Siegie and I were up before the sun rose. We were in and out of the house, in the predawn light, counting the wagons leaving, waving at the neighbors as they drove past. We weren't of much use to Mom, but we were probably more useful by being out of her way.

Grandfather and Grandmother had left in their wagon before we got up. His plow horses were slow and needed a head start. The neighbor had a large rope coiled on the back of his wagon as he pulled around the corner of his home. He stopped in fro...