Read "Lonesome Dove, Volume 2: Comanche Moon" by Larry McMurtry online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
AS HER STRENGTH began its final ebbing, the thing that tormented Maggie most was the fear in her son's eyes. Newt knew she was dying-everybody knew it. He struggled mightily to relieve her of the household chores. He was an able boy, too: he could cook a little, and clean-if there was a chore to be done that was within his capacity, Maggie seldom had to ask him to do it. He just did it, and did it competently; in that way and many others he reminded her of his father.
Yet it was in thinking of Newt that Maggie found her best peace. She thought she had done a fair job with him. If the rangers or the Stewarts would just take him for a year or two he would be old enough to earn his keep. Maggie hoped it would be the rangers.