" The game? We won it and we're off to states next week. Brook played well," I understated."Put her on the phone, Darling. I want to congratulate her ...nd tell her how proud I am. I wish I could have been there!" lied Natalie."Well, she's off with some of her teammates right now, Natalie. I'll relay the message," I promised. "Are you in Philadelphia right now?" Driving down Broad Street as I speak," laughed Natalie. "This traffic is moving slow, so I thought I'd call to see how everything went.". And... this crew is fresh. They would be laughing at us, shortly," Jeff laughed along with Frank.As they stepped up on the back porch and Jeff reached for the door knob, they heard Diana squeal, "You what?"When they opened the door, Diana had Margaret in a bear hug. "Oh, wonderful. Wonderful!" she cried, almost dancing with the older woman."You didn't?" Jeff said, grinning at Frank."Uh, I guess I did. Right after your wedding, actually. But she accepted this morning at breakfast," Frank proudly. Hewas allowed to open his eyes for eye liner and the mascara. "Oooh, you'vedone this before. No jumping at the eye pencil so close to you. Goodgirl!" she told him."So what did Tina call you back then? I'm sure it wasn't 'Charlie,' wasit now?" Um, it was 'Charity,'" he practically whispered. "Tina's friend, Susie,came up with the name and it kinda stuck." Charity. That's so pretty," she mocked. "I might like that better foryou than Charlie. It's so demure, so delicate. Like you are."When. It would not be a fast trip.The next section of the road was the worst we’d encountered. For perhaps a mile, Katie removed her shoes and walked ahead, pulling the horses through the mud as I leant my support in pushing the wagon until we forded a stream and the land began to rise. It was a drier stretch of road, but we were so exhausted that we camped. We used the opportunity to wash the horses’ legs and check their hooves before tethering them for the night.As I made a fire and gathered wood.