Page 19 of Wagon Train Melody
She needed to address that matter but first things first. “Is he…did he…?” She could think of two reasons why Bo hadn’t stirred in the night. One was good. The other dreadful. Notwaiting for an answer, she climbed into the back. “Bo?” His chest rose and fell.
She released her tension on an exhalation.
“Bo?”Oh, please wake up.
His eyes opened.
She held her breath as he looked around as if trying to discover where he was. “Bo, you’re awake.” The words bubbled out on joy.
He turned toward her and stared. No recognition in his eyes.
“It’s me. Alice.”
Bo turned away. “Where am I?”
“In the wagon. We’re going to Fort Macleod to join Clint. Remember?”
He lifted his arm. Saw the splints and wrappings. “Who did this?” He clawed at them.
“Bo, leave them be. Your arm is broken.” She tried to pull his hand away, but he pushed her aside.
Rudy appeared at the end of the wagon. “Bo, nice to see you awake.”
Bo forgot the bandages and stared at Rudy. “Who are you?”
“Rudy. Are you hungry? Why don’t you come out for breakfast?”
As Alice held her breath, Bo scrambled over the tailgate and got to his feet. He swayed and pressed his hands to his temples. “Head hurts.”
Rudy draped an arm across Bo’s shoulders and guided him toward the fire. “You can sit on that log while Alice makes breakfast.”
Bo sat and rocked back and forth.
Sissy stared at him.
Kitty stood in front of him. “You sleeped a long time.”
Bo moaned.
Alice stood poised to intervene if Bo got aggressive.
“What the matter with you?” the child demanded.
“My head hurts.”
Kitty patted the top of his head. “You sleeped too long.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
Keeping one eye on Bo and the girls, Alice prepared pancakes for breakfast. Bo toyed with the food and ate little but drank several cups of water.
As she cleaned up from breakfast, Rudy took care of the horses.
They were ready to roll out and Bo still sat staring at the ashes of the fire.
“Bo, it’s time to go. Get in the wagon.”
He jerked as if her words startled him. But he didn’t move toward getting in the back.
