Y C]TA9LY DON'T ACT L Y'RE Z SWEET
ON HM Z HE IS ON Y40
  8,WELL1 ,I'M N4 ,H[ _M "TS D ,I H TO
TELL Y T80

  8,I ?"\ ? R\TE 0 SUPPOS$ 6/E] U CLE> (
,9DIANS10 ,MRS4 ,BR[N -PLA9$ ! NEXT "D
:5 ,NATIVES 7 SI<T$ 9 ! 4T.E4
  ,OH1 :Y _HN'T ! ,BR[NS TAK5 ! =K TO
,CALI=NIA1 ,I ?"\1 OR /AY$ ON ! REGUL>
TRAIL 6,! ,DALLES8                  #AIJ
  ,SOON1 ?\<1 %E WASN'T ! ONLY "O EX-
PRESS+ SKEPTICISM4
  8,WASN'T ? %ORTCUT SUPPOS$ 6.AVOID
M.TA9S80 ,ANNIE SD A C\PLE ( "DS ON4 8,I
CD SWE> ? IS ! ROCKIE/ /RET* YET40
  8,C'T EV5 CALL X A ROAD10 ,I ADMITT$4
8,I DON'T SEE H[ ! M5 EV5 "K ": 6G40
  8,I'M ?IR/Y60 ,ME7IE WD :IMP] E "T ,I
WALK$ NE> ! WAGON 6*ECK ON H] & ,JIMMY &
,S,Y1 :O'D N[ BROK5 \ )! RA% T SEEM$ 6G
AL;G ) ? FEV]4
  8,Y J _H A DR9K10 ,I REM9D$ ,ME7IE4
  8,I WANT M4 ,MY T;GUE IS DRY40 ,DEMON-
/RAT+1 %E LET X LOLL \4
  ,I SI<$4 8,TRY 6WAIT J A LL L;G]1 HON-
EY40 ,H[ ,I HAT$ N 2+ A# 6ANSW] A *'S
SIMPLE1 R1SONA# PLEA4 ,GLANC+ AH1D 6!
O!R WAGONS1 ,I WOND]$ H[ ,A2IE 0 DO+ )
,LEXIE4 ,X SEEM$ L ANO!R LIFE"T :5 WE'D
SKIPP$ AL;G 9 ! GRE5 PRAIRIE GRASS1 *AT-
T+ & GA!R+ WILDFL[]S4 ,I LOOK$ BACK 6\R
WAGON4 ,ME7IE 0 / WAT*+ ME4 8,WE'RE ALM
6A NEW CAMP+ PLACE10 ,I TOLD H]4
  ,%E GAVE ME ! D\BT;L LOOK ,I 0 -+ 6"K
S WELL4                             #AIA
  8,RE,Y1 ,ME7IE4 ,&! DA4IES W MAKE SURE
"!'S A NICE /R1M40
  ,POOR *4 ,OBVI\SLY %E .WANT$ 62LIEVE4
,:O DIDN'T8 ,I WI%$ "S"O WD LIE 6.ME4 ,B
"S": AL;G ! WAY ,I _H GR[N F A P]SON ^:
E>S 7 %IELD$ F 4TURB+ NEWS 6"O CALL$ ^U
6JO9 9 :AT"E MAKE-2LIEVE WD HELP T1SE !
LL "OS AL;G4
  8,H['S YR MAMA DO+ 9 "!80 ,I ASK$ H]1
PRETTY SURE ,I WDN'T L ! ANSW]4 ,S,Y
SEEM$ WORSE E "D4
  ,ME7IE 4APPE>$ =A MO;T1 !N REAPPE>$4
8,%E'S TALK9' & ,I DON'T EV5 "K :AT %E'S
TALK9' 'B\T40
  8,WELL1 DON'T WORRY1 H"OY4 ,X'S J !
FEV]40
  ,S _M _H FALL5 6? ILL;S N[1 & !Y 7 E
LA/ "O ( !M GO+ \ ( _! H1DS4 ,WALK NEXT
6J AB ANY WAGON & Y'D HE> "S POOR S\L
9SIDE MOAN+ 9 DELIRIUM4 ,2T !M &! B$RI45
:O 7 WELL 5 6KEEP UP A L\D1 3/ANT PLEA =
! DRIV]S 6/OP ! B"O-%AK+ BUMP+1 WE 7 A
SORR[;L S.D+ C>AVAN 9DE$4

                                    #AIB
  ,\R WAGONS 7 %AK+ A"P4
  ,FAC+ "O "PICUL>LY /EEP D[NHILL GRADE1
,R[L& & ,I *A9$ \R BACK :EELS4 ,! TWO (
U HELD ROPES 6BRACE ! WAGON TOO4 ,B SUD-
D5LY1 ! BONY OX5 CAU<T ! SC5T ( WAT] F A
LL CREEK 9 ! DRAW & SURG$ D[N T[>D X4 ,!
WAGON LUR*$2 ! ROPE BURN$ "? MY H&S4
,GRASP+ TI<T AG1 ,I SLID & /UM#D USE.SLY
AF1 MY SMALL WEI<T DO+ NO?+ 6HOLD U
BACK4 ,ALL >.D U1 O!RS SU6]$ ! SAME
PLI<T1 Z WAGONS & ANIMALS & P %IFT$ D[N-
HILL \ ( 3TROL4 ,I CD HE> ,S,Y'S CRY (
AL>M F ! WAGON1 &! YELL+ & CURS+ (! M5 &
! BELL[+ (! ANIMALS & CRA%+ (! WAGONS
ALL S.D$ 9 A RO> Z WE TUM#D 6! BOTTOM 9
A CL\D ( DU/4
  ,B AT L1/ AT ! 5D ( X1 "! 0 WAT]4
  ,! NEXT MORN+ WE _H 6USE UP ! COOLE/
H\RS PAT*+ ! WAGONS BACK TGR4 ,PA'S RE>
AXLETREE _H SNAPP$ -PLETELY1 "O (! ,FUL-
L] WAGONS POPP$ TWO IRON TIRES1 & ,AN-
NIE'S :EELS _H SPL9T]$ SPOKES4 ,0! "T WE
PULL$ \1 ! WOR/ H1T (! "D _H ALR 5GULF$
U4
  ,ROCK+ AL;G1 ,I C.T$4 ,?IRTY      #AIC
"DS 6,! ,DALLES ,/EPH5 ,MEEK _H PROMIS$4
,TD MADE EI<T4

  ,"SH[ WE _H -E 6ANO!R =K (! ,MALHEUR1
MAK+ CAMP 9 A HOLL[ 2T /EEP HILLS T ROSE
6A MAJE/IC CRAG (A ROCK4
  ,R[L& /OPP$ ! WAGON NEXT 6A C\PLE (
SCRA7LY C$>S & UNHIT*$ ! OX54 ,I CLIMB$
9SIDE4 .,:EW4 ,! TRAPP$1 /IFL+ AIR /ANK
( SICK;S4 ,S,Y LAY 9 ! HAMMOCK B$ ,R[L&
_H RI7$ \ ( H] QUILT4
  8,R[L&80 ,S,Y'S EYES LOOK$ VACANT Z %E
SCANN$ ! WAGON'S 9T]IOR4
  8,NO1 X'S ME1 ,S,Y4 ,LOVISA4 ,WE'RE
/OPP+ N[40
  8,OH40 ,H] VOICE CAME FA9TLY4 8,GD40
  8,"H1 LET ME HELP Y4 ,WE'LL GET Y ALL
FIX$ UP40
  ,"O AT A "T ,I UNKNOTT$ ! CORN]S (!
