Ellen shrugged. “He didn’t have to save us. If we died, there would be fewer white people for his people to kill later.”
The outrageous statement first took Marie’s breath. She stared at the younger woman. “Good heaven above, why would you say such a thing?” As she saw shame sweep Ellen’s face, she added, “Not all the natives want to kill us. A lot of them who do are retaliating for wars started by us.” During her speech, Marie saw how Ellen stared at her father on the other side of the river. She followed her friend’s gaze and watched as Mr. Winslow talked with a group of men. The family wagon, oxen still connected, continued to drain water even while on the opposite bank. When Marie looked back at Ellen, the girl still staring down at her soaked clothes and shoes.
Ellen coughed and stated in a quiet voice, “If not for a damned Indian, as my father calls them, he’d be the only one of us alive now. I think I can stop pretending and admit I’m extremely fond of Mr. Du Boise.”
“He seems to be a fine man and a kind person.” Marie smiled when seeing the softening of Ellen’s expression.
The younger woman blushed. “If I weren’t forbidden by my father, I would be thrilled to learn everything about him. He’s handsome, seems educated, and speaks several languages. As if all that weren’t enough, he thinks I’m beautiful and has said so more than once.” She shrugged, adding, “Clearly, the man isn’t perfect. He needs glasses as strong as mine. Still, I do like him very much.”
Marie felt compelled to dispute Ellen’s comment. Not wanting to argue at the moment, she said instead, “Then, I suppose it’s settled. Mr. Du Boise is not only very wise, but is also very tolerable. We shall be kind to him from now on, but not too much. He’s still a man we’ve only just met.”
Her face glowed when Ellen admitted, “I might need to be less kind than I have been in the past day or so.”
With a wicked grin, Marie motioned for her to follow. “You’ll have to tell me why exactly as you sort through my longest dresses.”
“I don’t know if I should even say aloud what happened.”
She laughed when seeing a deep red blush begin on her friend’s face. “Goodness! That much?”
“No, not much. Although anything is too much since he’s not white.”
“Oh.” Ellen’s crude statements, an echo of her father’s prejudice, still rang in Marie’s mind. She nodded. “Yes, that would be a problem.”
“I don’t think my father would even see the European part of Adelard.”
Marie let down the tailgate and climbed inside the wagon. “Maybe if Del wore clothes from France, your father might see him differently.” She opened a trunk, found just the right dress for Ellen, and held it up. “I’d loan you this, but it’s Hester’s. She’d protest.”
“Best not to start a fight, then. I’d rather wear one of yours, even if my knees showed.”
Marie snorted a laugh before stopping herself. “Now, now, I’m not so tall. You’re just a lovely young sapling.” She searched through the dresses, pulling a pale blue calico of her own from the trunk. “This is perfect! Yes, it’s not long enough, but everyone will be looking at how bright gray your eyes are. No one will see your ankles.”
Taking the dress, Ellen held it against her. “It’s so lovely, I’m not sure I should take it.”
“Yes, you should.” She dug around in the trunk, thinking of another she could loan her friend. “Here, you’ll want this as well. It’s one of my Sunday dresses and is a little too tight, or has been. I don’t even want to try this on again and stretch the seams.”
“You don’t think you’ve slimmed since we left Missouri?”
Marie paused, knowing Ellen was right. Still, the light green would look so pretty on the young woman. “I might have. It doesn’t matter. I want you to have this. Charles has been complaining about how many dresses I packed. You’ll be doing all of us a favor by taking this. He won’t need to complain, and I won’t need to hear him.” She closed the trunk and went to another one. “I have some leftover fabric in here. Enough to make a couple of ruffles to lengthen the skirts.”
The woman took a step back. “I don’t know; that’s awfully generous of you.”
“Not so much generous as necessary.” She found the folded cloth. “The oxen will like the lighter load, and Charles will be happy.” Giving the fabric to Ellen, she said, “See? I'm entirely selfish in this.”
“I’m not sure about that, but thank you.” Ellen shook her head. “This is like a birthday and Christmas in one day.”
Charles knocked on the wagon. “Ladies? We’re the next to cross on the ferry.”
