Who Am I? Chapter 20
"Come on now, listen to reason, will you?" Gustave pleaded in exasperation. "We have to go and see Mother first. THEN we can go back to Father, OK?" He was standing in the road, covered in snow and was knocking the snow off of his hat.
Gambler turned around to look at him and came trotting over and ducked his head for an ear scratch, then tossed his head and waited.
"Thank you kindly," said Gustave. He dug a handful of oats out of one of the saddle bags and gave it to the horse, then got back into the saddle and led Gambler farther along the snowy road toward the inn.
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"Gustave! What on earth?" exclaimed Christine when he arrived at the inn. He was covered in snow. Even his hat had snow inside it. "What happened?"
Gustave stormed into the inn, "I don't want to talk about it; nothing happened."
"But…"
"Nothing!"
Matty entered the greatroom to see what the commotion was about and began fussing over Gustave. "Never mind!" he roared. She looked up at him in shock. He saw the shock in her face and his expression melted, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be cross with you, with either of you. But that horse! He threw me three times on the way back here. Three times!"
Christine began to chuckle. "Of course he did. He always has!"
He got out of his snowy coat and boots and sat near the fire, unsure of how to tell his mother what he had discovered.
"Well? Did you find Father?" she asked with a forced smile, "Where is he?"
"Mother," he said taking her hands in his and pulling her down to sit next to him, "he's at the home of a harness maker. They've been taking care of him…."
"Taking care of him?" she asked with alarm in her voice. "What's wrong?" she asked becoming more and more concerned.
"He was injured in the accident, hit his head and couldn't remember who or where he was," he started.
"Oh no!" she sobbed, then looked up at her son. "Take me to him."
"Mother, it's too dangerous…"
"Do you think I care about that? Take me to him! Now!"
"Mother we have only just got back here. Could we please rest? Maybe for an hour?"
"How far away is he?"
"Well, the route we had to take was about six miles. The roads are well packed, so you'd be able to take a buggy or wagon…"
"I don't need a buggy or a wagon! All I need is a horse! Matty? Matty! Where are you?"
"Right here, Ma'am," she said coming in from the kitchen. "I heard you, but I don't advise you to try it…"
"I'm sorry, Matty, but I am not asking for advice. Do you have a horse I could rent for a few days? I need to get to…"
"The harness maker's house," Gustave supplied.
"The harness maker's house. It's about five miles from here…"
"Six," said Gustave.
"Six miles. And I'll be staying there a few days as well before we return."
"I could have one of the boys hitch up the wagon for you. That way you'd be able to bring your husband back here?"
"Gustave?"
"He can't be moved right now." He couldn't look at his mother when she looked so forlorn at what he'd just said.
"I'll go pack a few things…"
"William!" called Matty, "Saddle up Joey for Mrs. Destler."
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