When Charlie got home, she left Gurth tied, long enough to go inside and upstairs to change to her overalls. Then, leaving her school dress on a

heap on the floor, she flew back downstairs and to the kitchen, to greet Maria. She ate the cookies she was offered and told the older woman

that the other kids were asking for more of her churros or chocolate cake.

Taking another cookie to eat on the way, Charlie went out to tend to Gurth, spending extra time to brush him and give him pets and hugs. After that,

she did her chores, taking extra care to feed the barn cats and the two dogs. She helped Maria to gather laundry off the clothesline, and then, once

inside, she washed her hands, helped wash up the dishes, and went to set the table for the evening meal.

She was just laying the silverware when Scott came to the door of the dining room.

"Hello, kiddo," he greeted Charlie.

Charlie laid the handful of knives and forks on the table and went to meet him. "Hello," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist

to hug him.

"How was school?"

"It was good," Charlie said. "How was your day?"

"It was good, as well." He smiled at Charlie. "Maria says you've been very helpful this afternoon."

Charlie could tell he was pleased with her, and she gave him another squeeze around his middle.

Looking up into his face, Charlie said, "Some of the kids are going fishing again. Tomorrow morning. May I go?"

"Fishing again, hmm?"

"Yes," Charlie said. "They have a new place to try."

"Still beside the river?"

"Yes. Just further down a bit, Jason says," Charlie said.

"Jason's going, then?" Scott asked.

Charlie knew that Scott liked Jason, and trusted him. Jason was known for being responsible, and not getting into trouble.

She nodded in response. "And Rebecca, too. And Tate, and Monte-and I'm not sure who else. Hopefully not John."

Scott smiled slightly. "John still being a pest?"

"He always is," Charlie affirmed. She looked at him imploringly. "May I go?" she asked, again.

Scott nodded. "Same rules. No swimming."

Charlie gave him a dimpled smile. "I promise. Do you think, someday, that I'll be a strong enough swimmer to go into the river?"

Scott felt a sense of panic at the thought of Charlie swimming in that vast water, at the mercy of her meager skills.

"That's a long ways off, I think," he said, in answer.

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The next morning, Charlie was preparing to set off for fishing with her friends, her saddlebag filled with wrapped churros and sandwiches

from Maria's capable hands. She had her fishing pole in hand, and Jelly offered to hold it while she mounted Gurth. As he handed it to Charlie, Scott

came out of the hacienda, and Charlie walked Gurth over to him.

"Ready to set off?" he asked her, laying a hand on her lower leg.

Charlie nodded. "Maria made a lot of sweets for me to share."

"That was kind of her to do."

"Monte loves her churros," Charlie said.

"Be home by early afternoon," Scott told her.

Charlie said that she would, and began her ride to meet with the other kids, putting Gurth into a canter once she was on the roadway.

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Later, covered in grass stains and fishy smells, the group of children had a grand total of ten catfish caught between them.

They were sitting in various poses of comfort on the riverbank, the fish on a stringer, enjoying Maria's contributions, and also what Rebecca and Jason's

mother had sent with them. Monte had brought a canteen of water, and they all shared that.

Not having a watch between them, they all discussed what the time must be.

"Has to be after noon," Monte said, reaching for another churro. "My stomach's tellin' me the time."

"You and I need to be headin' home, Reb," Jason said, calling Rebecca by his pet name for her.

"Yes," Rebecca said, with a sigh. "Ma has all the wash and ironing she wants me to help with."

The group of children all got to their feet, picking up the remnants of their picnic lunch. Rebecca and Jason said their goodbyes, leaving Charlie with Tate,

Monte and John.

After a while more of skipping rocks across the water of the river, Tate, too, took his leave, saying his father would have chores for him. The four of them

walked a good ways together, with Charlie leading Gurth. Charlie recognized the direction they were taking, not immediately, but once they got nearer.

And then, Monte and John began talking about the traps-

"He's set new ones out," Monte was telling Tate. "Four more, that I could find. I near gotta go every day to set off just to keep up with 'em."

"He catchin' anything?" Tate asked.

"Yeah," Monte was saying. "I got there late two days ago. One trap had a raccoon."

"What'd ya do?" Tate asked.

"We took it-weren't gonna let that old coot get money from the pelt," Monte said. "Least I could do for the poor critter."

Charlie, listening to this exchange, cringed at the thought of an animal caught in one of those vicious traps.

Tate broke off when Monte and John stopped at the now-familiar looking spot.

"You walkin' on with me?" Tate asked Charlie, gesturing to the roadway up ahead.

Charlie hesitated. She should, she knew that. It would be time for her to start for home. And-she knew she mustn't go across those fences-

"Yeah. Ya goin' on with Tate, or comin' with John and me to check traps?" Monte asked her.

Charlie turned to Monte. There was a definite challenge on his freckled face.

"Awe, Monte," John whined, "She don't gotta come with us."

"You shut it," Monte told John.

"I need to get home," Charlie said, sounding lame even to her own ears.

"We could use your help," Monte said. "What with Old Coot puttin' out more traps-"

Even without the challenge in Monte's gaze, Charlie wanted to go. Desperately. To feel as though she was doing something good. Something to

help-

"You go on," she said to Tate.

"A girl hadn't oughta be doin'-" Tate began, and Charlie glared at him.

"What?" she said, with her own challenge.

"Well, I still stand by it," Tate said, stubbornly.

"You need to mind your own business," Charlie told him, loftily.

Tate shook his head, but walked on, carrying his share of the fish, and saying goodbye.

John gave a loud sigh, and began walking on, into the woods.

"Wait up," Monte told his brother. He gave Charlie another look. "So?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "You comin' with?"

Charlie hesitated, feeling her stomach knot, and her thoughts go back and forth, as if on a pendulum.

"Johnny says I'm not to cross any fences-" Charlie said.

"We won't. We can walk in a different way."

"He said there might be hunting-"

"I told ya he don't hunt," Monte reminded her. "All he does is stay home, and set traps."

"He says that owners don't want folks messing about their property-" Charlie continued.

At this, Monte shrugged. "Well-that I can't help. I gotta go on his place to trip the traps."

Charlie bit at her lip. And, then, she gave a nod, and walked beside Monte, to catch up to John.

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