“Thank you, dear. We’ll be out in a moment.” Marie turned to her friend. “Jenny’s family is behind us. I’m sure you can change in their wagon without the rush.”
Ellen nodded, holding the dresses close to her. “Thank you again, Marie. You’re a true friend.”
The compliment left her feeling shy. “It takes one to know one.”
Nodding at the young woman, Charles said, “Miss Winslow. Looks like you’re set.”
“Thank you, too, Mr. Warren, for helping us.”
“You’re welcome.” He said to Marie, “Are you ready, yet?”
“I am.” She looked at Ellen, who nodded, and turned back to her husband. “Ready whenever you are. Where’s Hester?”
“She’s on the ferry already with the fare.” He sat on the wagon seat. “Come on up and let’s go.”
Marie hoisted herself up and settled in next to her husband. Charles clicked and snapped the reins. The oxen pulled them over to where the ferry and Hester waited. They rolled onto the conveyance with a jounce. The wood underneath their wheels swayed a little under their combined weight. She held onto the seat with the motion. As soon as the ferry started across, Charles hopped down and went to Hester. Marie looked back at them for a moment before turning ahead to watch the opposite bank approach.
River crossings both scared and thrilled her. Each time, the possibility of tipping over and drowning loomed. Reaching solid ground meant one more landmark lay behind them. Marie smiled as the ferry bumped its way onto the bank. Charles helped Hester up before seating himself beside his sister. They continued on, catching up with others in the Granville party. All of them rolled slow enough for those behind them to catch up. Before too long, Marie grew tired of being jostled. “Charles? I’d like to step down now.”
He heaved a sigh as if bothered by the request. “Very well.” The animals eased to a stop when he pulled the reins, giving Marie the chance to jump down. The instant her hemline brushed the ground; Charles clicked the oxen back into motion. Marie looked away to hide her scowl from him. She disliked his quiet punishments almost more than his louder temper tantrums. She frowned when thinking of joining Jenny or Ellen for noon. No sense in inflicting her sour disposition on them. A long day of dwelling on California loomed ahead of her. The incline Marie walked up winded her. She stopped to catch her breath, already missing her friends’ distracting chatter.
The gravel under her feet rolled. She caught herself, halting a tumble to the ground. Marie looked down the road, wanting a steady ridge to follow. This struggling uphill and bracing herself downhill grew tiresome fast. At a distance, the hills looked easy to traverse. Going up one side and down the other worked the men and animals hard. They followed a dry creek bed for what seem like days before finding a small pool of spring water.
When hearing the signal to stop, she sighed, grateful for the day’s milestone. Marie shivered with cold, though a rivulet of sweat ran down her back. She frowned at the sensation. Shaking her head, she tried to think of an illness with such symptoms and couldn’t remember any. She went to her family’s wagon, now hot and wanting a drink of water.
She found a cup and went to the front of the wagon. Charles had their animals there. The oxen slurped at the thin stream. Marie smiled at her husband. “I don’t blame them.”
He gave her a grin. “Nor do I. When the sun isn’t roasting us alive,
the cold winds are freezing us.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” She knelt a little upstream from the animals’ noses. “I’ve been feeling feverish all morning.”
Charles walked over to her, pressing the back of his hand against her forehead. “No, you’re not sick.”
His smile and touch warmed her heart. Marie looked up at him, seeing a glimpse of the man she’d married. “I’m glad. Thank you for checking.”
“My pleasure.” He smoothed a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. “We’ve not been alone like this in a while, have we?” Looking up and around him, he added, “Alone as much as we can be while traveling in the group, of course. You and I will spend much more time together in California. We’ll keep a shop, have our home above the store, and will be very successful, I promise.” He caressed her cheek.
Her heart skipped when she heard his plans. Charles’ loving kindness to Marie just now made leaving Sam almost bearable. She glanced away from her husband’s brown eyes and into the western horizon. Soon, the days would run out, and she’d have to leave Sam and the others.
“You seem troubled, my love.”
