“I gots ta go again.” Katie stared up at him expectantly. He narrowed his eyes, trying to determine if she was telling the truth or just looking for a way out of the wagon. Katie looked at him with wide blue eyes; then her pink little lip pushed out into a darling pout.
Mason glanced up at Rebekah. Their gazes locked. Bekah’s eyes twinkled with mischief, and she stuck out her lip at him. He couldn’t hold back his howl of laughter. Bekah’s shoulders bounced with her own mirth. Katie looked at them like they’d both gone crazy.
“Don’t waff at me.” Katie shook her head like an offended matron. “I gots ta go weal bad. Weally, Unca Mathon.”
Mason and Bekah’s laughter only increased. Tears blurred Mason’s vision as he reached back and lifted Katie onto the wagon seat, ignoring the sting in his wounded shoulder.
Katie sat stiffly on the seat with her pudgy little arms crossed over her chest. “It’s not funny,” she huffed.
“What’s not funny?” Jimmy poked his head up then grabbed Mason’s arm. “Look there.” He pointed over the horses’ heads. Mason choked back his laughter at the sudden urgent tone in Jimmy’s voice. Up ahead, a buckboard listed unnaturally to the left. A man squatted beside the broken wheel as if trying to decide what to do. They pulled up closer to the busted wagon.
Suddenly a woman stepped from behind a tree, her rifle pointed straight at them.
twelve
Rebekah’s heart pumped with anxiety. Were they about to be robbed? Would they lose their wagon—or worse? Mason couldn’t defend them with an injured shoulder. She breathed a quick prayer as she leaned forward and reached toward the rifle resting on the floor near her feet.
Mason firmly but gently grabbed her shoulder, giving her a quick shake of his head as he turned his gaze toward the strangers. “We don’t mean you folks any harm. We’d like to help if we can.”
The woman studied them for a long moment; then Rebekah sighed with relief as the older woman lowered the barrel of the rifle till it pointed at the ground.
“I don’t reckon you’ll do us harm if you got your wife and kids with you.”
Rebekah groaned. Not the wife thing again She sat up on the hard seat. First chance she got, she was going to set the woman straight.
“Come sit a spell. Maybe we could share dinner tonight,” the woman offered. Suddenly the thought of talking with another adult woman tickled Rebekah’s insides. She hadn’t had a conversation with a woman since her mother died.
Mason clicked the horses forward then guided the wagon to the side of the trail. One-handedly, he helped Rebekah and Katie descend from the wagon. Jimmy hopped out the back and hustled around to the front. He started to unhitch the horses but stopped and looked at Mason for permission. Rebekah saw Mason give the boy a swift nod; then with the grace of a three-legged bear, Mason climbed down from the wagon. His jerky motions made her wonder how much his shoulder still hurt him. And she didn’t miss the fact that he left the rifle on the wagon floorboard. Knowing he felt that comfortable already with these strangers eased some of the tension tightening her neck and shoulders.
Feeling a tug on her skirt, she looked down to see Katie’s forlorn face. Rebekah bit back a smile at Katie’s cross-legged dance. She grabbed the girl’s hand and rushed her behind the wagon, grinning as Mason’s soft chuckle followed on the warm afternoon breeze.
By the time they returned, the horses were grazing in the nearby field and Mason had squatted beside the man, looking over the broken wheel. Rebekah headed toward the woman, her arm jerking as Katie held her hand and skipped along beside her. The woman looked to be in her late fifties or so. Her plump figure amply filled out the faded blue calico. Graying brown hair was bunched in a loose bun at her nape, and a bonnet hung down her back with the tie forming a strange bow under the woman’s two chins.
“Howdy! I’m right pleasured to meet you’ns. I’m Ella Robinson, and that’s my Luther fixing the wagon wheel.”
Rebekah smiled. The woman had kind blue gray eyes and a friendly grin. “This is Katie, and I’m Rebekah Bailey.” Katie blessed the woman with a dimpled smile and a brief wave; then she tugged her hand free from Rebekah’s and skipped off toward Jimmy, who had squatted next to Mason.
“Your Mr. Bailey was kind to offer us help. We’s anxious to get back on the road to Oklahoma. Gonna get us some land in that big race they’s gonna have there.”
