Page 12 of Wagon Train Dreams
She picked up something.
She turned, the flower in her hand. She tipped her face toward Joe. How did she know he’d put it there? Or was she only guessing?
“Time to do some scouting.” He handed his cup to Angela, picked up his saddle, and headed to the livestock to get Boots. If he pretended Boots needed brushing, he could glance toward Hazel.
She eyed him, then the flower, then him.
She knew, and her smile said she liked it.
Liked the flower? Or that he’d given it to her?
Huh? What had he been thinking to do that? But he had to admit doing something to make her smile felt good.
As he rode away, he realized he, too, wore a smile. Not until he was a distance away and heard singing did he realize that it was Sunday and the travelers were having their customary service.
Aflower. From Joe. What a strange man. Since she’d told him he was a good hero for Bertie, he’d pulled back and put distance between them. All she wanted was to be his friend. That was all shecouldwant because…well, because she wanted a solid home. Living on a wagon train made her long for a house that didn’t move. A family. But she didn’t mind enjoying her friendship with Joe.
Was this flower a token of reconciliation? An apology for being cold to her? If so, she accepted it. She closed her fingersaround the dainty blossom and stowed it in her pocket. The flower would be crushed, ruined, but she could put her hand there and have a firm reminder of his gesture.
The oxen were hitched and ready. Gabe read a few Bible verses, closed in prayer, and then stowed his guitar.
They were on their way again. The wagons rumbled across the grassy land, pots and pans rattling like muted bells. Travel was as easy as he had predicted. They stopped at noon to eat a cold meal and rest the oxen. Joe didn’t return. Had he taken food with him? If not, he’d surely be getting hungry. She couldn’t take him a plateful as she’d done the night before. Not when he rode somewhere up ahead.
They marched throughout the afternoon. The merciless sun beat down, wilting the strongest of them. Petey fussed. She let him ride in the wagon. It was out of the sun but still hot as an oven. She let him walk on the wagon tracks behind the wagons. He sat and cried. Bertie carried him on his back. Both of them ended up cranky from the heat, doubled by two bodies in close contact.
Irene took him on horseback with her. For a few miles, he quieted. Then he screamed again, and Irene returned him.
“He’s miserable with the heat,” Hazel said. A heat rash encircled his body. “I don’t know what to do with him.” She fanned him, providing a smidgen of relief. If only they’d come upon a stream of water or a pond where they could all cool off.
But the land rolled on and on. Endless grass. Empty sky. No sign of a horseback rider. She touched the flower in her pocket, now wilted. She’d examined it some time ago. The petals had fallen off. They lay lifeless in the bottom of her pocket.
Walt rode back to check on them. “Pa says we’ll stop once we find water.”
Was he trying to sound encouraging? Ma thanked him and gave a weary smile.
On and on the wheels turned. Hazel placed one exhausted foot in front of the other. Again and again. She swallowed tepid water they carried with them, but cool water would be so much better. And if there was enough to splash on her face—why it’d be wonderful. Even more so if they could submerge in cool, cool water.
Petey fussed louder, more insistent.
Gabe took him and tried to soothe him, but the baby wouldn’t settle.
Louise held him on her lap as she drove the oxen. That didn’t make him happy.
When were they going to stop? Where was Joe? Had he abandoned them in the midst of this sea of green? Sea? More like a desert.
“Here comes a rider.” The call came from the front.
Finally. It had to be Joe. Except?—
What if it wasn’t?
Cecil kicked his horse and galloped ahead. He reached the rider and swung around to canter at his side.
Soon, Hazel recognized Joe. Not that she could make out his face yet, but his shape, his posture were familiar. No more so than Cecil’s or anyone else on the wagon train she firmly and silently insisted.
The men rode forward at an easy lope. They signaled those on horseback in front to follow them and stopped by the middle wagon where the others joined them.
Petey quieted.
