by Linda Ford
Buck called for them to stop for the noon break. The cold meal didn’t take long to eat. The teamsters stretched out and slept as did the men of the smaller camp.
The last thing Judith wanted was more sitting, or sleeping, and she took Anna by one hand, Polly took Anna’s other hand and they walked on the prairie.
Judith cupped her hand over her eyes and studied the distance. Where was Gil? When would he come back?
“Look,” Polly called. “It’s a dog city.”
Before them lay mound after mound of dirt, the mounds more or less the size of a shopping basket.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Judith said.
“Prairie dogs live here. If we’re quiet we’ll see them.”
Sure enough in a moment an animal much like a rat poked its head from a hole then emerged. Soon there were a dozen or more standing on their hind quarters watching the intruders.
Anna chattered something and the animals disappeared so quickly that Judith laughed.
The wagons rumbled into action behind them and they hurried back.
Anna needed her nap, otherwise Judith would have been content to walk for a few hours. Maybe she’d even catch sight of Gil riding nearby.
Warren waited for her to climb into the wagon with Anna then they were on their way again.
While Anna slept, Judith sat near the back, watching the wagons behind them and often shifting her gaze to either side. She couldn’t help think of the danger Gil had ridden into the previous day and sent up frequent prayers for his safety.
When Anna wakened, they joined Warren on the seat. “Are you going to keep on freighting now that Luke is headed west to start a ranch?”
“I was freighting before he joined me. Don’t see any reason to quit.”
The death of his wife and child had sent him away from home into this freight business. She wished for words to tell him how sad she was at his loss. And not just for his sake. She missed them too. But she knew her brother didn’t care to talk about it.
Anna stood at Judith’s knees and babbled about something. The only word she understood was, “Papa.”
Judith pulled the baby to her lap. “Your papa is out there riding his horse.” She pointed beyond the wagons to the distant horizon.
Anna leaned away from Judith. “Papa.”
“Your papa will come back.” But she understood how Anna would miss Gil. For a week, he’d been with them all day, every day. Judith missed him too.
In fact, by the time they circled the wagons for the night, her missing had grown into an ache. She continued to pray for his safety, but now added a plea for him to join them for supper.
The meal was ready when her prayers were answered and he rode to the camp. He swung from his saddle. Before he reached the ground, Anna squealed her delight.
“Papa, papa,” she called, toddling toward him.
He caught her and swung her in the air then settled her on his hip. “Someone’s glad to see me.”
Judith wasn’t about to race across the grass and throw herself into his arms though the temptation to do so was great. She hoped he would see the welcome in her eyes.
“You’re right on time for supper,” she said.
“I aimed to be.” Their gazes caught and held. She didn’t know how long she stared at him, unaware of anyone else until Luke cleared his throat rather loudly. She jerked her attention back to her work and was relieved when Reverend Shepton stood to say grace. A moment of closing her eyes gave her time to gather her wits.
Mealtime was the usual noise of conversation and hustle of passing food. Gil sat close to Judith, Anna at their feet. For her part, Judith cared only that Gil had returned.
“See any more ruffians out there?” Warren asked Gil, laughing as if it was a joke.
Judith gave Warren a squinty-eyed look to inform him it wasn’t funny, but he didn’t even bother to look her way.
“Not today. But I did find a varmint of sorts.”
Her insides knotted a dozen different ways.
“What sort?” Luke asked.
She understood the men enjoyed making this into a little game, but it wasn’t one she enjoyed.
“A big old rattler.”
Judith shuddered. “I hate snakes.”
Gil’s laugh was soft and intimate. “I know.” His next words included everyone. “I brought back a trophy.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a rattle and shook it.
Judith shuddered again. “I hope you made sure it was good and dead before you took those.”
“It was dead. Maybe not as dead as the one you killed.”
She groaned. Too late to warn him how much enjoyment her brothers would get out of teasing her.
Warren and Luke leaned forward. “She killed a snake?” Luke said.
“But how? She’s deathly afraid of them,” Warren added.
Donna Grace reached over and squeezed Judith’s hand. “I don’t blame you.”
“We have to hear this story,” Luke said. “Tell us.”
Gil told how he had found her with the snake beaten to a pulp. “She said she wanted to teach it a lesson.” His soft laugh and gentle smile filled her with satisfaction that he acknowledged her strength in dealing with a snake.
“I think I made my point utterly clear. No snake is going to get the better of me.” She spoke with such forcefulness that the others laughed.
The meal ended, the men went to tend the animals, check the water barrels and prepare for the night while the women took care of dishes and children.
Judith watched Gil depart with the others. Was it the last she’d see of him tonight?
Gil reluctantly went with the men to take care of the camp, something he had done hundreds of times without a bit of hesitation. But in those hundreds of times, he’d never left behind a pretty little wife whose heart he sought to win.
He made sure Slack was rubbed down and had plenty of grass even if it was getting dry and old. He scouted around to ensure no intruders threatened the camp. But his thoughts continually returned to Judith. He wanted to spend time alone with her.
