Chapter 17I stood at the fence in back of the house, staring out into the field. My hands were tightly locked on the top rail and my head was hanging down. Only five or six members of the buffalo herd was out there with the three donkeys and the milk cows. The rest of the buffalo and the cattle must be in the back field, beyond the trees around the pond. The donkeys seldom went back there. My shoulders slumped. I imagine I looked like I’d just heard about the worst disaster in the history of the earth.
“Hey, Joanie,” Beau yelled at me. “Come on over and talk to me. You look worn out.”
I smiled at the old buffalo and started to climb over the fence. He ambled closer and laid down right in front of me.
“Need someone to lean on?” he asked.
“Sorry, Beau.” I said as I sat down on the ground
