Page 1 of Wagon Train Promises
CHAPTER 1
Ablast of cold wind almost took Cecil Miller’s hat off. He clamped it to his head and tore his attention off the wagon pulling from the river on the opposite bank. Behind him, black clouds scudded across the sky, moving closer at a furious rate. What? When had that happened?
“Storm coming,” But no one heard his call. Two wagons and their occupants were on the far riverbank. Only Louise and Hazel’s wagon remained on this side, waiting to make the journey across the rapidly moving water. Where were they?
He ran past the stationary wagon and skidded to a halt. Louise sat on the ground, bent over a book, reading. Hadn’t she glanced up? Didn’t she notice the change in weather? “Get in the wagon.” The words roared from his mouth.
Her head jerked up. Her brown eyes widened. Her mouth opened?—
He’d already learned that she wasn’t keen on accepting help. Even less on taking orders. Especially from him. Maybe becoming a nurse meant being in charge. Not that he cared. There were more important things to deal with than her resistance.
“Hurry!” Already, scattered drops of rain cut into his skin.
And into hers, convincing her without another word from him.
But did she head for shelter? No.
She grabbed her skirt and raced past the back of the wagon. “Hazel and the baby.”
Cecil was hot on her heels. He’d expected the pair to be inside where they often were.
Hazel sat on the ground, her head down, one-year-old Petey playing at her feet. Huh, so they weren’t in the wagon.
Had he ever seen a wearier-looking person? Mentally, he kicked himself. He should have noticed how tired she was. Surely, he could have done something to ease things for her. Sure, he’d tried, but he should have tried harder.
But there wasn’t time to think about it now.
Louise scooped up the little one, covering his head with her hand to keep the driving spears of rain off him. “Hazel, come on. Get into the wagon. Hurry.”
Hazel blinked as if bringing her view into focus.
There wasn’t time to wait for her to sort things out.
Cecil caught her arms, pulled her to her feet, and rushed after Louise, half-carrying Hazel. She struggled to get her feet to the step so she could crawl into the wagon. Rather than wait, he lifted her in.
Louise scrambled in on her own, and Cecil followed so fast he stumbled and caught himself on a crate. They made it just in time as the heavens opened, pouring down sheets of rain. The onslaught against the canvas bonnet was like a roaring animal. He tightened the drawstring at the end of the wagon after him to provide protection.
His boot caught on a box as he edged forward past the many crates and bundles to cinch the front drawstrings tight. “That should keep us dry.” Though the term was relative. Alreadya trickle of water ran across the floorboard behind the seat. Maybe, in the gloomy interior, the others wouldn’t notice.
Hazel shivered. “I should have been watching.” Her words dragged out slow and heavy.
“We’re safe for now.” Louise’s eyes questioned Cecil.
He nodded. The oxen were resting in the nearby trees. He didn’t think they would bolt. For certain, his horse wouldn’t. He, the two ladies, and the baby were out of the rain, and although they’d be crowded, they weren’t in any danger.
How could he reassure them?
“This isn’t the first storm we’ve weathered.” He smiled, letting warmth fill his words. Maybe they’d hear that and forget the rain pelting the wagon.
Neither of them smiled back.
Before he could try again to ease the tension, little Petey squirmed in Louise’s arms.
“Down.”
Hazel caught her son’s thrashing arms. “Baby, it’s too crowded for you to move around.”
A small clearing near the front with a ball waiting indicated a place where Petey often played. Right now, it held Cecil’s feet as he had no other place to put them. The ladies crowded into the rest of the space. Louise perched on a crate. Hazel hunkered down on a lidded box. Every other inch of space, apart from a narrow alley down the center, held their supplies, and now that space held their feet.
