Page 57 of Wagon Train Honor
“Finding it to be very boring.” She tapped the sketchbook hidden in her pocket. The thud informed him of its presence. “I want to draw something.”
“Here’s your chance. No one’s here. You’re not bouncing on a wagon seat or trudging along, so go ahead. You know I like watching you draw.”
She hesitated. “I never draw in front of my family.” She had her reasons, though at the moment, they quite escaped her memory.
“I understand that.” He scraped his plate clean. “What do you see that you’d like to draw?”
Him. She’d like to draw him again. But people weren’t her usual subject. Plants were. Nothing growing along the water’s edge excited her. Ordinary grass. Bushes such as she’d drawn already. Aspens with fluttering leaves. Already done. She shaded her eyes to look further afield. “I guess I could draw a landscape.” Again, not her usual fare. But now that she’d said it, the idea appealed. She pulled out her sketchbook, unhooked her pencil, and drew in the horizon, broken by hills and trees. She drew the nearby stream, making it look gurgly. Then she filled the sky with bubbly clouds. Satisfied with the quick sketch, she relaxed.
“I’ve never been interested in landscapes, but something about this…” She waved to the world spreading out before them.
“Maybe it’s broadening your horizon.” He ran his finger along the skyline on the page.
Whether or not he did it intentionally, she laughed at his pun.
Behind them, the scuffle of people moving around and footsteps heading toward the oxen warned her the noon break was over, so she stowed her sketches away in her pocket. She stood and paused to give him a chance to suggest they walk together. When he didn’t, she said goodbye and hurried to rejoin the others.
Angela insisted she would drive the oxen. “You can ride if you like.”
“I’ll see if Hazel needs help with Petey.” But Hazel waved away her inquiry. “I’m going to rest with him.”
Ruby walked beside Louise and Dobie, laughing as the youngster ran ahead, then raced back.
“He’s full of energy,” she commented.
“It’s a sign he’s adjusting to his new circumstances.”
“I’m glad he found you and Cecil.”
Louise glowed. “I’m glad we found him.”
They climbed a slight rise. In the hollow was a thicket of trees. To the right of that, a sagging wall and scattered lumber suggested an abandoned home.
“Can I look?” Dobie called.
“Be careful.” Louise turned to Ruby. “I don’t suppose he’s in any danger.”
“I shouldn’t think so. Besides, he’s learned to manage better than many twice his age.”
“That’s sadly true. His parents were very good teachers.”
Wanting to ease the sadness dulling Louise’s voice, Ruby said, “He’s been blessed by a new set of parents who are loving and kind.”
“Thank you.” Louise inhaled sharply. “He’s found something.”
Dobie raced back to them, his face white. “Ma, come. I found…” His voice broke, and he couldn’t go on. He grabbed Louise’s hand and tugged her to follow.
“I’ll come, too.” Ruby called to Gabe that they were going in that direction.
The wagons trundled on. It would be easy enough to catch up to them.
The three of them hurried to the old homesite, past the fallen walls, past a rough bit of ground that had been broken at some time for a garden but was now overgrown with weeds.
Dobie stopped. “Ma?” He stared at three wooden crosses. Two small piles of dirt indicated children. The other one larger for an adult. From the wooden marker at the larger grave hung a crude metal cross made from two nails. “Like my mama and papa.”
Louise fell to her knees and folded the child into her arms as he sobbed.
Ruby touched the nearest wooden cross. Something had been burned into it and the others. Names. Sara and Bruce on the smaller ones. Her throat closed off with tears. A name on the larger cross was almost worn away, but she made out Jane. Two little children and their mother.
