Page 15 of Wagon Train Melody
“I’m all right with spending the night here.” She held his gaze, silently informing him that she welcomed his presence.Though perhaps she’d accepted the necessity more than welcomed it.
“Very well.” He jumped to the ground, lifted the girls down, then hurried to the back to help Alice before she could scramble out on her own. She readily admitted having someone help her made getting in and out a whole lot easier.
Bo rested quietly as Rudy built a fire and tended the horses while Alice folded down the table that hung at the side of the wagon and began meal preparations.
“Auntie is gonna make us bacon and potatoes,” Kitty announced to Rudy when he returned from watering the horses.
“Sounds good. Smells even better.” He circled the camping area, checking the ground as well as the horizon.
The girls trotted after him. She suspected Rudy was simply keeping the girls amused and running off some of their energy and was even more convinced when he chased them, caught them, and tossed them in the air, bringing squeals of delight from the girls.
Alice blinked back tears. John, their father, had played with them like that.
In a few minutes, she had the simple meal ready and called them in.
They trotted back. Rudy gave her a questioning look. Maybe she hadn’t wiped her tears away as thoroughly as she thought.
They again sat in a circle. Holding hands. “Kitty, it’s your turn to say grace.”
“I want Mr. Rudy to say it.” She looked at the man with such wide-eyed innocence and trust that Alice wondered how he would refuse.
“It’d be my honor.” His hat had already been tossed aside so he bowed his head.
“Girls, close your eyes,” Alice murmured, although she was every bit as curious as they were to hear what Rudy would say.
“Dear Heavenly Father,” he began. “You provide so generously and faithfully for us. Thank You for safety in our travels. Thank You for this great smelling food. Bless each one of us. Amen.”
It was a simple prayer and yet—Alice shook her head. She didn’t know what she’d expected.
The girls ate hungrily, but as soon as their tummies grew full, they began to chatter. Non-stop. They plied Rudy with questions. Alice knew she should stop them, but she wanted to hear his answers.
“What a cowboy do?” Kitty asked.
“Make cows go where they belong. Sometimes all the way from Texas.”
“Where Tescas?”
“Way far away to the southeast.” He pointed in the general direction.
Sissy squinted that direction then brought her gaze back to Alice. “Where’re we from?”
Alice pointed in a generally east direction.
“My papa and grandpa owned a store,” Sissy said. “It smelled like oats and oil.”
Alice again blinked away tears.
And of course, Rudy had to notice.
She gathered up the supper dishes. “Girls, go run around before it’s time for bed.”
Kitty grabbed Rudy’s hand. “You come too.”
It only took a few minutes for Alice to clean up. She climbed into the wagon to check on Bo. He’d been out a long time. Oh, if only he would wake up.
Until he did, she didn’t see how she could manage without Rudy’s help.
She looked to where Rudy played with the girls. They tackled him and he grabbed them both, carrying them under his arms like sacks of grain.