QUILT4 ,R[L&'S 3TRAP;N HELP$ CUT D[N ON
! H>D BUMP+ :5 ! WAGON 0 ROLL+1 B ,I ?"\
,S,Y WD APPRECIATE A *.E 6SIMPLY LIE /1
)\T SW++4 ,!N ,I HELP$ H] )! *AMB] POT4
,Z ,I CLIMB$ \ 6EMPTY X1 ,R[L& APPE>$4
  8,H[ IS %E80                      #AID
  ,I J LOOK$ AT HM1 WI%+ ,I CD GIVE AN
OPTIMI/IC REPORT4
  ,HE CLIMB$ IN4 ,I /OOD \TSIDE1 LI/5+
6MY SI/]'S FEE# MEWL+S1 A RUNN+ /R1M (
APOLOGIES ''' .SORRY1 .SORRY1 .SORRY '''
  ,SORRY8 ,= :AT8 ,= 2+ SICK8 ,= BR1K+
D[N8 ,= N 2+ Z /R;G Z PASSAGE ACR ? H>%
L& DEM&$8 ,I CDN'T BE> ,R[L&'S VOICE EI1
8 ANGUI% '''
  ,= H1V5'S SAKE1 :Y 0 ,I LI/5+1 !N8 ,I
HURRI$ AWAY )! *AMB] POT1 & ,SOL PO9T$
ME 6! CAMP'S DESIGNAT$ DUMP4 ,A /9K+
PLACE AT E CAMP SPOT1 "H X 0 ALR WORSE
?AN USUAL4 ,S,Y WASN'T ! ONLY "O SICK4
,Y CD SMELL X2 Y CD SEE X4 ,P 7 ?R[+ UP4
,!Y _H DI>RHEA4
  ,I MADE A PO9T N 6LI/5 Z ,I PASS$ BACK
0\R WAGON & GRA2$ ! WAT] BUCKET F XS
HOOK4 ,TAK+ A ZIGZAG PA? "? CAMP1 ,I F.D
MY WAY 6! GURGL+ RIV] & SWUNG UP A BUCK-
ET ( FRE% WAT]4 ,RETURN+ 6! WAGON1 ,I
/OOD 0! CANVAS FLAP1 HESITAT+4
  8,D Y WANT "S WAT] = H]80 ,I F9,Y
CALL$ "?4
  8,YES1 -E ON UP40 ,R[L& TOOK !    #AIE
BUCKET4 ,:5 ,I CLIMB$ 9 HE 0 SP;G+
,S,Y'S FACE4 8,I (F]$ 6C>RY H] \ B %E
DOESN'T WANT TO40
  8,X MI<T FEEL BETT]10 ,I SD 6,S,Y4
  ,%E MADE A FACE1 %OOK H] H1D4 8,R[L&80
  8,YES80
  8,I DON'T WANT 6BE LEFT \ "H40
  8,NOBODY'S L1V+ Y40
  8,I M1N1 IF ,I DIE '''0
  8,Y'RE N GO+ 6DIE10 ,I SD 2F ,R[L& EV5
_H A *.E 6REACT4 8,/OP TALK+ L T4 ,!
WOR/ IS PA/1 & 0TM Y'LL 2 UP & \ (! WAG-
ON40
  ,R[L& TURN$ & SE>*$ MY FACE4 ,DID ,I
RE,Y 2LIEVE ?1 8 LOOK ASK$8 ,GAVE ME
*ILLS4 ,?+S >E PRETTY BAD1 X /RUCK ME1
:5 A GR[N MAN IS LOOK+ 6A SEV5TE5-YE>-
OLD GIRL = REASSUR.E4
  ,I TOOK A DEEP1 %U4]Y BR1? & />T$ LY+
= ALL ,I 0 WOR?4 8,TM Y'LL 2 D[N AT !
RIV]4 ,X'S ''' X'S RE,Y PRETTY "H4 ,"!'S
EV5 A FEW TREES4 ,Y'LL H A NICE WA% &A
GD BR1KFA/ & !N WE'LL MOVE ON40
  8,I WANT '''0 ,S,Y LAY "! PANT+4 8,I
WANT 6SEE ! BABIES40                #AIF
  ,I GL.ED AT ,R[L&4 ,WE'D AGRE$ X 0 BE/
6KEEP !M AWAY1 ESPECI,Y ,JIMMY1 = FE> (!
