Read Morning Star for Free Online Page B

Martha?" Cindy said softly from the corner of her mouth.
    "I am the program, Miss Bannister," the nurse replied.
    The three drank iced tea in the shade while Dannie's nurse changed the sheets on her bed and tidied up her room.
    "She means well," Dannie said, showing wisdom beyond her years.
    Morning Star stayed at the fence and watched. His eyes never left Dannie. Every once in a while she would wave at him.
    "So when are you two getting married?" 
    "Filled with questions today, aren't you?" her father asked as soon as he finished coughing up some iced tea that went down the wrong hole.
    "So when?" 
    He glanced at Cindy, who would be no help. She stared straight ahead vainly attempting to whistle a tune. 
    "Well, we haven't really set a date," he finally said when he realized he was on his own.
    Dannie looked at him and pursed her lips. She had her father right where she wanted him, on the spot.
    Nate sighed. "Is the last Saturday of the month too soon?" 
    Dannie swiveled her head to Cindy and caught her smiling. Cindy turned to Dannie then to Nate. 
    "The last Saturday of the month will work just fine," she said to him. 
    "I want to be the flower girl," Dannie said before lifting her cup to her mouth. Adults are so easy, she thought and waved again to Morning Star. 

17
----
    Dannie slept in her room while Cindy mopped the kitchen floor. Nurse Edmonton sat by her patient's bed, her chin on her chest, napping. Nate worked the horse barns with Kenny, a high school student from two ranches over, who helped out with the barn chores on Sundays and a couple of afternoons during the week. Morning Star stood at the fence line. His head faced the house. His eyes stared at Dannie's room. He had done this for close to an hour without moving when he caught a movement from the corner of his eye. He slowly turned his head to the left. A vehicle approached the house from the dirt driveway. It contained three people.
    Nate heard the engine before he saw the jeep. He stepped from the barn nearest his house into the sunlight. A jeep slowed to a stop near him.
    "Howdy Bill," Nate said to the vehicle's driver.
    Bill Travers stepped out of the jeep. His two sons followed.
    "Curtis. Tommy." Nate nodded in their direction while brushing his arm across his sweat covered brow.
    "We were on our way back from town and thought we'd stop by to pay our respects," Bill Travers said. 
    The screen door opened and Cindy appeared on the porch, wiping her hands on her apron.
    "Afternoon Ma'am." Travers doffed his hat in her direction.
    "Afternoon, Bill. Can I get you and your boys something to drink?"
    "Kind of you Ma'am but we won't be staying long."
    "Suit yourself. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." 
    The screen door had barely closed when Travers turned to Nate.
    "Bout that black horse."
    Nate raised his hand. 
    "He's dark blue and he's not for sale."
    Travers turned to the corral. Morning Star stared at him.
    "Check that big fella for markings?" he asked with his back to Nate.
    "No markings."
    Travers took some time to let that sink in.
    "I'll give you a thousand dollars for him. A thousand cash money."
    "Wow," Kenny said from the barn door.
    Tommy stepped out from his father's shadow.
    "Don't you have work to do boy?"
    Travers wheeled around. 
    "Go sit in the jeep son. The both of you."
    Tommy mumbled  under his breath. He slapped the jeep's canvas hood before he jumped in the back seat.
    Travers stepped nearer to Nate.
    "Sorry 'bout the boy. Temperamental, since he was a youngin'." 
    He took off his hat and ran a handkerchief across the sweatband.
    "A thousand dollars for a horse that technically doesn't even belong to you. Sounds like a fair deal to me."
    "It's fair enough but the horse stays at The Rising Sun for as long as he wants to."
    Travers inspected his hat before he put it on.
    "If you change your mind you know where to find me." He placed the hat on his head, adjusting it until it barely rode above his eyes, and walked back