Page 14 of Wagon Train Melody
Thankfully, Bo didn’t grow upset by the commotion.
Rudy glanced back. “If you lie down, I’ll sing some songs. Would you like that?”
Kitty considered his offer a moment, recognizing it as an attempt to get her cooperation. Alice could see she struggled against her desire to hear Rudy sing.
“Oh, very well.” She huffed and flung herself to the floor.
Rudy chortled and glanced at Alice. “Stubborn little miss, isn’t she?”
Alice acknowledged his comment with a quirk of her eyebrows. “You have no idea.”
Kitty fussed and Rudy began to sing. He sang four songs before she fell asleep.
Sissy’s head fell forward.
Rudy caught her before she tumbled from the seat.
“I’m not tired,” she mumbled then lay her head on his leg.
Alice stood up. “I’ll take her.” She’d find a corner for the girl someplace.
“She’s fine here if you have no objection.”
Alice tried to think if she did. She knew she should have. She glanced out the back. If only because someone was after Rudy.
“I promise to ride away if anyone comes after me. I won’t put you in any danger.”
“I’m sorry for being?—”
He didn’t let her finish. “You’re wise to be cautious.”
She nodded, glad that he understood but still feeling guilty that she didn’t mind accepting his help while judging him for his circumstances.
Bo sat up, yelling and pawing at his broken arm.
She hurried to his side. Her singing calmed him enough she could ease him back to the floor and hold his arm down.
So much for hoping he’d turned a corner the last little while when his breathing eased.
She sang for a long while. Every time she stopped, Bo grew restless. Her head fell forward, and she jerked awake. How long had she dozed? Not that she needed to worry. She would have wakened if Bo stirred. He seemed restful at the moment, and she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“Alice.”
The word jerked her awake.
“This looks like a good place to stop. What do you think?”
She looked out the back. A hill rose behind them. She shifted to look out the front. “Trees and water. It’s all we need.” She yawned. “Sorry.”
Sissy sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Where are we?”
“We’ll stop here for the night,” Rudy looked back at Alice. “If you’re all right with that?”
Alice understood from the wary look in his eyes that he meant more than stopping. He meant him being there. Did he expect to spend the night with them? Did she object if he did?
A look out the back and to each side revealed no pursuer. What if they were overtaken in the night? But what if Rudy left and she was alone with the girls and Bo? And two horses she couldn’t control?
He waited for her answer.
