#83
Mark passed the paper around, so all could read the information. "So the pressing question is, how and where do we find the sheriff?" Toby questioned.
Everyone shrugged, "I don't even know what county we are in, much less know where to find any law." Milo offered with a smile. "Imagine that, wondering where the law might be; that's probably a first for us."
Unbeknownst to the clan, the law knew precisely where 'they' were. A large amount of wagons headed North; had raised concern all along the trail they had followed. A group of people headed North, when everyone else was abandoning places and going South, raised suspicions.
Sheriff Wyatt Coleman rested easy in the saddle, a top the highest hill around. He had binoculars and noticed that the one man had taken the notice from the store door. There sure were enough of them, and there were kids swarming everywhere.
Wyatt had noticed they had a lot of 'stuff' with them, like they were serious about settling and making a go of living. Wyatt tried to count heads, and lost the total every time. There were young and old, and of course the kids and dogs. Then he noticed the really young kids, and they were trying to coax some semi-feral cats to come close. Wyatt chuckled, good luck at that, he thought.
Wyatt watched as the wagons were circled under the shade and kids were called in to gather firewood. People scattered to do chores and he definitely approved of the way the horses were unhitched and taken care of.
Responsible, Wyatt was thinking. He would give them a couple of days and then 'happen' by.
The ladies started supper, and the men gathered up horses to scout the surrounding countryside. They were anxious to see farm fields, check on pastures full of grass and find houses that were suitable for their families.
This is going to end "Homestead, Sweet Homestead."
I had thought to use the title all the way through the oncoming settlement and prosperity of the Lindermans; but it's not the ideal that I want. So, Grace, Mercy and Blessings will be the next story.