The air grew cooler in their homeward ride, while they 252 followed the same old Sunflower Trail that Asher and Virginia Aydelot had followed one September day a quarter of a century before. And, for some reason, they did not stop to question, neither was eager to reach the end of the trail today.
As they came to a crest of the prairie looking down a long verdant slope toward what was now a woodsy draw, Thaine said, “Leigh, my mother was lost here somewhere once and Doctor Carey found her. Maybe Doctor Carey is the man to help you now.”
“Oh, Thaine, I believe I could ask Doctor Carey for anything. You are so good to think of him,” Leigh exclaimed. “I knew you’d help me out.”
“Yes, I’m good. That’s my trade,” Thaine replied. “And I’m pretty brave to offer advice, too. But if you want to talk any about courage, mine’s a different brand from yours. I may be a soldier myself some day. Brother Aydelot of the Sunflower Ranch, trustee of the Grass River M. E. Church, fit, bled, and died in the Civil War and was not quite my age now when he came out all battle-scoured and gory. I always said I’d be a soldier like my popper. But I’d fall in a dead faint before that alfalfa and mortgage business you face like a hero. It’s getting cooler. See, the storm didn’t get this side of the purple notches; it stayed over there with Pryor Gaines and Prince Quippi.”
They rode awhile in silence, then Thaine said: “Leigh, I will go up to Careyville and send Doctor Carey down to Cloverdale to see you. It will save you some time at least, and I’ll tell him you want to see him particularly and alone. You can tell me the result Sunday if you want to.” 253
Leigh did not reply, but gratitude in the violet eyes made words unnecessary.
On the Sabbath after the party, Thaine Aydelot waited at the church door for Jo Bennington, who loitered out slowly, chatting the while with Todd Stewart.
“Let me take you home, Jo. I see your carriage will be full with the company you will have today,” Thaine said.
Jo looked with a pretty pout at the invited guests gathered about her mother and father waiting for her at the family carriage.
“Thank you, yes. I am glad to get away from those tiresome goody-goodies. It looks like the Benningtons are taking the whole official board and the ’amen corner’ home for dinner.”