Page 2 of Wagon Train Melody
The woman lowered a hand and pushed the littlest one behind her. “Girls, stay back.”
While she was distracted, Rudy swung from the saddle. She didn’t shoot him as he made his way to the body. First thing he noticed was the rise and fall of the man’s chest. And the bruises on his face.
“What happened?” Then he realized he’d forgotten his manners. He faced the gal who still held the rifle, though it now pointed downward. “Rudy Powers at your service, ma’am.” He touched the brim of his hat.
The girls looked around the woman’s skirts and giggled.
“And who are these charming young ladies?” he asked.
“I’m Sissy,” the bigger one answered. “This is my sister, Kitty. She's Auntie Alice—” she pointed toward the woman “—and that’s Uncle Bo.”
“Girls! What have I told you about talking to strangers?”
Sissy batted her eyes. “We should be polite.” She turned her big brown eyes back to Rudy. “I’m four. Kitty is three. Auntie Alice is?—”
“Sissy, that’s quite enough.”
Rudy chuckled. “Pleased to meet you all. Now let’s see what can be done for Uncle Bo.” He knelt beside the still man. No one had answered his initial question, so he repeated it. “What happened?”
Sissy stepped away from her aunt. “He got kicked.”
“By a horse,” Kitty added.
Auntie Alice took the hand of each girl and leaned over to their level. “Girls, will you let me say what needs to be said?”
Two heads nodded.
Kitty opened her mouth. “What you gonna tell him?”
“You two stay here.” She stood them by the wagon then moved closer to Rudy. “The horses bolted, and Bo got hit. He’s been out quite a while. And I think maybe his arm is broken.”
Rudy looked at Bo’s arms. Both were covered with his shirt sleeves. He ran his hands along each and indeed, felt a bump on the right one. “It seems to be in position. That’s good.”
“You know how to deal with a broken arm?”
“Seen a few broken limbs in my time. Keep them immobilized a few weeks and they’ll be right as rain.”
“Good to know. What about his head?”
He shrugged. “Can’t say what that means.” He kept his gaze on the man for fear she would see things in his expression he didn’t want her to see. He’d seen a few men knocked out. Seemed to him the longer they were out the worse the outcome. One man went from trail boss to needing to be told everything he needed to do. Couldn’t even get himself ready for bed without direction. Sad.
Rudy pushed to his feet. “Where are you folks headed?”
Alice held a warning finger toward the girls and they both sank back without answering his question. “We’re going to join my other brother.”
“Other brother?” Had he missed something? He glanced to either side.
“Yes, Bo is my younger brother.” Her eyes widened as she realized his assumption about their relationship, and she chuckled. “You thought— He’s only fifteen.” Another chuckle. “That’s funny.”
The little girls covered their mouths and giggled, though they didn’t likely know what was amusing.
Rudy grinned. “I did think it a little odd.”
They looked at each other and laughed.
He sobered. “Where is your older brother?” He assumed the other brother was older seeing as she meant to join him. Of course, he might be jumping to conclusions again.
She stared at Bo without answering.
