Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

Author:Kirby Larson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780375846410
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2007-12-25T22:00:00+00:00

It would be dishonest of me to try to impress with my tracking skills, to hint that living out in this wild country had brought out the native in me, able to discern from this twisted leaf or that disturbed rock which way my prey had gone. The buffalo grass around Perilee’s house was tall but thick as moss; I had no trouble picking up the tracks of three barefoot children. Plus, I had the advantage of knowing the exact location of the greenest patch of wild parsley.

In short order, I’d come upon the three urchins, more intent on skipping stones across the creek than filling their buckets.

I bent to pick up a dark smooth stone.

“That’s no good for skipping,” said Chase.

“It’s a wishing rock,” I said. “Better than a skipping stone.”

“I want one, too,” said Mattie. I showed her how to look for a dark rock with a circle of white around it. “When you’re ready to make a wish, you close your eyes, then throw it over your shoulder,” I explained.

She filled her pockets with stones. “I’m saving these for later,” she said. “When I need a really good wish.”

“I like that idea.” I collected a dozen myself. One to wish for good planting. One for a good harvest. Two for Charlie’s safe return. Another for Perilee’s new baby. And a handful for proving up.

I looked up from my collecting. Fern had toddled off. “Fern must be part fairy, with the way she’s so crazy about picking flowers,” I commented to Chase. Her sturdy little legs carried her through the grass from one patch of wildflowers to another. In one pudgy hand she carried a slightly smashed prairie rose, in the other a bent wild iris.

“Let’s gather a bouquet for Mama!” Mattie handed me her bucket and went to work. She and Chase scooped up a veritable rainbow of flowers. When they were done, Fern reluctantly contributed her two treasures to the nosegay.

“Won’t your mama be pleased.” I brushed the petals with my fingers. Would I ever be on the receiving end of such a bouquet from my own little ones? I’d never thought before that I might actually long for such a thing. I ruffled Chase’s hair. “We’d better start on back if I’m going to tackle stew yet today.”

Fern stuck a sap-sticky hand in mine. I picked up one bucket; Chase carried the two others. “I have to carry Mulie,” explained Mattie.

We strolled along at an easy pace, careful of little legs. I breathed deeply of the sweetly scented air. It reminded me of the fragrance I’d caught when I first stepped off the train in Wolf Point. Someone practical like Perilee might tell me it was only the buffalo grass, warmed to sweetness by the spring sun. But it was more than that: it was the smell of home. Of a place to belong.

I’d marked off nearly five months on my calendar. Wouldn’t Charlie be amazed at what I’d done in those five months? With my own two hands—and help from Karl—I’d set what felt like miles of fence.

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