"Get your claims?" Pete asked.
"I got one next section over," said Cal. "Sim's looking for a town lot."
Cal took a little coil of wire from his pocket, bent an end that had been sticking him, and put the coil back.
"How are things in Plains City?" asked Pete.
"Wild," said Sim. "Six claimers for every lot. They've staked the streets and everything else. I'll wait until it quiets down and buy me a lot. Meanwhile I'm hanging out with Cal. I'm going back for his wagon tomorrow."
"Would you mind," Mr. Simpson spoke up, "stopping by our wagon and asking my son to come up too?"
"I'll be glad to. Where's your wagon?"
"Right next to mine," said Pete, "on the border a half mile north of Sycamore Crossing."
"I'll find it," Sim promised. "Anything special you want?"
"You can tell Alec to bring the tools, and I'd like an extra team of mules. Tell my wife that Cindy's safe and we can use some food."