Morningside Cuesta thoughts and hearts

Her face fell when she realized how callous she'd been. Of course he hadn't know. How could he?

"Peacefully," she assured. "In their sleep, at a ripe old age, with plenty of children around them." The last part was meant to be a comfort to Grayday, and not an insult. As many as had been there, many more had been absent. It was the way of things, and Sunspot didn't blame any of them for striking out on their own.

"They always hoped this for you," she went on, looking aroung the cuesta. "Well, not the snakebite - but kids, and land, and a family..."

She'd been about to mention a woman, but no one else had. Sunspot wondered where the mother of his children had gone.