Page 65 of Wagon Train Dreams
“Bertie!”
The alarm in Marnie’s voice had the others hurrying to her side.
“I never heard him leave.” Irene paced back and forth. “I always hear him.”
“I never heard him either. There were so many unfamiliar sounds,” Ruby soothed.
Louise and Dobie checked under and in each wagon. “Not here,” they called.
Cecil and Walt walked through the oxen. “Not here,” they announced.
Hazel and Angela went through the stand of trees next to the wagons and returned, shaking their heads.
Gabe held his wife. “We’ll find him.” He signaled the others. “We’ll fan out.” He directed them in various directions.
Joe followed Hazel, who was going to explore beyond the trees. “I’ll carry Little Warrior.”
She might’ve refused, but Petey reached for him.
Keeping three feet between them, they made their way beneath branches and through bushes.
“Can’t you track him?” she asked.
“Me being part Indian, you mean?” He managed to keep the amusement from his voice.
“Well, yes.”
“I’m watching for indication of someone having come this way, but it’s hard to make out fresh tracks when so many people have been over this ground.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. It’s just?—”
“I know. But we’ll find him.” Where could Bertie go and not encounter strangers? Then he thought of something. “I have an idea where he might be.”
“Good.”
He should have thought about it earlier. It was his favorite retreat when he was younger. Though, it was years ago and might be long gone.
“This way.” They turned toward the corrals.
Hazel hesitated. “Someone already searched here.”
“Maybe not in the right spot.” Bushes grew up around one side of the fence. He pushed past them. “Listen. Do you hear that?” The whine of a dog and the muffled bleat of a goat. “I think he’s found the little fort I built years ago.” He rounded the corner to where branches grew over the wood he’d hammered together.
“Bertie,” he called.
“Bertie?” Hazel knelt to peer into the narrow opening that was hardly wide enough for the big man. “Can you come out?”
“My foot stuck.”
“Let me.” Joe handed Petey to Hazel, then shoved aside the branches and lifted out pieces of wood until he saw the problem. Bertie had twisted his foot under a root. Pulling at it didn’t free it. “I’ll get you out.” Joe squirmed in until he reached Bertie’s foot and gently angled it to release it. “There you go.”
Once free of the bushes, he helped Bertie to his feet.
Hazel hugged her brother. “You gave us a fright.”
“I scared. So many people.”
“Let’s get you back to Mama.” Hazel took his hand and led him away.
