Page 10 of Wagon Train Promises
Petey babbled a reply and lifted his arms as she eased the shirt over his head. In a few minutes, he was in dry clothes from his feet to his neck with a warm sweater over top. She patted his hair into place and looked around, a question in her eyes. “I’d like to keep him dry.”
His mama needed her rest, so the little one couldn’t play in the wagon. The ground was wet and would be so until they’d had a few hours of warm sun.
“Why don’t we take him for a walk?” Cecil tipped his head to indicate the tracks the wagons had packed down. The water had run off, leaving them relatively dry.
“That’s a good idea.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been known to have a few.”
“I didn’t mean otherwise. But first, I’d like to put some meat on to simmer. I was going to make beef-barley soup for the noon meal. I hope it’s something Hazel will enjoy.” With Petey perched on one hip, she pulled a large cooking pot from where it hung on the side of the wagon.
“You’ll need water. I’ll get it. See another good idea.” He laughed to let her know he held no rancor. Besides, he didn’t mind a little teasing. He filled the pot at the river, then put it over the fire.
She tossed in the dried meat, then stepped to the trail, putting Petey down where it was dry, holding on to his hand to keep him from running free.
Cecil joined them, taking Petey’s other hand.
For several steps, they walked in silence, apart from Petey’s singsongy happiness.
Cecil finally broke the silence. “I didn’t realize your mother had passed on.” If it had come up in conversation, it had been when he wasn’t around. After all, he spent much of his time riding ahead, scouting, or taking his turn on watch.
“No reason you should.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We’ve all had our losses.” Her response was gentle.
“True. And yet we head into the future with hope and faith.”
Louise glanced over her shoulder. “Will they wait for us or move on and hope we catch up?”
“They’ll wait.”
“You sound very certain.”
“I am. My pa isn’t going to leave me behind.” He did his best to sound prideful.
“Thinks that much of you, does he?” Her amusement bubbled out.
“Yup. Of course, he does.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Seriously, they’d never leave Hazel and the baby behind.”
She chortled. “Kind of makes us secondary, doesn’t it?”
“A little, I suppose.” They swung Petey over a puddle, then let him resume walking between them. “Does it bother you?”
They took two more steps before she answered. “Honestly, I only care that Hazel remains strong and healthy so she can start over again in the West. No, that’s not it entirely. I’m also looking forward to starting over.”
“As nurse?” She’d made no secret of her plans.
“Yes and—” She stopped. Looked to the nearby trees as if they were all she cared about.
What else had she started to say? Whatever it was, she didn’t seem inclined to continue. He let it go. “You raised two younger brothers?”
His question brought a smile back to her face. “I might have been in charge of meals and housecleaning, but the three of us became a team.”
“Where was your father?”
“Working.” Her short answer said far more than the word did.
