"Where's Chavez?" Serena asked at breakfast the next morning, realizing he wasn't sitting in his usual place.
"Hell if I know," said Billy. "Probably still outside playing with that dog."
"The last time I saw him, he was still in the bunkhouse," Harry said helpfully.
Serena set down her coffee mug and started for the front door. "I'm gonna go check on him. I'll be right back."
She made the trek across the yard to the bunkhouse. Before entering, she knocked on the door. No response. She knocked a little harder--still no answer. Slowly and carefully, Serena pushed the door open. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the bunkhouse, which was lit by a single bare bulb dangling from the ceiling.
Chavez lay motionless on his bunk, facing the wall. Spring Dawn was sitting on the floor nearby, whining softly.
Oh hell, Serena thought. The last thing she needed while John was away was to have one of the boys die.
She stepped inside. "Chavez?" she said loudly. "Chavez?"
Serena suddenly became aware of a soft noise. It sounded as though Chavez might be crying, which struck her as odd. He was one of the bravest people she'd ever known.
She stepped to the other side of the cot, so she was face to face with Chavez. Dropping to his level and lowering her voice an octave, she said, "Hey, Chavez, are you all right?"
He shook his head. "In my mind, I keep seeing their faces, over and over: bloody, beaten, eyes glazed over. My kind mother, my innocent baby sisters who'd just begun to live. My uncles, my cousins, everyone dead. Spring Dawn refusing to leave my mother's side." Chavez bit his lip, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm so sorry." said Serena. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Would you like to come back to the house with me? Have some coffee, talk?"
Again, Chavez shook his head. "I'm not hungry."
"Okay. Listen, you don't have to work today if you don't feel like it," said Serena. "I'll make your excuses. And if you need someone to talk to, I'm here for you, Chavez."
Serena turned the boys loose to herd the cattle, saying she needed to clean up the barn. Really, she was just keeping herself available in case Chavez decided he wanted to talk to her. She couldn't imagine how horrific it had been for him to find his entire family murdered in the snow, murdered for absolutely no reason at all.
Several hours passed, and she saw hide nor hair of him. Finally it was time to call off the vigil and prepare supper.
----------------------
"Good girl," John Tunstall said as he eased the harness off his carthorse, Queen Elizabeth. He brushed her down in the barn, then put her out to pasture for the night.
He walked up the house, hanging his coat and bowler hat on a hook. He stepped into the dining room to find the boys gathered around the table; cooking smells wafted out of the kitchen.
"I seemed to have arrived home precisely on time," John said with a smile.
The men smiled back and offered their greetings.
Turning to the new faces, John said, "I'm John Tunstall, ranch manager."
"Harry Potter, sir," Harry said, offering his hand.
"Ron Weasley." said Ron, shaking John's hand as well.
"Splendid to meet you," said John. He sat down at the head of the table, tucking a napkin into his collar.
Serena appeared, carrying a pot of stew and several side dishes. John noticed there was distance in the way she said "evening."
They got through the always long evening prayer without a word being spoken by anyone, not even Billy. The unnatural silence around the table continued. John watched as Serena's eyes continually flicked to the empty spot at the table.
"You lot are jolly quiet this evening," John remarked. "Is something the matter?"
"No," said Serena casually, though her face belied her words.
Guessing what was on her mind, Steve looked up from his plate. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about ol' Chay-vez, 'Rena," he said through a mouthful of dinner roll. "That damned greaser gets hungry enough, he'll quit mopin'."
Serena shot a murderous glare his way.
"I'm sure Master Chavez simply feels unwell tonight," said John. "By tomorrow morning, I feel quite certain he'll rejoin us at the table."
"I sure hope so," said Serena. "I miss him."
A dirty grin Steve spread across Steve's face. "Oh, ah get it. Lil' 'Rena's got some feelin's for Chay-vez."
"Of course I have feelings for him," said Serena coolly. "He's my friend."
"Ain't what Dirty Steve means," said Charley. "He means feelin's. Romantic-like feelin's."
Serena made no comment except to go red in the face.
