Tag sat beside her, holding a book with bored indifference. Joanna had promised him if he would read a chapter to her now, he could forego his nightly lessons just this once. Simon had ridden ahead with Captain Thatcher so Joanna was left to drive the team. She was becoming experienced at handling the horses by now; however, this morning she was having trouble with them. The lead horse had developed a sore ankle, so Fosset had been harnessed in his place. Fosset was acting up as usual, and it took all of Joanna’s strength to control him. His misbehavior was making the other team horses nervous and jittery. Joanna was giving all her attention to the horses, so she didn’t notice that Claudia had ridden alongside the wagon. “What’s the matter, Joanna, having trouble?” Claudia asked in a honey-sweet voice. “Nothing I can’t handle,” Joanna said, pulling hard on the reins to prove she was capable of controlling the team. “I’m surprised you aren’t at the front of the train so you can make cow-eyes at Harland,”
