Page 21 of Wagon Train Song
“You be quiet,” Bertie whispered.
Everyone in camp must be hearing Bertie and his pets, but no one stirred. Smiling, Gabe pushed to his feet and circled the clearing again. His route completed, he stopped by the wagons to listen. Hearing nothing but gentle snores, probably from Bertie, he returned to his perch on the rock.
The owl called again, and Gabe yawned his silent response. A little later, he decided it must be time for Walt to take his turn as watchman. His son had stretched some canvas against the wagon as protection should it rain. Gabe nudged him awake, then returned to his bedroll. He worked his boots off, crawled between his covers, and put his hat over his face.
He should have fallen asleep right away, but something nagged at his thoughts. Something Marnie had said about her reasons for making this journey. So she could manage as a single woman. He rolled the sentence round and round in his thoughts, trying to understand her meaning. Was she having trouble managing on her own?
Surely, someone would be willing to marry her even with two daughters still at home and Bertie as part of the package. After all, she was a fine-looking woman with a depth that drew one to her. Was she going West in the hopes of finding a husband?
Now why should that idea bother him? Or even concern him? He meant to see them to Fort Taylor and then cross the Rockies into British Columbia. He hoped to find a permanent position on a big ranch in the interior of that province. Perhaps he’d even buy a few acres and start his own ranch.
Smiling, he fell asleep thinking of his future and the fulfillment of a dream he’d held since before he and Ellen had married.
CHAPTER 6
The sun hadn’t reached the horizon when Joe’s call to get moving wakened Marnie.
Ruby groaned. “It’s too early to get up.”
Joe might have heard her for he added. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
“What happened to this being an adventure?” Angela teased as she wormed her way into her dress and crawled from the tent.
“It still is, but it could be so after we sleep.” Ruby was dressed and out of the tent in record time.
Although tempted to stay abed, Marnie had to set an example, so she dressed, paused to brush her hair, and tie it back. Never mind putting it up. She’d wear a bonnet anyway, and this was faster. With deft movements, her head rubbing against the overhead canvas, she rolled the bedding up, backed from the tent, and carried the bedrolls to the wagon. Bertie’s bedding was stowed away. Rolled neatly.
Louise had a fire going and a coffeepot hanging over the flames. The anticipation of a cup of the morning brew lifted Marnie’s spirits. As did the pink sky signaling the soon-to-come sunrise. For the first time since she’d decided to start this trek, she looked forward to another day of travel. Perhaps Ruby’sattitude was contagious for Marnie lifted her hands into the air as if to embrace the morning and chuckled.
Aware of Angela’s gaze on her, Marnie lowered her arms. But her smile remained. The men were bringing in the oxen. Bertie followed on Gabe’s heels. Marnie had heard him in the night and was about to crawl from her tent to check on him before Gabe talked to him. She’d lain awake, waiting to see if she needed to get up. She couldn’t make out what they said, but whatever it was, Bertie had settled again.
Without her having to deal with him.
Was she happy because Gabe seemed to have a way with her son that calmed Bertie’s fears? Perhaps because he’d been a friend of Norman’s. Or perhaps Bertie was attaching himself to another man.
Marnie scrubbed her lips together. If it was the latter, Bertie would undergo another loss when they reached the fort. But Carson would be there. What did Gabe and his sons plan to do after this journey? She’d assumed they’d turn around and return. Perhaps by train. But having never asked, she couldn’t say for sure. It was something to add to her list of things to talk about as they journeyed.
The first day of travel had been far more pleasant than she’d anticipated. Of course, there would be difficult, challenging times ahead. But apart from crossing the river yesterday, it had been like a Sunday afternoon spent with friends. Friends? She’d have to allow that Gabe was such.
The aroma of coffee brought her attention to the day. The smell must have reached the others for the men jogged over to accept the steaming cups Angela offered them. Louise turned the pork she fried before she took a cup.
The girls had prepared a bountiful breakfast of fried pork and griddle cakes served with jam and eggs. Too bad they’d decided bringing the hens was not a good idea. How were they toprovide them with food and water? Plus, Bertie would have been upset at having them caged and their enclosures hanging from the wagon. Besides, someone could ride into a nearby town and purchase some. Though the further west they went, the more scattered the towns would be.
After Gabe offered a prayer for the food and safety for the day’s travel, they hunkered around the campfire, grateful for its warmth.
“We won’t make as many miles today.” Joe paused from eating to make sure he had everyone’s attention. “Or you might say we’ll travel more miles, but they’ll be mostly up and down.” A pause. “Up and down, up and down.” He didn’t smile. In fact, his expression didn’t change but humor glinted in his dark eyes. Was Marnie the only one to notice it?
Gabe met her gaze and gave a tiny nod. So he’d noticed Joe’s amusement too.
Metal scraped against metal while they ate.
His plate clean, Walt rose. “Let’s get the oxen hitched up.”
His words hurried the others into action. Tin plates rattled as they were stacked. Water sloshed out of the washbasin when Louise started scrubbing dishes. Ruby dowsed the fire while Marnie held Petey, helping him finish his meal. Everyone had a job and tended to it.
How pleasant to watch the work flowing.
They moved out before the first wink of the sun over the horizon. Marnie headed to Hazel and Louise’s wagon. “I’ll watch Petey,” she said to Hazel. “You can walk a bit. I’ll entertain him.” She’d helped the girls adjust the wagon’s contents to leave a space big enough for her to sit and Petey to play.
