Page 38 of Wagon Train Dreams
“I did.”
She eased back to face him. “Don’t you want that again?” Her whisper invited him to agree.
He wanted nothing more than to have the sort of home he’d grown up in and shared with a loving partner. Using the latter word kept him from seeing himself with Hazel. “Some things are impossible. Nothing but dreams.”
She sat so still that he thought she’d let the idea go. Then, softly, she spoke. “I remember my pa saying that dreams are simply possibilities waiting for us to make them happen.”
If only it was that easy. Maybe she’d understand if he told her about his trip east. “Do you know why I was in Manitoba?”
She fingered the fringes on his vest. “I suppose you guided a party.”
“No, I didn’t. I went to see my pa’s relations. He has a brother, several cousins, and an uncle who is married with a family.”
“Really?” She left off teasing the fringes and sat up, so she looked him in the face, her eyes full of curiosity.
“I hoped—” No, he wouldn’t dwell on his disappointments. “I didn’t stay long.”
“Why not?”
He would have broken away from her probing gaze but found himself unable to do so. It took him several shallow breaths before he could bring a word to his mouth. “I wasn’t welcome.”
She blinked. Once. Twice. Opened her mouth and closed it again without uttering a word. Finally, she sputtered, “Not welcome? Why?” Realization dawned. “Oh. I see.”
He nodded.
Still, she studied him, her eyes narrowing. “And you think because they rejected you that all white people will?”
No need for him to answer. She already knew.
“Humph. Not all people are cut from the same cloth.”
No, but being from a different cloth made him unacceptable to both races. Not something he wanted to debate at this point. He stretched his legs out. “I’m getting tired of sitting. Let’s walk.” The only place for them to walk was along the rim.
She didn’t move. He watched arguments building in her head. Arguments he didn’t want to hear because she offered the very thing he wanted.
And must deny himself.
Hazel allowed Joe to pull her to her feet and lead her through the bushes to the rock-strewn bank where she stopped. “Joe.” She wanted to say so many things.
“Not now.” His soft words stopped her. “Let’s enjoy today.”
And then? But she didn’t ask. How was she going to change his mind? Something her pa often said made her smile and encouraged her. Convince not by arguing but by loving. She had all afternoon to do that. And more. Because after they resumed their journey, she wasn’t going to give up. Joe was a good man whom any woman would be proud to marry. More than that, he deserved a home and family. The very things she wanted. Together, they?—
“Let’s go to the top.” He held out his hand. She took it and let him guide her from rock to rock even though she was capable of managing on her own. Far better to enjoy depending on him.
The breeze on the top whipped at her hair. Drove the heat from her skin.
“I hadn’t realized how hot it is down there.” She faced the wind now cooling her.
Joe stood, his hands on his hips, his feet apart, searching their surroundings. Looking for danger?
She scanned the land. Nothing but shimmering heat waves. But—she squinted—“Is that smoke?” Despite the heat, she shivered.
Joe shaded his eyes with his hand. “Steam. The train is going through.”
“Thank goodness. I wouldn’t want to try and outrun another fire.”
“We’ll make our way there tomorrow.”
