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We can’t rely on Grandfather taking care of us.”
    “Even after what Papa said? That we would see him one day?” Jessie asked.
    “We don’t know if he would want to take care of us now. We don’t know him. Rubin can’t take care of us. The law says.”
    Henry looked at Jessie.
    “And I don’t want to think about what the sheriff meant by ‘otherwise,’ and Rubin wouldn’t let him say.”
    “Do you know what he meant?” asked Jessie.
    Henry nodded.
    “The children’s home,” he said. “For orphans.”
    Jessie stared at him.
    “We have to take care of ourselves,” Henry said. “We know how to do that. Remember? Mama said.”
    Henry’s voice cracked a bit.
    Jessie thought for a moment.
    “We’re going to leave,” said Jess.
    “Yes.”
    Slowly they walked to the house.
    Suddenly Jessie stopped.
    “What?” said Henry.
    “We have to tell Violet and Benny,” said Jessie, beginning to cry for the very first time.

Chapter 13
Secrets
    “What will we do?” asked Violet.
    “It’s a big, big secret,” said Henry. “Can you keep a secret?”
    “I can,” said Violet.
    “We’re going on a journey,” said Henry.
    “A journey?”
    “Yes, we’re going to find a safe place for us away from here. A place where we can all be together.”
    “Do we have to leave here?” asked Violet, tears sitting in the corners of her eyes.
    “Yes,” said Jessie.
    “Then it will be an adventure,” said Violet.
    “Remember, Henry? You once wanted an adventure.”
    Henry swallowed.
    “I remember.”
    “Travelers,” Violet said quietly.
    Benny was sleeping, clutching his brown stuffed bear. No one was sure if Benny really understood what had happened. But what he did understand had made him tired.
    “We’ll have to take special care of Benny,” said Jessie. “He’s so little.”
    “We’ll have to pack some clothes for him. And food. Just a few toys,” said Violet.
    “I’ll have to carry him sometimes,” said Henry. “We’ll be walking.”
    “Henry?” said Jessie suddenly. “What about Betty and Boots?”
    Henry looked out the window.
    “I’ll go see Rubin right now. We have to trust him.”
    “Want me to come?” asked Jessie.
    Henry shook his head.
    “Benny will need you when he wakes up.”
    And Benny did.
    After Henry left, Benny came out of the bedroom, carrying Bear. He climbed up on Jessie’s lap—so silent, no words. Just laying his head on Jessie’s shoulder.
    Jessie didn’t say anything, either. She just held him, the afternoon light coming through the open door, the house as still as night.
    “Rubin?”
    In the field, Rubin turned and walked over.
    “Henry.”
    Rubin put his arms around Henry and they stood quietly in the grasses.
    “Want to come in and see Belle?”
    Henry shook his head.
    “Not now,” he said.
    Rubin nodded.
    “What about your grandfather?”
    Henry sighed.
    “I don’t want to lie to you, Rubin.”
    Rubin smiled a small smile.
    “Then I won’t ask,” he said.
    “I came to ask you to please take Betty and Boots,” said Henry, “if you can.”
    “I can do that. I owe your Papa for hay, too,” he said.
    “The money isn’t as important as the cows,” said Henry.
    Rubin nodded.
    “I’ll take care of them.”
    “Until we get back,” said Henry.
    “Get back,” said Rubin.
    It wasn’t a question.
    “Thank you,” said Henry.
    Henry turned to leave, then stopped. He just looked at Rubin for a moment, as if trying to remember how he looked.
    “You’ll miss their funeral,” said Rubin.
    Henry nodded.
    “I know that you will say good things about them,” Henry said. “You loved them.”
    “I did,” said Rubin.
    “We loved them, too,” said Henry. “They knew that.”
    Henry looked at his feet in the meadow grasses for a moment. Then he looked at Rubin.
    “Good-bye, Rubin,” he said.
    Rubin watched Henry walk away.
    “Good-bye,” whispered Rubin.

Chapter 14
Lambs
    Henry and Jessie hadn’t thought about dinner. But Belle had. She