Rebekah watched Ella Robinson rustling around in the back of her wagon. She pulled out what looked to be biscuit fixings. Suddenly it dawned on Rebekah what the woman had called Mason. Mr. Bailey. She didn’t know whether to laugh or scream, but she knew she had to set the woman straight. “We’re heading there, too.” Rebekah turned and pointed to Mason. “His name’s Mason Danfield, and the boy is Jimmy. The children are Mason’s niece and nephew.” Rebekah cleared her throat. “And we aren’t married.”
Mrs. Robinson stopped almost in midstride. She looked at Mason and back to Rebekah. Her gaze darkened, and her thick lips thinned into a straight white line. “Oh, my. That’s not at all proper.” Her withered hand rose to her mouth.
Rebekah stepped forward and laid her hand on the woman’s arm. “Please, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
The woman’s gaze looked skeptical. Rebekah’s words rushed forth as she told the story of how Mason had rescued her, but she left out the part about how she’d run away from home—away from an unwanted marriage. Mrs. Robinson seemed to ponder her words for a moment, then shook her head. Before Rebekah could blink twice, the woman set her bowl of supplies on the tailgate and tugged Rebekah into her plump arms. “You poor thing. You must have been so frightened. Well, you’re safe now. Luther and I’ll take care of you. Since we’re both goin’ to Guthrie, you can travel with us.”
Rebekah was flabbergasted. Not travel with Mason? But he needed her, didn’t he? She felt a sudden warmth at her shoulder and knew instantly that it was Mason.
“Uh … that’s mighty kind of you, ma’am, but you can see I’m laid up some and sure need Bekah’s help, especially with the kids and the cookin’.”
Mrs. Robinson gave Mason a thorough dressing-down with her eyes. Rebekah didn’t think she’d like being on the wrong side of the older woman’s temper, but she had to give Mason credit for not squirming. “I promise, I’ve been a perfect gentleman the whole time Bekah’s been with us. Right, Rebekah?”
She was tempted to toy with his emotions a bit, but the look in his eyes told her that his reputation was too important to tease about. “Yes,” she said, pushing away the thought of Mason’s kisses. “He’s been nothing but kind to me—probably even saved my life.”
“Well, I supposed ya did what ya had to, given the circumstances.” Mrs. Robinson’s gaze softened a fraction toward Mason. “But since we’re headed the same direction, Luther and I can be chaperones. That way, Rebekah can help you and sleep with us, and things will be all proper-like.” Mrs. Robinson turned around and scooped up her biscuit fixings again, then pivoted back to face them. “Oh, and another thing, we’re just plain ol’ Luther and Ella.”
Rebekah turned to study Mason’s expression. Here was another situation he couldn’t control. She wondered if he was fuming inside or if he was glad to be relieved of her. The muscle in his jaw twitched just before he spun away and stalked back to his wagon.
She didn’t particularly like the change herself. Things had been going along just fine without the Robinsons chaperoning. Suddenly Rebekah’s mind flashed back to the nighttime rainstorm when Mason and Jimmy had climbed in the back of the wagon to stay dry. She felt her cheeks flame. What would Ella say if she knew Mason had taken her in his arms and kissed her?
It probably was a good idea to put some distance between her and Mason—before her heart became any more entwined with him and the children. Each day of their journey brought them closer to their destination—and a train or stage that would take her to Denver and away from Mason forever.
Suddenly Denver didn’t sound as appealing as it
once had. Pushing those unwanted thoughts from her mind, Rebekah tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear and turned to Ella. “What can I do to help?”
One week later, the roads near the border of the Unassigned Lands were thicker with people than a wheat field covered in a swarm of grasshoppers. Mason had never seen so many humans in one spot, not even back in Atlanta. Wagons of every kind and size parked along the sides of the road and across the fields. The air was thick with the odor of campfires, horses, and unwashed bodies.
Water was sure to be a problem with so many people congregating in such a small area. He felt thankful he’d had the sense to fill both of his barrels at the last creek they’d crossed.
“Have you ever seen so many tents and people?” Rebekah said, her voice filled with awe. “I never dreamed there’d be so many here.”
