Page 1 of Wagon Train Melody
CHAPTER 1
Summer 1884
Rudy Powers slowed his horse to a walk. He’d been sticking to the hollows and using what trees there were as cover, but it seemed he wasn’t as alone as he hoped he’d be by staying away from the Whoop-Up Trail. Fellow travelers were ahead of him. They too were off the trail, as if, like him, wishing to avoid others. Though, if they thought to be out of sight…well, the white canvas made it impossible to hide the covered wagon. He shifted in his saddle and gave his back trail hard study for a moment or two. He saw no sign of a rider or even distant dust. Perhaps his circuitous route had confused his pursuer.
Turning back to the scene before him, he studied the wagon. A child ran by the wheels. And then a second. Two little girls. A family traveling to promised free land. He eased forward, hoping not to alert anyone to his presence and yet curious enough not to ride away.
The children had disappeared. There were no horses hitched to the wagon. He scanned the surrounding area. Apart from the thin grove of trees, there was no place to hide horse-sized animals. And yet he didn’t see any sign of them. Odd. They surecouldn’t continue without something to pull the wagon. Another thought unsettled his peace of mind.
He’d seen only the two girls. No adults. Of course, they could be in the wagon or out of sight, but something didn’t seem right.
He reined in his horse and leaned over the saddle, trying to make sense of what he saw. It was possible the parents were sick or injured and the children were on their own. The idea scraped up and down his spine, reminding him of his own childhood. But at least he’d had a house to return to, a mother who might remember to provide some food, and lots of neighbors who didn’t seem to mind feeding a young boy.
This pair was in the middle of nowhere.
He flicked the reins and eased forward, ever on guard.
One little girl raced around the wagon again with the other child chasing her. Their merry laughter carried to Rudy, and he smiled. Children had a way of making the best of any situation.
He continued closing the distance to the wagon, his rifle at the ready just in case it was a trap.
Another sound captured his ears and he again stopped to listen. Singing. Clear and sweet. He recognized the tune.Amazing Grace.Often sung at burials. His neck muscles twitched.
The last thing he wanted to do was attend a funeral and help to bury the dead. But he couldn’t ride on without investigating. Slowly, cautiously, he continued toward the wagon, swinging in a wide arc until he could see the other side.
A woman knelt on the ground. Sure enough, a body before her. The singing continued.
Rudy checked the back trail again. No dust. No rider. Which left him no excuse for not offering his help to this family. He could at least dig the hole, though he didn’t have a shovel. He’d left in too big a hurry to have adequate supplies. When a manwas running for his life, he had to make do with what he had on his horse.
He sighed and rode forward.
The two girls saw him first. They grabbed each other’s hand and ran to their mother.
She jerked around to look toward him then scrambled to her feet. She reached toward the wagon and lifted a rifle to her shoulder. “Stop right there, mister.”
He was at a disadvantage if it came to a shootout. She had the drop on him. Besides, he’d never shoot a woman.
He reined in and held his hands in the air, hoping she didn’t mean to blow him out of the saddle. How ironic would that be? Running from a man wanting to make sure Rudy wouldn’t talk and being shot by a woman protecting her little brood. He almost laughed. “Mean no harm, ma’am, but it looks like you could use a hand.” He kept his arms up, waiting for her to make an assessment.
The seconds ticked by without a decision on her part.
With his knees, he signaled King to move forward.
The woman scowled. The children hid behind her skirts. But her trigger finger did not squeeze.
He was close enough now to take in more detail. The woman before him was young. Pretty with brown hair and big brown eyes that alternately widened and narrowed as she studied him. With her looks, she wouldn’t likely stay widowed very long.
He shifted his gaze to the body. And blinked. It was only a boy. Almost grown, but a boy, nevertheless. He’d heard of strange alliances but?—
The children peaked out from either side of the woman. Cute little girls, but old enough that their father would barely be out of short pants when they were born.
He mentally shrugged. The family details were none of his business.
“Ma’am.” He jerked the word out. “I’ll help you if you lower that gun. I got no wish to be shot.”
The gun wavered. Then steadied. “Who says I need help?”
He didn’t respond but looked pointedly at the body on the ground. Then winked at the little girls who giggled.