FEV] CAT*+4 ,B N[ HE NO4$ AT ME 6FET*
!M1 & ,I CLIMB$ \4
  ,F/ ,I F.D ,ME7IE AT ,MA'S WAGON ":
%E'D BE5 RID+4
  8,H[ IS %E80 ,MA SD Z ,I HOI/$ ,ME7IE
6MY HIP4 8,BETT]10 ,I LI$ AG4 ,!N ,I W5T
6F9D ,JIMMY4 ,SUSAN 0 NURS+ HM4
  8,OH1 ,SUSAN1 ?ANK Y = ?40 ,I WAT*$ =A
MO;T1 FEEL+ 9ADEQUATE1 WI%+ ,I1 TOO1 7 A
NURS+ "M4
  8,%E'D H D"O ! SAME = ME40 ,Z ,JIMMY
PULL$ AWAY & GR9N$ AT ME1 %E BUTTON$ H]
BODICE4 8,H[ IS %E80
  ,I GL.ED AT ,ME7IE & %OOK MY H1D ! TI-
NIE/ BIT4
  ,BACK AT ! WAGON1 ,I LIFT$ ! *N "O AT
A "T UP 6,R[L& & CLIMB$ 9 AF4 ,NO SOON]
_H ! LL "OS GOT A GLIMPSE ( _! "M1 ?\<1
?AN !Y 7 PU%+ 6CLIMB BACK \4
  8,NO1 NO1 N[10 ,R[L& 0 SAY+4 8,LET
,MAMA LOOK AT Y A M9UTE40
  ,B :ILE ,I HELD ,ME7IE1 ,JIMMY /RU7L$
9 ,R[L&'S >MS & KEPT TRY+ 6TURN     #AIG
AWAY4 ,HE WD LOOK AT ,S,Y1 !N LUR* BACK1
BURY+ 8 FACE AG/ ,R[L&'S *E/4 ,EV5 ? BA-
BY1 ,I ?"\1 KNEW A DESP]ATE /ATE :5 HE
SAW X4 ,ME7IE F9,Y SETTL$1 F+] 9 H] M\?1
/>+ ) WIDE & SOLEMN EYES4
  8,M>G>ET4 ,JAMES10 ,S,Y SD1 H] H&
LIFT+ T[>D A C>ESS %E _HN'T ! /R5G? TO
-PLETE4 ,!N X DROPP$ BACK 6PLUCK AT H]
TWI/$ *EMISE4 8,:O W--8 ,LOVISA40 ,H]
EYES1 9F9ITELY L>GE & SORR[;L1 FA/5$ ON
ME4 8,TAKE C>E ( !M4 ,PROMISE Y W40
  8,S,Y6 ,NO1 ,I WON'T PROMISE ANY S*
?+6 ,2C .Y'LL 2 TAK+ C>E ( !M40
  8,Y W10 ,R[L& SD 6,S,Y4 8,& .,I W40
  ,S,Y REG>D$ ! TWO ( U SADLY1 Z IF %E
KNEW BETT] B 0 TOO W1K 6>GUE4 ,%E CLOS$
H] EYES4 ,H] FACE RELAX$ A LL1 &=A MO;T
%E LOOK$ S P1CE;L1 MY BR1? CAU<T4 ,0
%E--8 ,/RUCK )! SAME FE>1 ,R[L& T\*$ H]
*EEK4
  ,%E OP5$ H] EYES BRIEFLY & SMIL$4 ,HE
SI<$1 RELIEV$4 8,TRY 6SLEEP N[4 ,LOVI-
SA'S "R4 ,! WOR/ IS OV]40
  ,I TOOK ! *N BACK 6,MA'S WAGON4 8,%E'S
RE/+ A LL EASI]10 ,I TOLD MY "M1    #AIH
: SEEM$ TRUE 5\<4
  ,I /UDI$ MY "M'S WORN1 SUNBURN$ FACE )
XS "E-DEEP5+ CR1SES4 ,"! 0 S M* WE W]5'T
SAY+4 ,MA ALR KNEW :AT X 0 L 6WAT* A *
DIE4 ,%E'D LO/ LL ,JIMMY AT ?REE1 & "!'D
BE5 MY OLD] SI/]S ,DULANNY & ,HANNAH1
GIRLS :O'D BE5 TAK5 0"S SORT ( SICK;S AT
! AGES ( ELEV5 & N9E 2F ,I 0 EV5 BORN4
  8,I'LL LOOK 9 ON H]10 ,MA SD4
  ,DID X "E GET ANY EASI]8 ,I WOND]$1
WAT*+ H] G4 ,DID "MS WORRY = _! *N J !
SAME EV5 :5 ! *N W]5'T *N ANYMORE8

  ,MY SI/]S & ,I W5T AB ! USUAL BUSI;S (
GETT+ SUPP]4 ,MA _H RETURN$1 & ,I 0
ROLL+ \ BISCUITS ON H] WAGON S1T :5 ,R[-
L& CAME HURRY+ OV]4
  8,LOVISA1 -E "H6 ,%E'S WIDE AWAKE6
,%E'S TALK+60
  ,DELI<T$1 ,I PASS$ ! ROLL+ P9 6,LYDIA
& HIK$ MY SKIRTS 6/EP LIVELY4 ,:AT A RE-
LIEF6 ,ONLY N[ CD ,I ADMIT 6MYF J H[
SC>$ ,I'D BE54
  ,9 ! WAGON ,S,Y SAT UP"R1 B"R & AL]T4
  8,OH1 GD10 %E SD1 SEE+ ME4 8,%E   #AII
"KS ": X IS40
  ,R[L& %RU7$1 A DAZ$ LL SMILE ON 8
FACE4 8,"S?+ AB A BLUE DRESS %E WANTS TO
WE>40
  ,I HESITAT$4 8,%E DOESN'T .H A BLUE
DRESS40
  8,I DIDN'T ?9K S1 EI10 HE ADMITT$4 ,&
!N1 )A HOPE;L NOTE T "SH[ HURT MY HE>T1
8,MAYBE "S?+ %E'S TUCK$ AWAY80
  ,I ?"\4 ,I %OOK MY H1D4 ,"! 0 PRECI\S
LL LEFT 9 ? WAGON & ,I KNEW E ITEM4
  8,WE / H YR W$D+ SUIT10 ,I SD1 PICK+
UP H] H&4 8,B Y WDN'T WANT 6SPOIL T \
"H1 WD Y80
  8,T'S F9E !N10 %E SD1 N Q MAK+ S5SE4
8,S WE'LL 2 "! TM40
  ,I GL.ED AT ,R[L&1 BACK AT H]4 8,OR
MAYBE ! "D AF T10 ,I SD1 HUMOR+ H]4 ,?
