Although the situation made everyone a little uneasy, all they could do for now was take things one step at a time. Evelyn Ford, however, was relatively optimistic. After the blizzard began, life for the refugees grew increasingly difficult. Few people had any property to their name, so even if the authorities wanted to confiscate the farm, they would have to weigh their options carefully.
Claire Moss was in very poor health. Wendy told Evelyn Ford that Claire would talk in her sleep, tremble, and even have convulsions. After speaking with Austin Moss, Evelyn learned that Claire had been through a kidnapping. While they were fleeing, hundreds of refugees traveling with them had been ambushed by bandits. Claire had watched Austin being beaten, which left her with deep psychological trauma.
