Page 40 of Wagon Train Dreams
“Tell me more. What’s your favorite memory of them? What did you do together?” He had thirteen years of things to recall.
“We often went into the woods and camped.” He told her stories of his early life that had her laughing and wiping away tears at times. He’d been a loved child. Then he uncrossed his legs and braced himself on an elbow, her shadow falling over him. “I want to hear more about you. How did you meet Louise?”
“We grew up in the same town. When her mother died, she had two younger brothers to raise. I knew how difficult it would be, so I visited her to offer my help.” Her chest warmed. “You’ve seen Louise, so you can guess she didn’t need help. But she did need company. Most days, I simply helped her peel potatoes or make bread or hang out laundry.”
“You were a good friend.”
“She helped me when Peter died. Helped me when Petey was born. I am blessed. Not only do I have a supportive family, I have a special friend.”
“Hazel?” The deepening of his voice warned her he meant to ask a difficult question, though she couldn’t imagine what it was.
“Go ahead.”
“I hesitate to ask this, but how did Peter die?”
Her lungs froze. They’d done so before. She had to force in a deep breath to loosen them. She took one, two, three and then found her voice.
“Remember I told you he ran the store?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “One day, he was unloading supplies in the back. It was a rainy day. The alley was muddy.” Her jaw quivered. “The driver needed to back up closer. And—well—” She forced the words out. “Peter slipped in the mud. Fell under the wheels.” Did she need to finish?
“Hazel, I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Every time I think of it, I wonder how much he suffered. No one would tell me.”
He caught her hand. “Maybe he didn’t.”
“It would be nice to think so.” She forced words past her wooden lips. “I didn’t know how I would survive.”
“But you did. Now, you have Petey, and you’re going West to start a new life.”
“Yes. I’m going to start over. Not that I’ll ever forget Peter.”
The hawk returned to the sky, at first flying above them.
She shaded her eyes. “Is he wondering if we’d be good to eat? Should we run?”
“He’ll go find something he can handle.”
Sure enough, the hawk soared higher, gliding into the distance.
Joe didn’t release her hand, and she didn’t shy away. She belonged here. How was she to convince him?
Easing up to her elbow, she looked down into his face. “Joe? We can make this?—”
“It’s time to get back to the others.” He slid to his feet in one fluid movement and pulled her up. They faced each other.
“Joe.” She tried again.
He pressed his fingertip to her lips. “Not today, Hazel. Not today.” Drawing her to his side, holding her hand, he retraced their steps along the bank, down the slope, and back to the camp.
Somehow, she’d find a time to talk to him and a way to persuade him.
But Joe remained standing at a distance as they ate the evening meal. Then he hurried to check on the oxen, though he’d already done that. When Gabe started strumming his guitar, Joe returned. But he hovered at the edges of the firelight. He took first watch, so she didn’t get a chance to talk to him before she went to bed. It hurt knowing he purposely avoided her.
They’d had a wonderful day full of sweet moments. She’d learned so much about him. And liked everything. She’d lost one man to a senseless accident. She would do everything in her power to make sure she didn’t lose another to senseless prejudice.
Chapter Ten
Joe helped hitch two teams to the first wagon, forcing all his attention on getting them safely out of this gully. Except he continually went over the previous day. He’d enjoyed Hazel’s company, and although he told himself it was impossible, his imagination would fly to scenes of them together in the future.
