They tied the bodies to the sled instead of the horse and they rode together across the spreading ground, side by side, with the woman at her usual station, bringing up the rear.
When they made their first stop, Simms shared what food he had and he sat and watched them devouring the hard-tack and biscuits as if it was the most delicious meal on earth, which for them, it probably was.
They camped one more night under the stars and in the morning, when they stood and looked across the plain, a single trail of smoke told them Martinson"s was close. As they set off on the last leg of their journey a distant rumble caused them to rein in their mounts and they listened, alert, watching broad belts of purple blue spreads across the sky. Colors mingled, undulated and changed as great forks of li
