Page 33 of Wagon Train Song
She continued. “Taking care of Bertie and getting to the fort safely.”
The note of finality in her tone did nothing to change his mind. “It seems I could help with that. After all, we’ll be traveling together for some time.”
They walked beside the oxen for a spell without either of them speaking. Gabe had nothing more he wished to say. He’d about decided she wasn’t going to say anything either when she began. “You have your dreams—the mountains, the ocean, the big ranch.” Her gaze went ahead, likely to things she couldn’t see—like her future.
“You could be part of my dreams.” He whispered the words, not sure if he wanted her to hear them. But she stopped and stared at him—her eyes wide, her lips pursed. So his words had reached her ears, and she didn’t like what she heard.
“That is not possible.” The words grated from her throat.
“Why not? Bertie would be welcome.”
“No.” She shook her head hard enough to send her bonnet flying. She righted it. “It’s not just Bertie.”
He barely caught her final words as she hurried away.
CHAPTER 9
Marnie’s feet pounded out a frantic rhythm. No. No. A thousand times no. She was drawn to the man and not because of the remembrance of the past. Nor even because she so enjoyed his singing. His offer promised everything she wanted but couldn’t have. A home. A man to help her. To love her? He’d not said anything about the latter. Nor would she let him. She must avoid him in the future. Not be drawn by his kindness. Not ache at the pain her answer caused.
He didn’t know what sort of woman she was. If he ever learned, he wouldn’t want her company.
“Ma!” Bertie called out, surprise raising his voice.
But she didn’t turn. He could walk with Gabe. She didn’t begrudge him that friendship even knowing the pain Bertie would endure when Gabe rode away after they reached the fort. By then, Carson could distract him. Besides, if Gabe helped make the journey pleasant for her son, that was good.
No, her resistance was for her sake alone.
She outpaced the oxen, passed Ruby and Angela, and soon walked beside the front wagon. Louise sat alone on the seat with Cecil riding beside the wagon’s front wheels. They’d been talking until Marnie caught up to them.
“Never mind me.” She veered to the left and headed toward a tangle of bushes. Perhaps she’d find some early berries.
She examined the bushes, but no. All she found were her troubled thoughts.
The branches caught at her clothes, but she continued onward. As long as she could hear the oxen, she didn’t fear getting lost. The bushes ended. The hills flattened. In the distance, endless prairie held not a tree, nor a bush. Nothing but rippling grass. She squinted. Yellow, dry grass. Heat rolled off the land, raising sweat to her temples and shimmery waves over the horizon.
No wonder Joe insisted they fill the water barrels.
A shudder snaked across her shoulders.
Then something large crashed through the bushes, and fear jolted through her. Was it a bear? Or moose? Neither of which she wanted barging out at her. She grabbed up her skirt, spinning around for a place to escape.
“Ma, where are you?” Irene’s voice rang out.
Marnie’s legs buckled, but she caught herself. “I’m right here.”
Horse and rider burst from the bushes. Leaves clung to Irene’s shirt and hair. Goodness, sometimes her daughter looked and acted like a wild woman, and yet Marnie smiled. Her girls were all different, and she loved them for that. And for every other reason possible.
The horse stopped in front of her.
“I was afraid you’d get turned around.” She held out a hand to Marnie. “You can ride back with me.”
“I don’t?—”
“Ma, it’s fine. No one will judge you for accepting a ride from your daughter.”
“Of course they won’t. I wasn’t thinking they would.” She took Irene’s hand and managed to perch behind her, clinging toher daughter’s waist as they returned to the wagons. At a sedate pace, thankfully.
“I’ll get down here.” Marnie indicated Hazel’s wagon, the farthest from Gabe and her troublesome thoughts. Though her thoughts accompanied her. She had no place in her life for a man. Even one as appealing as Gabe.Remember who you are and what you’ve done.
