Page 47 of Wagon Train Song
She ducked away first, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her cheeks were a tender pink, filling him with hope. She cleared her throat.“You said something about learning to work with cantankerous men. What happened?”
“To me or the cantankerous men?” He let his grin inform her he was teasing.
Eyes sparkling, she answered, “Both, I guess.” Her gaze ran up and down his length, making him straighten his spine. “Though I see you survived whatever confrontation you had.”
He shrugged, more pleased with her attention than he should be. “Everyone did. But there was one time…” He paused for dramatic effect and to tease her and laughed after she poked her finger to his shoulder when the pause went on too long.
“You have to finish what you start.”
“I always do.” His tone went deep, full of promise for something more than a story. He reined back his foolish thoughts. “Men who transport freight are often rough, the sort of man who doesn’t like to belong. Loners, I guess you’d say. Caring nothing for society, they let their language get rank.”
“Doesn’t seem like the sort you’d keep company with.”
His shrug was part regret and the rest acceptance. “I needed the money. But to continue my story, one of the bullwhackers on this particular trip was extra mean and crude. He didn’t care who heard his vile language. I think he’d use God’s name in vain even in church.” Realizing they had slowed and were falling behind, he touched the oxen to guide them forward. “We were waiting outside the freight office for our pay. It was on the edge of town. A trio of young ladies came traipsing up the street, and that man made such crude remarks to them that I thought the poor things would swoon. I couldn’t abide him talking like that in front of innocent girls, and I objected.” His laugh was self-mocking. “I maybe should have thought about it a little longer because the man was the size of a moose.”
Marnie caught his arm. “Did he hurt you?”
The concern in her voice, the tenderness of her touch swept over him, and he sucked in two deep breaths before he could continue. “No.” He choked back the tightness in his throat. “I thought he would, but I refused to back down and stared at him hard.” He squinted his eyes and puckered his lips to illustrate.
She shuddered and drew back. “Oh, I can see how you would have frightened him.” Her expression changed, grew soft, making it difficult for him to breathe. And then her laughter rang out, drawing Ruby’s attention from the wagon ahead.
Gabe fell farther back. But the other wagons halted, so he hurried his oxen forward. He drew up beside the others. “Oh!”
So that’s why they had stopped and why they all wore expressions revealing various degrees of concern.
CHAPTER 13
The pleasure and enjoyment Marnie had been relishing with Gabe vanished like morning mist. Before them lay a wide valley, verdant and lush with waving trees and rippling grass. The angle down was gentle except—her mouth dried so she couldn’t swallow—a dark slash ran the length of the slope. Several feet wide and obviously impassable. Unless the oxen learned to fly. Shading her eyes, she peered to the right and left. Each revealed no way around it. And if they did somehow manage to cross, a wide, dark river chugged along at the bottom of the valley.
She faced an impassable obstacle and a river to cross.
Her fingers cramped, making her realize she dug them into Gabe’s forearm. Using every ounce of her will, she uncoiled them and clutched her hands together at her waist.
“Joe has brought us to a dead end. We’ll have to turn back.” Each syllable grated from her throat, leaving a raw trail.
“Looks can be deceiving.” Gabe didn’t sound convinced.
The others clustered around them and waited as Joe rode over.
Irene didn’t wait for Joe or anyone else to speak up. “How do you expect us to cross that?” She jabbed her finger in the direction she meant. “The ground is split in two.”
Hazel shifted Petey on her hip. “Give him a chance. I’m sure he knows what to do.”
Joe dipped his head to Hazel. “It looks worse up here. When we get close, you’ll see what I mean.” He leaned over his horse’s neck. “Follow me and do as I say.”
Marnie and Gabestood motionless with her girls as Joe rode forward with Walt and Cecil following. After a thunderous look, Irene turned her horse and rode after them.
“Daylight’s burning as my pa would say.” Louise climbed into her wagon. “Hazel, are you coming?” She took Petey, put him down behind the bench, then reached out to help Hazel aboard. With a click of her tongue and flick of the leads, she urged the oxen to move.
Angela and Ruby rushed to follow.
“Wait for me.” Bertie lifted Alice over the endgate and climbed in behind her.
Angela whistled at the oxen.
Marnie took a step forward, intending to join them.
“You’re welcome to ride in my wagon.” Gabe’s offer slowed her feet. She’d enjoy time alone with him, catching up on what he’d done over the last twenty years. The thought amused her, and she grinned.
