We’re finally here, after a mighty hard trip. There’s a bitter plague in the land, like I told you before, and people are righteously scared of it. Headin’ down the Trail, me ‘n Fred hadta stay on the back ways and hide out some of the time from bands of people tryin’ to get away from either the plague, or somethin’ else dangerous. They didn’t look none too friendly, and while ordinarily we woulda tried to make some kinda contact, we hadta make as much haste as we could since I’d promised Miz Suze to come as quick as I could, and ole Fred’s bein’ so torn up and needin’ to heal had delayed us so. She was still a’feelin’ a lotta pain, but she’s a game critter, and kept a’goin’, often bein’ the one who was responsible for catchin’ us a rabbit or such for our suppers. She’s a’earnin’ those stars in her crown, or her wings, or whatever.
So we’re finally here, at the Yella Rose Schoolhouse/Saloon, and at least we got a chance to see Miz Suze and let her fuss over us for a spell. She’d about given us up, she said. But she insisted on a’waitin’ ’til tomorrow to tell us what the deal is and why she wanted us here, since she said what me ‘n Fred needed was to rest up. And I gotta say, indeed this here bed feels mighty good after so many nights on that hard ground, a’sleepin’ with one eye open, and ole Fred is enjoyin’ the heck outta bein’ fussed over by the girls.
Not all the girls is here. Some got sick and hadta leave, and some wanted to go home to their families on account of worryin’ about them. And of course, Miz Suze, she closed the place down, no business at all, so there’s no work for ’em, and she ain’t teachin’ except for the girls. But Autumn Glory, remember her? She’s still here, motherin’ everybody, ’cause she don’t have no place else to go. And little BessieJune? She an’ her animals are here permanent-like now, since her pa up and died of the plague. Matildie’s still here, a’takin’ care of everyone, thank the good Lord.
But EthelLouise, she’s gone, she done up and got married to that boy her pa was so opposed to, good for her. But AnnabelleLee’s gone, nobody knows where or what happened to her — Barefoot Woman and Pony took off to be with her people, where the sickness had gotten real bad, even tho’ Miz Suze tried to get her to not go. JanelleElise and SamanthaJocelyn just left — folks are still waitin’ to hear from them and if they’re okay. And AngelinaMay said she was needed at home to take care of her family. BessieJune, she told me she’d bring me more up to date tomorrow, and I don’t doubt it a bit. That little girl can really bend your ear.
If you kinda forget the different girls’ stories, mebbe you wanta go back and read ’em — BessieJune said she’d clue me in tomorrow. But for now? — me ‘n that featherbed have a long overdue date a’comin’ up.