Page 4 of Wagon Train Melody
She couldn’t argue with the child’s logic. They’d been about ready to depart when Bo tried to hitch the team to the wagon. What had spooked them? She looked around but didn’t see anything that would frighten the horses, and she returned to Bo’s side. Would he never wake up?
Kitty squatted by Bo’s head. “Unca Bo, why don’t you open your eyes?”
Knowing one way to calm the children’s fears, as well as her own, she sangAmazing Graceover and over.T’was grace that brought me safe thus far. And grace my fears relieved.She clung to those words.
Bo moaned.
She leaned closer. “Bo, wake up. Can you open your eyes?”
His eyelids fluttered and then he was again completely still. Alice didn’t like it, but she must not reveal her worries to the girls. They’d had enough of death and loss. All of them had. But he had to get better soon so they could be on their way.
The girls hovered at his head.
“Is he dead?” Kitty whispered.
“No, he’s not. Why don’t the two of you chase each other around the wagon like you did before?” They needed to be distracted. For her sake as well as theirs.
Kitty chased after Sissy, and they screamed with laughter.
Alice sat back on her heels. She was in a fine fix. But they couldn’t be far from Fort Macleod and Clint’s help.
The sound of approaching horses had her instantly on her feet and reaching for the rifle again. It was Rudy with the missing animals.
“Found them in a hollow,” he called. “They were enjoying a tasty bit of grass.”
“Thanks.” She reached for their halters. Sue was docile as ever. Sam was not. He tossed his head, pulling free of Alice’s hold. He snorted and turned tail.
Rudy cut him off. He swung from his saddle and spoke firmly to the horse. “Now behave yourself.” He led Sam to the wagon. She brought Sue.
“I know you need to be on your way. I can manage now.” She’d watched the horses being hitched up and thought she knew what to do, but she had never actually done it before.
Rudy stepped back but didn’t get on his horse. She could feel his gaze on her but ignored him as she tried to recall each step of this harnessing business. But the leather straps all looked the same. She couldn’t figure out what went where.
He took the rigging from her and step by step showed her what to do, explaining it carefully as he did so.
Thankfully, he seemed patient about it. He finished.
“Think you can remember all that?”
The girls were watching the whole procedure, their eyes following every one of Rudy’s moves.
Wonderful, Alice thought, seeing the adoring expression on their faces. Next thing they’d be wanting to keep him. She grinned to picture them dragging him home at the end of a rope and promising to take good care of him.
“Auntie might need help.” Sissy gave him an imploring look.
“I can manage quite fine. Thank you for your help, Mr. Powers.”
“It’s Rudy and you’re welcome.”
They considered each other for a moment. She wondered what he saw. If she had to guess and she had no other choice, she’d say he was wondering how she’d manage on her own until Bo recovered. She might be wondering the same thing, though she would certainly do her best. As for her, she saw a scruffy cowboy who hadn’t shaved in a few days, the dark shadow emphasizing his strong jaw line. His hat hid a portion of his face but not so much she couldn’t see that his eyes were dark brown.
She drew in a deep breath. “I need to check on Bo.”
The girls trotted before her, and Rudy followed.
“He dead a long time.” Kitty’s face wrinkled with worry. “Is he in heaven?”
Sissy took her little sister’s hand and shook her arm. “Auntie told us he isn’t dead.”
