Page 12 of Wagon Train Honor
Crashing past the overhanging branches, she rushed down the trail. Only there wasn’t a trail, and she wasn’t sure what direction to go.
“This way.”
Good thing he knew because she’d not paid a speck of attention.
They broke into the open, and she blinked. The sun was still bright. Only the thickness of the woods and the hill to the side made it seem otherwise among the trees.
The wagons lay a distance ahead.
“I didn’t realize we’d gone so far.”
“Are you worried they’ll be concerned?”
“Ma is used to me hunkering down over my notebook without any regard for time but—” She didn’t want him to think she wandered off like Irene often did. “I’m not usually gone very long. It was the orchids, you see.”
His big hand splayed to his chest. “I’m hurt.”
“What? How?” Had a sharp branch poked him? She couldn’t imagine what else it would be.
“Only the orchids? What about me?”
His injured tone almost convinced her he was serious. But he couldn’t hide the twinkle in the depths of his eyes.
“I guess you are to blame, seeing as you showed them to me.” Did her airy way of talking impress him?
“To blame? I have to say I’m disappointed at your attitude.” He turned away and began the journey back to the wagons.
She trotted after him. “Fine. You win. Robert Davis, I had a very good time this afternoon. Well, mostly. Thank you.”
He ground to a halt. “Mostly?”
“Well, there were a few minutes up on the hill when you were bothersome until I let you know the rules of our time together.” Would he realize she was teasing or be offended?
“So you did.” He draped an arm over her shoulders, sending a tiny thread of alarm through her, followed by an immediate sense of safety. “I’ll do my best to do better in the future.”
Was there going to be a future? But the weight of his arm somehow affected her mouth, and she couldn’t force the words out.
Ma would see him holding her and come to her own—wrong—conclusions, so Ruby shrugged away from him as they neared the wagon. She’d put deep pockets in all her dresses, so she slipped her sketchbook into the depths.
“Goodbye and thank you.” Her words were soft, full of gratitude, and a touch of anticipation that they might do this again. Go looking for flowers. Not walking with his arm over her shoulders. That wasn’t what she meant.
But Robert didn’t leave her side. Of course, it was only polite for him to greet Ma and Gabe.
Her heart slid down to the tips of her toes. The entire crew was assembled. That left her no choice but to introduce them all.
“Everyone, this is Constable Robert Davis. A Mountie, as you can see. He knows Carson.” She should have asked about her brother, but somehow, the subject hadn’t come up. “Constable, you’ve met my ma and Gabe and Bertie.”
Bertie nodded over and over, his face beaming. “And Alice and Limpy and Fluff and Smoke.”
“How do again.” He spoke to Ma and Gabe and then clamped a big hand on Bertie’s shoulder. “Thank you for showing me your pets.”
“Constable, this is the rest of the family. Irene, my sister, and Walt, Gabe’s son.”
Both Irene and Walt shook Robert’s hand.
“Hazel and Joe and little Petey. Joe is our scout. They got married back at Fort Qu’Appelle.”
“That’s a nice place to get married.”