SEEM$ A 4TURB+ TURN1 MY SI/] "SH[ IMAG9+
WE 7 B A "D F ! 5D (! J\RNEY4 8,"H10 ,I
SD1 FANN+ H] )! BRIM ( H] ?R1DB>E SUN-
BONNET4 8,MAYBE ?IS'LL MAKE Y FEEL BET-
T]40
  8,& Y WON'T EV5 H 6BE DO+ T ANYMORE40
,N[ %E 0 LOOK+ AT A PLACE J 2Y      #BJJ
ME1 H] EYES O4LY GLAZ$4 8,DULANNY10 %E
SD WOND]+LY4 8,IS T Y80
  ,DULANNY8 ,I L[]$ ! SUNBONNET FAN4
,OH1 ,"L--
  8,& ,HANNAH6 ,OH6 ,MA ALW SD--0
  8,HANNAH80 ,R[L& SD1 GLANC+ AT ME UN-
EASILY4 8,ISN'T T--80
  ,I HELD UP MY H&1 WANT+ 6LI/51 AFRAID
6HE>4 ,TGR WE WAT*$ ,S,Y'S FACE 2G9 TO
GL[4
  ,SU45LY1 A M>VEL\S SMILE4 ,H] EYES
CLOS$ 9 PURE YE>N+1 !N OP5$ WIDE4 8,OH1
LOOK60 %E CRI$1 LIFT+ H] >MS1 L1N+ =W>D1
SEEM+ 6SEE "R "? ME & ,R[L& 6"S?+ 2Y4
8,LOOK60 %E SD--& ,I W N"E Z L;G Z ,I
LIVE =GET ?--8,LOOK6 ,H[ GRE560
  ,= AN 9/ANT %E HOV]$4 ,%E 0 L A BIRD
SUSP5D$ 9 FLI<T4
  ,!N %E SANK4
  8,S,Y1 NO60
  ,R[L& & ,I LUNG$ =W>D1 CAT*+ H]1 TRY+
6KEEP H] F SLIPP+ AWAY4 ,B X 0 TOO LATE4
,%E 0 G"O4
  ,WE HELD H] =A /UNN$ MO;T4 ,!N WE EAS$
H] BACK4                            #BJA
  ,I H NO IDEA H[ L;G WE KNELT "! L T ON
EI SIDE ( H]1 B F9,Y1 ,R[L& PASS$ 8 CAL-
LUS$ H& OV] ^? WIDE-)-WOND] EYES1 CLOS+
!M ="E4




















                                    #BJB
























                ,?IRTE5             #BJC

  ,NO?+ 0 ! SAME AF T4
  ,& N"E WD X 2 AG4 ,WE _H M>K$ ! VA/
3T95T'S GRT DIVIDE AT ,S\? ,PASS1 B 9 MY
MEMORY MY SI/]'S D1? WD 2COME ! GRT DI-
VIDE (! J\RNEY4 ,2Y T1 AL? ,I DIDN'T "K
X Z ,I WAT*$ ,R[L& /A7] (F AL"O T[>D !
RIV]1 ? DR1D;L H\R WD M>K ! 2F & AF ( MY
5TIRE LIFE4
  ,NO "T 6FA%ION A C(F91 EV5 ! RUDE/
SORT4 ,! BOYS W5T UP ! HILLSIDE T HOT
,SEPTEMB] EV5+ 6DIG ! GRAVE :ILE ,MEL9DA
CAME OV] 6HELP ,MA & ME LAY ,S,Y \ 9 H]
PLUM SILK W$D+ SUIT4 ,WE MI<T H SAV$ &
TR1SUR$ ! DRESS1 : 0 LOVELY & LI<T1 NO?+
6WEI< D[N ! WAGON4 ,X CD H S]V$ "S O!R
SI/]4 ,B = MYF1 ,I CDN'T IMAG9E "O MO;T
PA/ ? AW;L PRES5T1 M* LESS ALL ! WAY 6A
"T :5 "O ( U MI<T ONCE AG C>E :AT WE
WORE4 ,X 0 J A /IT*+ ( SILK1 AF ALL4
,S,Y 0 \R SI/]1 ,MA'S FAVORITE DAU<T]1
,PA'S BE/ BIR?"D GIFT1 ,R[L&'S 2LOV$
WIFE1 & "M (! TWO SWEETE/ BABIES 9 !
:OLE WAGON TRA94 ,Z WE WA%$ Z BE/ WE CD
H] POOR1 WORN-\ BODY1 ,I ?"\ A      #BJD
DEC5T BURY+ DRESS 0 ! L1/ WE CD D1 "S
SMALL C.T] 6? BRUTAL HA/E1 ! HORROR ( S*
A L"O"S GRAVE4
  8,H[ DEEP80 ,MA ASK$ ! BOYS :5 !Y CAME
BACK D[N F ! HILL4
  ,ISAAC & ,AMOS LOOK$ AT EA* O!R4
  8,?REE1 F\R FEET10 ,AMOS SD4
  8,X'S GOT 6BE SIX40
  8,WELL1 ,MA10 ,ISAAC SD1 8! GR.D'S R1L
ROCKY & H>D40
  8,I PROMIS$ H]10 ,MA SD4 8,%E TOLD ME
IF %E DI$ ? F> \1 %E WANT$ 6AT L1/ 2
BURI$ DEEP40
  ,? %OCK$ ME4 ,! TWO ( !M _H SPOK5 (
D1?8 ,ADMITT$ ! POSSIBIL;Y8 ,0 ,I ! ONLY
"O FOOL 5 6H IMAG9$ T D1? ON ! TRAIL
MI<T HAPP51 B N"E 6U8
  ,:5 ,AMOS & ,ISAAC / MADE NO MOVE1 ,MA
GRA2$ "O ( _! %OVELS & H1D$ UP ! HILL4
,! SUN 0 ALM D[N2 H] %AD[ FELL L;G4
  8,X'S A WA/E10 ,ISAAC SD "U 8 BR1?4
8,X'S DEEP 5\<4 ,MA'S GOT NO CALL 6USE
H]F UP ON T40
  8,ISAAC1 %E PROMIS$10 ,I SD1 BITT]LY
REGRETT+ ,I MYF _HN'T GIV5 ,S,Y !   #BJE
PROMISES T CD H -=T$ H]4
  8,B X DOESN'T MAKE ANY S5SE40
  ,Z IF ANY ( ? DID4 ,= AN 9/ANT ,I FELT
Z IF ,I 7 FLOAT+ AWAY1 WAT*+ U ALL F A
4T.E4 ,S* A SORRY BUSI;S4 ,WE WANT$ 6BE
>GU+ ) FATE1 OR ,GOD1 OR ,/EPH5 ,MEEK4
,9/1D1 WE 7 BICK]+ ) EA* O!R OV] A C\PLE
( FEET ( DIRT4
  ,MEL9DA ,FULL] LOOK$ Z TORN UP Z ANY (
U4
  8,AMOS ,K+10 %E SD1 8IF Y ?9K ,I'D M>-
RY ANY MAN :O'D LET 8 [N "M DIG H] DAU<-
T]'S GRAVE '''0
  ,AMOS LOOK$ AT H] /&+ "!1 FI/S CL5*$1
EYES AV]T$1 A FI]CE FLU% ACR H] *EEKS4
  8,ALL "R10 HE SD4 8,-E ON1 ,ISAAC4
,MA60 HE CALL$4 8,HOLD ON40

  ,! NEXT MORN+1 :ILE ! DEEP] HOLL[S /
LAY 9 %AD[1 ! SUN'S RIS+ RAYS T\*$ !
