Koda by Patricia Hermes

Author:Patricia Hermes [Hermes, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-375-89296-7
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2009-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

She led me around the side of the wagon. “And now, see that?” she said, pointing. “That’s a water barrel. And that’s a cabinet for cooking pans and medicine. And you’re going to walk right along behind our wagon until you’re big enough for me to ride. And I’ll walk with you. Jed says it’s easier to walk than ride in the wagon because of how bumpy it is. And when we get to Oregon, Papa says you’ll be a great help clearing the land and you can even take me to school!”

Jasmine stopped and leaned against me. “Oh, Koda, I’m just running on as though you understand about Mama and school and Oregon and clearing land, but I think you do. Don’t you?”

She stroked my neck, and I rubbed my head up and down against her, letting her know that I did understand. At least, I understood some. What I understood was that the humans all around me were real busy. They were scurrying about the wagons, carrying all sorts of odd things that I had never seen before. Some male humans were on horses. The horses seemed well cared for, and they nickered at me, welcoming me, because horses are herd animals and we like to be together.

“Those men on horseback, Koda?” Jasmine said. “They’re scouts. They’ll ride ahead and look out for danger. The scouts will also look for places to stop and rest. And see what the men are carrying? Those are guns. They’re for keeping away the wolves and cougars and bad things.”

Those were scary words—wolves and cougars. I was older now and knew more about wolves and cougars and knew well how dangerous they were to horses. I shook my head, tossing it against the lead rope.

“Don’t worry, Koda,” Jasmine said. “That’s why the men have guns. To protect us. They may even be able to shoot wild game for us to eat. And they’ll look for places to water the oxen and horses, too. This is going to be a real adventure!”

Well, after having been cooped up in the corral and the barn all winter, I was real happy to be going on an adventure. Except just then I saw something that I didn’t much like.

A human. A man. He was up on a horse, and the way he rode that horse, I knew right away the man was a bad one. His horse was all lathered up and had been ridden hard, and his sides were heaving and froth was coming out of his mouth. The man rode up in front of Jasmine and me and stopped the horse with a mean pull of the reins, jerking the horse’s head sideways.

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