Jody allowed his thoughts to drift back to the fawn. He could not keep it out of his mind. He had held it, in his dreams, in his arms. He slipped from the table and went to his father's bedside . Penny lay at rest. His eyes were open and clear, but the puplis were still dark and dilated.
Jody said, " How are you feeling,Pa ?"
" Just fine, son. Old Death has gone thieving elsewhere. But wasn't it a close shave! "
"I agree". Penny said," I am proud of you, boy , the way you kept your head and did what was needed" .
"Pa -"
"Yes, son ".
"Pa, do you recollect the doe and the fawn?"
"I can never forget them. The poor doe saved me, that's certain".
"Pa, the fawn maybe out there yet. It might be hungry and very scared".
"I suppose so".
"Pa , I am a big boy now and don't need to drink milk. Why don't I go and see if I can find the fawn?"
"And bring it here?".
"And raise it"
Penny lay quiet, staring at the ceiling.
"Boy , you have got me hemmed in" .
"It won't take much to raise it, Pa. It will soon start eating leaves and acorns ".
"You are smarter than boys of your age ".
"We took its mother, and it wasn't to blame ".
"Surely it seems ungrateful to leave it to starve. Son , I can't say 'No' to you. I never thought I'd live to see another day ".
"Can I ride back with Mill -wheel and see if I can find it "
"Tell your Ma I said you can go".
He sidled back to the table and sat down. His mother was pouring coffee for every one .
He said, "Ma, Pa says I can go bring back the fawn" .
She held the coffee pot in mid-air .
"What fawn?"
"The fawn belonging to the doe we killed.
We used the doe's liver to draw out the poison and save Pa."
She gasped.
"Well, for pity's sake ----"
"Pa says it would be ungrateful to leave it to starve".
Doc Wilson said, "That's right, Ma'am. Nothing in the world comes quite free. The boy's right and his daddy's right ".
Milk -wheel said, " He can ride back with me.
I will help him find it ".
She set down the pot helplessly .
" Well, if you will give it your milk --- we have got nothing else to feed it" .
Mill -wheel said," Come on , boy. We have got to get riding".
Ma Baxter asked anxiously, "You will not be gone long?"
Jody said, " I'll be back before dinner for sure".
Mill -wheel mounted his horse and pulled Jody up behind him.
He said to Mil-wheel,"Do you think the fawn's still there? Will you help me find him?
"We'll find him if he's alive. How you know it's a he?"