HILLTOPS Z WE ,K+S &! ,FULL]S &A H&;L (
O!RS /OOD AT MY SI/]'S GRAVE4 ,LL ,ME7IE
CLUT*$ A FI/;L ( BLACK-EY$ ,SUSANS4 ,AT
:AT SEEM$ Z GD A MO;T Z ANY1 ,I PROMPT$
H] 6TOSS !M 9 ON TOP ( H] "M'S      #BJF
QUILT-WRAPP$ =M4 ,!N \R FAMILY MEMB]S
/EPP$ BACK & LET O!RS TAKE OV] ! F9AL1
GRIM "W (! %OVEL4
  ,:5 ! HOLE 0 FILL$1 MY BRO!R ,JOHN
TOOK ! BO>D ON : ,R[L& _H PA9STAK+LY
HEWN ,S,Y'S "N &! DATE & %OV$ X 96! GR.D
AT ! H1D (! GRAVE4
  ,WE /OOD "!4 ,:O WD SP1K8
  ,R"E5D ,MOORE _H G"O ) ANO!R GR\P (
WAGONS1 & NO "O _H ?"\ 6BR+ A ,BI# UP !
HILL4 ,MAYBE ,I %D H SD ALL ! GD ?+S AB
,S,Y4 ,H[ SWEET %E WAS4 ,H[ %E N"E SD A
BAD ^W AB ANY"O4 ,H[ BRAVE %E'D BE51
RE,Y1 :5 Y ?"\ AB X1 :5 Y "U/OOD H[ M*
"EY?+ SC>$ H]4 ,B ,I DIDN'T4 ,"EYBODY
KNEW X ALL ANYWAY4 ,"EY"O FELT BAD 5 TO
LOSE H]4 ,9 SIL;E WE /OOD 9 A CIRCLE >.D
! RAW PLOT4 ,9 ! SPACE (A FEW MO;TS1 !
NI<T'S *ILL _H 4SIPAT$1 &! 9SECTS 7 2G9-
N+ 6BUZZ 9 ! SCRU2Y GRASS4
  ,F9,Y1 A VOICE4 ,SUSAN SPOKE F MEMORY3

,! ,"L IS MY %EPH]D2 ,I % N WANT4
,HE MAKE? ME 6LIE D[N 9 GRE5 PA/URES4
                                    #BJG
  ,":8 ,I ?"\ BITT]LY4 ,NO GRE5 PA/URES
\ "H4 ,) "O >M CLASP+ ,JIMMY1 MY O!R H&
RE/+ ON ,ME7IE'S H1D1 ,I />$ AT ! GR.D &
,I SWE>1 MY HE>T FELT Z H>D Z ! ROCKS !
BOYS _H PLAC$ >.D ! M.D4

,HE L1DE? ME 2S ! / WAT]S4
,HE RE/ORE? MY S\L3 ,HE L1DE? ME 9 !
  PA?S ( "RE\S;S = 8 "N'S SAKE4
,YEA1 ?\< ,I WALK "? ! VALLEY (! %AD[ (
  D1? '''

  ,SUSAN QUAV]$ ON 6A F9I%1 ! ^WS1 6ME1
A HAUNT+ MOCK]Y ( \R PLI<T4 ,? LL BOY'S
"M 0 D1D4 ,? LL GIRL WD N"E "K ,S,Y'S
T5D] GUID+ H& Z %E GREW 6BE A WOMAN H]F4
,%[ ME "O T9Y BIT ( GD;S & M]CY 9 T4
  ,A HOT W9D 0 ALR PICK+ UP1 RATTL+ !
DRI$-\ WE$S4 ,I CDN'T BE> 6LOOK AT ,R[-
L&4
  ,EYES D[NCA/1 ,I NOTIC$ ! SCU6$ BOOTS
( "S N 9 \R FAMILY %IFT+ RE/.SLY 6G4 ,(
C\RSE4 ,!Y W]5'T HE>TBROK54 ,N OV] \R
,S,Y ANYWAY4 ,!Y ONLY WANT$ 6KEEP MOV+4
  ,J Z ,I _H1 ,I REMEMB]$1 AT A     #BJH
GRAVE OR TWO 2F ?4
  ,B N[ X 0 U4 ,\R FAMILY4
  ,& ,I'D ?"\ ,GOD 0 ON \R SIDE6 ,OH1 ,I
SAW X S PLA9 N[4 ,I'D BE5 ASSUM+ T = U
,K+S1 ?+S 7 ALW B.D 6G "R4 ,Z IF WE 7
SEP>ATE F O!R FAMILIES4 ,Z IF WE 7 SPE-
CIAL1 IMMUNE F MIS=TUNE4 ,Z IF WE WD ALW
MAKE SM>T DECI.NS T WD KEEP BAD ?+S F
HAPP5+4
  ,W]5'T WE ! FAMILY :O S *E];LLY BOA/$
T = U "! WD .2 NO GIRLS LEFT 2H8 ,0 ? A
PUNI%;T = \R PRIDE !N1 LOS+ ,S,Y1 HAV+
6L1VE H] \ "H8
  ,I LIFT$ MY FACE1 SQU9T+ AG/ ! W9D'S
DU/4 ,I WD REMEMB] ? PLACE4 ,S* A
/RANGE1 DESOLATE B1UTY1 Z L"OLY Z "E A
GRAVE CD BE4 ,ABV U1 A ROCKY CRAG (A
M.TA9 = H] H1D/"O & 2L U1 A RIV] CALL$ !
