Author's Note: Thanks to all of my loyal viewers who continue to review for every chapter. I appreciate the encouragement. Inspiration has struck with some of these upcoming chapters, so I will probably be kind of consistent with the posting, though it may mean that my school work suffers! However, if I do take a while, don't give up on me.

Chapter Sixteen: Johannesburg

Winnie traveled all day on the road that led east toward the river. Very few people used the road, especially when it was not market season for the farmers. However, she did see a few wagons during the day. Every time she heard horse hooves beating against the dirt, she hid behind a tree or bush until the rider passed. Even though her experience with Tom and Rebecca had been positive, the negative experience with Carter and Maggie made her think twice about meeting strangers.

The landscape gave Winnie something to focus on during the all-day hike to the next town. The fields stretched for miles around and sometimes there was not a tree in sight. It was then that she could look out as far as she could see with out anything blocking her view of the horizon.

With the sun beating down on her so relentlessly, it became hard for her to concentrate on her surroundings. After about three hours of walking, Winnie came upon a grove of trees where she could get some shade. She dropped her satchel by the roots of the largest tree and plopped down next to it.

All of the walking had caused Winnie to work up an appetite. She decided that a small break and a meal would be just what she needed to build up some energy before continuing her journey. She pulled out the flour sack and surveyed the contents. Rebecca had packed a roast sandwich, two rolls, a huge slice of cheese, two apples, one of her apple strudels, and a canteen of water. Winnie smiled at her thoughtfulness and removed the roast sandwich from her bag to eat since it would spoil the fastest. When she bit into it, she remembered the first meal at the Ferguson's house. No matter what Tom said, it was still the best roast she had ever tasted in her life.

After resting in the shade for half of an hour, Winnie pulled herself up from the ground and brushed off her dress. She took to the road again, refreshed and ready to find the next town. After another hour of walking, her wish came true. As she came up over the next rise, a small cluster of buildings appeared. A sign announcing the name of the town became clearer as she got closer. Johannesburg.

Johannesburg was not nearly as large or busy as Maple Bend. In fact, Treegap was huge compared to this collection of small homes and businesses. The tavern and stable stood side by side on the right side of the road, while the general store stood on the left, surrounded on both sides by houses. However, there were only five or six houses in the entire town and no inns. Not that I could pay for a room anyway, thought Winnie.

Remembering how Carter and Maggie had trailed her from the tavern in Maple Bend, she decided to steer clear of that building. Instead, she headed over to the general store and pushed open the door. It creaked when she touched it, which made her cringe. She took a long look at her surroundings. The building was small, but full. The left side of the store held farming supplies, like chicken feed and saddles. The middle of the room was full of food for the people themselves, and the right side displayed fabrics and sewing equipment for clothing. Winnie tore her gaze away from the walking shoes set up in the corner and turned to the man sitting at stool behind a counter at her left. He was reading a newspaper from Maple Bend.

"Excuse me, sir, but do you know where I could get some information about a family that may have come through here sometime?"

The man didn't look up and Winnie began to feel anxious. "Excuse me, sir?" He still didn't stir. Winnie walked closer to the counter and leaned forward. She placed her hand on the man's newspaper and tugged on it gently. Suddenly, the hands holding the paper shot forward, nearly hitting Winnie in the head. She looked at the old man's face, with its huge eyes that were wide with shock. She felt heat creeping up into her cheeks and stammered an apology.

"Lord, girl, but you did frighten me!" The man spoke very loudly to her, though she was only standing a yard away. Winnie realized that he was hard of hearing and spoke up.

"I'm sorry to scare you, sir, but I am looking for my family."

The man nodded and Winnie sighed in relief. His next words came at her at a near shout. "The ham is straight back behind the buckets of rice."

"Ham?" Did she say ham? What did he mean? "No, sir, I'm looking for my family!"

"Oh, family!" The old man looked at her distractedly. "Well, we don't get many people in these parts."

Winnie didn't pursue the issue. Even if the Tucks had come through here, it would be unlikely that he would know of them, especially since he said Johannesburg didn't receive many visitors. "Thank you, sir."

She could tell that he hadn't heard her, but he must have understood what she meant anyway, because he smiled and went back to his paper. Winnie sighed and walked back through the door and into the main road. She glanced wearily at the tavern straight ahead. Don't be afraid, she urged herself. Just go in and ask the bartender if he knows anything. Now, before you lose your nerve. She stepped out into the street and towards the building.

The inside of the tavern was much like the one in Maple Bend, only smaller. The room was empty, save two men talking loudly at one table. She walked up to the bar and requested a glass of water from the bartender. He was a short, heavyset man with large forearms and a dark mustache. He scowled like the man in Maple Bend when she placed her order, and she felt a twinge of guilt. "Excuse me, sir," she said as confidently as possible. "I'm looking for a family and I was hoping you could help."

The man grunted as he placed the dusty glass in front of her. She barely noticed the cloudy brown color of the water anymore and downed half of the glass in a single gulp. The man took it in with a bland expression on his face. "I don't think so."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that I don't think I know your family."

"But I haven't even described them to you."

The bartender didn't say anything else to her. He turned away and began stacking glasses on the counter behind the bar. Winnie felt her eyes well up with tears at his uncaring words, but forced them back. She took a final gulp of the water and stood up from her seat. Then she adjusted the satchel on her shoulder and walked back out of the tavern and onto the road again.

Winnie didn't try to knock on doors for information, knowing instinctively that it would not help her. She took the road out of town leading east, hoping that she would find what she was looking for in the next town.