Under the Desert Sky by Sara Luck

up from his task, “Did Mr. Prinsen send you over here?”
    â€œHe did.”
    â€œHe didn’t think it’d be right for me to stay here by myself?”
    â€œYes. I don’t understand it. In Cape Town there’s a clear delineation between blacks and whites, but there doesn’t seem to be the fear, or the animosity. Look at all the black men who live with Mrs. Van Koopmans. She thinks nothing of it.”
    â€œThat’s Cape Town, but look at Rhodesia. You can’t say everything is peachy for the black man there.”
    â€œI know.”
    At that moment Phoebe and Will came out of the house. “Will said you’ve come to live with us.”
    Christian studied her face and listened to her voice to see if he could determine her reaction to the news. Was it favorable, or did it reflect some anxiety?
    What a cool character she is, he thought. No matter how hard he tried, he was totally unable to read how she felt about it.
    â€œYou needn’t be concerned,” Christian said, though she exhibited no concern at all. “July and I will be staying in your bunkhouse.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary. This house has five bedrooms and you’ll both stay in the house with me.”
    â€œI don’t know that that’s such a good idea.”
    â€œI can understand your concern, but I promise, I won’t shoot you again.” Phoebe smiled broadly.
    Christian laughed. “Well, if you guarantee that July and I won’t be shot, I suppose we can stay.”
    â€œShot? I do not understand.” July furrowed his brow. “Are we going to be shot?”
    â€œMama shot Wet,” Will said, his eyes wide.
    â€œOh, I did not.” Phoebe laughed nervously.
    â€œYes you did, Mama. He has a hole in his foot.”
    â€œHe has a hole in his boot, not in his foot.”
    â€œThat’s true.” Christian, smiling, removed his boot and poked a finger through the hole in the sole.
    â€œYou’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Phoebe challenged.
    â€œNope. If we both live to be a hundred, I’m not going to let you ever forget it.”
    Christian’s aside implied that he and Phoebe could know one another for a long time, but there was no further comment.
    â€œI think it’s time to go in,” Phoebe said. “July’s such a big man I made plenty of food, so there should be more than enough supper for you, too.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Will picked out the rooms where Christian and July would stay, and when it was time to go to bed, Will followed July to the bunkhouse to get his things. Christian was in the same room he’d occupied before, while July was in the room adjacent to Will’s.
    Christian was preparing for bed when he heard a light knock. He’d already taken off his shirt but, remembering the night before when he had gone down in his drawers, he grabbed it before he opened the door. He was disappointed when he found Will and not Phoebe.
    â€œYou forgot. You’re supposed to put me in my bed.”
    â€œOf course I am.” Christian picked the boy up and threw him across his shoulder. “Let’s get you to bed.”
    When he set the boy down on the bed, Will wouldn’t loosen his hold on Christian’s neck. “I love you.”
    â€œI’m glad.”
    â€œYou’re supposed to say, ‘I love you, too.’ That’s what my mama says.”
    â€œThen I’ll say it, too.”
    â€œYou can’t just say it—you have to mean it.”
    â€œIs that what your mama says, too?”
    Will nodded his head as he lowered his arms, his eyes now heavy with sleep.
    Christian brushed the child’s hair off his face. “Good night, little man.” He rose, intending to leave the room, as Will’s eyes were now closed.
    Instantly, they popped open. “You can’t go. You didn’t say it.”
    â€œI love you,