Her eyebrows raised and Marie struggled to keep an even temper. “Your love? I’ve not heard that from you in a long time, I think,” she blurted, her voice angry to even her own ears. She stopped just short of asking why all the affectionate words now after pushing her away for months. He’d only give the reason as respecting her privacy, something she didn’t quite believe anymore.
He frowned. “I’ve thought such words were understood.”
She followed as he led the oxen to a patch of short grass. “They are, but I enjoy hearing them once in a while from you.”
“I suppose you want me to go on and on about love and such.”
“No, I’m all right with hearing the occasional word.”
He stared past her shoulder and frowned. “Are you? I don’t think so. I give you one romantic sentiment, and you’re acting like I’ve been neglectful.”
“What? No, not at all. You’re a good husband….”
Bumping her a little, Hester brushed past Marie. “You’re right. My brother is the best husband a woman could want.”
Like a dog with a bone, Charles picked up on his wife’s admission and didn’t let go. “You think I’m good? I suppose I should be grateful for that much.” He glanced up from watching the animals eat. “You have never been happy with anything I’ve given you.”
Marie clenched her hands. “I have so.”
“No, you haven’t. I know what you meant by thanking me, how I’ve not been paying enough attention to you or saying lovely things to you often enough.” He jerked on the oxen, pulling them away from their grazing. “You think I’m neglectful and don’t coddle you enough.”
“I don’t mean that at all.”
“Yes, you do. You think, well, it doesn’t matter what you think. I’ll never be enough of a lapdog for you. I’m too busy trying to get us across the country and into a better life. You’re just too spoiled to notice my hard work.”
“Why, Charles! Of course, I appreciate what you do…”
“No, you sure as hell don’t.” He turned and stomped away without taking the animals with him.
Hester smirked at her before following Charles. Marie stood frozen, wondering what had happened to them. After a moment, she closed her mouth and shook her head. Somehow in the conversation, she’d offended him. Seeing others moseying back to the wagons, she bent and took the oxen’s reins in her hands. Neither Charles nor Hester said anything to her as Marie gave the reins to her husband. She glanced up at Hester, perched on the seat. The other woman gave a nod before staring ahead. Marie didn’t like the smirk her sister in law failed to hide.
They all moved as one when the bugle’s notes drifted across the land. Her stomach growled, reminding Marie she missed eating. A long afternoon stretched out in front of her. Unwilling to beg for scraps from others, and not wanting to stop the Warrens, she knelt by the water and scooped up a handful to drink. Several sips later, she began following the wagon train.
At the top of a steep incline, she paused. If the climb hadn’t left her breathless, the vista in front of Marie would have. Gray-green hills spread out in all directions, low mountains in the distance. Bright yellow splashes of wildflowers broke up the sage, brightening the landscape. She breathed in as the north breeze flowed against her face. The vastness stretched endlessly with the westward march of emigrants being the only sign of humanity. The sound of a horse’s hooves caught her attention. Marie smiled, hoping Sam was checking on her. She turned to see Del as he approached.
“Bonjour, madam.” He dismounted a few feet away from her. “Comment allez vous?”
“Tres bien, merci. Et vous?”
“Bien, d’accord.”
“Penny for your thoughts, Adelard, as if I didn’t already know,” Marie said.
Del smiled and shook his head. “I can’t admit to thinking of a particular woman.”
She smiled. “Good, because I’d hate to see my friend hurt.”
“Hurt? How could I do that?”
“Probably in the same way she could hurt you.”
“Not possible.” Del shook his head “I don’t regard her as a savage and subhuman.”
She nodded. “It is possible. She’s beginning to care a lot for you.” Marie smiled at him, “She said a lot of complimentary things about you after the rescue. I’m not sure if she wanted me to say anything, though. She ought to give her opinion to you herself.”
“This discussion is somewhat futile. Her father has forbidden us to talk.”
“Do you think she’ll abide by his decision?” she asked.
He smiled. “As much as she can, despite my tempting her.”
Marie stared hard at him. “Are you sure doing so is a good idea? I’d hate to see her punished for your actions.”
“As would I.” He held his hand out for her to hold, steadying her as she inched down a steep decline. “She’s in no danger, I can promise.”
