Page 4 of Wagon Train Hope
Was she purposely brushing his shoulder?
He gritted his teeth and focused on the task. One berry, two berries, three. Wait for her to drop her handful, then drop his. Repeat again and again. It wasn’t hard work, and yet sweat formed on his forehead.
A distant call reached them. “Supper.”
Thank goodness. He didn’t know how much more he could take of this sweet torture. No. He did not mean sweet. He was only getting the taste of the berries mixed up with?—
“You coming?” Her voice jarred him into action.
They returned to their horses and trotted back to camp, Walt riding slowly, holding the pan in front so as not to mash the berries.
Irene slapped his horse, making it jump forward and break into a jolting trot. Her laughter rang out as shegalloped the last few yards to the wagon, dismounted, and waited.
“What took you so long?” Her words bubbled into the air. Her eyes flashed like sunshine.
He grunted. Why was he forgetting what this gal was like? Wild, dangerously so. Unconventional in a world that frowned on such. Trouble just waiting to happen.
There had to be something off about those berries leaving him addled.
“Must you be so wild?”
Storm clouds dimmed her eyes, and she spun away.
He coiled his fingers into a knot. He hadn’t meant to be unkind. But there was something about her. Something he couldn’t blame on overripe berries.
If only he could pull the words back or erase them from the air.
But she had joined the others, and it was too late to try and explain. How could he when he didn’t understand?
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Irene huffed. The sound, for her ears alone, did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest. He had no right to criticize her. Bad enough, his looks informed her of his opinion—his eyes as black as a pit, his mouth as hard as a rock wall. But to come right out and tell her to her face what he thought of her?—
Well, he simply had no right.
Not that she cared.
She tended her horse. She longed to kick a rock or yell a protest. But she wouldn’t. He didn’t deserve to get that sort of reaction.
She joined the others, the stew’s aroma bringing a flood of saliva. Beans simmered, each bubble releasing a tempting tang. The beans would simmer all night and be eaten cold for the noon meal tomorrow.
Angela held out a platter of golden biscuits. No doubt she’d made them, plus enough to accompany the beans. Angela was the best biscuit maker of them all. Something she gloried in. Angela was Irene’s adopted sister and often acted like she had to earn her place in the family. If making biscuitsthat everyone enjoyed helped her feel she had, Irene was only too happy for her.
Irene didn’t regret not helping with meal preparation because the raspberries would be a welcome addition.
Walt and Cecil handed Ma the berry pails.
“Found them over there.” Cecil pointed.
Irene’s annoyance at Walt eased. If she meant to prove to him that life could be enjoyed, she’d have to overlook some of his disagreeable characteristics.
“This is lovely.” Ma set aside the berries to serve at the end of the meal and gave Gabe a nod. “Everything is ready, and we’re all here.”
He rose, removed his hat, and bowed his head to offer the blessing. Then he sat at Ma’s side. His warm smile to Ma caused Irene to duck her head. Ma had recently married him, and Irene was happy for them both. Thankfully, no one had suggested she call him Pa. He would remain Gabe Miller in her mind. It was hard enough remembering that Ma was now Mrs. Miller.
Ma served the food. Irene sat with Petey between her and Hazel. She helped her older sister with the baby as much as she could.
“The ground is rocky and rough for several miles.” Joe’s announcement came in his deep voice. He had a way of speaking that made people listen. ’Course it might be because he was the scout and the only one who had been over this part of the country before. Or maybe because his black hair and blacker-than-coal eyes revealed he had Native blood running in his veins—a fact giving them more reason to trust his guiding abilities. “It will be hard on the oxen and wagons. You need to give your wagons a good inspection tonight.”
