Page 16 of Wagon Train Song
“Thank you.” She turned her palms upward and appeared to study them. A sigh sifted past her lips.
They bumped over the narrow trail a few minutes.
“Something troubling you?” he asked.
“Losing Norman wasn’t the worst part. It was seeing him in such pain.” She rubbed her fingers on her chest, sucked in air, and lowered her hand to her lap. A shudder shook her. “The end was a merciful relief.”
“Marnie, I am doubly sorry.” Ignoring every code of conduct he knew about touching a woman he wasn’t married to or at least betrothed to, he rested his hand over hers, keeping it there until he felt her relax. Then he returned to following the rules and wove his fingers together.
Ahead of them, the wagons slowed and stopped. Walt and Cecil rode up to talk to Joe. Irene joined them.
“I’ll see what the problem is.” Gabe’s boots landed on soft grass as he jumped from the wagon and strode along the trail where Joe waited for him.
“I’m going to scout ahead. Just follow the trail.” The way Joe looked from one of them to the other, there must be something he wasn’t saying.
“I’ll ride lead,” Walt said.
At Joe’s nod, Gabe winced. Obviously, his son’s suggestion was what Joe wanted. Something Gabe should have thought of himself.
“I’ll ride along.” Irene flashed a grin at Walt, almost as if trying to annoy him.
And it worked. Walt scowled at the pretty gal.
“Sounds like fun.” Laughing, Cecil fell in beside the pair.
Gabe retraced his steps, his stride long and hurried. He glanced at the passengers in the first two wagons, his gaze hurrying to his own wagon where Marnie waited—to hear what the discussion was. No other reason. Nor did he expect one.
Bertie swung one leg over the endgate. “I walk.” His foot dangled above the tufts of grass.
Gabe reached out to assist Bertie to the ground.
“Thanks, Mr. Gabe.” Bertie’s smile filled his face and eyes as it clearly also filled his heart. The young man showed every evidence of being happy.
Gabe lowered the endgate so Alice could jump down. Limpy was about to join them, but Bertie stopped him.
“You stay with Fluff and Smoke.”
Odd names for cats but maybe no stranger than calling a cow Stella which is what Ma named her milk cow.
Grinning, Gabe turned to his wagon where Marnie sat watching his interaction with her son. He’d expected gratitude. Instead, her eyes were hard. His steps slowed, and he glanced back. What had he done to annoy her? Unable to think of anything, he patted Zeb’s head as he reconsidered his plan to enjoy riding beside Marnie again. With Cecil and Walt going in front, he’d have to guide the oxen, leaving her to ride alone. Unless…
Ahead Walt shouted, “Let’s move.”
Irene’s laughter rang out. The wheels creaked. Overhead, a hawk soared.
“I’ll have to walk beside the oxen.” Gabe retrieved the goad from under the bench and hesitated. Not long enough to be obvious about hoping she’d say she’d walk beside him, but long enough to give her the opportunity to do so.
Marnie pushed to her feet. “I’ll get down.”
She accepted the hand he offered to assist her, her palm warm and small inside his. Her feet reached the ground. “Thank you.”
She stepped back to brush her skirt into place. The gentle breeze, full of the scent of pine and oxen, ruffled a strand of hair that had escaped the knot at her nape. The look she gave him was full of caution. “Are we ready to go?”
He adjusted his hat. “I’m ready.” The oxen leaned into their task, and the wagon rolled down the grass-covered trail. “This is the route used by the Boundary Commission a few years back as they marked out the boundary between Canada and America.” He had done some preparation for this journey, not knowing Marnie would hire a guide. Carson’s letter had stated he’d provided a simple map based on his travels. He’d been clear about his worries it might prove difficult for his mother to follow.
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yup.” Nice to have something to offer.