“It’s downright shocking, ain’t it?”
Rebekah nodded. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much noise before. I grew up in the woods. The only noise there is the sound of insects and the wind whipping through the tall pine trees.”
A man clad in worn overalls whistled at a boy about Jimmy’s age who ran across the path in front of the slow-moving wagon. Duke snorted and tossed his head then continued down the road. Tired-looking women seemed to be making camp the best they could under the circumstances. Mason felt a twinge of regret that Bekah would be subjected to living in these awful circumstances. Then again, she might be on the train to Denver by nightfall.
With Ella’s close chaperoning, they’d hardly talked the past week. The only time they’d had together without the Robinsons was when Bekah rode with him on the wagon, and then the children were constantly vying for their attention. Mason didn’t know how Katie would handle Bekah’s leaving. He wasn’t sure how he would handle it.
Maybe he should just ask her to stay … and do what? Travel west with him? Mason shook his head. He wasn’t going to come between Bekah and her dream. And he wasn’t going to let her come between him and his plans. It was better this way. He’d lost everyone he’d ever loved except Katie and Jimmy—and they’d soon be gone, too. If he gave Bekah his heart, it would only be a matter of time before something took her away. Better she should go now while she claimed only a portion of his heart rather than the whole thing.
“Where will we camp?” Rebekah’s words jarred his thoughts.
“Let’s see where Luther and Ella go.” He pulled off his hat and ran his fingers through his sweaty hair. “I’d like to camp with someone we know so they can help with the kids.” After you leave He couldn’t voice the final words out loud.
“Maybe it won’t be so crowded on the other side of town.”
“Maybe.”
The long screech of a train whistle screamed over the din of the crowd. Mason saw Bekah jump; then she turned to face him. Their gazes locked. The noise surrounding them faded as Mason sat captivated by Bekah’s melancholy gaze. The reality of her leaving hit him in the gut. It almost seemed as if she didn’t want to go. But probably she was just dreading saying good-bye to the kids. He could tell she loved them.
“Unca Mathon, what was that noise?” Katie’s blond head popped up from the back of the wagon.
“I told her it was a locomotive, but she don’t believe me,” Jimmy said.
Mason chuckled. He doubted Katie even knew what a locomotive was.
“It sounded like a monk-ster,” Katie said, her gaze darting in every direction.
Bekah reached back and patted the little girl’s head. “Don’t be afraid, sweetie. It’s just a train. It won’t hurt you.”
“Why is there so many peoples here?” Katie asked.
“This is where they’re having that Land Run Sam told us about. Right, Uncle Mason?” Jimmy sounded like a little man, trying to impress the ladies. Mason suppressed a smile.
“Nuh-uh. Land can’t run, can it, Webekah?” Katie crossed her arms, looking to Rebekah for support. “It ain’t gots no legs.”
Mason’s heart somersaulted at the way Bekah’s eyes twinkled while she fought to keep from laughing. The wagon croaked and groaned down the trail as he watched her struggle to answer. After a moment, she seemed to have regained control.
“You’re both right, Katie. The land doesn’t have legs, so it can’t run. But the race Jimmy mentioned is called a Land Run because people run to get free land.”
“Water doesn’t have legs, but it runs,” Jimmy mumbled.
“Nuh-uh,” Katie said.
“That’s enough,” Mason said, using his no-tolerance voice. “You two go watch out the back for a while. We’ll be camping soon.”
“Yes, sir,” Katie and Jimmy said in unison; then they disappeared into the wagon.
Mason turned his back to Bekah. “Untie this thing, will ya?” His arm had been immobilized in the sling for nearly a week and a half.
“Are you sure you’re ready to be using your arm?” Rebekah asked over his shoulder. Her warm breath tickled his cheek, doing strange things to his insides.
He pushed the feeling away. “There may be lots of rough people around here, and I don’t want to seem an easy mark. I’ll be careful. ‘Sides, it hasn’t hurt much the past few days. I’ve been moving it around some when you weren’t watchin’.”
