Louis. Back in the caboose, Ray gathered his supplies: a blanket and a change of clothes in a haversack, waterskins, some needles and thread, a small cook set, a bowie knife sheathed at his belt, and his red flannel toby tied to a cord around his neck. The toby felt lighter without the rabbit’s foot, although it was a little fuller now with Nel’s charms. Before Ray left Shuckstack, Nel had given him a pouch filled with cinquefoil, wintergreen, crushed ash leaves, and other ground roots and herbs to protect them from the Darkness. He had instructed Ray to divide the charms into three once they reached Redfeather. Satisfied that he had everything he needed, Ray planted his brown felt hat on his head and headed down to the mess car. “Ma packed us some food,” Marisol said as he came in. She held up a gunnysack bulging with crackers and cheese wrapped in waxed paper, biscuits with thick slices of ham, a dozen apples, and sandwiches heavy with tomatoes and smoked meats. “That’ll last longer than the train ride to Vinita,”
