Tad trotted beside the wagon and fell behind. Joe waited for him.
"Better get in."
"I aim to walk. I'll keep up."
Joe felt his anger rise, but he held it in check. Tad had been mighty brave and mighty helpful and he was entitled to be treated with respect. "We're going to make time, Tad. We've got to now."
Tad was silent, and the struggle he was undergoing showed plainly on his freckled face.
Suddenly, without a word of comment, he climbed into the wagon and settled himself where he could watch out the back end. Joe's heart swelled with pride. Emma had told him that his daughter had grown up, and now he knew that his son was growing, too. Fiercely proud, Tad had fully intended to walk all the way to Oregon. But he had seen the need, and had placed the family's welfare above his own.
Joe said, "Keep your eye peeled for antelope, will you? Holler if you see any and I'll hand you the rifle."
"Sure, Pa. You want buffalo too?"
"Can't stop to butcher a buffalo right now."
Joe kept the mules at a fast walk except on upgrades and trotted them on all the down slopes. The mules were big, but their hoofs were slender and much smaller than a horse's. Therefore, though this light fall did not bother them, they would have harder going than horses found should there be deep snow.