She waited until he and his horse clambered down as well. “Thank you for the reassurance.”
Del opened his mouth just as Lucky rode up to them. He smiled at her. “We can continue this later?”
“Oui.” She returned his grin. “I’d like that.”
Lucky spoke first. “Ma’am, Mr. Du Boise, we’re stopping at Emigrant Springs up ahead. Mr. Granville wants to make camp there tonight. He thinks it might be the last good water until Smith’s Fork.”
Del turned to Marie. “Madame, I see your family up ahead.” He swung up onto his horse and nodded. “Au revoir.”
She watched as Lucky tipped his hat in farewell and they rode toward the back of the train. Both men had warm brown eyes similar to Charles’. She smiled, thinking of how their young lives stretched out in front of them. Looking ahead, Marie sighed. The lead wagons pulled around in the usual circle. Jenny caught her eye, and she waved at the girl who returned her greeting.
Another wagon party pulled in just behind them, forming their own circle. Marie found her family’s wagon. Used to their chores, she noticed the other Warrens had unhitched the oxen. Charles took care of them, and Hester gathered firewood most evenings. Retrieving the pail, she snuck glances at the various people when scooping water for dinner. No one looked familiar, so she didn’t stop to chat with anyone. A sudden faint feeling reminded her of missing the noon meal.
Getting dinner together took her no time. Marie set out the blankets to sit on and settled in to wait. She drummed her fingers, hunger nagging her into action. Standing, she went off in search of sage to burn.
With the fuel gathered and the campfire ready for cooking, she placed cut up chunks of bacon in to fry. Beans needed more time than she had. Marie mixed up some cornbread, putting in a handful of dried currants to give it some taste. The food smelled better with each passing minute. Satisfied the meat was ready, she moved the pans to the side of the fire and dished up her own meal. The War
rens walked up just as she finished her last bite.
Charles spoke first while bending down to kiss the top of her head. “Hello, dearest. Dinner is ready, I see.”
Before she could reply to her husband, Hester said, “And you kept it warm for us. Astounding.”
Marie frowned, sensing censure in her sister in law’s tone. “I did, in fact. Everything is close enough to keep warm without burning.”
“Oh, certainly it is.” Hester settled in and started getting food. “I’m pleased to see such common sense from you, dear sister.”
She stopped just short of frowning at the older woman. Charles blocked her view for a moment, getting his own dinner. He leaned back and Marie took the opportunity to ask, “Would one of you be willing to do dishes tonight?”
Grinning at her, Charles replied, “I’d be glad to wash dishes. Hessy can help.”
Hester’s face wrinkled in disagreement. “I can?”
“For a meal like this, you can.”
Her expression didn’t change. “I suppose so.”
Marie was tempted to tell them that the dinner was no better cooked than any other night but only seemed so because they’d come on time rather than letting it scorch and dry while they tarried doing God knows what. She summoned the good grace to refrain, however, mostly to avoid involvement. Wanting to just let them fight it out among themselves, Marie ignored the banter and added, “Then I might go see what’s happening at the main camp, see if there’s any entertainment tonight.”
“Oh, goodness. You think the music that man plays is enjoyable?”
Charles patted his sister’s hand. “Now, Hess, she’s entitled to her own preferences.”
Marie took the chance in their pause to ask, “Do I need to do any chores?”
“No, dearest,” said Charles. “We took the animals for a long graze.”
“Thank you both.” She slipped away, taking a deep breath once out of earshot. As if shedding a second skin, Marie’s tension eased with each step towards Sam’s campsite.
She stepped around a wagon, saw him in the firelight, and stopped in her tracks. He’d taken off his hat. His dark hair stood up from where he’d run a hand through it. He laughed after Del said something she couldn’t hear. Marie loved how warm his skin looked, his smile creasing his face. He glanced at her, his expression skipping her heart a beat. His eyes warmed her soul like the flames shimmering in the night air between them. Staring at the handsome and scruffy man appealed so much to her right now. Del waving at her caught Marie’s attention, breaking the spell between her and Sam. “Good evening, gentlemen,” she said while taking a step forward. “Is there room for me?”
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