By noon Clint had still not returned. Cordelia stayed hidden in her wagon, leaving Nathaniel, Chadwick, and their two hired men to fend for themselves for their meals. Some of the wives, including Lucy, gladly gave biscuits, beans, and pancakes to the hungry men, but all knew such generosity couldn’t continue. At the noon break, Bessie stopped by Lucy’s cooking fire. “That Sukey had better come back soon.” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “Jesus wants us to share, but John doesn’t like to keep handing out all that extra food.” “Jacob’s the same.” Lucy didn’t care to describe her husband’s flare of temper when he saw her doling out food from their precious supply. “We only have enough for ourselves,” he’d thundered. She’d talked him into being generous for one more meal, pointing out that a leader of men should not appear stingy. He’d reluctantly conceded. “But just one more meal. We’re not going to feed the whole camp. The Bentons can starve, for all I care, or better yet, turn around and go back home.”
