Chapter 7

Seven

I f Carson was alone with Angela, he’d have probed deeper and sought an explanation for her confession. Her words echoed in his thoughts. Warmth. Welcome. It sounded like her previous experience at church had been cold and unwelcoming. Of course, there were churches like that, although he’d never encountered one. However, she wasn’t likely to say anything more now. Ruby had them playing a silly game that invited people to reveal things they didn’t mean to. For certain, he hadn’t meant to tell them about those murders. Yet he had.

No more of that game. Time to talk about something else. “Ruby, did Robert tell you how we met?”

She chuckled, the sound low in her throat as if she enjoyed a private joke. “We had other things to discuss.”

“I see.” He quirked his eyebrows at Angela. Yeah, he understood.

Her eyes smiled along with her mouth. “She did spend a lot of time wandering around Cypress Hills with Robert.”

“Humph, he was showing me flowers to draw. See.” She flipped her sketchbook pages. “Orchids. I would never have found them without his help.”

Carson studied the drawings. He touched his fingertip to the page. “It’s almost real.”

“That’s what Robert said.” She sighed. “So how did you meet him?”

“We rode the train west together. The horses were in the stock car. From the train station, we traveled the rest of the way on horseback. At first, he was just one of many until—” His words slowed as he recalled that day. “We were low on food, so I offered to go hunting and made my way through the trees toward a nearby river, thinking I’d find deer or moose watering there.” The air had been warm. Birds sang in the trees. “I heard a strange noise and crept forward cautiously.” His breath exploded from him as he recalled what he saw. “It was a fox caught in a leg trap.”

“Oh. Pa hated those things. So do I.”

Carson nodded at Ruby’s vehemence. Angela didn’t say anything, but her flashing eyes spoke her feelings. “I threw my coat over the animal to subdue it so I could free its leg. But it squirmed and fought so violently I was afraid I’d have to shoot it to put it out of its misery.” He let the pause lengthen for dramatic effect.

Ruby jabbed him in the ribs.

Angela touched his arm. “Please continue.”

Her gentle words urged him on. “I had pulled my pistol from the holster when footsteps crunched toward me. It was Robert.” A smile softened his words. “He called for me to wait. Then he held the fox while I freed it. The two of us slapped each other on the back in congratulations when the little critter ran away. We laughed and waved when it glanced back just before it went out of sight. We figured it was saying thank you.”

“That sounds like Robert.” Ruby touched the picture she’d been drawing of the man.

“Doesn’t it sound like me?” Not that he needed to be praised, but would it hurt either of them to acknowledge he was a good and kind man? Mostly, he wanted Angela to see he wasn’t the sort to say hurtful things even if he’d been guilty of it in her case. A long time ago and he regretted it to the depths of his soul.

“That was good of the two of you.”

Her soft words were the satisfaction he hoped for. “I knew then that Robert and I would be good friends.” A thought jolted him around to look at Ruby. “How did you meet him? No one’s ever told me.”

Her hands smoothed the cover of her sketchbook. “He discovered me out drawing one day. He liked what he saw.”

Her innocent tone didn’t fool him. “I know you mean you, not your drawings.”

“No, I actually mean both.”

The three of them laughed at her confidence.

Carson couldn’t think of anyone he’d sooner see his little sister matched up with than Robert.

“Let’s play another game,” Ruby said.

“I have a better idea.” He didn’t want any more of her questions that encouraged people to say things they wouldn’t normally. He’d sooner have Angela tell him things in her own good time. “Let’s sing.” The Woods family always enjoyed raising their voices together in song. “Remember how Pa and Ma would have us singing as we traveled? It was fun.”

“It’s a good memory.”

He turned to Angela.

“I sang with him too.” Her voice wobbled.

“We all miss him.” He leaned his shoulder closer to hers to offer a touch of comfort. Then he started a song.

Their voices on either side of him wrapped around like a gentle hug.

Voices from the wagons beside them joined in. Just like old times, only with a hollow spot where Pa should have been. But having others added to their group created a new dynamic.

