Page 32 of Wagon Train Redemption
“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 wakenedwhen 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.
Eight
Carson frowned at the turbulent stream. A flash flood. Not unexpected with the heavy rain they’d endured. With all the debris it carried, the men agreed they wouldn’t attempt to cross until the water went down. The consensus was it should subside as quickly as it had risen.
They returned to report to those waiting in the wagons.
Ruby and Angela leaned out, watching his approach. Nothing he had to say would surprise them. They’d seen for themselves the water preventing them from moving on.
“We’ll be here until it’s safe to cross. But at least we can have a fire. Hot coffee would be nice.”
Angela pulled a shawl around her shoulders and prepared to get down.
