,"What's the temperature, do you suppose?" Charlie asked. leaning to her left, and peeking around so she could take

in Scott's face.

"I figure upwards of eighty-five," Scott said.

They were riding into town, Charlie behind Scott on his horse.

Scott, with the intention to accomplish a few errands, and Charlie, intent to keep him

company, and perhaps convince Scott to add some candy to the grocery order at the mercantile.

"I wish we could go swimming today," Charlie went on. "Do you think maybe we can?"

"We'll see."

"When we get back home, maybe?" she continued.

"I said that we'd see. Stop wheedling."

"Okay," Charlie said, relenting. She didn't want to make Scott cross, or he'd never agree to take her swimming. And, since

he, nor any of the other Lancers would allow her to go alone to the swimming hole, she needed for him to not be vexed with

her. And he didn't like wheedling. So, she wouldn't.

Once, in town, there was a steady stream of people, up and down the sidewalks, and crossing the street.

"Why are there so many folks in town?" Charlie asked.

"I'd forgotten about it, but I think there's a horse auction being held today," Scott said.

Instantly, Charlie's interest was peaked. "With lots of horses for sale?"

"Probably quite a few."

"Are you going to go?" Charlie asked.

"I doubt it. I'm not in the market for a new horse."

When Scott stopped in front of the post office, he held out an arm to Charlie, and lowered her to the ground. He dismounted, and tied

the bridle to the hitching post.

They went into the post office, where Scott gathered the mail. Back out on the street, Scott tucked the few

letters into his saddle bags.

They crossed the street, to the Mercantile, and Scott picked up the dress material, packaged by Mrs. Lucas, that

Teresa had ordered the week before. While he talked with a few of the other men in the store, Charlie wandered about

for a few minutes, and then went to stand beside Scott, listening.

The topics were the dry weather, the intense need for rain, and the horse auction to be held later that day.

The horses were being brought in from all over, Charlie heard, and she thought it sounded really exciting.

As Scott gathered up Teresa's package, and prepared to leave, he caught Charlie eyeing the candy jars.

"You can have a piece or two of hard candy," he told her. "Which ones do you want?"

"Could we get a sack of gumdrops?" Charlie asked.

Scott looked down into her face. "An entire sack?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For Murdoch," Charlie said.

"Murdoch, huh?" Scott asked, looking amused.

"Murdoch loves gum drops."

"I did not know that," Scott said, smiling at her.

"He does," Charlie said.

"Well, then, by all means, let's get Murdoch a sack of gum drops."

When the gum drops had been bagged up, they walked up to the bank, where Scott did some banking business. Charlie wasn't

certain just what it was, but it seemed to take forever.

Once outside again, Scott said, "I thought we'd walk down to the school."

Immediately, Charlie looked bemused. "Why?"

"I thought you might like to meet the teacher. School will be starting before you know it."

"What if she's not there?" Charlie asked.

"She usually is, this time of the summer. Getting things prepared for the first day."

"I guess," Charlie said, hesitantly.

As they walked the short distance to the gray school building, Charlie spoke up. "I was wondering something."

"What were you wondering?"

"If I could do my school at home."

When Scott looked down at her, Charlie added hastily, "For a little while, I mean."

Scott shook his head, looking forward again. "I don't think so, Charlie."

"Well, but, you're good at mathematics, and Murdoch can help me with geography and history-"

"You need to attend school in a regular classroom, with a teacher, and other kids," Scott said.

Charlie could tell from the tone of his voice that this was a subject he would not be likely to budge from.

She sighed heavily.

"You'll feel differently once you begin, and meet more of the other kids around here," Scott encouraged.

Charlie didn't think so, but she kept that to herself.

At the school yard, there was a buggy and horse hitched to a post. Scott led the way up the front stairs, and

thru the door, held open with a block to let the air inside.

A woman was busily sweeping, and there was a round of dust filling the air.

"Good morning," she said, pausing, and smiling at them.

"Good morning, Susan. How are you?" Scott asked, walking on towards her.

They exchanged a few moments of talk, and then Scott reached back, and gave Charlie a slight pull.

"Miss Axton, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is Miss Susan Axton, the teacher here," he said, by way of introduction.

"Hello, Charlie!" the young woman said, shaking Charlie's hand.

"Hello," Charlie replied.

"I've been hearing of you. It's so nice to finally meet you."

Charlie nodded, feeling shy.

"I've certainly gotten the dust stirred up, haven't I?" the young woman said with a laugh.

After that, for the next few minutes, the young teacher drew Charlie into conversation and when they were once

again walking down the front steps, Scott asked, "What do you think? Do you like her?"

Charlie thought that it would be nearly impossible for someone to not take a liking to the friendly woman.

"Yes. I liked her," she said.

"She's a good teacher. At least from everything that I've heard from others around town."

Scott's name was called, and they both looked in the direction it came from.

Val walked up, his grin including them both.