After several songs, he stopped. The girls settled back on either side. Ruby hunched over her sketchbook and began to draw. Angela shifted to pull a book from a nearby satchel and opened it, but she didn’t begin to read. “Would you like a book?”

“What do you have?”

The satchel creaked as she searched inside and pulled out another volume. “Louise brought this one.” She held it toward him. “ The Last of the Mohicans .”

“Thanks.” He turned to the first page and was soon immersed in the story to the point that when Joe spoke to them, Carson had to pull himself back to his present situation.

“Ma sent over food for supper.” Joe handed in a bowl of beans, another of preserved meat, and a tin Carson assumed would have cookies. “She apologizes that it’s cold fare.”

“Thanks, Ma,” Carson called. “It looks good.”

Joe rode away.

“Let me know when it’s my turn on guard duty,” Carson called after him.

“Yup.”

“I hate to think of you or anyone else out in this weather. The rain is still pounding.” Angela tipped her face toward the canvas. “But at least it isn’t leaking.”

Ruby, being closest to the grub box, filled plates and handed them out.

“I’ll give thanks.” Carson had taken his hat off with his slicker, and it was too crowded for him to stand, so he simply bowed his head. “Father in heaven, thank You that we are all safe and dry. Please keep us that way. Thank You that we have food to sustain us and friends and family to comfort us. In Jesus’s name?—”

“Ask Him to stop the rain,” Angela whispered.

Carson smiled at her urgent request and continued, “And please send us sunshine, amen.”

“Thank you.” Her tone carried more gratitude than two simple words could.

Even though the food was cold, it warmed his insides. His plate clean, he handed it to Ruby and took four cookies. At some point, he’d have to slip out to relieve himself and allow the girls to use the pot he saw tucked away between boxes, but the idea of stepping out into the rain made him shiver.

“Are you cold?” Angela pressed closer to offer warmth.

“I was only thinking of the need to go outside. You know. For?—”

“You might have to make it sooner rather than later,” Ruby said. “Because—well, you know.”

He didn’t need to look at her to recognize her teasing imitation of him. “Very well.” He shucked out of the blankets and pushed to his feet.

“You’re letting in cold air,” Ruby protested.

“You can’t have it both ways. I can’t stay and keep you warm and go outside to—well, you know.”

Angela, laughing, gave him a little shove. “You two can’t do this all day, because—well, you know.”

Carson whooped as he drew on his slicker and hurried from the wagon. He circled the camp. Squinted to see through the sheets of rain. All he made out were wavy shadows of the wagons but nothing beyond them. He strained to hear any sound besides the splash of raindrops against wagons, animals, and sodden ground. He greeted Cecil who hunkered under the canvas, on guard duty.

“I’ll take over if you like. ”

“No, we’ll take turns. Joe will let you know when it’s your time.”

Had he been away long enough? He’d certainly had enough of the pounding rain. He stopped outside the wagon. “Is it safe to come in?”

“Yes.” Angela’s voice welcomed.

“Enter if you dare.” Ruby growled.

“I dare.” He climbed to the seat, hung his slicker over the back, and hurried to the spot they’d kept open for him. He drew the blankets around him as the two girls pressed close to warm him.

The light faded. The sound of rain was disturbed by Gabe’s guitar as he and Ma sang “Home Sweet Home.”

Angela whispered, “I hope they aren’t referring to this as home.”

“No,” he whispered back. “I’m almost certain they’ve got something else in mind. A home together. I wonder where that leaves me. I planned to give Ma a home. And you younger girls.”

“We grew up when you weren’t there.”

“I can’t believe you’re getting married. My little sister. I remember when your wet diaper hung low.”

Ruby scoffed. “I remember when you fell in the corrals and Ma made you take your clothes off outside.”

“Ruby! Ma told you to stay in the bedroom and not look.”

“Who says I looked? But I did laugh when Ma said she was tempted to throw a bucket of water over you. It would be so cold.” She shivered.

