text: On Christmas eve, Colleen cooked six batches of cinnamon rolls. As she was letting the last batch rise, she asked, "How far away does the family live that's needed your help?"
  
  "About an hour from here," Grit said.
  
  "Only an hour? Why don't we take them some cinnamon rolls? I'm sure it would bring joy to their Christmas."
  
  "That's a good idea," Grit said. "How soon can you be ready?"
  
  "No more than a half hour," Colleen said. "I'll put the last batch in the oven right now."
  
  Paulie was outside splitting firewood. When Grit walked out and told him they were going to the Knudsens, he said, "Okay, I'll load up the wagon with firewood, and we could take them whatever else you think they'll need."
  
  "We have to be careful with what we offer," Grit said, "so let's take them the firewood, some more cabbages, a bag of potatoes and carrots and two bags of oats for the mules."
  
  When they were ready, they all sat on the wagon seat, each dressed in the warmest clothes possible. They gazed across the wide rolling prairie as they traveled, a vast sea of ice that wind blew skiffs of snow across.
  
  They'd been traveling about a half hour when Paulie said, "Would you look at that?" He pointed to four elk feeding on aspen bark in a secluded ravine. "They'll be runnin' soon. Lemme get the Sharps."
  
  Grit stopped the wagon and Paulie jumped down and pulled up the rifle. Grit and Colleen watched as Paulie pulled up the Vernier sight and took aim. He fired and at first, it seemed as if nothing had happened. Then a cow dropped as the other elk fled in utter terror while the gunshot still ricocheted over the undulating white plains.
  
  "Good shot, Paulie," Grit said. "Let's go get 'er." Paulie hopped back into the wagon, and Grit popped the reins as they headed toward the cow.
  
  "She's a big one," Colleen said.
  
  "We gotta skin her out right here," Grit said. "We can't lift her onto the wagon."
  
  The skinning took nearly an hour, but by then they had a hide packed full of meat.
  
  When they pulled up at the Knudsen place, Leif was outside splitting wood. As they pulled up, Grit said, "How're you doin', neighbor?"
  
  "We're gettin' by," Leif said without any show of welcome. Inga had heard the wagon approaching, and she came out of the sod shanty with Astrid following behind holding onto her skirt.
  
  "Leif and Inga, I'd like you to meet my friend, Colleen Byrne," Grit said. "She's brought you folks a Christmas goody."
  
  "Yes, well, I made some cinnamon rolls," Colleen said, "and I brought your family a plate of them to enjoy over Christmas."
  
  "Oh, thank you so much," Inga said. "We really appreciate it. I wish we had something for you."
  
  "Don't worry about that," Colleen said. "In fact, Grit and Paulie have some other things for you."
  
  Grit said, "Go ahead and tell 'em, Paulie."
  
  "Coming over here, we spotted an elk, which I shot. We've butchered it out, and you can take all the meat you'd like. We'll take the rest home, but please help yourself. You can have an elk roast for Christmas."
  
  "No, no!" Leif shouted out. "You've done enough. We'll accept no more of your charity."
  
  Everybody stared. Inga walked toward Leif and said sternly, "Leif, they're only being neighborly." Turning to Grit, she said, "We're very grateful. Please unload the things you've brought. We hope someday to do something for you." Leif turned and walked away.
  
  Grit and Paulie unloaded the wood and other items from the wagon quickly while Colleen spoke with Inga and tried to make friends with Astrid, who kept hiding behind her mother's skirt.
  
  On the way back to the house, Grit said, "Well, Colleen, you see what we're up against, but we keep comin' back."
  
  "He's a proud man who feels like he's failed," she said.
  
  "At least Inga's sensible," Grit said.
  
  "I'll put our elk roast on when we get home," Colleen said. "By the way, Paulie, that was a terrific shot to get that elk."
  
  "Once you understand the Vernier sight," Paulie said, "it's a very accurate rifle. Grit and I read a little booklet on how to use the Vernier sight, and then we practiced a little. Cartridges are three cents each, so we don't waste too many."
  
  On Christmas, Colleen served the elk roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, cabbage rolls and biscuits. For dessert, they had sweet potato pie and cinnamon rolls with hot coffee. All during the meal, Paulie kept up his comments on how good everything was, and Colleen luxuriated in the praise that came from both men.
  
  "This is one of the best ideas I ever had, inviting you to share Christmas with us." Grit said to Colleen as he gave her an appreciative glance.
  
  During the day, they played checkers and later whist and hearts, card games that Colleen taught Grit and Paulie. For supper, Colleen served leftovers.
  
  "I sure hope the Knudsens had a good day," Colleen said.
  
  "We've done all we could," Grit said. "I thought of inviting them to come here, but I'm sure Leif would have turned me down."
  
  "Well, we know they had plenty to eat," Paulie said.
  
  Later that night, Paulie announced he was tired and going to bed. Grit settled down on the settee, straightening up the cards and putting away the checkerboard while Colleen straightened things up in the kitchen. Soon she came and sat down beside him.
  
  "What will you do when the railroads come and take the place of the riverboats?"
  
  "Won't happen for a few years," he said. "When it happens, I suppose we'll have to move some place where we can make a livin'."
  
  "It's so nice to be here in this lovely little house," she said.
  
  "I'm glad you decided to come," Grit said. "It's been lots of fun. Are your folks still in Chicago?"
  
  "Yeah, still living there on South Water Street as far as I know," she said. "I haven't heard from them in a while."