,MALHEUR--EVIL H\R 9DE$4

  ,Z WE R1DI$ ! WAGONS 6G1 ,R[L& /OOD AT
MY SIDE & SPOKE ! F/ ^WS ,I'D HE>D F HM
S9CE ! NI<T 2F4 8,W Y G AH1D & RIDE ) MY
"Y "OS1 !N80
  8,R[L&40 ,Z IF ,I'D AB&ON !       #BJI
?REE ( !M4
  ,I DID :AT ,I CD 6/RAI<T5 \ ! WAGON4
,WE _H BURI$ ,S,Y )! HAMMOCK QUILT Z H]
W9D+ %EET1 S ,I PUT ! /RAW TICK BACK ON
! PLAT=M B$4 ,? WD 2 MY PLACE N[4 ,I'D H
6RIDE MO/ (! "T 6MAKE SURE ,JIMMY DIDN'T
CRAWL OV] ! TAILGATE & FALL \4
  ,Z E CR1K+ ROT,N TOOK U F>!R F ,S,Y T
AFN1 ,I LAY ) HM 9 MY >MS1 HE$.S ( MY
H1D BANG+ AG/ ! WOOD5 WAGON SIDE1 UN-
WILL+ 6%IFT POSI;N & RISK WAK+ HM4
  ,"L1 H[ 0 ,I GO+ 6FE$ HM8 ,SUSAN 0 DO+
:AT %E CD1 B ) S LL 6DR9K H]F1 %E H>DLY
_H 5 MILK = H] [N BABY4 ,! OLD] SI/]S SD
,I CD W1N ,JIMMY 6A CUP N[1 B POOR ,BUT-
T]CUP 0 S SCRAWNY1 %E GAVE ONLY A PITI;L
DRIB#4
  ,X 0 HOT 9 ! WAGON1 ! AIR ?ICK & /I-
FL+4 ,ABV ! BUZZ ( FLIES1 ! L[ RUM# (
B1/ &! MONOTON\S GR9D (! T> BUCKET SW++
ON XS RU/Y HOOK1 ,ME7IE'S VOICE S.D$ L
*IMES4
  8,":'S MY MAMA80
  ,I OP5$ MY EYES4 ,_H ,I DR1MT T LL
VOICE8                              #BAJ
  8,AUNTIE ,LOVISA80 ,ME7IE'S /ICKY LL
H& CREPT >.D MY NECK4 8,:Y MY MAMA'S N 9
! WAGON80
  ,OH1 ,I WASN'T R1DY = ?4 ,N R1DY AT
ALL4 ,I TOOK A BR1?4
  8,REMEMB] UP ON T HILL10 ,I 2GAN1 8:5
Y ?REW ! FL[]S80
  ,T _H BE5 MY IDEA4 ,! O!R SI/]S ?"\
,ME7IE TOO "Y 6REMEMB] ANY ( ?1 B ,I
KNEW ,S,Y WDN'T H AGRE$4 ,& MAYBE X WD 2
A %R$ ( -=T 6,ME7IE "S"D1 "K+ %E'D BE5
"! )A B\QUET = H] "M4
  8,B ":'S MY MAMA AT .N[80
  ,I />$ UP AT ! CANVAS4 8,-E "H1 LAMB40
,I DREW H] D[N1 %IFT+ ,JIMMY1 MAK+ A
PLACE = ,ME7IE 2S ME4 8,YR MAMA'S 9 H1V-
EN40
  8,I "K10 %E 3C$$4 8,B ": .IS T80
  ,"? ! C9*$ 5D (! CANVAS WAGON COV]1 ,I
WAT*$ ! ROCK+ (! DULL BR[N HORIZON4
8,WELL1 X'S ": ,GOD IS40
  ,T 0 H"O/1 ANYWAY4 ,HE SURE DIDN'T
SEEM 6BE "H ) U4
  ,ME7IE 3TEMPLAT$ ?4 8,:5 %E'S -+
BACK80                              #BAA
  ,I LOOK$ AT ! POOR LL ?+--TOO "Y = ^!
R1LITIES1 ,I MYF TOO "Y 6BE ! "O TRY+ TO
EXPLA9 !M4 ,%DN'T X 2 ,MA8 ,%DN'T ,HOPE
OR "O (! O!R OLD] "OS TAKE OV]8 ,NO1
"EYBODY ALR _H _! [N H&S FULL & M4 ,I
RAN MY T;GUE OV] ! DEEP /++ SPLIT 9 MY
L[] LIP4
  8,P C'T -E BACK F H1V51 H"OY40
  ,ME7IE'S FLU%$ FACE PUCK]$ UP4 ,TWO
FAT1 MIS]A# TE>S SQUEEZ$ \4
  ,WELL1 LET H] CRY4 ,:O WDN'T8 ,X 0 .GD
%E CD CRY4 ,I'D CRY MYF IF "EY?+ 9 ME
DIDN'T FEEL S -PLETELY DRI$ UP4
  8,LOOKS L ,I'LL 2 TAK+ C>E ( Y & ,JIM-
MY N[40
  ,N T ,I FELT UP 6X 9 ! L1/4 ,FOLKS 7
ALW SAY+ ,GOD FIT ! BACK 6! BURD51 B
,I'D N"E 2LIEV$ T = AN 9/ANT4 ,LOOK >.D6
,IF X 7 TRUE1 :Y 0 ! _W S FULL ( BR1K+
BACKS8 ,/1 T 0 PROBABLY NO EXCUSE N TO
TRY4
  ,ME7IE SNI6L$ NOISILY =A FEW M9UTES &
!N3 8,AUNTIE ,LOVISA80
  8,YES1 PET80 ,I WIP$ H] SME>Y FACE )
MY APRON4                           #BAB
  8,IS H1V5 L ,O'G580
  ,SURPRIS$1 ,I SMIL$4 8,T'S A NICE
?"\40 ,!N1 AF A MO;T3 8,PROBABLY X IS4
,& MAYBE IF WE'RE LUCKY1 ,OREGON W 2 L
H1V540

  ,I 0 US$ 6! M5 N"E AGREE+ AM;G !MVS
EXACTLY H[ ?+S "\ 6BE D"O4 ,AF ALL1 WE'D
BE5 LI/5+ 6!M >GUE S9CE 2F WE EV5 LEFT
,/4 ,JOE F\R MON?S AGO4
  ,B N[1 9 ^! REMOTE HILLS1 ! TALK >.D !
