Page 24 of Wagon Train Dreams
“Joe?” Hazel called to him. “How long will this last?”
He smiled to think she expected him to know. “Until it gets tired of blowing.” The sun stood straight overhead. “Do you have food in there?” They’d been instructed to keep food in all the wagons in case they somehow got separated or something befell one of the wagons.
“Of course.”
“Something you can eat without cooking?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Eat something. Then we can move on.” The wind wasn’t letting up, but perhaps they’d get away from it. He was about to inform the others when she called out again.
“Can we get out of this wind?”
“Either we’ll get out of it, or it will wear itself out.” He moved to the other wagons to inform them and took some pemmican from his saddlebag for his meal.
“Joe?” She loosened the ropes at the back enough to peek out the opening and hold out her hand. “I have some beef jerky and cheese for you.”
Keeping his face serious while his whole insides chuckled, he strode to the wagon and reached up for the offered food. “Thank you, ma’am.”
In a somber tone that matched his own, she answered, “You’re welcome, sir.”
While she withdrew, Petey babbled the words Joe loved to hear. “Big Warrior.”
He leaned against the wheel as he enjoyed the food and listened to the chatter in the wagon.
Hazel offering Petey a biscuit. Louise and Cecil talking to Dobie. It reminded him of the song Marnie and Gabe so often sang, “Home Sweet Home.” Home consisted of people you cared about. No matter where you were.
Satisfaction relaxed his insides.
The men joined him in watering the oxen. Then they hitched up and resumed traveling. The heat and wind were more than enough for the oxen to deal with. The others realized it, too. Without him saying anything, all but Louise and Angela walked, and they only rode out of the necessity of driving their teams. Gabe guided his team by walking beside them.
The heat wrapped around them despite the wind that tugged at Hazel’s skirts and blew her sideways at times. He again carried the little warrior as Cecil let Dobie ride with him.
Mile after weary mile, they continued, stopping once to give the oxen water and let them rest briefly. The afternoon heat was unbearable, and he called a halt.
“We’ll rest for a few hours.” Again, the oxen were unhitched and watered. The poor beasts were as weary as the people.
He made sure everyone ate. More cold food, but it would have to do. He nodded when Hazel rested in the shade.
The orange sun dipped toward the west when they resumed their journey.
Dust filled his nostrils with a hot, dry smell. He lifted his face, turned toward the wind, and sniffed deeply. That was more than the scent of hot land.
He sniffed again. His fists spasmed as he caught the unmistakable smell of smoke. It was the wrong direction to be from their campfire. Standing in his stirrups, he squinted into the distance. If there was smoke, he couldn’t tell it from the swirling dust. Did orange flicker far to the south?
His stomach muscles clenched, and he raced back to the others. “Everyone get in the wagons.Gabe, Walt, Cecil, ride beside the teams. Head north as fast as you can.”
“Joe, what’s wrong?” Gabe asked as he hurried to get the horse he’d recently acquired.
“Fire to the south. We have to outrun it.”
He handed Petey to his mother. She touched his hand. “Be safe.”
“You too. Pray for God’s protection.”
He left her as he went to the lead team and urged them to their fastest gait. But their top speed was far too slow.
The smell of smoke grew stronger. The flicker was larger.
