Chapter 53

Despite the coolness of the greeting, I was forced to tarry while I mulled over what to do with a plow overly heavy and bulky to drape across Patch’s back. As I cast around for poles to make a pony drag, Petrov admitted he had some extra animals and a buckboard he was willing to sell. The atmosphere thawed slightly as I bargained for the items. We reached a deal when he agreed to throw in harness for the wagon. I loaded my plow in the buckboard and headed to the feed store with two new horses: a sorrel that looked as if he might make a decent riding horse, and a good, solid black mare. The black, a plodder, drew the buckboard. I tied Patch and the sorrel to the rear of the wagon.

My reception was just as cool at the feed store. The heavy-bellied clerk stirred himself sufficiently—although reluctantly—to hand over the seed the major had ordered and accept payment in silver without comment.