Where the Lost Wander

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

Chapter 8 begins in Naomi’s point of view. The wagons follow the Platte to where it forks into North and South. Elmeda Caldwell visits the Mays’ camp and looks at Naomi’s sketch of a lone cedar tree. Elmeda remarks that it’s the last one they will see for 200 miles and asks if Naomi might consider being courted by her widowed son-in-law, Adam Hines. Ma says it isn’t time to discuss the question. When Elmeda remarks that she has missed Naomi, Naomi hugs her, and the two make up.

John won’t talk about the loss of his animals, but one night Naomi brings him dinner and promises she’ll get him another horse someday. He says Naomi reminds him of Jennie, as both are very stubborn. She tells him that she was friends with Daniel but didn’t really love him or know him well. When John replies that she doesn’t know him either, she says she wants to know him, and he admits he wants to know her.

Two weeks pass, and Naomi reflects on how much she loves baby Wolfe and considers him her own. She often takes him when she visits John on the nights when he has the first watch.