Under a Painted Sky

Samantha and Annamae negotiate with the older boys, introduced as Cay, West, and Peety. Samantha agrees to share her food if she and “Andy” can ride the extra horse to the first river along the route, Little Blue. She decides to join up with Cay, West, and Peety because they are willing to share their water with her and Andy; they are not as racist as others who might be hesitant to share with a Chinese or Black person. Peety, who is the horse whisperer of the group, says that they can ride the extra horse only if she likes the boys. Samantha offers the skittish mare some of the candy that she has in her violin case and wins her over. Asked why they are travelling West, Andy cites the Missouri Compromise. Samantha claims to be an Argonaut, which is met by derision from the older boys, who identify themselves as cowboys from Texas. The older boys exhibit typical masculine behavior, arm wrestling for the snake jaw and getting riled up by being called “chicken.”