Nate was the first one up. He quietly slipped out to bury the Blackfoot and covered the mound of earth with rocks to discourage scavengers. Erleen insisted on a big breakfast. Her daughters and Agatha helped cook and bake. They made flap-jacks and oatmeal and toast and corn cakes. Peter remarked that it was too bad they didn’t have eggs and bacon, his usual morning fare back home. Nate wasn’t going to eat, but the smells were too tantalizing to resist. Especially when he learned they had maple syrup to put on the flapjacks. Once he started eating, he found he was hungrier than he thought. Four flapjacks, a bowl of oatmeal, and two corn cakes later he was full. It was decided that Aunt Aggie would stay at the cabin with the girls and Philberta. “Erleen and I will work as a pair,” Peter announced. “Fitch and Harper will hunt together, too. That leaves you, Mr. King, to search by yourself, if you are agreeable.” Nate was more than willing. He could cover more ground alone. Fitch and Harper brought the horses from the corral.
