THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
LZZIE STEPPED OUT of the low-roofed sod house and scanned the prairie sky. Dark clouds, purple as bruises, loomed up in the west. Any minute it would start raining, and Pa had said that the sheep would drown if the creek rose before they could get them moved.
Cold drops began falling hard as she ran to hitch up Midnight and Star. But as usual, Hank was ahead of her.
“Got the horses hitched.” The hired hand smirked at her from the wagon seat, his bright red shirt gleaming even in the dim light. “I figured you’d take all day doing it.” He whistled, and Tam, the sheep dog, jumped into the back of the wagon. “You know, if your pa hadn’t broken his arm, Tam and I wouldn’t even need you.”
“Thanks, Hank,” Lizzie said, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. Her bodice, skirt, and apron were already soaked and bedraggled by the downpour. She climbed up beside him. “Pa said I’m
