Page 20 of Wagon Train Song
The thud of a step had him on his feet, holding his rifle. He relaxed when he recognized Bertie’s gait.
“Why are you up?” he asked when the man was close enough to hear.
“It not time to get up?”
“No, Bertie, it’s the middle of the night. Go back to bed.”
Instead, Bertie sat beside Gabe, his legs crossed. “Papa liked birds. Is he out there listening to them?”
Goodness. How was he supposed to answer that? “Did he teach you to listen to the birds and know what they were?”
“Yup, he did.”
“What do you hear now?”
A gentle hoot came from the trees.
Bertie turned from side to side. “I hear owl. Maybe.”
There came a croaking sound.
“That not a bird.” Bertie shook his head, the emphatic gesture flopping a thatch of dark-blond hair over his forehead.
“It could be a heron. They make a harsh sound.”
“Birds ’posed to be pretty sounding.”
“Some are. Some aren’t. Like a crow.”
“Crow sound bad.” He cawed.
“Shh. The others are asleep.”
Petey cried, and Hazel’s calming voice settled him.
“I be quiet.” For the space of five seconds, he didn’t speak. “Limpy not like crows.” He rested his hand on the dog’s head.
“Your dog has only three legs.”
“That why I call him Limpy.” The dog stirred at the mention of his name. Bertie patted him.
“It’s a good name. What happened to him?”
“He born that way. Mama says sometimes bad things happen and sometimes you just be born that way. But God loves you just as much as anybody else.”
Marnie must’ve spoken those words to comfort her son. “Your mama is a wise woman.”
Bertie nodded. “I know.” He studied Gabe, tipping his head from side to side. “I think you almost as smart as my papa.”
Gabe coughed to dispel the emotion rushing up his throat. “Thank you. That’s high praise.”
“I know.”
“You should go back to bed.”
Bertie scrambled to his feet, the dog and cats springing awake. “I go now.” Then, as if realizing how loudly he’d spoken,he put his finger to his mouth. “I be quiet so I don’t wake up Mama.”
The big man tiptoed across the dewy grass and crawled under the wagon, his pets following him. Alice, who hadn’t left her comfortable bed, bleated.