Somehow he managed to wait until the men began to drift back to camp, leaving behind only those on guard duty. He kept his steps to his usual pace as he made his way to the fire where Judith stood, outlined by the red and orange of the flames. He paused to enjoy the scene. She turned and saw him. Her gaze called him forward.
He reached her side. “Would you care to walk with me? I have something to show you.”
She nodded.
Donna Grace had heard his request. “We’ll watch Anna. Go see what he wants.”
Judith thanked her sister-in-law without freeing Gil from her look.
He reached out a hand to assist her past the wagons then crooked his elbow and she tucked her arm into his. He patted her hand where it rested on his arm.
She spoke first. “I hope you don’t encounter too many rattlesnakes.”
“Not many. I could have avoided this one but I wanted to get his rattles.”
She stopped and stared at him. “You purposely went after a snake?”
He dug the rattles out of his pocket. “These are for you.”
With a shudder, she drew back. “For me? Why?”
“To remind you of what a strong, resilient person you are.” His voice lowered. “And maybe to remind you of the few days you and I shared on this journey.” With a chuckle he added. “And to warn other snakes to stay away.”
She laughed. “Put that way, I will cherish these rattles forever.” She took them from his palm, shook them so they rattled then put them in her pocket. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She looked very inviting and he would have spent the rest of the evening in that very spot but he had something he wanted her to see.
He led her onward until they reached the bank of the Arkansas and looked at the dark waters. “We are at the Great Bend. We’ll keep the river to our left for a while.” He indicated a grassy spot overlooking the river a
nd they sat side by side, watching the river ripple by.
In the distance, coyotes yapped. He heard the deeper bark of a wolf and the coyotes grew silent. He didn’t mention it because he didn’t want Judith to worry.
The sun dipped low and they stayed there to watch the sunset.
“Look how the colors reflect in the water.”
“It’s beautiful. Double the pleasure.”
It wasn’t the reflected sunset that doubled the pleasure for Gil. It was sharing something he’d enjoy in the past with Judith.
Something about the quietness of the place made it easy for Gil to talk. “I missed you today. Guess I got used to spending the entire day with you and Anna.”
“I guess I did too.”
“Isn’t Warren good company?” He meant to tease, but wondered if his tone conveyed a slightly lonely note.
“Warren’s my brother and thinks he can tell me what to do.”
He laughed, partly because he thought Warren should know his sister would do what she thought best, and partly because it sounded like she preferred Gil’s company to her brother’s.
“How is Anna adjusting to having so many people around?”
Judith chuckled. “She loves playing with Polly and I think Polly likes playing with her. She treats her like a little baby and Anna goes along with it.”
“A baby? Is that good?”
Judith shrugged. “Mrs. Shepton said it was only pretend. It’s rather cute though. Polly makes a little bed for her and tells her to lie down and she does. Polly sings a lullaby. Poor Polly. I think she misses her mother.” Judith paused. “And a home.”
Gil forgot how to breathe as he considered Judith’s words. Was she acknowledging that Gil was right in saying Anna needed a home, not endless life on the trail? But they had promised not to talk about it until they reached their destination. If they wintered at Bent’s Fort that would be several months.
He quietly sucked in air. All the more time to court Judith.
She seemed in no hurry to leave. Nor was he. If they waited long enough—
The sky filled with honking and flapping of wings as hundreds of white geese returned to the water for the night. They settled on the river with much squawking and shaking of wings.
He felt, as much as heard, Judith gasp. They both knew enough to be quiet so as not to frighten the birds back into flight. As they watched, some of the birds tucked their heads under their wings to sleep. Others fussed about in the water.
They stayed and watched for several minutes.
In her excitement over the arrival of the birds, Judith had taken Gil’s hand, her fingers warm and clinging. Did she do it only because of the birds or did she enjoy this contact with Gil?
He knew she hadn’t heard the question spoken only in his heart and yet she turned, her eyes full of joy.
“What a wonderful sight,” she murmured so softly her words were barely a whisper. “Thank you for showing me them.” She leaned closer.
He might have accepted it as simply the need to be close enough he could hear her low voice, but based on the welcome he read in her eyes and the way her gaze dipped to his mouth and lingered there for a heartbeat he allowed himself to believe it was more.
He needed no other invitation and dipped his head to catch her lips in a gentle, lingering kiss.
With a sigh he took for pleasure she shifted so that she leaned into his chest. He wrapped his arms about her, content to remain in this spot even though the cold night air descended.
A noisy squabble erupted among the birds and both Gil and Judith turned to watch a bird fight. It ended as quickly as it began with the offended parties squawking about it.
He chuckled. “Birds are a lot like people in many ways.”
She looked up at him, a smile making her look even more kissable.
A bunch of the birds rose from the water in noisy protest at their intrusion.
Reluctantly, he rose and pulled her to her feet. “You must be getting cold.” It provided an excuse to hold her close as they made their way back to the camp.
“I thought we might have missed the geese,” he said. “They migrate to Mexico for the winter.”
“I really enjoyed seeing them.”
He was glad but he wanted more than that.
She continued. “I really enjoyed sharing the moment with you.”
