Page 17 of Wagon Train Melody
He felt her shock clear across the fire.
“You had your Uncle Zeke.”
“Yup. I guess I did.” How could she understand how vastly different their families had been?
“What aren’t you saying?”
“I’m not complaining, but Uncle Zeke expected me to be a man, do a man’s work and I did.” Zeke saw no sense in coddling anyone…especially Rudy. Not that Rudy expected it. He’d pretty much raised himself to that point and saw no reason for things to change. Though he’d many times felt he had to prove himself to others. “I recall a time the cowboys were breaking horses. One after another they got thrown from this one horse. I watched and figured I could see what they were doing wrong. The horse kept tossing to the right and then hi-stepping to the left, catching the cowboys off balance. I figured I could ride the horse and insisted on being given a chance. Well, guess what? I landed face down in the dirt with the air knocked out of me and a bunch of wranglers hooting and hollering. Uncle Zeke dragged me from the corral. I remember him checking me over for injuries. He declared that maybe it would knock some of the cockiness out of me.” He shook his head in self-mockery. “I don’t suppose it did.”
“Your memories are a lot different than mine. Looking at that shelter you built, and hearing Sissy’s excitement reminds me of the playhouse my father built for Evelyn and me. We spent hours playing together. Sometimes we’d be teachers. Other times, missionary ladies. But most of the time, we played house.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It was. And now I get to play house for real with those two little ones.”
The sun had lowered in the west. He got up. “I’ll make sure the horses are secure for the night.” He tied the team close to the wagon but tied King in the trees in the hopes he’d be less visible.
He was aware of Alice watching him. Saw the narrowing of her eyes and knew she understood he was hiding the horse as best he could. But she didn’t ask any questions, and he didn’t provide any information. She knew he was on the run. There was no need for her to know the reason why. It would only serve to make her more nervous.
She slipped away to check on her brother but returned to the fire. Bo hadn’t called out or thrashed about in a little while. He hoped that was good news.
“Nice horse,” she observed when she returned.
“Yeah, but hard to hide with his bright coat.”
“Rudy, who is after you?”
He hadn’t expected such a direct question. Resigned to telling her the truth, he sat down again, closer to her so the smoke wouldn’t drift to his eyes.
“I saw a man murdered in Fort Benton.”
“Why didn’t you report it?”
“I didn’t have a chance. The man knew I’d seen him and came after me to kill me. Besides, he was a friend of the sheriff’s no-good brother that he let get away with murder. When he realized I’d seen, he laughed. ‘You’re next big man. And ain’t no one going to stop me.’ I knew there was no point in going to the sheriff even if I had the chance, so I did what any man with a brain in his head would do. I headed out with the man hot on my tail.”
“That explains why you’re traveling so light.”
“You noticed.”
She chuckled. “Of course, I did.” She shifted to look closely at him. “How long are you going to keep running?”
“I figure if I can get to Fort Macleod and tell my story to the Mounties they’ll watch for the man. If he crosses the border, they’ll arrest him and take him back to face trial.” He knew there were holes in his plan. For one thing, the murderer could slip by the Mounties. But he hadn’t been able to come up with anything better.
“If not for your horse, riding with us might be a good way for you to hide. But as you say that horse is hard to miss.”
“I thought of that. Can’t hide King even in a dark night.” He looked toward the horse, almost hidden in the shadows. But all he had to do was shift a little and the moonlight reflected off his coat.
The fire had died down. Alice got to her feet. “I’ll bid you goodnight.”
“How is Bo?”
“He seems to be resting.”
“Goodnight then. Call if you need anything.” He waited for her to check on Bo again then crawl in with the little girls.
He lay down on his bedroll and stared at the starry sky. Sissy and Kitty were fortunate to have an aunt like Alice.
Lord, I don’t pray much. Kind of figure You got things under control even when I don’t understand. Such as me running from a murderer. Seems he should be the one running. But then, if I wasn’t on the run, I wouldn’t have come upon Alice. I doubt she could manage on her own. It reminds me of something that old preacher said back in Skunk Hollow. You know the end from the beginning. He also said we could ask for things we know You’d approve of and You’d answer in the way that is best even if it isn’t what we had in mind. So, Lord, I’m asking for Bo to regain consciousness and for me to be able to help Alice get safely to the fort. Guess You know that means Big Al can’t catch up to me while I’m helping her.
