Page 58 of Wagon Train Song
“I have been.” Her voice grew stronger.
“Dear Father in heaven,” Gabe prayed aloud. “See this man. He’s a threat to our safety. Could You please send him on his way? Keep us safe from him. We ask it all in the name of Your Son, Jesus. And we thank You for hearing us and answering our prayers.” His prayer ended as the man rode around to the other side of the wagons, but Cecil was ready and remained between him and the ladies.
To Gabe’s relief, his son managed to keep calm and not respond.
They traveled onward, the man as persistent as a bad rash until Joe called a halt.
Gabe looked around, wondering what the reason was.
“Have a listen. Have a look.” Joe’s voice was loud as he pointed north. Long puffs of white smoke followed what could only be a train in the distance. As if to prove it, a thin whistle carried to them. “I see a water tower. Think I’ll ride over there and see if there’s a Mountie. If not, I’ll send a telegram and see if our visitor has his face on a wanted poster. The rest of you stay here till I’m back.” He set off at a mile-consuming gallop.
“Youse all mighty unfriendly,” the stranger muttered, then galloped in the opposite direction.
For a moment, Gabe was too stunned to react. Then he burst out laughing.
Walt and Cecil rode up and joined in.
The ladies weren’t quite as ready to believe the danger was over. And perhaps it wasn’t.
Joe had disappeared from sight. Not even a thread of dust gave away where he was.
Gabe shaded his eyes and looked in the other direction. Birds rising in the distance indicated how far the stranger had ridden. Gabe reached into the wagon for his rifle. If that man returned, they’d be prepared. Cecil and Walt already carried their firearms.
“I wish that wasn’t necessary.” Marnie nodded to the rifle. “But I confess I feel better knowing you’re ready just in case.”
They shouldn’t have been so careless in the first place. It wouldn’t happen again.
“Would you please check on Bertie for me?” Marnie’s voice quavered with the question, revealing her worry.
“Of course.” Gabe strode to the nearest wagon and peered over the endgate. A bulky pile of blankets with Alice’s head poking out told him where Bertie hid. “Bertie, the man has left. Come out and get some air.”
The covers stirred. “He gone? You sure?”
“I saw him ride away. Can you sit up and wave to your ma? She’s worried about you.”
Fingers appeared at the edge of a blanket. Then the cover lowered. Bertie’s head emerged, his hat missing, and his hair tossed up. Limpy pushed his way out of the covers. The cats slipped out and curled up on top of the blankets.
“I was scared.” Bertie dug his fingers into Limpy’s fur.
“Of course.”
“He not a nice man.”
“No, he wasn’t.” Gabe stepped aside. “Can you sit up and wave to your ma?”
Bertie did so, then shuffled back under the covers. “I stay here.”
“That’s fine.” Gabe returned to his wagon to tell Marnie what he’d found. “He’s going to stay there for now.”
“I assume he can’t hear the train whistle from under the covers. That’s a blessing.”
The sun grew warm as they waited for Joe to return.
“I see a rider,” Cecil announced.
Tension gripped Gabe’s spine, and he lifted his rifle.
“It’s Joe,” Irene called.
