Page 66 of Wagon Train Song
The enticing aroma of coffee wafted as she ground the beans and then hung the pot to boil. They were out of eggs. Perhaps they’d make a side trip into a nearby town one of these days. Nevertheless, she and the girls made a bountiful breakfast. They were all getting to be experts at cooking over an open fire.
Gabe brought in his team of oxen. Walt and Irene growled at each other as they brought in Ruby’s team. Cecil helped the other ladies.
It was time to eat, but Bertie wasn’t in Gabe’s shadow. He must have gotten sidetracked by his pets wanting to explore.
“Bertie!” She called. “Alice.” The dog was also gone, so she called him too.
No one came. Conversation ended, and the rattle of dishes stopped.
“Where’s Bertie?” she asked.
“I didn’t see him when I got up,” Irene confessed. “Thought he was out with his animals.”
“I thought he was with Gabe,” Louise added.
One by one, they all said they hadn’t seen him this morning.
“Bertie,” she yelled. Three more times, she called. When he didn’t appear, tension gripped her in a vise. “At home, he’d be in the barn. Where would he go out here?”
No one answered because there was no answer.
“I must find him.” She headed for the trees, calling his name.
“I’ll help.” Gabe headed to her right.
“We’ll all help.” The rest of the crew spread out, calling Bertie’s name.
Branches impeded her search, and she pushed them away. Twigs cracked under her feet as she called and looked. The trees gave way to an open view without any sign of Bertie. She circled back to the camp using a different route, clinging to the hope he’d returned or someone had uncovered his hiding place. One by one, the others joined her, all without finding Bertie.
Gabe, the last to return, shook his head.
A knot the size of two oxen took over her chest. She forced air in and out. Every beat of her heart brought pain.
Joe called for their attention. “We’ll team up. Hazel and Petey will stay in camp. The rest will search. Someone in each group must have a rifle. Spread out. When you find him, fire off three shots. I’ll stay here to guard the camp.”
“I’m going with Marnie.” Gabe moved to her side.
“Angela?” Cecil called. “Who else wants to go with me?”
Irene pulled Norman’s rifle from the back of Ruby’s wagon. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. Louise, come along. We’ll be fine on our own.”
Grinning, Louise joined Irene.
Walt grunted and scowled at the pair. “Ruby, that leaves you and me.”
Joe gave instructions as to what direction each should go, and they fanned out.
Gabe and Marnie climbed a nearby hill where they stopped to scan their surroundings.
“I hope you don’t mind that I partnered with you.” His voice emerged raspy with worry. “I feel responsible for this.”
“I don’t mind.” She found strength and encouragement from him she wouldn’t have found with her children. For them, she must be the strong one. “And please don’t blame yourself.” She shielded her eyes as she looked east. “Iknow how any change upsets him. I should have known better.”
“Marnie.” Her name rumbled from his lips.
Ignoring the agony that shafted through her already pain-filled being, she forced strength into her response. “I promised Norman I’d take care of the family and especially Bertie. Not that I wouldn’t do so without that promise. My family must come first.”
“I know. But I pray there’ll be a way for our happiness too.” He studied their surroundings. “I don’t see him or his goat. Let’s look in those bushes.”
