Chapter 6: Laclede’s Village
“Ya don’t have ta go, ya know,” Russell said again. He had repeated this more times than Sam could recall. “Why do ya wanna go ta the city anyway? It’s got too many people, it’s dirty and, well, ya ain’t gonna be happy there.”
Russell continued trying to make his case for Sam to stay with him at the trading post. He had made it abundantly clear he would be very happy to take Nils’ place in Sam’s heart.
Sam laid his hand on Russell’s shoulder. “It’s not that I want to go. I have to go.”
Dexter joined the embrace, putting his arms around the shoulders of both men. “Don’t mind him none, Sam. You do what you need to do. We understand.”
Sam looked at Russell. He wasn’t sure the man understood.
The men were standing on the shore of the big river, waiting for th