SAGEBRU% FIRES AT NI<T _H TAK5 ON A L[1
OM9\S T"O T _H ME & MY SI/]S TRAD+ ANX-
I\S GL.ES4 ,! M5 W]5'T J WE>Y & 4GRUN-
TL$1 AT O4S OV] ! BE/ WAY 6H&LE "S SMALL
TRAVEL DILEMMA4 ,NO1 ? 0 WORSE1 ! WAY !Y
S.D$ S F"R5+LY UNC]TA9 ( "EY?+4
  ,I NOTIC$ ,ANNIE'S LOOK ( AL>M :5 WE
OV]HE>D ,PA ADMITT+ HE WASN'T SURE EX-
ACTLY : /R1M ? 0 WE 7 CAMP$ ON4 ,& ,ME-
L9DA'S :5 ,MR4 ,FULL] WOND]$ AL\D :Y !
TRAIL (! -PANIES AH1D ( U 0 L1D+ U S\?
9/1D ( NOR? 6,! ,DALLES Z WE'D EXPECT$4
,MR4 ,H]R51 A MEMB] (! ORIG9AL ,-MITTEE
( ,SAFETY1 KEPT 9SI/+ ! M.TA9S 6!   #BAC
S\? M/ 2 ! ,CASCADES1 B ,R[L& SD "EY"O
KNEW ! ,CASCADES 7 6! WE/4
  8,MAYBE ^! MAPS >E NO GD10 ,MR4 ,H]R5
>GU$4 8,OR ! -PASSES >E BROK540
  8,I'LL TELL Y "O ?+ LOOKS CLE> 6ME10
,MEL9DA 3FID$ Z %E TU7$ A -B "? ,BITSY'S
MATT$ CURLS1 PICK+ \ LICE Z %E W5T4
8,WE'RE WAY PA/ ! "T ,MR4 ,MEEK SD WE'D
/RIKE ! RIV] RUNN+ NOR?40
  ,UP UNTIL N[1 NO MATT] H[ MIS]A# !
TRAIL1 H[ TIRE"S ! TRAVEL1 AT L1/ WE'D
"KN WE 7 ON ! "R ROAD4 ,I _HN'T APPRECI-
AT$ ? FEEL+ ( 3FID5T PURPOSE UNTIL X 0
REPLAC$ 0XS OPPOSITE--A DR1D;L HESITAN-
CY4 ,N[1 ME&]+ "? ? VA/ T]RITORY1 ? >ID1
TREE.S TRACT1 ,I 2GAN 6FE> WE 7 SIMPLY
MOV+ "E DEEP] 96A VOID4 ,I _H LO/ ANY
S5SE T ! TURN+ :EELS 7 ACTU,Y %ORT5+ !
4T.E 2T \R WAGONS & "S PLANN$ DE/9,N4 ,I
SUSPECT$ WE 7 TRAVEL+ 9 CIRCLES4
  ,DON'T ?9K AB X1 ,I W>N$ MYF 3/ANTLY4
,NOBODY 0 ASK+ ME4 ,I _H 63C5TRATE ON !
PRO#MS ,I CD D "S?+ AB4
  ,AT A PA/URE.S CAMP "O NI<T ,I RIPP$
OP5 ! B$D+ TICK1 PULL$ \ ! /RAW &   #BAD
MIX$ X )A H&;L ( FL\R4 ,? ,I F$ 6! WE>Y
,BUTT]CUP AL;G ) EXTRA BUCKETS ( WAT] :
,I HAUL$ "R 6H] S %E WDN'T H 6EXP5D ANY
EXTRA 5]GY GETT+ 6! WAT]+ HOLE4 ,! NEXT
MORN+ %E REW>D$ ME )A HALF CUP ( MILK1 :
,I PRES5T$ 6,JIMMY L A PRECI\S GIFT4
  8,SURE WI% ,I 0 YR [N MA = R1L1 SWEET-
IE10 ,I SD Z ,I HELD ! T9 CUP = HM4 8,BE
A LOT EASI] ?AN TRY+ 6GET ! C[ 6MAKE YR
MILK40
  8,HE DOESN'T L X10 ,ME7IE OBS]V$1 J !
9/ANT 2F ,JIMMY FLUNG A H&1 S5D+ ! CUP &
MILK FLY+4
  ,I SANK BACK & SI<$1 !N IDLY PICK$ A
L\SE \ (A LL CR1SE 9 ! BABY'S NECK4 ,I 0
CRAWL+ ) !M MYF4 ,GOD1 X 0 AW;L4 ,I'D H
GIV5 ANY?+ =! WAT] 6BOIL & BL1* E SCRAP
( CLO?+ & B$D+ WE _H1 B ALL WE CD D 0
AIR !M4
  ,T & KEEP PICK+ (F ! LICE4

  ,! SUN B1T D[N ON \R WAGON'S CANVAS
COV]4 ,2N X ,I LAY 9 ! F\L-SMELL+ H1T )!
LL "OS1 LI/.SLY S++ E S;G ,I CD REMEMB]1
REP1T+ 8,%5&OAH0 AT ,ME7IE'S RE-    #BAE
QUE/ M "TS ?AN ,I CD C.T4 ,I PAG$ "? !
