The Hard Land-Part 31

The sun’s feeble light crept over the eastern horizon, casting long shadows over the hard-packed ground. Earl flung a bundle of hay over the fence, the calves’ plaintive cries echoing through the already stifling morning air. His hands, calloused from hard labor, wiped the sweat from his brow as he surveyed the farmstead.

And there, Joseph Carter and his two sons emerged from the barn’s weathered side. Their faces etched with determination, they stood before Earl, their eyes mirroring the weariness of countless miles traveled. But what struck Earl most was the absence of horses. He squinted toward the road, expecting to see three steeds tethered there, but all he found was the dusty expanse stretching into the distance.

“Where are your horses?” Earl asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.