The evening chores consisted of getting hay and water for the horses, cow and goats, rounding up the chickens and getting them settled in the coop in the back of the lean-to where they would be safe from predators, and cleaning up after the evening meal, giving Molly the remains. Nils milked the cow and one of the goats. He poured some of the warm milk into a pan for the dog.
“Well, don’t have much use for the milk right now,” he explained. “But wanna keep them from dryin’ up. Gotta keep milkin’ to do that. You wanna try some?” he asked, pouring the white liquid into a cup for himself.
Having never had milk, Sam declined. “Maybe another time.”
Nils set about making up a sleeping matt for Sam in the shelter. Sam noted that he positioned it quite close to his own. After a final check of t
