Page 62 of Wagon Train Promises
That night, he slept more soundly than he had since the illness had fallen upon them. Though for only a few hours.
He woke in the dark, prepared to take his turn on watch, and saw Louise sitting by the fire. He joined her. “Have you been awake long?”
“I checked everyone. It’s wonderful to see them all sleeping.” She yawned.
“You should be sleeping too. I’m going to take over for Joe, but first, I want to see you back in your bed.”
“Yes, sir.” She saluted and grinned as she stood.
He raised a finger, brought it to his lips, and winked. Would she get his message? That he’d like to kiss her again? Tell her how he felt?
Her gaze followed the movement of his finger. She swallowed visibly. Drew in a deep breath and then turned away.
“Louise—?”
“You better go do your job, and I’ll get more sleep.”
For the space of three breaths, he didn’t move. And then, with a frustrated grunt, he strode into the dark.
“Hi, Joe,” he murmured to the shadowy figure. “Go get some sleep.”
“Everyone doing well?”
He must mean those who had been sick. To that, Cecil could say, “Yes.” But he couldn’t say it on his behalf.
Why did Louise shy away from him? Was it because she was tired? Worried about the illness?
Or was she that offended by his kiss?
He stomped back the urge to yell a protest. He’d kissed her because he’d grown fond of her. Somehow, he meant to prove it to her. If she’d let him.
Louise crawled into her bedroll.
Cecil’s footsteps faded as he went to check on the animals. The way he’d touched his lips reminded her of their kiss. Was it intentional? Why would he do that? It went against how she viewed him as honorable and honest and kind and?—
Why would he toy with her when he and Hazel belonged together? If she’d harbored any hope that she was mistaken about them, the way they’d clung to each other while at theircampsite waiting for the others to recover had taken away that possibility.
She would not allow her own feelings to interfere with her friend’s chance to remarry and have a husband for herself and a father for Petey. Yes, she was attracted to Cecil, but she didn’t have to follow that attraction. Long ago, she’d learned to put duty ahead of desire. Obedience ahead of wishes.
But as she turned to her side and wished for sleep, the longings would not be driven away. “Lord, keep me faithful and true to what I know is right.”
The crackle of fire woke her before the sky began to lighten. Sparks flew upward, half hiding Cecil on the far side of the flames. Her breath rushed in, warming her heart, making it impossible to ignore the truth of her feelings.
She cared for that man far more than she had a right to.
Work was one way to keep those thoughts at bay. She scrambled to her feet, brushed her hair into place, and made a quick trip to the bushes. Then she checked on Marnie. She rested quietly.
“How is she?” Cecil whispered.
Louise joined him at the fire so they wouldn’t disturb the others. “The good news is she hasn’t been gripped with any more cramps.”
Walt was awake watching them. She could feel his impatience. But she didn’t mean to wake Irene.
Cecil perched on the stool closest to Louise. “What’s the bad news?”
“She’s very weak.”
Dawn crept up from the eastern sky.
