Page 33 of Wagon Train Honor
“Very sure.” The whispered words deepened his smile.
“I’ll walk you back to the camp.” The ground was cloaked in darkness, giving him the perfect excuse to take her arm and hold it close to his side as they made their way back to where her family gathered around the campfire. Gabe held his guitar.
Didn’t every eye turn toward Robert as they stepped into the flickering light? He stiffened his spine and prepared for Gabe or Ruby’s mother to voice a protest at their daughter being out after nightfall, especially with a fella.
“You’re just in time.” Gabe nodded toward the two rough stools.
Robert released Ruby’s arm but didn’t proceed forward.
She took one step, realized he hadn’t moved and turned around. “That’s your invitation to join us.”
“Of course.” But it wasn’t Gabe’s invite that propelled him forward. It was the soft, pleading note in Ruby’s voice.
Gabe and Mrs. Miller sang a duet as they had yesterday evening. Ruby murmured close to his ear. “They do this every night. I consider it their love song.”
He flicked a smile at her and nodded. “That’s sweet.” His words barely reached a whisper.
The song ended. The couple looked at each other with such love that Robert struggled to swallow. Could he dream of having that kind of love in a home of his own? He coiled his hands into fists to stop himself from reaching for Ruby. Not that she’d sprung into his mind as the one he would share his dreams with. Of course not. They’d part ways within a day, possibly two.
Gabe played a tune, and everyone joined in a song, diverting Robert from his foolish thoughts. He had always enjoyed music and added his voice, though not so loudly he couldn’t hear Ruby beside him. Her voice was surprisingly deep. He listened more closely and realized she sang a different tune from the others, but it was in harmony. What did they call it? Parts? She was singing a part that bypassed every barrier around his heart and made itself right at home.
Robert shook his head. When had he ever been so silly in his thinking? But the music again caught him and carried him away. Until Gabe put aside his guitar and people began to get to their feet, bidding the others good night.
With a burst of energy, Robert was on his feet. “Good night,” he muttered to the air. He made four steps toward the darkness when Ruby caught his arm.
“Tomorrow?”
Her touch, her soft reminder, brought him back to rights. “Tomorrow.” The joy of the music wound around his heart as he crossed the trail and passed the trading post. He paused there to listen. From the wagon train came sounds of goodbyes and wagons creaking. In the distance, a coyote howled, and another answered. Assured none of those sounds indicated danger of any sort, he made his way to his camp. He stowed Ruby’s drawing in his pack. With no need to start a fire to cook food, he unrolled his bedroll and settled into the comfortable hollow in the ground he’d created over the past few days and prepared for sleep.
First, he would say his prayers as Ma taught him and as he’d done since he was a child. A quiet chuckle escaped. He had much to be grateful for. “Dear heavenly Father, I’m glad for the chance to spend time with Ruby and her family. When I settle down and get married, I want a family like theirs.” The wagon train still had a distance to go to reach their destination. He reviewed the land they’d have to cross. There was dry prairie, some steep coulees, and a couple of rivers. At least the water wouldn’t be at its highest this time of year. “Keep them safe. Keep Ruby safe as she goes to Banff.”
Banff—he’d heard about the place— how some fellas discovered the cave with the sulfurous-smelling hot springs. About the people—men and women both—who climbed the steep mountain slopes and explored beyond what white man had seen and recorded. Many loved the idea of exploration and discovery. But it didn’t appeal to him. Nothing would satisfy him but a home with, as he’d told Ruby, roots like an oak tree.
He listed a number of things in his prayer he was grateful for besides Ruby’s family—the beautiful hills and the secretive flowers he’d discovered for Ruby to draw, the magnificent cliffs with their conglomerate of gravel. The pleasant weather that enabled him to show Ruby around in comfort.
His last thought before he fell asleep was of the drawing she’d made for him to send to Hennie.
Sunrise was but a promise when he awakened. He lay staring at the fading stars. Today might be the last he and Ruby could share, and he meant to take advantage of every minute. Of course, he’d have to wait until the camp stirred and Ruby and her family gathered around the fire.
As soon as he could make out the shape of trees and rocks in his surroundings, he rose, rolled away his bedding, and washed and shaved in cold water. No doubt it would leave his face blotchy, but he didn’t want to wait for water to heat.
He shook his gray shirt. He’d noticed Ruby looking at it. Perhaps because, as she said, it wasn’t his red serge but maybe because it matched her dress in color. Should he wear it again? His gaze shifted between the shirt and the tunic. He was still a Mountie. Best he act like it. He donned the red jacket, hung his holster around his waist, and buckled it in place. Digging into his supplies, he found the cloth he wanted and polished his boots. Everything was put away, the campsite tidy as he moseyed to the corner of the trading post and leaned there to watch the camp across the way come alive.
Ruby was already up and held her hands out to the fire. But her gaze went beyond the flames as she scanned the area. Looking for him?
He eased from the shadows. Her gaze found him. Her hands stilled while his heart did a double take at the welcome he believed he saw. Of course, it could be his imagination or a trick of the light. Perhaps the reflection of the flames.
Not that it mattered. He clamped his Stetson tighter to his head and began the trek across the dusty trail and tramped grass. Not once did he leave off holding her gaze, not even when his toe caught on a clump of something.
The men, except for Gabe and Bertie, were with the animals. Alice bounced out to greet Robert, butting playfully at his hands until Robert patted her. Even then, Robert’s gaze did not shift. When he stood across the flames from Ruby, close enough to see the spark of the fire reflected in her eyes, he smiled.
“Morning.” Then, lest anyone think he only meant Ruby, he added, “All.”
Ruby reached for a thick china mug, filled it to the brim with steaming coffee, and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He gulped the hot liquid and burned his mouth, which served the purpose of bringing him back to reality. Venison fried on the griddle, filling the air with a succulent aroma. He concentrated on the food and Bertie’s questions. He listened to the conversation between the men and answered reasonably—he hoped—when he was expected to make a comment. But his mind stalled somewhere between that first glance across the distance and the sparkling smile as Ruby handed him the cup of coffee.
Someone placed a plate of food in his hands. Gabe prayed. Why did it all feel as if a thin curtain hung in bunches around him? When Ruby sat beside him, he sucked in air, and the curtain vanished. Not that he cared to explain what he meant by that.
