Page 53 of Wagon Train Promises
“No. Sorry to disturb you.” He crushed every blade of grass under his boots as he strode toward the river.
He checked to the right and the left but didn’t see any sign of Louise.
Had she been in her tent? He retraced his steps. The door was pulled shut. “Louise,” he whispered.
No response.
If he called louder, he’d disturb Hazel and the baby, so he waited in silence. After a few minutes, he felt silly and, rubbing his forehead, moved toward the fire.
The silence was broken by the thud of a big animal.
His breath stalled. Where was Louise? But before he could call out, Joe’s voice came.
“Hello.” And he rode into sight.
Air whooshed from Cecil’s lungs. It was only their scout. But his relief ended as abruptly as it came. Where was Louise? Had she fallen again? Or perhaps encountered a coyote intent on revenge?
Joe dismounted. “Is the coffee hot?” He nodded toward the pot near the hot coals.
“If it’s not, it soon will be.” Cecil tested the metal side of the pot. It was hot enough to sting. He grabbed the nearby towel and filled a cup for Joe and another for himself.
They both tipped back their cups.
Joe contemplated the coals.
Cecil’s studied the trees, the trail, and the riverbank, looking for some indication of Louise. His hand spasmed. He’d been clenching the cup so hard his fingers knotted. Relax. Relax. Breathe. His grip relaxed marginally. Real relaxation was impossible until he saw Louise and knew she was safe.
“River’s down enough you can take the wagon over.”
Joe’s words jerked Cecil away from his thoughts. The grip returned to his fingers, and the handle of the cup bit into his flesh. Yes, he was glad they’d rejoin the others and resume their journey, but finding time alone with Louise would be difficult, if not impossible if she wanted it that way.
“That’s good news.” The words caught in his throat, and he coughed to release them.
“Where are the others?” Joe stared at the wagon and scanned the area around them. Then his gaze returned to the wagon. Hazel shifted so her feet became visible.
Joe lowered his cup, took half a step in that direction, then stopped. “Mrs. Meyers is sick?”
“Resting with the baby. She was poor for the first day or two but seems fine now.”
Moccasins scuffed in the dirt as Joe shifted his attention to the camp. “Miss Archibald?”
Cecil had the same question. Where was Louise? Again, his gaze swept the area. “She’s gone for a walk.”
Joe drained his cup and set it aside. “Hope she’s back soon. Let’s get the oxen ready to go.” But he didn’t move. “I don’t want to disturb those resting.”
“But we need to get going.”
“It’s too late in the day to set out.” He meant after they’d joined the others.
Cecil wasn’t near as concerned about waking Hazel, if she even slept, as he was about Louise. Where was she?
The wagon creaked as Hazel eased from the back. “Joe. Good to see you.” Her smile was the warmest Cecil had seen her wear since they had gotten stranded. Of course, she was eager to return to her mother and sisters.
The oxen mooed as Cecil and Joe brought them to the wagon.
Louise stepped from the trees. The sound must have drawn her back to the camp.
Wanting to make sure everything was all right, Cecil tried to catch her eye. She avoided looking at him. The knowledge stabbed him with the fierceness of a hunter’s arrow. Swallowing back the pain, he forced himself to think of nothing but getting the oxen into harness.