“That’s nothing. I haven’t forgotten the time you got stuck between some logs. Goodness, how you wailed. Poor Bertie hid under the bed.”

“I needed help.”

He almost relented from his teasing at her injured tone.

“I told Ma we should leave you there. ”

“You did not!” Her pointy elbow jabbed into his ribs.

Air whooshed from him.

Angela sighed. “There are times I’m glad I didn’t have a brother or sister growing up.”

He and Ruby grinned at each other. Her elbow poked him gently.

“I don’t mind,” she said. “Do you?”

“Nope. Figure life would be boring without someone to tease.”

Ruby’s eyes flashed.

Uh-oh. He knew that look. What was she planning?

Angela shrank back against Carson’s shoulder as Ruby leaned forward to look at her. Maybe he’d protect her from his sister.

He shifted enough that Angela wedged behind his arm. It wasn’t very proper. Father wouldn’t approve. He’d repeat his frequent warnings about always remembering to act appropriately. “People are watching. They’ll be judging.” But no one saw her in the wagon. Only Carson and Ruby and they were, after all, family. She quelled any further admonitions.

“Ang, just think of all the things you’ve missed by not having siblings.”

Angela peeked out from behind the blanket Carson had around his shoulders. “You mean the teasing? The competition?”

“Pshaw. Those things are all part of growing up. Prepares you for whatever life holds. But tell me. Who tickled you? Who took you on walks? Who got you up in the middle of the night to see a new batch of kittens?”

“My father.” No reason to admit he hadn’t done all those things. In fact, none of them. But he’d shown her how to separate the roots of a seedling to replant it. His hands had been gentle as he guided her fingers. “Father—” Her voice cracked, and she couldn’t finish.

Carson shifted, pulled her blankets more firmly around her, and pressed her to his side. “Ruby, don’t tease. You have no idea what her life was like before she came to live with us.”

Beneath her cheek, his arm twitched.

“At least I assume you don’t.”

She eased away from him. Would they both ply her with questions?

Ruby waved a hand. “Pa taught us all that our past is over and done with. It’s the present we should live and the future we should anticipate. Or did you miss that lesson?”

“Of course I didn’t.” Carson’s shoulders rose and fell. “Though I don’t mind catching up on the things I missed while I was away.” He nudged Angela’s arm, and his quick smile made her inhale relief.

Yes, it had been fun so long as they didn’t go back any further than four years.

The wagon interior darkened, making it impossible to read or draw. She settled back, her legs stretched out until her feet rested against the box across from her. “You’re going to be crowded,” she murmured to Carson.

“I’ll be warm and dry. For that, I am grateful.”

“Carson, your turn to stand guard.” Joe’s call shattered Angela’s bemused state.

“Until you have to go out in the rain,” she murmured. Would it never stop? Where was all the water going? But she huddled under her blanket and didn’t bother looking outside. Besides, she’d see nothing in the darkness.

He eased from under the blankets, draped one over Ruby and the other over Angela. “You two stay warm.”

The wagon shifted and creaked as he stepped over Angela’s legs, pulled on his slicker, and headed out into the rain .

“I feel sorry for him,” Angela murmured. “It’s terrible weather.”

“He’s a big boy.” Ruby shuffled about until her shoulders were on the floor and her feet against the grub box. “Besides, he’s been out in worse. Remember that letter he sent Ma last winter. How he hunkered down in bushes with nothing to keep him warm but his horse during a snowstorm that lasted two days.” She chuckled. “Said he had to dig out from under three feet of snow.”

“Ma was worried about him after she read that.”

“And yet here he is safe and sound.” She yawned. “Carson learned at a young age to take care of himself.”

That sounded lonely. Something she’d never before associated with any of the Woods children. With so many siblings, how was that possible? Especially with parents who took such good care of them and a community where they were accepted. Though not everyone accepted them because of Bertie.

