Page 7 of Wagon Train Song
Joe had said he’d sleep under the stars and make his own meals. A choice that suited her fine. She crossed the soft grass, inhaling the scents of late spring as she approached where he camped.
“Joe?”
The man rose in one fluid movement.
“I want to be on my way before the sun breaks over the horizon.” Her gaze went past him to where the Millers had made camp at the end of the lane. She studied the wagon, the horses, and the team of oxen—the animals tethered so they could graze. “No need to wait for them.” Was it possible Joe got her unspoken message that she didn’t want to travel with them?
The guide nodded. “I’ll have the teams hitched up and ready to go.”
“See if you can get Bertie to help you.” Working with the animals was the only way Bertie would agree to leave…or to be in Joe’s company.
Dawn stainedthe eastern sky as Gabe built a little fire and set his coffee to boil. He’d been up for a time, listening to the Woods prepare to leave. The Millers would leave too but not until he had his coffee. Cecil, more interested in food, dug out biscuits.
“Sure would be nice to work together with the ladies,” Cecil mused over his third biscuit. “I’d be willing to do camp chores in exchange for a hot meal.”
The thought had occurred to Gabe as well. It would be more efficient to combine the camps and share the chores. “I’m sure Mrs. Woods isn’t interested in anything of the sort.”
Walt tightened the cinch of his saddle before he straightened to consider the Woods wagons. “They seemed in a hurry to leave, but they haven’t turned a wheel.”
The coffee sputtered, and Gabe pulled the pot away from the flames with his gloved hand. “Maybe they’ve got a problem.” He shook the pot to settle the grounds, then poured himself a cup. Both boys held out mugs for him to fill.
The three of them hunkered down to watch the motionless wagons.
“Irene’s on her horse,” Walt said. “The oxen are all in their harnesses.”
Gabe sucked back the scalding liquid. “Let’s get our oxen ready to go.” None of them moved. “Let’s do it,” he added.
Still, they watched the other camp. The boys must be thinking the same as he. It was odd for the Woods to be delaying. He gulped three more swallows of coffee and then tossed the rest into the fire to sizzle a protest. “I’m going to see what the holdup is.”
Birds sang from the trees along the laneway. A refreshing breeze tickled the leaves. The barn door was open. Both Marnie and Bertie were missing though the others were waiting in the wagons.
“What’s the problem?” he asked.
Irene shifted in her saddle to regard him. “You might say Bertie isn’t ready to go.”
“What does he need?” The missing man must be in the barn seeing as all eyes turned in that direction.
“You mean besides his pa?” Irene shook her head.
Not quite understanding her meaning, Gabe remained silent and motionless.
“Bertie figures Pa’s lost and all he has to do is keep looking for him in places he used to be and he’ll find him.”
“He’s been like this since your pa died?” Poor man. Norman had been dead many months.
“Only when something upsets him.”
“Which is often,” Ruby added.
“Maybe I can help.” Gabe skirted a pile of ox droppings and strode toward the door.
Irene urged her horse forward to cut him off. “Bertie don’t care for strangers.”
“I don’t intend to remain a stranger.” He sidestepped the gelding and continued onward.
Hazel shifted her baby to her other arm. “Ma is not going to be pleased.”
The others echoed agreement.