He looked down at her shy smile and drew to a stop. “Me too.” Not wanting to be too demanding and cause her to grow wary, he resisted the temptation to kiss her again.
They rejoined the others. Anna rushed to them. Gil lifted her. He and Judith both wrapped their arms about the little girl. Gil smiled at both of them, his heart certain this was what he wanted.
How long would he have to wait before he could take Anna and Judith to a home without wheels where they could share the joys of life?
15
Judith has little time to spend with Gil the next morning. Just long enough to wave goodbye as he rode away. But she had the memory of the previous night to keep her company as she helped with breakfast, took care of Anna and joined Warren on the wagon seat. Polly had begged to ride with them. She and Anna played in the back.
How Judith had enjoyed Gil’s company. Seeing the geese had thrilled her almost as much as Gil’s kiss. As they hugged Anna between them last night, Judith knew she could find the fulfillment of her dreams with Gil and the baby. Finding Frank’s stepbrother seemed less important with each passing day. Several times the night before she’d considered telling Gil it no longer seemed important, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn her back on Frank’s death as if it didn’t matter. Of course it did and she should honor it by confronting his stepbrother.
The day passed in riding on the hard wagon seat, taking the girls for a walk, and stopping at noon without any sign of Gil. Not that she mentioned it. Everyone knew he was scouting, keeping them safe.
But who kept him safe?
God did and she prayed for protection for the man who had become her husband and for whom she admitted growing affection.
They continued on their way, Anna sleeping in the back. Seeing the quilt squares Donna Grace and Mary Mae made, each depicting some aspect of the journey, Judith decided to create her own squares. Today, she worked on one with geese flying over a river. She had plans to make one with a little girl, another with a man on horseback. She chuckled softly to herself as she planned one with a snake showing its rattles. The rattles Gil had given her were in her pocket and she touched them and thought what a special gift they were.
Her thoughts returned to her former life. Frank had given her many gifts. Flowers brought in from the east, a book of poetry—she’d forgotten it in the bottom of her trunk—and just before his death, he’d given her a silk bookmark with tassels of gold cord. It remained in the book of poetry.
But none of them meant as much as the rattles in her pocket because they were common gifts from a man. The rattles of a snake were personal, represented something special—an acknowledgment of admiration from Gil.
The afternoon rolled on, wheel turn after wheel turn. She joined her brother on the seat, Polly again in the back with Anna.
“Circle the wagons,” Buck called out.
It seemed earlier than normal for a stop but Judith was glad of extra time to wash a few things. Besides it was Saturday and she wanted to give Anna a good bath. She wouldn’t mind one herself but the lack of privacy made it difficult and would necessitate enlisting the help of the other women. She couldn’t ask that of them. She looked about at their campsite. It was then that Judith saw the mound of rock that jutted upward in the midst of prairie with not a tree or shrub or any other object within sight though the Arkansas lay some distance to the south of them.
As she stared at the rock, Gil rode to her side. “It’s Pawnee Rock. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“Amazing.”
“If you like, I’ll take you to the top this evening and we can carve our names in the sandstone.”
/> “I’d like that.” Yes, she wanted to learn more about this mass of stone, but even more, she looked forward to another walk with Gil.
“Later then?” He touched the brim of his hat, flashed a smile and sauntered away.
Her heart as light as the evening air, she turned her attention to the evening chores.
Several times she glanced up from her work and saw Gil talking to some of the teamsters. No doubt checking on his freight wagons.
He joined them for supper and afterwards, went with the men to take care of the stock. The meal was cleaned up, meat and beans set to simmer and he still hadn’t returned.
Donna Grace straightened and glanced past Judith. “Oh my,” she murmured.
Judith turned to see what had Donna Grace grinning so. Gil stood before her, clad in clean clothes, his hair damp and slicked back, beads of water dripping from the ends to his shirt. His cheeks glowed and she knew he had bathed in the cold water of the river.
He pulled his shearing-lined jacket on and donned his hat. “Are you ready?” he asked, his voice hoarse as if aware of the keen interest of the ladies looking at him.
Judith had already arranged for the others to watch Anna and she now circled the fire and went to Gil’s side.
“It’s Saturday night so I thought I should clean up a bit,” Gil said.
Judith wished she had been able to bathe but promised herself she’d wash her hair in the morning, giving it all day to dry.
They left the wagons, the sad notes of the harmonica following them as they crossed toward the dark jutting rocks. At the foot, they stopped to stare up at rugged surface.
“At the top you’ll see all sorts of names carved into the rock.”
Judith considered the climb. “It looks steep.”
“I’ll help you.” He stuck his boot on a rocky outcrop and held his hand to her.
Ignoring her reluctance to tackle the slope, she grabbed his hand and let him guide her upward. At the top, she caught her breath and looked about. “What a view,” she said. She could see the Arkansas to the south. To the east, the trail they had just traversed. To the west, the trail they would travel tomorrow and in every direction as far as the eye could see, the prairie stretched on and on. Something about the vastness sucked debris from her soul and allowed fresh air and hope to fill it.