Page 49 of Wagon Train Melody
It was easier to think of Rudy forever leaving their lives.
Her thoughts tangled and twisted until it was all she could do not to moan.
Thankfully, they all went to bed early that night.
Alice lay on her quilt and stared into the gray light.Lord, give me strength and wisdom to keep my head and heart focused on what I must do.
And that was to provide a home for the children.
The next day,the fort came into sight. An answer to her desperate prayer the night before. Now she’d begin her new life. Rudy would go on with his.
At least if Big Al didn’t find him. She looked back and studied the horizon for any sign of the man even though Rudy had recently checked.
“I don’t understand why he hasn’t caught up,” she murmured, not wanting the children to hear as they played in the back and Bo walked beside the wagon.
Rudy shrugged. “I might have left a trail that was hard to follow. I headed south along a well-traveled road to begin with. He may have assumed I was on my way to New Mexico or further.”
She nodded. “So, he might never catch up to you. Maybe he’ll forget about it.”
“Big Al is not the forgiving or forgetting type.”
“That means you might spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder.” Just thinking of it sent shudders up and down her spine. What sort of life was that for anyone? Certainly not the kind that was conducive to peaceful family life.
“Big Al isn’t stupid. When he doesn’t see any sign of me and no one has seen me and my golden horse, he’ll realize what I’ve done.”
“Maybe you should sell that horse.” She sniffed. “Like you said, it’s hard to hide him. Get a brown or black animal that is like most others.”
He grinned at her. “I’ve thought of it, but King is mine.” His eyes held hers in a contemplating way. “It sounds as if you’d like me to stop running.”
She jerked her attention straight ahead. “Won’t you get tired of it?” She glanced out the corner of her eyes to see his reaction.
“There’s a lot of country to disappear into.” His tone suggested it was the answer for him.
Alice fell into silence as they drew closer to the fort. She breathed slowly and deeply, filling her whole being with resolve. She knew what she must do. She would do what was best for them all.
She’d start a new life here. Rudy would continue running. She suspected that even if he didn’t have to stay ahead of Big Al, he would be moving on. It was his way and he’d not once given her a reason to believe it would be otherwise. Her growing feelings for him were her own problem.
“We’ll soon be there.” He sounded relieved.
“And you can leave us.” She forced her words to be steady. Then Kitty and Sissy pressed to her back, anxious and curious about the town ahead of them and she said nothing further on the subject.
Not that there was anything more to say. All that was left to do was forget about him.
She knew she would never be able to do that.
But surely, he would become only a pleasant memory.
As they headed for the fort itself, they passed houses and places of business that constituted the town. Alice studied them carefully. From what Clint had told her, she knew his house was situated there and wondered which one was his.
They went directly to the fort. A guard waved them forward, asked their business, then directed them to the office of the Mountie in charge.
A red-coated man stepped from the doorway at their approach and asked how he could help them.
Rudy jumped down to address the Mountie. “I have a crime to report.” Then he turned to Alice. “And this is Miss Easton. She wishes to be directed to her brother’s home. Clint Easton.”
The sergeant signaled to a young man walking by. “Do you know which house belongs to Mr. Easton?”
The man nodded.
