Page 43 of Wagon Train Promises
She lay on her bed. Accusations and recriminations raced through her.
How could she be so pathetic? Wanting something. Planning for it. Doing things to make it happen and then doing something entirely different. Like reading to him. Like enjoying his presence at her side. Like?—
She couldn’t continue this. She needed a plan.
Shifting to a more comfortable position, she knew what she could do to change things.
She’d ask him to bring in fresh meat for their meals.
Cecil bedded down closeto the coals where he could add more wood if wild animals came nosing around.
Except for the falls she’d taken, he’d enjoyed talking to Louise while out gathering wood. Remembering how hard his heart fisted into his chest made him rub at the bruise. Two falls. One his fault. No wonder she kept her distance.
Except when she didn’t. A smile warmed his insides. Sitting close to her as she read wrapped contentment around him. This time away from the others with nothing to do but wait gave him an opportunity to get to know her better. And he liked what he was learning.
Beneath that starched exterior was a gentle person with the capacity to enjoy life and make the best of difficult situations. He had only to recall how she’d coped with the rain and the mud, how she’d managed to make cookies in a Dutch oven, or even her tenderness with Hazel to know that.
Tomorrow, he’d like to spend time with her again. Learn more about her.
Crisscrossing his hands under his head, he smiled up at the star-speckled sky. He needed a plan that would ensure they enjoyed each other’s company. How about if they wentexploring? The four of them, seeing as Louise was always concerned about Hazel. That way, maybe Louise would relax around him. They wouldn’t go to the woods where she might fall again. He didn’t want that to happen. He’d direct them to a different area.
Falling on top of her had been an accident. He’d done his best to prevent landing on her. His elbows bore the bruises to prove it.
At first, he’d been trapped in the dark depths of her eyes, like tripping into a blackened room and landing on a safe surface.
Humph. Wouldn’t Gramma scold to hear him talking like that? In her practical way, she’d probably tell him to be more concerned as to whether or not he’d embarrassed her. Or hurt her. He had to believe she wasn’t seriously injured because she insisted she wasn’t.
With determination, he shepherded his thoughts back to how he could persuade her to go exploring with him tomorrow. Hazel and Petey, too, of course.
They could look for flowers. Maybe some edible berries. Maybe wildlife. He hoped they wouldn’t encounter more skunks, although the babies had been adorable.
He fell asleep with pleasant plans in his heart and a smile on his lips and rose the next morning before dawn lightened the sky. He took care of the animals and then stirred the coals. The fire blazed, and coffee bubbled when Louise emerged from her tent.
The bruises on her face darkened overnight. Her hand looked swollen.
Seeing the direction of his gaze, she lifted that hand to forestall any questions about how she felt. Instead, she waved toward the river. “Has it gone down any?”
“Come and see.”
She walked beside him to the bank.
It was a foot lower, but he didn’t say anything, preferring to let her make her own observation.
“It’s gone down a lot. When do you think we’ll be able to cross?”
“Joe will let us know when it’s safe, but it won’t be today. Or tomorrow.”
Hazel, carrying Petey, who smelled like he needed a diaper change, joined them in time to hear his remark.
“We’re causing a delay.” She shifted Petey to one side. “Ma won’t be happy about it.”
“There’s nothing we can do except wait.”And enjoy the time.
Across the river, Marnie and Pa stood by the fire. Walt and Joe were with the livestock. The other ladies weren’t in view.
Joe led his horse toward Pa. They spoke. Pa nodded, and then Joe swung to the back of his horse, gave a wave, and rode off toward the north.
Hazel gasped. “Where’s he going?” She stared after him until he disappeared behind a grove of trees.
