Page 115 of My Heart Will Find You

It was in the wee hours of the morning that they were awakened by men shouting. Etta was groggy, but Max was already out of bed and half-dressed.

“Go back to sleep,” he said.

“What is it?”

“There’s a grass fire. We’re all going. I’ll be back when I can.” He leaned over to kiss her goodbye, but Etta was getting out of bed.

“You’ll need food. Give me an hour and send a wagon back for it.” The look of love Max shot her warmed her. “Go on,” she said, but he took time to kiss her thoroughly before he ran down the stairs. Etta was close behind him.

Etta had put bread on to rise before daylight and by eight they were slicing it. By midmorning, she and Cookie had filled two wagons.

Every hour, a dirty, soot-covered man returned with news and to get fresh horses. By ten, the fire was under control.

“Kecklin sent men and water barrels,” Rufus said. “But then he’s worried the fire will spread onto his land.”

At eleven, a sooty young man Etta didn’t know, who worked for John Kecklin, rode up to the house and asked if he could have something to eat. Etta gave him a plate of beef and ratatouille—something he’d never eaten before.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“It’s almost out. I’ve heard about you.”

Etta groaned.

“No, it’s all been good. Or mostly good anyway. Mr. Kecklin laughed hard about the Cheyenne not showing up, but I heard your husband gave a fine party.”

“That’s what I was told too.”

“I guess he’d give one today if it weren’t for the fire.”

“I think that was the last one.”

The young man handed Etta his empty plate. “Too bad as the Cheyenne missed out last time. Maybe that’s why they came today.” He turned toward his horse.

“Today? What do you mean?”

“They’re parading through town in full dress. Feathers, beads, and war paint. They’re a sight to see. Well, thank you. I need to get back.”

“Stop!” Etta said. “You need to find Max and tell him about the Cheyenne. He can meet me at the Kanzas.”

“Ma’am,” he said in a patronizing way, “I don’t think people will come out a second time to fight for nothing.”

Etta put her face nearly nose to nose with him. “Find Max! Now! Tell him I’m going to meet Lester. If you don’t get my husband, your life won’t be worth much.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, then quickly mounted and rode off.

Etta put her hands to her temples. What was she to do? Fourteen. Nineteen. The dates. Were they misprinted in the book she’d read and today was the massacre?

She looked around. There was no one about. All the men had gone to fight the fire.I’ll have to go alone, she thought, then halted. Is this what her dream with Henry had been about? He was warning her?Not alone, he’d told her. She wasn’t to go alone?

“I don’t have a choice,” she said aloud and ran into the house. The first thing was to find out where the Kanzas were. As before, she’d get her father to draw a map. She hadn’t checked but she assumed Tobias was in Max’s office, his nose buried in the account books.

She was glad she was wearing Max’s mother’s riding outfit, the one she’d worn when they went to Arkansas. She threw open the office door and, as she’d hoped, Tobias was sitting at the desk.

“I need a map,” she said. “I have to go to—”

Sitting to the side, her lap covered by a half-made dress, was her mother. It had been years since Etta had seen her, and back then she’d been emaciated and sick. This woman was younger and healthy. “Mom,” Etta whispered, staring.

“A map to where?” Tobias asked impatiently.

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