Page 27 of Wagon Train Promises
“Of course not. I’ll watch Petey.”
“That’s not necessary. He can play in the wagon where I can take care of him.”
Louise studied the other woman. Would she be alert enough to tend the boy? But she’d always made sure her son was safe. It would do her good to have something that forced her to stay awake. Besides, Louise would hear if anything happened.
She walked with Hazel back to the wagon and let her lift in Petey. Good, she was strong enough to do that. Hazel sat on the floor, Petey beside her, amused by the string of buttons.
Louise wandered in a wide circle around the fire, alone except for her thoughts.
The crack of an ax striking wood came from the woods. “God, thank You for leaving Cecil with us. I feel safe with him here.”
She’d bake cookies if they had the oven. But they didn’t. She’d have to make do. Though she had no idea of what she would bake.
Marnie, Hazel’s ma, had always planned the meals on this trip. She was the expert at preparing food for them, although they all helped. What would she make if she was with them?
This was like when Mama died, and suddenly, Louise had to prepare every meal. She’d known how to cook, but the challenge of planning meal after meal had been?—
The crash of falling wood nearby jerked her from her thoughts. She spun around. Cecil dusted off his hands, a pile of logs at his feet.
“You seemed lost in thought.”
“I suppose I was.”
“Anything to do with present circumstances?” He poured a cup of the thick coffee and sipped on it with no concern about how long it had sat.
“No. Well, yes, I suppose.”
Dark eyes held hers.
She tried to free herself from his study but couldn’t.
“How so?” he asked.
“It’s both. I was thinking I’d like to make cookies.” She shrugged one shoulder to indicate it wasn’t important. “It reminded me of when I was in charge of every meal.” Did she sound as scattered as she felt? She snorted—a sound that she meant to be amusement but might have been regret. “All of a sudden, I had to plan meals. Make sure there were enough supplies for days at a time, preserve food for future use. It’s one thing to know how and quite another to be in charge.”
He emptied his cup and set it down. “I’m sure you did it with grace and dignity.”
She blinked several times. Opened her mouth and closed it again without speaking a word. Had he paid her a compliment? Why hadn’t he said she’d been efficient? That was what she strove for. But grace? And dignity? It made her sound…well, like…like…
Like not her.
“I did my best.” Weak words, but she had none to express her thoughts…her confused, awkward thoughts.
“How’s the water level?” He looked toward the river.
“Going down, I believe.” Nice to be able to change the subject.
With a tip of his head, he signaled her to walk with him to the bank.
“It’s gone down a foot.” He pointed to the bush and explained where the water had been yesterday.
“I measured it by those rocks.” She indicated the small boulders lining the bank. “Yesterday, there were only three exposed. Today, there are four.”
They studied the turgid water roaring past.
“Be a couple of days yet.” He waved to his pa on the other side.
She waved to Bertie, who stood beside Gabe, his pet goat pressed to one side, his dog, Limpy, at his other side, and the two cats in his arms.
