Page 34 of Wagon Train Dreams
He blinked, shook his head, and sucked in a noisy breath. Gathering every bit of strength, he pushed to his feet. “Let’s mosey on.” He needed to take a closer look at the gully and choose a spot the wagons could climb. Reaching out a hand, hepulled her to her feet, scooped Little Warrior into his arms, and resumed their ambling journey.
“I thought of bringing a lunch, but Petey would be tired and needing his nap.” He smiled down on her. Not showing his regret at having to return to the wagons soon.
“You’re right. My son will want his sleep.” A trill of laughter followed her words.
What had amused her? He saw nothing in their surroundings, but her eyes sparkled.
Smiling up at him, she explained. “Thinking of you bringing a lunch reminds me of how much I love picnics. I used to pack up a lunch and take my little sisters out to the woods near our house. We’d play in the trees. We made a playhouse by dragging together branches. Irene was always making it better while Ruby did her best to make it comfortable.”
Joe stopped walking to watch Hazel talk. Her face glowed. Her voice rang like a cheery bird. Family meant a lot to her.
Family! He shook off the thought as she continued. His wishes and dreams must be denied.
“Whenever I thought Ma needed a break from us, I’d suggest a picnic. It might have been one of our favorite activities.”
“It sounds like it.”
By mutual silent consent, they resumed their exploration of the gully’s north side, though Joe struggled to focus on the ground when he had a sweet woman at his side.
The sun beat down on their heads as it rose higher. The time had come for him to return to the camp and his responsibilities. The day was only half gone. He meant to spend as much of those remaining hours with Hazel as possible. They’d return for the noon meal. He’d check on the oxen and make sure they had water and feed. Then he’d return to searching the gully’s north side.
Wait! “There it is.”
“What is?” She seemed amused by his sudden interest in something.
“A place where the wagons can climb to the top.” He’d put two teams on each wagon. Even with a day of rest, they were in a weakened state. Except for the need for water, they’d benefit from a few more days in the gully.
He stopped to study the slope. It would do. He didn’t expect he’d find anything better.
That left him the rest of the day to enjoy his impossible dream.
Hazel clung to Joe’s hands as they descended to the gully floor. Not that she couldn’t manage on her own. After all, playing with her brothers and sisters had taught her how to scramble over rough ground and navigate hills and rocks. Nope. She held his hand because she liked doing so. He was a good, solid man who spoke wisely about God and nature.
They reached level ground, and she tugged on his hand to stop him from going further.
“Joe, your words about God still at work really helped me. Thanks.”
His smile—so often shy and constrained—was wide. Warmth glowed in his lovely dark eyes. “That’s good to hear.” He made to resume walking, but she didn’t let him.
“Joe, I want?—”
He shook his head as if he knew what she meant to say. “Let’s enjoy today.”
She almost argued, begged him to promise more than today, but she couldn’t ruin the hours they had left. So, she nodded andfell in beside him as they strolled back to the others. She’d have gladly clung to his arm as they approached, but he handed her Petey and indicated she should go ahead while he went to the oxen.
Petey leaned from Hazel’s arms, begging to go back to Joe. But the scout walked away, and she hushed Petey. “We’ll see more of him. I promise.” The whispered words came from a strong place in her heart, one that she had honed over the years as she dealt with her sisters and Bertie. She’d learned to take a stand and do whatever was necessary to accomplish her goal. Yes, the goals had often been to get the younger girls to cooperate, to help her, or to watch Bertie. With Bertie, patient insistence went a long way.
Joe was about to discover Hazel’s stubbornness.
She hurried to join her mother and the others at the campfire and took in the biscuits and stew. “I should have been helping. I’m sorry.”
Angela waved away her apology. “Doesn’t take two people to make biscuits.”
Ma lifted the spoon from the cooking pot to taste the stew. “Nor does it take two to throw things together.” She returned the spoon. “Without more water, we can’t do a lot of baking.” Her gaze went to the wagons, past them to the oxen, and stalled at Gabe, who watched her. With an almost imperceptible sigh, she pulled her attention back to the fire. “I wonder how long we’ll be here.”
Hazel shifted Petey higher on her hip. It wasn’t often she was at odds with her mother, but she clamped her teeth together to keep from saying she wished they could stay right there for a good long while. Of course, it wasn’t possible. But if only?—
Her sigh matched her mother’s for volume.
