Page 44 of Wagon Train Hope
They responded in unison. “‘We will be glad and rejoice in it.’” Words Walt meant from the edges of his heart.
Pa led them in singing hymns. Irene’s clear voice joined his deeper one, giving the familiar words new depth and meaning that drew those edges together like a…like the hug of a mother.
The song ended for him because he couldn’t continue. He remembered his mother’s hugs. Something he thought was lost to him. How she’d held him on her knees, how she’d?—
He forced his attention back to Pa and the verses he was reading from his ordinary-sized Bible. The words of Psalm 139touched Walt in a new, fresh way. “‘If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.’” Even if he crossed the entire continent and encountered unfamiliar dangers, God would guide him. “‘Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.’” God had His hands on Walt from before his birth until now. Through the deaths of his mother and grandparents, through the years when he struggled to cope with running the farm, and now as they crossed the country. What a comforting surety that God would guide every step he took. The knowledge was overwhelming.
He needed to tell someone all the things in his heart. But Pa closed in prayer, and everyone sprang into action.
As the appointed leader in Joe’s absence, Walt needed to start leading.
The day was young and promised easy travels.
He’d make a point of spending time with Irene. He quirked his eyebrows at her…a silent invitation to join him as he saddled his horse and prepared to ride out front.
Would she understand what he wanted?
Would she join him?
Would she look forward to time spent together as much as he did?
11
The wagons were ready to move. Walt rode out front. Irene was certain he’d signaled her to join him. Her horse was saddled and ready. Everyone was in place. Everyone except?—
Bertie hung back. Ma appeared to be trying to reason with him.
Irene rode over. “What’s the matter?”
Ma fluttered her hands. “Bertie says he isn’t leaving.”
His bottom lip trembled. His eyes were awash with tears. Ma’s gaze went to Gabe waiting at the wagon.
With a disappointed glance ahead to where Walt rode, Irene sighed. “Ma, I’ll take care of him. You go with Gabe.”
“Thank you.” Ma hurried away.
Irene dropped to the ground, took the reins in her hands, and joined Bertie. “Why do you want to stay here?”
“We not leave Mr. Joe.” Bertie shook his head hard.
So that was it. “Mr. Joe will join us up ahead. He told Mr. Walt where to go.”
Bertie looked in the direction Joe had ridden when he left yesterday. “He find us?”
“I think we could get lost, and Mr. Joe would find us.” Her brother didn’t catch her little joke. He never did, which was all right. She didn’t expect him to. “If we want to see Mr. Joe again, we need to keep up with the wagons.” At this moment, they rumbled away with Ma glancing over her shoulder. “Besides, you don’t want Mama to worry, do you?”
“She always worry ’bout me.” Bertie’s voice trembled, but at least he ambled forward with his pets accompanying him.
“That’s because she loves you.”
Bertie ground to a halt. His pets stopped to wait for him. “Her love you more?”
It was an innocent question holding no rancor. But did Bertie, with his sensitive nature, compare himself to the others?
“Bertie, my big brother, Mama loves us all equally according to our needs.”
“What me needs?”