Rebekah smacked him on his good shoulder; then her fingers fiddled with the knot, tickling the hair along his nape and sending shafts of excitement coursing down his spine. After a few moments, the sling fell loose around his chest, and his arm was free again. He carefully moved the stiff limb back and forth, testing his range of motion.
“See, good as new.” He flashed Bekah a smile, hoping to prove his point.
She seemed to be observing him for signs of pain. Beyond her shoulder, a familiar figure darted by and disappeared behind a tent, loosing a cyclone in his belly.
Jake!
thirteen
Mason jumped to his feet, throwing the reins at Rebekah. He had to catch up with Jake before he disappeared again, or he might never find him again in this massive crowd. Mason stepped in front of Bekah, but she grabbed his sleeve, forcing him to stop.
Standing, she looked over her shoulder in the direction he stared. Mason offered a supporting hand against her back as the wagon jostled them down the road, moving in and out of dried ruts made by previous travelers. The wagon tilted to the side in a deep furrow. Mason grabbed Bekah’s arm to keep her from tumbling over the side, all the while continuing to scan the crowded tent city, hoping to see Jake again.
“What is it?” Rebekah asked. Her voice sounded shakier than normal.
“I saw Jake. I’ve gotta catch up with him before he gets away.”
She turned to face him, placing her hands against his chest for balance. “Think, Mason. You can’t go chasing after Jake until we’ve set up camp; otherwise, you’ll never find us in all the mess.”
Mason clenched his teeth together, fighting his fierce desire to run after Jake and knowing her reasoning made sense. She and the children were his first priority. He focused his gaze on the Robinsons’ wagon in front of him as it veered off the trail toward a small cluster of trees standing in a less crowded area of the tent city. Ella glared back at them, obviously wondering why they were standing while the wagon was still moving. For some reason Mason couldn’t explain, he still didn’t think Ella trusted him. Maybe it was because she’d become a mother hen to Bekah. He’d enjoyed Luther’s company in the evenings, but at the same time, it meant less time with Bekah—although that was probably for the best since she’d be leaving soon.
He flopped down on the seat, biting back a grimace when his shoulder twinged with a brief spear of pain.
Think about finding Jake—not about saying good-bye to Bekah
Rebekah sat down on the hard wagon seat next to Mason. She handed the reins to him, hoping he didn’t notice her trembling. His sudden outburst had shaken her. In the weeks they’d traveled together, she hadn’t seen him so intense and uneasy except maybe when she’d first met him. She cou
ldn’t understand why Mason was so intent on returning Jimmy and Katie to their father. After all, the man had abandoned them like Curtis had said her own father had left her. From what Mason had told her, Jake would be a complete stranger to Katie.
A pang of unexpected sympathy knotted her stomach. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, and put her face in her hands. They smelled of leather and dust. How could she make Mason see that the children needed him to hang around, at least until they got used to Jake again?
Rebekah slid her hands over her ears. How would she ever sleep with the awful din of thousands of people roaring in her ears? Having grown up almost alone in the woods of Arkansas, rarely seeing anyone except her family, she felt the noise crowding in on her. She moved closer to Mason, but he didn’t seem to notice.
He pulled the wagon to a stop beside the Robinsons’ buckboard. “This looks like as good a place as any to camp,” Luther hollered.
Rebekah’s gaze traveled around the area, coming to rest on two tiny wooden structures, both with a long line of ragtag people winding away from them. The buildings were only about fifty feet from where the two wagons had stopped. This certainly wouldn’t do.
She glanced past Mason to see Ella in an animated discussion with Luther. Ella’s plump hands moved faster than a nervous cat trying to escape a room full of active children. Rebekah could just imagine the tongue-lashing Ella was giving him for suggesting camping so near the busy, aromatic outhouses.
Luther turned a frustrated gaze toward them. “Guess we’ll be moseying on down the road a bit farther.” He clicked his tired horses forward as Rebekah tightened her lips to hold back a grin.
“Don’t know what’s wrong with this campin’ spot,” Mason mumbled. “That Ella’s just too picky.”
Rebekah tried hard not to giggle, but a loud, unladylike snort broke loose. She couldn’t hold back any longer. A loud laugh blasted past her lips. She leaned forward, forgetting her fear of the crowd, and enjoyed the feeling of amusement.
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