Again, a succinct nod. "Yep." The mare neighed softly and pranced from foot to foot, eager to be off. Jake agreed; standing in the middle of the road jack-jawing got little done and he had a stableful of chores left, pun intended.

So he gave a little wave of fingers, another half-smile and legged Lizzie Bell on down the cobbled roadway, saying, "See ya 'round," in a little-sort-of-hopeful voice.