the rabbit, Saul was desperate to find something to feed Huck, Emory, and Tess. He hoped these men might have some food to spare.”
“Did they?” Journey’s voice was tight with excitement.
Myra laughed. “Saul didn’t starve to death or you and I wouldn’t be sitting here talking. Would we?”
“I guess not.” Journey giggled. “So, what happened next?”
Her aunt lowered her voice to make the story more exciting. “Reno heard Saul rustling in the bushes and jumped up with rifle in hand, shouting for him to show himself. Saul came forward and explained his plight. There was no hesitation on Reno’s part, he immediately set out to find the kids something to eat. The whole party returned to the Stanton cabin for the night and new friendships were born. For the next six months or so, Reno Black did everything he could to help our family. He gave them money, repaired their roof, and made sure they didn’t go hungry. Reno practically moved in with them.” She laughed softly. “I remember reading in Saul’s journal how crazy the cowboy was about little Tess.”
Journey gazed at the photograph, imagining this man being kind to a little girl. “Do we have a photo of Tess and the boys?”
“Yea, I think so.” Myra rose and crossed the room to a large oak cabinet. As soon as she stepped off the woven wool rug, her heels clicked on the wooden plank floor. “This house is built on the same site as their original cabin.” When she knelt to check a few neatly stacked boxes, the older lady’s bones creaked. Journey couldn’t help but giggle. “Just wait until you get old, young lady. It’s the pits.” After a few moments, she stood up slowly with a box in hand. “I think I’ve found it.”
“Good. I want to see.” Journey hopped off the couch and pulled a large pillow near, so she could sit at Myra’s feet. “What happened to Saul’s dad and mom?” Journey knew the pain of losing a parent. She’d lost both of hers.
Myra bowed her head as she lifted the lid to peer inside. “Fever. Saul wrote how his mother traveled to help a neighbor deliver a baby. While she was there, she became ill. Her husband went to fetch her, but he fell sick also. They both died, as did the entire family they were trying to help. Saul and the other children didn’t come down with the disease, thank God.”
Journey waited patiently as Myra took her time, glancing at every photo. “The girl Reno rescued, was she okay?”
Nodding, Myra kept thumbing through the pictures. “Yes. Her name was Amelia. I think she had a hard time of it for a while. I mean, who wouldn’t? Her parents were murdered, and she was taken captive. There’s no telling at the horrors she endured.” Myra sighed. “She probably didn’t even know if her little brother was alive until after she was rescued. His name was Ace. The folks at King’s Ransom took him in after they caught the little rascal trying to steal a pig.” She laughed at the thought. “There’s probably more about her in Saul’s journal. It’s been such a long time since I read it. I can’t remember everything.” Suddenly, she stopped and smiled. “I found the picture.”
Journey went up on her knees to gaze at her relatives from long ago. “Oh, look at them. They’re so cute.” The children looked stilted. Their eyes were large, and none wore even a hint of a smile. “So, this is Saul.” She pointed at the older boy. “He looks like my dad when he was young.”
“He does,” Myra agreed. “And this is Buck and Emory.” Her finger grazed the surface of the tintype. “And Tess.” She lifted her head and looked out the window toward Enchanted Rock. “One of Reno’s good friends was an Englishman. A nobleman named Gentry Nelson. He’d left his home county and moved to America because he was entranced with the idea of adventure and the wild west. He fought in Reno’s unit and came with the group when they moved to Texas. Somehow, he managed to juggle being a cowboy and a member of the peerage.”
“What’s that?” Journey asked with curiosity.
Myra waved her hand. “Sorry. A member of the peerage is someone who has a title – like Baron, Marquess, or Viscount. Gentry was an Earl until his father died, then he became a Duke.” She patted Journey on the hand. “Anyway, the man loved to tell stories