Angela got as comfortable as possible and fell asleep. Confusing dreams troubled her rest. She was going to church. But every time she reached the door, it slammed shut. Rocks pelted at her as she tried to wrench the door open. She woke up, her heart thudding against her ribs. It was a dream. Only a dream. Nothing real about it.

She shifted her position to watch the front of the wagon. Would Carson return tonight or stay out in the rain? Even under several layers of blankets, she felt the cold. He would be ten times colder. If she didn’t go back to sleep, that dream couldn’t return, but she failed to keep her eyes open.

Alarm coursed through her when movement jerked her from her slumbers. Her breath stalled partway up her throat. At first, she thought she was tipping. Or someone was pushing her over.

“It’s just me.” Carson’s whisper chased away the remnant of her dream.

His hand brushed against her hair as he felt his way to the empty spot. Cold wafted from him. She helped him find his blankets.

Ruby mumbled and turned away.

Carson eased himself between them. “Sorry I’m so cold.”

“No, I’m sorry you’re so cold.” She tucked the blankets around him as best she could in the dark. The drumming rain hadn’t stopped. “It’s still coming down.”

“Yeah.”

Did she detect a note of concern? Or was he reacting to being cold? “Go to sleep,” she murmured.

“You too.”

Once again, sleep claimed her only to be disturbed by the same dream. Closed doors. Thrown rocks.

Someone caught her shoulder and shook her. She cried out in fear and protest.

“Angela, wake up.”

She struggled to the surface. The hand belonged to Carson. His voice comforted.

“You must have been dreaming.”

“Yeah.” She coughed to ease the tightness in her throat.

“It sounded like a bad dream.”

“You mean a nightmare.” Her short laugh lacked amusement.

“Is it gone now?” His gentle whisper erased a large portion of the memory.

“Mostly gone.”

“Good. Go back to sleep. You’re safe.” His big hand rested on her shoulder as she lay on her side, facing toward the front of the wagon, hoping and praying for the sun to shine through .

She wakened when Carson eased from his place of rest. What was the weather this morning? “No sunshine.” The words creaked from her dry throat.

Carson stepped over her. “No rain either. You two stay here while I assess the situation.”

The wagon dipped and creaked as he departed.

He greeted Joe. Gabe, Cecil, and Walt joined them. They moved away so Angela couldn’t hear what they said.

Keeping a blanket across her shoulders, she shuffled to the front and looked out. No! She pressed her fingers to her mouth to keep her protest silent. The three wagons and the animals were stranded on an island of water-laden grass, surrounded by a roaring river.

The men gathered by the water’s edge, conferring. Was it possible they could cross the water, or did they have to stay until it receded?

“What’s going on?” Ruby asked.

“We’re on our own Mount Ararat.”

“Where Noah’s ark came to rest?” Ruby crowded to Angela’s side. “Oh, I see what you mean.” She sank back. “How long is this going to delay us?”

Poor Ruby. Missing Robert so badly. The thought of being stranded for days would be hard for her.

“The men are looking for a way. We’ve crossed rivers before. I can’t see that this is any different.”

“I hope you’re right.” She shuddered. “But it will mean a delay.” She stood and leaned forward. “Is Ma up yet? Ma?”

“Girls, were you able to sleep?”

“Yes,” they answered.

“Good. We’ll see about starting a fire soon. Gabe suggested we should wait until the ground dries a bit.”

Ruby sank back. “How many days was Noah stuck waiting for the ground to dry? ”

Angela laughed, albeit gently. “I don’t know, but I don’t think we’ll be here very long.”

The men circled the hill, studying the stream for a way across. They drew to a halt and gazed into the distance.

She faced the same direction. Grassy hills waited for them. All they had to do was cross that turbulent, muddy water. Logs twisted in the stream. Clumps of dirt raced by. Had there been a landslide somewhere? The earth torn down by the force of the water? Imagine what that water would do to flimsy wagons.

She shuddered. They were almost at the fort. They’d survived river crossings, nearly impassable hills, evil men, and fire. Surely, they wouldn’t suffer disaster this close to their destination.