Page 28 of Wagon Train Redemption
“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.” Sheflipped 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 figuredit 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 starteda 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?”
