Hard Gold by Avi Read Free Book Online

my reply and then said, “I should like you to know, I shan’t marry unless the man is rich.”
    “Why is that?”
    “Rich people do as they choose.”
    “Can rich wives?” I asked.
    She glared at me and tossed her hair. “I will.”
    “Fine, then. And what would you do?”
    She thought a bit and finally said, “Not sure.” Then, as if correcting herself, she added, “But I’d do it.”
    For some reason or other, we both laughed. It felt good to do so.
    We went on for a while, and then she said, “I hate this stupid bonnet.”
    “Why wear it, then?”
    “Ma doesn’t want me looking dark.”
    “Dark is better than washed-out and peaked.”
    For once it seemed as if I had surprised her. “Do you truly think so?”
    “Just said, didn’t I?”
    After a moment she whipped her bonnet off, looked round at me, and grinned.
    I was pleased we were becoming easy.
    May 11
    Went twenty miles, which was the most we had gone in one day. Toward sunset, we found a sinkhole with good water.

    If you look at this picture, you can see some wagons were pulled by oxen, others by mules. Sometimes, even by horses. Oxen were considered best, being strongest, and because they really liked to eat the prairie grass.
    Lizzy served up bacon, beans, corn cake with molasses, and coffee. I was tempted to ask if she could cook anything else. Didn’t.
    In the evening, when I crawled under our wagon as I usually did to sleep, I found myself restless. As I lay there, I heard footsteps approach our wagon.
    “Mr. Bunderly?” a voice called.
    “Is that you, Mr. Mawr? Good evening.” It was Mrs. Bunderly who had replied.
    “Evening, ma’am. I hope you’re feeling better.”
    “I do the best I can.”
    “Mrs. Bunderly, I was wanting to speak to your husband about that boy of yours, Early.”
    “My husband is asleep. Is there something I can answer for you?”
    “I heard say the boy is traveling to meet his uncle in the diggings. Has he spoken of that to you?”
    “He told my husband he’s an orphan, that’s all.”
    “Did he? Has he said why he’s going out to this uncle?”
    “Not to me,” said Mrs. Bunderly.
    “I wonder if he can be trusted,” said Mr. Mawr. “You might be better without him. You can find another in Council Bluffs.”
    “You can speak to my husband in the morning or even with my daughter. She’s on good terms with the boy.”
    “With your permission, I shall. Good night.”
    “Good night, Mr. Mawr.”
    I hated that man.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    News About Jesse
    May 12
    I WOKE TO discover our oxen had broken loose again. Mr. Bunderly had not tied them properly. Since we could not move without, I had to find them. When I did and yoked them up, I offered to tie up the oxen from then on. Afterward we went along a road of black mud.
    As we went, I kept wondering if Mr. Mawr had spoken to Mr. Bunderly and what he might have told him. If he had, the barber said nothing to me about it. That eased me somewhat. But since Mawr might speak to Lizzy, too, and she being so unpredictable, I still worried.
    May 13
    That day we went only three miles but reached the Nishnabotna River, where we camped. I took Lizzy fishing and got ourselves a catfish. I even cooked it for her.
    She watched intently. “I never saw a man cook before,” she said.
    “I’m a boy.”
    “Does that mean, Mr. Early, you’re going to stop when you get older?”
    “Why must you always ask outlandish questions?” I said.
    She tossed her hair. “I only ask what I wish to know.” Her green eyes seemed fierce.
    “Need you know so much?”
    “Are you comfortable with ignorance?”
    “A body can’t know everything.”
    “Mr. Early, I believe it’s time you started thinking.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Knowing everything is impossible. But knowing nothing is despicable.”
    Unable to argue, I made no reply.
    As the fish was cooking, she said, “Early, why doesn’t Mr. Mawr like you?”
    “Don’t he?”
    “He was asking questions about