"Scott," he said, in greeting. "And how are you, Miss Charlie?"

"Fine," Charlie said, giving Val a dimpled smile.

While the two men talked, Charlie centered her interest on the horses that were filling the corrals across the street, at the livery,

and the makeshift pens in the adjoining fields. Horses of every size and color.

"Come on over to the office," Val was saying to Scott. "I'll show it to you."

Charlie realized she had no idea what they were talking about. She'd been so enthralled by the sheer number of horses.

"Alright," Scott was saying. "Come on, Charlie."

"Could I go and watch them get ready for the auction?" Charlie asked, looking up at Scott. "And look at all the horses?"

"I don't want you running all around. They're trying to get things set up."

"I won't run around, Scott. I promise. I'll just stand right there, by the gates," Charlie said earnestly. "Please?"

Scott eyed the hubbub across from them. "Alright. But, stay right there."

"I will!" Charlie assured him, and ran on across the street.

Charlie found herself a spot, and climbed up the rungs on the corral, so that she could rest her arms on the top. There was

so much happening, with men coming and going, and horses being led around, that Charlie didn't know anyone was nearby, until

she felt a poke to her side.

"Hi!" Lucy said cheerfully, climbing up beside Charlie.

"Hi."

"It's going to be a long auction," Lucy said. "Is that why you're in town today?"

"No. Scott forgot about it. He says he's not going," Charlie said.

"My papa says he's going," Lucy reported.

"I wish I could," Charlie said longingly.

Intent on the horses again, Charlie felt another poke from Lucy.

"See him?" the other girl asked.

"Who?"

"Him. That man, right there." Lucy gave a discreet point.

Charlie took in the older man that Lucy was gesturing to. He was dressed in raggedy clothes, and was wandering the edge

of the corrals. He reminded Charlie of the man who'd sometimes slept in the park, when she lived in Stockton.

"Who's he?" Charlie asked Lucy.

"I think his name is Wolf. Wolfie. Something like that. He sells horses, too, at his place on the edge of town. Or something."

"What sort of name is Wolfie?" Charlie asked. "And what do you mean, 'or something'? You say it like it's a mystery."

"I only know what I've overheard," Lucy said. "The adults always stop talking about him when I come into the room. I think

he's from far away. And the grownups act as though he's dangerous."

Charlie regarded the shabby appearing man as he walked nearby. "Dangerous, how?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know, exactly. My papa says I'm not to talk to him. Not ever."

"He just looks as though he's poor," Charlie observed.

Lucy leaned in closer. "He's only got one eye. One real one, I mean. The other eye is glass."

"A glass eye?"

"That's what I heard them say. You can't tell if he's really looking at you, because of it being a fake eye."

There was a whistle, and when Charlie turned to look, she saw that it was Scott, motioning for her to come. She

hopped down from her perch and told Lucy goodbye, running back across the street.

"Ready to head home?" Scott asked.

"Unless we stayed around to watch the auction for awhile," Charlie said, looking up at him hopefully. "Could we?"

"I've got a long list of things to get done today," Scott said. "Maybe we can come to another auction."

"Okay," Charlie said, with a sigh.

Once riding towards the ranch, Scott made conversation by mentioning Lucy.

"I saw you talking to Lucy. How was that?" he asked.

"It was good."

"It'll help, already knowing one other girl, at least, when school begins," he said, in encouragement.

"Yes."

After a bit of quiet, Charlie spoke. "How does a person get a glass eye?" she asked.

She'd surprised him by her question. She knew, because he turned a bit in the saddle to give her a questioning

look, before facing forward once again.

"A glass eye?" he asked. "What made you think of that?"

"I heard it somewhere. About a man that has one. I just wondered how he got it."

"Well, that depends. It could happen a lot of different ways," Scott began his explanation. "Could be due to an accident, or

an infection that set in-"

"I don't mean that, exactly," Charlie said.

"Well, what then?"

"I mean, how does he get it? You know. how does it get put in there?"

"Well," Scott hesitated, wondering how graphic to be. "A doctor, a surgeon, would give a person some medicine to put

them to sleep, and then they would take out the injured eye, and put the glass one in."

"Oh," Charlie said, sounding thoughtful. "Well, what keeps it in there? Why doesn't it fall out?"

Scott raised his eyebrows, which, since Charlie was behind him, he was the only one who knew they were being raised

in surprise.

"They would put it where the natural eye was, and then the eyelid can keep it in place," Scott said.

"Oh."

Scott couldn't help being a bit relieved when Charlie seemed content with his explanation. What sort of questions, he

thought, would this little girl come up with next?

Charlie took a gumdrop from the sack and popped it into her mouth, and then held out the sack to Scott.

"I thought those were for Murdoch," Scott said, twisting to give a half-smile.

"They are," Charlie said, returning his smile.

"The red ones are my favorite," Scott said, taking a gumdrop from the sack.

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