Chapter 111

There was a round table in the kitchen, and Mrs. Howard pulled out a chair for Hope, which she took. The room was small, but there was an ice box as well as a fireplace for cooking and a washbasin, though it didn't look like they had a pump here. Glancing out the back window, Hope could see a well. At least it was close by.

After a few minutes of scurrying around, Mrs. Howard passed Hope a glass of milk, a piece of salted meat, and a roll. "Hope that's okay. We'll have something better for dinner."

"It's just fine, thank you," Hope replied, not sure what to think of the meat. She had no utensils, so she picked it up and took a bite. It was tough and salty, but otherwise good.

"You like it? We get jerky from one of the local ranchers. Purty good, ain't it?"

Hope wasn't quite sure how to answer that. She didn't want to be impolite. "It's… unique." She smiled, hoping not to sound offensive.