Travis by Georgina Gentry

had to look up to him after that. He had the best horse, the finest pistol, everything had to be first-rate. His pride became his armor, but sometimes, he still felt like everyone was laughing at him. And now with his damaged wrist, he wasn’t the fastest shot or even a Texas Ranger anymore. He was a half-breed with a bum wrist. He couldn’t go back to the ranch; there wasn’t enough land to support his brothers’ families and him, too.
    Travis watched the lawmen walk on down the line and disappear. He finished his smoke and checked his watch. Almost two o’clock. If he was going to take part in the run, he’d better move on south. He didn’t know what had happened to the kids; maybe they’d found a family to take them in. At least, they hadn’t come back, so they were no longer his responsibility. He began to pack up his camp and saddle the horses. He didn’t want to admit he’d kind of miss them all, especially that mouthy young girl with the pretty eyes and soft Southern drawl.
    “Are they gone?” Violet peeked out from behind a tree.
    Travis turned. “Oh, I thought you kids had found someone else to take you in. Where’s my dog?”
    “Here.” The blond toddler came through the woods, her hand on Growler’s head as they walked.
    The other three came from a different direction.
    “Oh, by the way,” Travis said and reached in his pocket, “you almost got tripped up because Boo Hoo’s drawers were still hanging in the tree.” He held them out.
    “Oh, my!” Violet’s face colored and she took them and grabbed Boo Hoo’s hand. “Here, let’s go back in the bushes and put these on, okay?”
    “Growler come, too, Feathers?”
    “Yes, Growler can come, too,” Violet said.
    Travis looked at Kessie. “Why does she call her Feathers?”
    “I wouldn’t have the faintest idea; she’s certainly not a bird.” Kessie shook her red hair.
    Anyway it didn’t matter. Here he was almost ready to ride out and all the children were back. They were like wood ticks; he just couldn’t shake them. They were determined to stick to him.
    Violet came out of the bushes with Boo Hoo and Growler. “Are you going to leave us behind?”
    Travis scowled. “We’ve been through all this already.”
    The children started crying again and Growler looked like he’d like to bite his owner.
    Violet said, “I reckon we’ll either starve to death or end up back in that orphanage.”
    “That ain’t my lookout. I’m going on the run.”
    Big tears started in the blue-violet eyes and ran down her pretty face.
    Travis sighed. “Don’t cry, honey. Maybe I could help you find someone to adopt you.”
    She looked hopeful and snuffled.
    He reached in his pocket and handed her his bandanna. “Here, blow.”
    She blew and gave him his bandanna back. “You know, mister, I heard the capital of that new territory is going to be Guthrie. If me and the other kids could get to Guthrie, where there’s a new town and lots of new businesses, maybe we could find work.”
    “I could read to those who can’t,” Kessie piped up.
    “Me and Limpy could clean stables or feed horses,” Harold said.
    Violet added, “I could probably get housecleaning jobs or maybe work as a cook in a café—”
    “You’re too young.” Travis shook his head. “Besides, a pretty kid like you could get into trouble. There’s some bad men in a lawless land that wouldn’t care if you’re young.”
    Violet blinked her eyes. “Mr. Prescott, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Of course she didn’t; she was an innocent child. “Never mind,” Travis said. “The problem is getting you kids to Guthrie in the first place.”
    “If we had a wagon, we could follow you and meet up after you’d staked your claim,” Violet said.
    “But we don’t have a wagon, and I travel alone,” Travis reminded her.
    She looked up at him, all eager and hopeful. “But we could get a wagon by trading.”
    “Trading what?” Travis shook his head. “You