Page 28 of Wagon Train Song
“Just like I remember.”
Her eyebrows waggled.
He tipped his chin up. “Ready to tackle someone bigger than you.”
“You better believe it.” She didn’t move out of his way.
He stopped toe to toe with her which allowed him to see the dark-blue rim around her irises and the lines fanning out from her eyes—the latter badges of a life well lived.
Her gaze held his. Her pupils narrowed.
He swallowed hard. His heart thudded against his eardrums. “Marnie.” Her name was but a whisper in the breeze.
The breeze. He stepped back and glanced at the sky. A glance was all he needed. A black cloud boiled in the north. “We need to find shelter.”
Joe galloped toward them. “Storm coming. Follow me.” He waved to the south. Gabe couldn’t make out any trees, but for sure, Joe knew what he was doing.
Oxen didn’t like to run, but somehow the girls persuaded their teams to pick up the pace. Gabe demanded the same of Zeb and Pike. The wagons thundered over the rough ground even as the wind grew stronger and colder.
They weren’t going to make it to shelter before?—
They dropped into a slight hollow. Tree branches slapped at the wagons.
“Pull in close,” Joe hollered. He had them position the wagons to present the least exposure to the buffeting wind. “Tighten the canvases and then find shelter.”
Never had Gabe been prouder of his sons than now as they hastened to assist the ladies. The wind wailed like a demented person. Lightning flashed bright enough to momentarily blind a person. Seconds later, thunder roared, shaking the ground. Bertie sank to his knees and covered his ears while his pets crowded him.
Marnie dashed over to plead with her son to seek shelter, but he refused to move.
Gabe hurried to help. He squatted in front of Bertie and caught his chin to get his attention. “Cats don’t like getting wet. Don’t you think you should take them under the wagon?”
Fluff meowed as if to add her request.
Bertie blinked and seemed to remember his pets. He grabbed a cat in each arm and scooted to the nearest wagon, which happened to be Gabe’s.
Marnie hurried after him, her skirts tugging at her legs and billowing after her. She dropped to her hands and knees and crawled in beside her son and his pets. Alice bleated and stayed outside nibbling grass.
The first drops of rain stung Gabe’s skin right through his shirt. He could either stay where he was as he tried to decide what to do or seek shelter. He dove under his wagon and pressed in close to Bertie. Part of him considered sitting next to Marnie to shelter her, but she’d be more concerned about Bertie than her own comfort. Not that hunkering under a wagon provided more than a degree of comfort.
The goat joined them, leaning against Bertie’s back.
The wind tore at the canvas, snapping it back and forth. The rain came down so hard it bounced off the ground whilelightning flared and thunder roared. So far, no hail had fallen.Lord, please let us be spared the damage that would bring.
The cats pressed their heads into Bertie’s armpits, but Bertie’s attention was drawn to Limpy who whined at each clap of thunder. “You safe,” the man murmured. “We almost dry here.”
Gabe laughed. “Almost dry” put it nicely. They had their backs to the wind and were soaked. If only they’d had time to grab a coat or a tarp for protection.
“Will it never stop?” Marnie got the question out between the thunder.
“It always has…unless your name is Noah.” But that was their last chance for any exchange as the lightning and thunder grew continuous. The rain fell so hard he couldn’t see if the others were safe under the two wagons. His legs cramped, but if he stretched them out, they’d get wet—well,wetter. But the wind had lessened, so they were no longer in danger of being blown away.
Bertie shifted. The big man must be every bit as uncomfortable as Gabe. But nothing could be done to ease any of them.
“It will soon be over.”
Did his words carry over the ruckus? And what was that thin sound between the thunder?
CHAPTER 8
