Page 26 of Wagon Train Honor
“Ma, sorry for being late.”
Ruby’s apology to her mother stopped Robert from wandering too far down what the future might hold.
“We ate a cold meal. Help yourself. You too, Robert.” Her ma waved them toward the wooden table covered with platters and pots and crocks.
Ruby got a plate for each of them. “Looks like you’ve been cooking.” She lifted the lid on a pot of beans and added a scoop to her plate, two to his. From a platter of biscuits, she took one for herself and four for him. She speared a dill pickle for herself and another for Robert. There were cold, sliced venison and boiled eggs.
“A feast for a king,” Robert said, his comment meant for Mrs. Miller, but his gaze stalled at Ruby.
A teasing smile tugged at her mouth. She leaned close to whisper, “Think you’ll manage not to starve to death.”
Bertie trotted to her, his dog at his heels and his goat bouncing at his side. “Ruby, where you go?”
“Robert showed me where the old fort once stood. Look what he found.” She pulled the shiny button from her pocket.
Bertie touched it almost reverently. “It be Carson’s?”
“I don’t think so.” The button disappeared into her pocket. “Soon, we’ll see him, and you can touch his buttons.”
Bertie nodded hard. “I like that.” He followed them to the log stools where they all sat. “Mr. Robert taking you again this afternoon?”
“I think so.” She glanced at him.
“I go too?”
Robert’s hand stilled halfway to his mouth, the biscuit forgotten. There was no reason he should mind Bertie accompanying them, and yet he did. He chomped on the biscuit. Found it dry and downed a gulp of water.
“Bertie, if you go, your pets will follow. Do you think it’s a good idea for them to wander around?”
Robert didn’t know how reasonable Ruby’s excuse was, but Bertie scrunched his face. “Ma not want them leave camp. I stay.”
“That’s very wise.”
Mr. and Mrs. Miller sat by the nearest wagon, seemingly content in each other’s company.
“Ma,” Ruby called. “Where is everyone?”
“Joe and Cecil have gone hunting. We need to prepare meat for the rest of the trip. Walt is with the oxen. I expect Irene is with him. Hazel and Louise took the little boys on a walk.”
“Angela?”
Gabe answered, “She went to the trading post to look around.”
“Ma, if you don’t need me, I’d like to explore some more. Robert has kindly offered to be my guide.” Before her mother could answer, Ruby hurried on. “If Joe and Cecil return with game, I’ll come back and help you can it.”
“Go enjoy yourself. There’s nothing urgent to deal with. Joe says the oxen need another day or two to rest.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
Robert tucked a smile into his thoughts at how eagerly she’d arranged for them to spend the afternoon together.
Ruby cleaned her plate, and seeing his was empty, she reached for it. But rather than set it back on the table, she circled the food, putting more of everything on his plate, then handed it to him. “No need to rush away.”
Although her tone was mild, he wasn’t unaware of the teasing light in her eyes.
“Thanks. This might take a while.” Would she recognize that he teased back as he took tiny little bites of the biscuit?
“Take your time.” She waved her hand airily and perched beside him, watching his hand move from plate to mouth.
