Page 13 of Wagon Train Honor
More greetings. More shaking hands. More comments about things.
Ruby guided Robert to Louise and Cecil and Dobie. “Louise is a nurse. She started out as a friend of Hazel’s, but now she’s married to Gabe’s other son.” She didn’t mean it to sound as if the friendship with her sister was over. Maybe no one would notice her choice of words. And maybe she could pretend she didn’t want to pull Robert away and keep him to herself.
Nope. She didn’t think that for a minute.
Angela removed biscuits from the Dutch oven. Seeing she was done, Ruby introduced her as well. She’d already told Robert that Angela was almost a year older.
Angela welcomed the man. Eyed him from under the cover of her lashes and then flashed a smile at Ruby.
Ruby shook her head. It wasn’t like that. She’d explain it later—well some of it. No way could she tell the full story.
“You must join us for supper,” Ma said. “There’s plenty of food.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He hung his hat on a nearby tree and washed his hands in the basin of water Ma indicated.
Ruby shuffled her feet, unsure if she was glad he was sharing the meal or annoyed at how everyone wanted to talk to him. Granted, they mostly wanted to know about Carson.
“I was sent here to take delivery of some horses. Before that, I was away on patrol, so it’s been several weeks since I last saw him. At that time, he was extremely pleased his family was going to join him. He purchased a house in town for you all.”
Ma leaned forward, her smile as wide as the sky. “Tell us about the house and the town.”
Ruby went toward the fire and checked the food the others seemed to have forgotten as they huddled close to Robert. Venison roast. New potatoes and carrots Ma purchased from the trading post. Everything was cooked. With a fork, she lifted the roast to a platter on the table. Then, she made gravy from the broth.
The others suddenly remembered the meal, and soon, everything was served up.
Gabe stood. “I’ll ask the blessing.”
They all bowed their heads though Ruby might have peeked out to see what Robert did. Her breath released as he bowed his head and closed his eyes. Of course, it didn’t mean anything. Unless it did.
Conversation returned to Carson as they ate.
Ruby was as anxious to hear about her big brother as any of them. But they were consuming Robert’s complete attention. At least he sat at her side. There was some consolation in that.
All too soon, the meal was over, though no one seemed in a hurry to depart. Nor, to her surprise, was she eager for the evening to draw to a close.
Gabe got his guitar and began to strum. As had become their habit, Ma and Gabe sang “Home Sweet Home.”
Today, for some reason, hearing them sing and seeing how they looked at each other with open affection, Ruby blinked back a sting of tears.
Only the crackling of the fire broke the silence that followed their song. And then Gabe plucked out a few chords and led them in singing a rousing tune or two. He closed with a slow, gentle hymn. One they’d sung so many times on this journey, and the lyrics fell in soft comfort:
“All the way my Savior leads me–
What have I to ask beside?”
The song had become both praise and prayer for Ruby’s family.
Little Petey fussed, and Hazel excused herself. “I need to put the baby to bed.” Of course, Joe followed, saying he would take first watch.
The others began to slip away.
Robert rose and turned to Ruby. “Do you want to see more Cypress Hills secrets tomorrow?”
“I’d love to.” The words were out before she could even think. But if it meant she’d see more orchids, then there was no other answer.
He snagged his hat, thanked Ma for the meal, and strode away, disappearing out of sight behind the trading post.
“I wonder where he sleeps.” Whoops. She hadn’t meant to say that aloud. “Not that it matters. I’m going to bed.”
