Page 32 of Wagon Train Song
Before Gabe could replay, Bertie patted his dog. “I tell him about Limpy, my cats, and my goat.”
The girls chuckled.
“And I tell him ’bout Papa.”
Every trace of amusement vanished, most markedly in Marnie’s face.
Hazel, however, was the quiet spokesperson. “Mr. Gabe, I hope he wasn’t upset or”—she shrugged—“upset.”
“He was fine.” A glance around the Woods women made him think they didn’t believe him.
“I miss Papa.” Bertie’s voice trembled.
“Of course, you do.” Gabe squeezed Bertie’s shoulder.
Marnie shifted over to sit beside Bertie. “You’ll see Carson soon.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Not tomorrow. Remember I told you we have to go a long ways.”
Bertie nodded. “To the mountains. I be old when we get there.”
Irene chuckled while Walt looked serious and Cecil grinned.
“We’ll all be considerably older,” Cecil said.
“Too bad we can’t count on everyone being considerably smarter.”
Cecil only laughed at Walt’s comment.
Hazel began to gather up the lunch things.
Joe scraped his plate clean and handed it to her. “Thanks for the food.” He paused. “I didn’t expect it.” He patted Petey on the head, then moved away. “We’ll let the oxen rest a bit. They’ll need it.”
Gabe surged to his feet, gazing in the direction they would go. Joe’s words sounded like a warning, but he saw nothing concerning ahead.
Joe continued. “We’ll fill the water barrels here.” At Gabe’s questioning look, he turned away. “Better to plan ahead.”
The men carried water to the barrels they’d brought along. They were about to depart some time later when Hazel took Petey from Marnie. “Ma, you should walk awhile. Petey will sleep. I might too.” She hurried to her wagon before Marnie could get together the protest it seemed obvious she meant to make. She stood with empty arms at her side, her hands pinching the fabric of her dusty skirt.
Bertie caught her arm. “Mama, you walk with us.”
With her hesitation as plain as the blue sky overhead, Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. Just what had he done to offend her?
Would she refuse and ride with Ruby and Angela? Instead, she walked beside Bertie, far to Gabe’s left.
The grass grew shorter, the dust worse. He slowed the wagon so he could breathe clean air.
Bertie and Alice chased after an orange-and-brown butterfly.
Now was his chance.
“Marnie, have I done something to upset you?” No reason to add that he looked forward to her company on the journey.
She sucked in air and released it in a noisy gust. “I have to keep my mind on my priorities.”
“Of course.” What were her priorities that he was excluded?
