Page 34 of Wagon Train Redemption
“Pa?” Dobie called.
Cecil squatted to Dobie’s size. “Yes, son?”
“Can I float a boat in the water?”
“A boat?”
Dobie pulled a thin bit of wood from behind his back. “Like this.”
“Of course. Let’s go over there so you can watch it farther.” The pair headed upstream. “Hang on. I’ll make a boat too.” They diverted toward the firewood where Cecil selected a piece of wood that seemed to meet his specifications.
Watching the two of them reminded Carson of happy times spent with his pa. Pa had taught him to do chores, to fish, to play ball, and so many things. The memories brought a slow smile.
“I have boat too?” Bertie rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
“You sure can.” Cecil waved him forward. “We’ll have a race.”
The three took their pieces of wood to the left as far as they could go.
Angela followed them. “I want to watch.”
Carson nodded at the invitation in her eyes, and they fell in behind the boaters. The ground was too wet for Carson to suggest they sit, so they stood to watch.
The trio knelt by the water and positioned their boats.
“Ready. Go!” At Cecil’s order, the boats were released andcarried away. The trio trotted down the bank, trying to keep up with their floating objects.
Angela’s cheeks curved up, and her eyes brightened before she and Carson followed.
One boat floated. One disappeared under water, bringing a cry from Bertie. It surfaced again and he cheered. The third caught in some tree branches and stopped.
Cecil made a disgruntled sound as he trotted after Bertie and Dobie. A few minutes later, Dobie cheered, “I won. Can we do that again?”
“Of course.” The sailors returned to the campsite so Cecil could find a replacement for his boat.
Carson remained at the water’s edge, Angela at his side, the sun warm on his shoulders. Cecil was good with Bertie. He’d have to thank the man. But maybe not. Cecil was now part of the family and accepted Bertie as he should.
Carson kept his gaze on the trio. “Remember how I said one of the things that scared me was Bertie getting lost following me?”
“I think that happened to most of us.” Angela scuffed the toe of her boot along the squishy ground. “I know I had to learn to make sure he understood when he couldn’t go with me.”
“This time, it was my fault.” He filled his lungs with the smell of damp earth and shame. “I’ve never admitted the whole truth to anyone.”
“Don’t feel you need to tell me.” She touched his arm, her fingers like butterfly wings in gentleness and yet offering the strength of a bear. “But I’m honored if you want to.”
The words rushed up Carson’s throat. It was time for him to confess what he’d done. Maybe not to everyone but to one person. One who knew Bertie but hadn’t had to grow up with a brother who needed special attention. “Bertie wanted to go with me, but I wanted to play with my friends, so I told him towait at the laneway for me. I said I’d be back, but I never intended to return.” His ears burned.
Even through the fabric of his tunic, butterfly wings caressing his arm eased his guilt so he could continue.
“I expected he would go to the house, but instead, he got worried something had happened to me and went looking for me. Of course, he got frightened and hid. When I got home, he was missing. Everyone was searching for him.”
“Oh dear. Both of you must have been so frightened.”
He’d never acknowledged even to himself that he was scared something bad had happened to Bertie and it was his fault. To have her recognize it felt like a window in his memories had been opened to let in fresh air. He covered her butterfly fingers with his own and drew in a satisfying breath. “I was maybe ten or eleven. He’s three years older and was already big. Sometimes I thought he should act more like his age, even though I knew he couldn’t.” His voice, now husky, rasped. “I shouldn’t have been so mean to him.”
“Who found him?”
“Ma. She persuaded him to come home. He was in tears thinking something awful happened to me.”
