Page 34 of Wagon Train Song
It wasn’t as if she could ever forget.
Joe signaled the wagons to stop. “There’s prairie ahead. It will take us two days to cross. The grass is about gone, so let the oxen graze here. And cut some to feed them. Gather up firewood as well.”
Having glimpsed the barren land, Marnie hurried to look for wood.
“Look, Mama.” Bertie’s arms held grass. Behind him, Gabe swung a scythe, loping down swaths.
He glanced in her direction, held her gaze a heartbeat, then turned back to the task.
Bertie gathered the hay behind him. Louise had her arms full as well. Hazel and Angela carried wood to the wagons. The others must’ve gone further afield to gather what they needed.
Soon the wagons were full. Canvas tarps hung at the back overflowed with hay.
“We’ll move out,” Joe called. “Ladies, one person in your wagons to guide the oxen. The others will walk to lighten the load.”
Wheels rumbling, they rolled forward.
Marnie fell in step with Ruby and Hazel, the baby strapped to Hazel’s back. “It’s nice to have some company,” Marnie commented.
Ruby jabbed a finger toward the last wagon. “You had company. Mr. Gabe.”
Dust swirled up with each step Marnie took. She shook her skirt to dislodge a layer and ignored Ruby’s comment.
A whirlwind approached them. “Duck,” she called. Seeing what she meant, they turned their back to the wind and closed their eyes. It passed, and they resumed walking.
Marnie glanced back, hoping no one would notice her doing so. Bertie and his goat walked beside Gabe. They laughed at something.
Ruby nudged Marnie. “It’s all right with us if you want to walk with Gabe. Isn’t that right, big sister?”
Hazel agreed.
“Don’t be absurd,” Marnie scolded. “I was checking on Bertie.”
“He and Gabe appear to enjoy each other’s company.” Hazel adjusted the material holding Petey to her back.
“You must be sweltering swaddled like that. Let me carry the baby for a while.”
Hazel looked ready to protest, but Irene who’d been riding beside them, spoke up. “I’ll take him. He’ll enjoy a horseback ride, won’t you, Petey?”
“Ride.” The little one’s answer made his desire clear.
As the oxen plodded on, Irene settled Petey in front of her, and Hazel tossed the fabric into the wagon.
“It is much cooler,” she said as she rejoined the others. “Now tell me what’s going on with Mr. Gabe—” She eyed Marnie, saw the warning on her face, and gulped. “And Bertie.”
“It’s good for Bertie to be making friends with him.” Ruby glanced over her shoulder to the pair. “Surprised me that he talked to Gabe about Pa.”
Marnie nodded, holding back what was on her mind. Not that she could bring her thoughts into focus. Gratitude for Bertie’s friendship with Gabe tangled with concern for how her son would react when they reached their destination. A fleetingenjoyment of her conversations with Gabe ended in regret that it was wrong—foolish, dangerous even—for her to let down her barriers. No matter how attractive she found the man. She meant more than his looks. His appeal included his kindness, his laugh, his singing.
The way to a woman’s heart is through music.She pressed her lips together to hold back a chuckle at her absurd thoughts.
The girls talked and laughed together. But as the heat and dust grew more stifling, Marnie’s steps slowed. Ruby glanced back, saw how Marnie had fallen behind, and laughed. Her gaze went past Marnie to Gabe, and she gave Marnie a knowing look.
Ruby was wrong. Marnie had simply fallen behind. She hadn’t lingered in the hopes of Gabe catching up to her. She quickened her pace and returned to her daughters.
Hour after endless hour, they plodded onward.
“We’ll take a break,” Joe called. “Water the animals. Let them rest for a couple of hours. We’ll travel into the night when it’s cooler. People rest too.”