H&;L ( BOOKS ,R[L& APP>5TLY _HN'T BE5 A#
6BR+ HMF 6?R[ \1 R1D+ ,L;GFELL[ AL\D1
ANY?+ 6T1SE ! *N AL;G3 ..,LET U !N 2 UP
& DO+1 )A HE>T = ANY .FATE ''' ,F9E ^WS4
,I WOND]$ IF ,MR4 ,L;GFELL[ _H "E RI45
ANY 4T.E AT ALL 9 A SPR+.S WAGON4
  ,E FEW Y>DS A :EEL WD JAM AG/ A ROCK1
/OPP+ ! WAGON D1D4 ,I'D HALT MY PATT] &
LIE "!1 WAIT+ = ,R[L& 64LODGE X OR MAKE
! OX5 TUG ! WAGON OV]4 ,!N1 )A LUR*1 A
TWI/+ (! WAGON BOX T S.D$ Z IF ! :OLE ?+
0 SET 6SPL9T] A"P1 WE'D PULL =W>D AG4
,M]CY1 WALK+ E /EP _H BE5 EXHAU/+1 B ? 0
WORSE1 M5T,Y PULL+ =! OX5 &! WAGON1 ?9K+
MY WAY "? E Y>D ( PROGRESS--IF X 0 PROG-
RESS4 ,& ON T ,I _H GRAVE D\BTS4
  ,F\RTE5 "DS \ ( ,=T ,BOISE4 ,B :Y KEEP
C.T8 ,"EY"O SEEM$ AGRE$ ,MR4 ,MEEK
WASN'T Z CLE> 9 8 [N M9D Z HE'D F/ S.D$
ON EXACTLY H[ L;G X WD TAKE4
  ,Z =! RE/ ( U1 WE'D EV5 LO/ TRACK (!
"DS (! WEEK & TRAVEL$ ON ! ,SA2A? )\T
ANY"O -PLA9+ AT 2+ =C$ 96S* A S94 ,B !N1
WD X MAKE A LICK ( S5SE 6/OP =A     #BAF
S]VICE :5 MO/ ( U 7 PROBABLY PRAY+ = DE-
LIV].E E MO;T1 E WE>Y /EP (! WAY8
  ,N[1 )\T ! USUAL BANG AG/ A ROCK OR
?UD 96A RUT1 ! WAGON EAS$ 6A /OP4 ,I
OP5$ MY EYES & />$ DULLY AT ! SLEEP+ BA-
BY1 8 BLACK LA%ES ON FLU%$ *EEKS4 ,AF A
MO;T1 ,I SAT UP4 ,:Y W]5'T WE />T+ AG8
,CLIMB+ 6! FRONT1 ,I SQU9T$ 96! H>% SUN-
LI<T4
  ,MY ,GOD4 ,R[L& LAY SPRAWL$ 9 ! DIRT4
,I SCRAM#D D[N & HURRI$ 6HM4
  8,SOL60 ,I CALL$ AH1D 6,ANNIE'S WAGON4
8,SOL1 HELP ME60
  ,HALT+ 8 T1MS1 ,SOL TROTT$ BACK &! TWO
( U HOI/$ ,R[L& 6HIS FEET4
  8,:AT80 ,R[L& SD1 DAZ$1 HALF-COLLAPS$
2T U4
  8,OH1 ,SOL1 X'S ! FEV]40
  ,ME7IE WAT*$1 WIDE-EY$1 Z WE PULL$ H]
"F UP 96! WAGON & /RET*$ HM ON ! PALLET4
,I PATT$ A FEW DROPS ( WAT] ON 8 BLAZ+
FACE4 ,I UNBUTTON$ 8 %IRT4 ,! RA%6
  ,SOL & ,I LOOK$ AT EA* O!R4 ,HE KNEW
:AT X M1NT Z WELL Z ,I4 ,R[L& _H ALR BE5
SICK = "DS4 ,OH1 ,"L4 ,? 0 TOO      #BAG
M*4
  ,I SAT =A MO;T1 !N TOOK A DEEP BR1? &
TI$ ON MY FAD$ SUNBONNET4 8,ME7IE1 WE
BO? H 6BE BIG GIRLS N[4 ,GIVE YR PA A
DR9K IF HE'LL TAKE X40
  8,B ": .Y GO+80
  ,I PUT A HAT ON ,JIMMY1 PICK$ HM UP4
8,"SBODY HAS 6DRIVE ! OX540 ,AWKW>DLY1
,I CLIMB$ \1 ! BABY "U MY >M4
  ,SOL PICK$ UP ! PROD ": ,R[L& _H
DROPP$ X & H&$ X 6ME4
  8,X'S N T H>D10 HE SD4 8,Y C D X4 ,X'S
GEE = "R1 SEE1 & HAW = LEFT &--0
  8,I "K1 ,SOL40 ,_HN'T ,I BE5 "R "!
HE>+ ^? -M&S ALL "D1 E "D1 = F\R L;G
MON?S8 ,I SETTL$ ,JIMMY ON MY HIP & TOOK
A DEEP BR1?4 ,GD L&1 ,I EV5 HE>D ^? DI-
REC;NS B>K$ 9 MY SLEEP4 8,GEE UP1 ,/>10
,I SD T5TATIVELY4 ,& !N ) M 3VIC;N1
8,GEE UP60
  ,)A LUR* &A CR1K &A GROAN+ ( WOOD5
:EELS & CLANK+ "PS1 WE 7 MOV+ =W>D AG4
  ,R[L& TAK5 SICK4 ,:Y T %D SURPRISE ME
S ,I DON'T "K4 ,! FEV] 0 FELL+ "Y & OLD
ALIKE1 ! W1K &! /R;G4 ,MAYBE ,I J   #BAH
N"E FIGUR$ 6SEE HM 9 S* A HELP.S /ATE4
,9 SPITE (! 4DA9 ,I'D ALW MADE S* A PO9T
( PRET5D+1 ,I'D SECRETLY ?"\ ( HM Z S M*
OLD] & WIS]4 ,HE 0 A MAN :O KNEW :AT 0
:AT4 ,I _H *AF$ AT HAV+ HM BOSS ME2 ,I
N"E EXPECT$ 6H HM .DEP5D+ ON ME4
  ,9 ! "DS S9CE ,S,Y'S D1?1 ! GAP 9 \R
AGES SEEM$ L X _H %RUNK "SH[4 ,HE DIDN'T
"K "EY?+1 ,I SAW N[4 ,HE _H N"E TRAVEL$
! ROAD 6,OREGON 2F EI4 ,HE _H N"E WORRI$
: R\TE 6TAKE1 OR LI/5$ 6HIS *N CRY = WA-
T]4 ,HE _H N"E 2F BURI$ A "Y WIFE4 ,^!
A/ONI%+ "DS ( \R LIVES 7 UNFOLD+ = HM "O
AT A "T J Z !Y 7 = ME4 ,& HE1 NO M ?AN
,I1 KNEW :AT LAY AH1D ( U D[N ? ROAD4