Page 55 of Wagon Train Redemption
Restlessness seized his limbs. He kicked off the blanket and sat up to stare at the wagons’ dark shapes clustered together. Not even enough wagons to truly form a circle, only a wide triangle. He bent over his knees, trying to make sense of this sudden restlessness. His breath huffed out. It was partly anticipation of what the future held and partly the swirling thoughts of a hundred questions. Where would she want the house? When would they marry? What sort of house would she like? Would she want to live there during the winter?
With another huff, he pushed aside the worries. They were all things he and his partner could sort out on the journey. Contented, he lay down, pulled the blanket to his chin, and fell asleep.
The rattleof a metal pot wakened him. Had he really slept through someone moving around building the fire? He hadn’t even heard anyone taking over on guard duty. And he hadn’t taken his turn. He leapt to his feet and hurried over to where Joe stood by the water.
“No one woke me to take watch.” His tone might suggest annoyance or surprise. He felt both.
“I tried. You were sleeping like a rock. So I left you.”
“I never sleep like that.” As a Mountie, it was unacceptable.
“You forgot that last night.” Joe unfolded his arms. “Guess you needed the sleep.” He strode away before Carson could protest. His words, “Next time, wake me,” drifted across thestream and disappeared into nothing. That wouldn’t happen again. He’d make sure of it.
His boots thudded on the ground as he strode to the camp. Angela smiled at him, and he forgot about missing his turn keeping watch.
She filled a cup with steaming coffee and handed it to him.
The hot liquid stung his tongue when he took a swallow. “This is the way to start a morning.” He saw the question in her eyes as if asking did he mean the cup of coffee or her giving it to him. Strange that he didn’t have the answer, though, if pressed, he’d say both.
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
He stopped his hand halfway to his mouth. “Why? Did you hear something?”
“Should I have?” The uncertainty in her face seemed genuine.
“I didn’t waken for my spell at guard duty. First time that’s ever happened.” He shook his head. “Still can’t believe it.” With a furtive glance around the campsite, he whispered. “Don’t tell anyone though Joe knows.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” She pressed a fingertip to her lips. “But I must ask. Why did you sleep so soundly?”
“I must be because my head was full of plans.” He held her gaze. “For our partnership.”
She gave him a startled look, then shifted the coffeepot to her other hand. It must be getting heavy. A glance around showed the others busy preparing breakfast. Ma stirred a pot of something. Hazel fed Petey. Louise checked a pot of beans.
“I’ll tell you all about it later.” He drained the cup before he went to help the others with the oxen.
As they gathered for breakfast later, he sat close to Angela, smiling at her shy glances in his direction. Several times, they shared a private grin at something Dobie or Bertie said or the way Petey reached for another biscuit.
But there was no lingering to visit. He handed his cup and plate to Louise, then brought Sid and Sal, the pair of oxen that pulled Angela’s wagon, to be hitched. He tied his horse to the side and waited. The normal routine was for her to drive the wagon in the morning and Ruby to do so in the afternoon. He planned to ride with her. Yesterday, he’d learned there was lots of time to talk as the wagon bounced and swayed along.
She showed no surprise when he helped her climb up and sat beside her.
Ruby looked up at them and laughed. “I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t worry about me. I don’t mind walking.”
His only answer was a quirk of his eyebrows. She was teasing him, but he didn’t mind.
The reins cracked. The oxen leaned into their harness. The wagon groaned into action with much ringing of pots and pans. He waited for the noise to settle down before he spoke.
“I thought of so many things last night. Plans and decisions to be made.”
“There isn’t much we can do until we get to the fort.”
“We can plan. For instance, what sort of view would you prefer—wide, rolling hills or sheltering trees or?—”
“Wide, rolling hills. At least on one side.” She lifted her face to the sky. Her mouth rose in pleasure. “I like the idea of being able to see for miles.” The smile retreated. “And of having a good garden spot.”
“That would be my preference too though many settlers choose to be surrounded by trees.”
Did she shiver at his words?
