Page 39 of Wagon Train Promises
“As do I.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
The silence lengthened, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was honest.
From the trees behind him rose the sound of birds squabbling.
Louise turned in that direction. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Sounds like it.”
“We aren’t getting much wood gathered.” She pushed to her feet.
Holding back a disappointed sigh, he led the way to the piles they’d gathered earlier.
“Cecil. Stop.” Her sharp words halted him in his tracks.
“What’s wrong?”
CHAPTER 10
“Don’t move.” Louise kept her voice low and calm. “On the other side of that bush before you is the skunk.”
Cecil stood motionless. “Is it moving away?”
“No. It’s digging. I suppose it’s looking for grubs to eat.”
“Can you shoo it off?”
The laugh she gave was short and mirthless. “I don’t want either of us to get sprayed.” A hunk of wood lay at her foot “I have an idea.” She picked up the wood and tossed it through the trees. Not directly at the skunk but close enough she hoped it would draw the animal’s attention.
At the thud, the little creature looked up, sniffed the air, then returned to digging.
“Is it gone?”
“Nope. I’ll try again.” She tossed another piece of wood. It landed closer, but again, the skunk didn’t consider it a threat. “Well, really. What does a person have to do to get it to leave?” She kicked at the nearest tree. Her shoe barely made a sound. Enough was enough. She yelled and beat the branches over her head.
“Louise! I have no desire to be sprayed.”
“And I have no desire to stand here all day waiting for it to move along.” She yelled again.
The skunk looked up. Backed away from the hole it dug and, with another sniff, ambled away.
“It’s gone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Check for yourself.” She couldn’t resist a little teasing. “Just don’t blame me if you get sprayed. And be prepared to camp far away from the rest of us.”
“Louise.” The word held a warning. He headed toward her, his eyes narrowed, and his mouth pulled down into a threatening grimace.
Uh-oh. Maybe she’d gone too far. She backed away, never taking her attention from him.
The distance between them narrowed. Her steps slowed as the ground grew rough. He was right in front of her. He reached for her.
With a shriek of protest, she scurried backward. Her heel caught on something. Off-balance, she flung out her arms to bring herself to rights.
He caught her elbows too late, and she went down, taking him with her. She thudded to the ground, Cecil on top of her.
