Page 13 of Wagon Train Melody
“Maybe he’s sleeping.” He kept his voice low so the girls couldn’t hear. “Breathing easier.”
She knew from the uncertainty of his voice that he was trying to ease her concerns.
“Auntie, is Unca Bo dead?” Kitty’s voice quivered.
Rudy returned to the front and lifted the girls down. “Your Uncle Bo is fine, but your Auntie needs some time to think. Could you two pick her some flowers?” He pointed to the patch of yellow blossoms a few yards away. The girls looked at him, searching his face. They must have been reassured for, hand in hand, they hurried away.
He returned to the back of the wagon. “I think maybe you need to stretch your legs for a few minutes.”
She looked at Bo then nodded and allowed him to help her down. They walked a few yards away.
She talked as they walked. It seemed she couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself even though Rudy was a stranger. “He scared me. I’ve seen way too much death. First my parents. I was seventeen when they died, and I went to live with my sister, Evelyn, and her husband. Evelyn is their mother.” She tipped her head toward the girls. “Then John and Evelyn died.” She shuddered. “I can’t lose any more of my family.”
They retraced their steps to the wagon.
“I’ve delayed us long enough.” She would have climbed into the back unassisted, but he held out his hand and she allowed him to help.
“We’ll soon need to find a place to stop for the night,” he declared.
“Is there any chance we’ll find a town or someplace where people are living? A ranch, maybe?” Even as she spoke, she knew the answer.
“I’ll keep an eye out for such a place.”
She settled herself beside Bo, relieved to see his chest rising and falling. Why had she panicked earlier? “Thank you,” she murmured to Rudy.
“For what?”
“For risking your safety to help us.” She lifted her chin to indicate the rider they’d seen in the distance.
He looked ready to deny he’d done such a thing then nodded. “I’ll see you get to the fort before I leave you. Unless my being here puts you in danger. If it does, I’ll ride away as fast as my horse will go.” He searched the horizon then trotted toward the girls.
She understood what he meant. Whoever was after him was a risk to her and the girls. Maybe Rudy was too. But so far, he’d proven to be nothing but a help.
He brought the girls to the back of the wagon. They presented her with bouquets of flowers. She thanked them and buried her face in them. They had a wild smell.
She lifted her eyes and met Rudy’s look. He studied her without blinking.
She returned the study, aware of something tenuous between them. Something she didn’t recognize or understand. Or, for that matter, welcome. She had her future cut out for her. Get to the fort. Join forces with Clint. Raise the girls. Give them a home such as she’d known.
He gave a crooked smile and hurried to the front of the wagon where he set the girls on either side of him, and they resumed travel.
They’d only gone a little way when Kitty fussed.
“She’s tired.” Alice moved forward and lifted Kitty from the seat. “Come on, little one. You can rest in the corner.”
Kitty stiffened. “I not tired.”
“Of course, you aren’t. But hush now, you don’t want to disturb Uncle Bo.” The warning seemed to work, for she glanced at Bo and whispered,
“He sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“He sleeped all morning. Why he so tired?”
“He just is.” She spread a quilt near the wagon seat.
Kitty refused to lie down. “I not tired.” She stuck out her chin.
