Page 6 of Wagon Train Melody
And the rifle?
He wanted to put her mind at rest. “Who says I’m on the run?” It was all he could do to keep his gaze from checking down the trail.
Her only answer was a lifting of her eyebrows.
Fine. He might have revealed more than he knew. “What makes you think I’ve had bad things told me?”
Before she could answer, the girls returned, and Sissy dabbed at the cut on her aunt’s face.
Kitty leaned closer, inspecting the job. As soon as Sissy finished, Kitty kissed the cut.
“All better.”
Alice hugged both girls. “Thank you. It feels good now.”
Rudy grinned at the scene. So much love and tenderness from each. The sort of family he might have dreamed of when he was a kid. Now that Alice was distracted, he looked down the trail. Still no sign of a pursuer. How long before the man caught up to him?
Realizing that Alice watched him, he turned his attention back to Bo. “Think we can get him into the wagon?”
For an answer, she eased the girls back, told them to stay there, then put her arm under Bo’s neck and tried to sit him up. He was more than she could manage.
Rudy didn’t allow her to struggle but eased his arm under the boy’s neck and legs and lifted him.
She jerked back as if his touch had stung her. Guess he couldn’t blame her. Not only was he a stranger, but he was on the run. She did well to be cautious around him.
Seeing he didn’t need her help; Alice led the way to the wagon. There was a narrow mattress where he guessed the girls slept.
Alice jumped inside and helped Rudy ease Bo to the mat.
Bo stirred, moaned something, and thrashed about wildly. Rudy caught both hands and pressed them to the boy’s sides. Bo struggled and cried out.
Alice’s eyes flooded with misery then she blinked and sat at her brother’s head and sang, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.”
Bo’s arms fell still. His mumbling stopped.
Alice sang softly for a few more minutes. “He’s settled down.” She lifted her worried gaze to Rudy. “What’s going on?”
Rudy shook his head. “I don’t know.” He didn’t like not being able to offer any reassurances to this young woman.
“Auntie?” Sissy called from outside the wagon. “Uncle Bo all right?”
“He’s still sleeping but other than that, yes.”
Rudy guessed from the determination in her eyes that she expected everything would be fine.
She scrambled to her feet and edged past her brother.
Rudy dropped to the ground and reached up a hand to assist Alice. He didn’t miss the way she hesitated. Although it was perfectly normal that she should do so, he wanted to protest. Explain he wasn’t a bad man. Just a man in an unfortunate situation.
But she rushed away as soon as her feet touched the dusty grass and herded the girls ahead of her. “Come along, you two. It’s time for us to be on our way.” She lifted each child to the bench then climbed up to sit between them. She took up the reins and flicked them.
He called King and swung to the saddle.
“Whoa. Whoa.” Alice’s frantic call made Rudy rein about to see what was going on.
The horse she’d called Sam, struggled against the harness. The other horse, Sue, refused to budge and snorted her displeasure with her teammate.
Rudy rode toward the horses and caught the harness. “Settle down and do your job.” He spoke firmly. Sam eased back and the pair pulled together.
