The sun was high when Lucas woke up. He was alone. A carpet bag stood open on a chair, and he could see Mark's nightshirt trailing out of it. He stamped his feet into his boots, and headed for the kitchen. Mark and Rachel were seated at the table with a slate and primer. They both smiled when they saw him. Rachel stood up. "Good morning, Lucas. Have a seat and I'll get you some coffee."
Mark ran to his father and hugged him. "Hello, Pa." Lucas sat down and Mark climbed into his lap. "Are we leaving today? I'm almost all packed up."
Lucas shook his head. "No, we're taking a day to rest and get ready."
"But then I'm coming with you," Mark looked anxious. "You aren't going to leave me behind, are you, Pa?"
"I couldn't get along without you, boy." Lucas pulled his son closer and kissed the top of his head. Mark relaxed against him. "Mark, I think we need to agree to a couple of things."
The little boy straightened up and looked up at his father. "What, Pa?"
"Well," said Lucas, "I think we should agree to tell each other everything, and that we'll always tell the truth to each other. That way there'll be no misunderstandings. We'll talk everything out. Your Ma and I always did that, and we were as happy as a couple of bird dogs. Do you think you and I can agree to do that?"
Mark nodded, his brown eyes big in his face. "Yessir, Pa."
Lucas smiled, and slid Mark out of his lap as Rachel came in with a filled breakfast plate and coffee for him. "That looks good. Thank you."
"It's my pleasure, Lucas. Mark has been so good about helping with the chores and without being asked. He gets up early, feeds the chickens, and collects the eggs for me every morning." Rachel smiled at the little boy. "He helps Will cut kindling and keeps the woodboxes filled. I don't know what we're going to do without him to help us."
"I make my bed and keep my room neat, too, Pa," Mark added.
"I'm real glad to hear that, Mark," Lucas said. Your Ma raised you right, he thought. He finished eating, and stood up. "Well, boy, we need to get a team of horses to pull the buckboard. Do you want to help me find one?"
Mark's face lit up. "Yessir, Pa!"
Mark ran to straighten his bed and grab his hat. He was back before Lucas had his own hat on his head. They walked out the door hand in hand. Rachel watched as Lucas swung Mark up on his shoulders. Tears rose in her eyes. She and Will had come to love the boy, and she had hoped that Lucas would leave Mark with them while he searched for a new home. But the boy belonged with his Pa. They would be fine.
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That evening Mark was filled with exciting news about the day he'd had with his Pa. They had looked at several different teams of horses, but Lucas chose the one Mark had liked the best. Even though he knew he was supposed to speak only when spoken to at the supper table, he just couldn't help himself. The adults hid smiles as the little boy described in great detail the merits of each of the teams he'd seen that day and how he came to choose the one they would take on their journey. Of course, Pa had the last word, but he'd listened to Mark. "Pa and me - we make a good team," Mark said finally before taking a big bite of dried cherry pie.
"That we do, son," Lucas agreed.
"Have you decided where you'll go tomorrow?" Will asked.
They discussed the merits of different territories from Texas to California, and their talk didn't end until Rachel saw that Mark was sound asleep and about to fall out of his chair. Lucas caught him just in time, and carried the boy off to bed. Mark roused a little as Lucas took off his boots and helped him change into his nightshirt. "Pa, you won't leave me behind, will you?"
"No, son, it's you and me from now on." He slid Mark down under the covers. "Son, the only reason you came to stay here with the Greers was because your Ma was so sick. We were afraid you'd take sick, too."
Mark muttered something and was soon fast asleep again.
Later that night Lucas woke to hear Mark crying. He lit the lamp, and picked the boy up from the bed. He carried him to a chair, and rocked him. When Mark grew quieter, he said, "I'm sorry I woke you up, Pa. I was missing Ma."
Lucas hugged Mark. "It's alright, Mark. I miss your Ma so much I cry, too. There's nothing wrong with grieving, boy. Don't ever be ashamed of your tears for your mother." They sat together until Lucas was satisfied that Mark was asleep. He put the boy back to bed and lay down beside him. When he woke in the morning, Mark lay curled in the curve of his arm, his head resting on Lucas' shoulder.
They rose early, and Will and Rachel were up, too. Rachel had prepared breakfast for them, and put together a small collection of receipts for Lucas. "These are some of Mark's favorite dishes," she told him.
Will hitched the horses to the wagon, and Lucas put their carpet bags in the back. Rachel stood with tears in her eyes, her arm around Mark. Will shook hands with Lucas. "Let us know where you are and how you are, Lucas. Know you and Mark will always have a home with us."
Rachel gave Mark one last hug and kiss. "I'll miss you and your Pa, Mark. You take good care of each other."
Mark was crying, and he hugged her tight. "Thank you for taking care of me, Miss Rachel." He released her and walked over to Will. He was going to shake hands as he'd seen his Pa do, but Will picked him up and hugged him. Mark hugged him around the neck. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Will."
Will set him down gently, and Mark noticed his eyes were wet. "It's been a pleasure having you with us, boy."
Lucas gave Mark a boost up to the seat and climbed up beside him. With a "hah" to the team, they were off. Mark turned around and waved to their friends until they were out of sight.
Lucas looked down at his son. Tears rolled down his cheeks. "It's all right to feel sad about leaving good friends, Mark." He handed the child his handkerchief. "Here, wipe your face." Mark wiped his face and blew his nose. "Feel better, son?"
Mark said, "We're leaving everything behind, Pa. Our farm and our friends and Ma. It's the end of everything, Pa."
"Well, that's one way to see it, Mark, but another way to see it is it's a new beginning for us." Lucas watched as Mark considered it.
Mark looked up at his father and smiled. "I like that way, Pa. It's a new beginning."
