Page 9 of Wagon Train Hope
Irene looked closer. The other cat was surprisingly absent. “Where’s Smoke?”
“Gone. Her gone.” Bertie had both Limpy and Alice in a choking grasp.
Ma patted Bertie’s arm, and he eased up on his hold.
“Her jump out ’cause it too bumpy.”
Another horse rode up. Irene had only to see the blacksocks of the horse to know it was Walt. She kept her head down. The last thing she needed right now was his scowling disapproval.
“Bertie.” She patted his shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
“Promise?”
“Of course.” She straightened, still not looking in Walt’s direction. Delays were frowned upon as they journeyed, but she didn’t care if he approved or not. “Come on, gals. Let’s find little Smoky.” She began calling the cat. There was no response. But there was one voice she might answer to. “Bertie, you call her.”
As he yelled her name, Louise, Angela, Ruby, and Hazel fanned out while Ma stayed with Bertie and Petey. Gabe stayed by his oxen. Cecil dropped from his horse and joined the ladies in searching among the rocks and in the low sage-colored bushes.
Irene vowed she wouldn’t look at Walt, wouldn’t try to guess how annoyed he’d be at this needless delay.
His horse’s shoes clanged on the rocks as he rode close by. To be fair and honest, she’d never known him to be anything but kind to Bertie. She had no right to judge him so horribly just because?—
Well, she didn’t have the right. She nodded, acknowledging his help and his presence.
He nodded right back. “She won’t have gone far.”
“No. She’d never leave Bertie.” Unless something frightened her.
They approached scrubby bushes. Calling Smoke, she parted the uncooperative branches and got scratched in the process. “Not here,” she called.
Ahead of them stood half a dozen waist-high rocks with three others as tall as her shoulders.
She looked behind the first one. Walt checked the one next to it.
“Listen.” He halted his horse.
She stood upright and cocked her head. Was that—? It came again, the unmistakable plaintive cry of a cat. “She’s here somewhere.”
They moved forward slowly, uncertain of the meowing’s exact direction.
“I see her.” Walt pointed.
The cat stood in the fold of a taller boulder, her color blending with the rock. Her tail was big as a bottle brush, and a ridge of fur stood up along her spine.
Irene stepped across the rock-strewn ground. When she was close, she reached for Smoke, but the cat hissed and shied away.
Irene drew back. “Smoky? It’s all right. You’re safe.” But when she again lifted her hand, the cat growled and backed out of reach.
“She’s frightened.” Walt’s comment from the back of his horse and fifteen feet away was unnecessary. “Have a look around. Maybe there’s something?—”
Irene didn’t give him a chance to finish. How careless of her to walk into the area without checking for snakes. Shudders ran up her backbone and settled into her jaw as she eyed the ground at her feet, then widened her scan. The tall grass could hide a dozen long, skinny reptiles. Her teeth chattered. Why hadn’t God destroyed the serpent back in the Garden of Eden? It would’ve been a more suitable punishment and would have made the world a better place.
Walt eased closer, being cautious, of course. Making her feel foolish for not being more careful.
“I see what’s got her upset.”
She didn’t expect amusement in his voice. Nor could she say if it was because of the circumstances or because she didn’t want to think of him smiling and laughing. Didn’t want to picture how those dark eyes of his would flash withhumor, drawing everyone into the cause. Humph. It wasn’t as if she had any idea what the others thought.
“Move this way.” He waved her toward him. “See for yourself.”
