Sam put an arm around her. “They do, and no one can help them. But I can promise you that we’ll never cross a river unsafely again.”
She returned his hug, glancing over to see Del still on Pomme and standing next to Pa. Her father said, “If Granville was a Mormon, I’d ask him to marry Ellen too. He’s a good enough man for two wives.”
His voice carried to Ellen and Sam. She felt more than heard him chuckle before he said, “If I were a Mormon, I’d consider it. Ellen’s a wonderful young lady.”
The resulting angry expression on Del’s face alarmed her as much as her father’s beaming. Ellen gave him a smile, hoping to lighten the mood. “No one’s asked me if I like sharing and I don’t. You can tell Marie I’m no competition to her.”
“Ah, dear, you sell yourself short.” He gave her a parting hug. “Del, I see Lucky up ahead with the next family. Shall we?”
She slipped from Sam’s arm and he got back on Scamp. Both men headed to the front of the line. She’d hoped Del would look back at her with a happier face, but no. The rest of the afternoon they waited their turn. As Sam predicted, the crossing was easier than the one at Green River and every other in between. The vast stretch of dirt on either side of the banks led her to expect they’d press on for greener pastures. She was right. They rolled until nearly night and a good but small patch of grazing.
Wanting to explain away her father’s comments while reassuring Del kept Ellen preoccupied for the rest of the evening. The boys chattered with her and each other. Pa kept up his silent treatment of her. Both actions suited her just fine. She liked the happy voices of her brothers, and not having to hear Pa’s complaints was refreshing.
Skeeter followed her to the creek without being asked. He talked about the games he and his friends played and told her how well Buster was doing with pottying like a big boy. She laughed at some of his tales. Soon they finished washing up and went back to camp to find the others asleep. She made a shush sound with her finger to her lips and put away their dishes before going to bed. Snuggled under the covers, she tried to stay awake and think of ways to chat with Del tomorrow morning.
The sun rose on a rare cloudy day. Ellen hurried to start a fire and their coffee. The damp chill seemed to sink into her bones. Her wrist had been improving until today as well. Lucky played his warning notes on the bugle, and everyone ate biscuits and bacon in a hurry.
Soon, they all inched down the road in single file. The damp air kept the dust down, and Ellen enjoyed the walk. She saw Del and Lefty ride toward them. They stopped at the first wagon, and she wondered what was up ahead. Word soon spread that they’d come upon a trading camp.
The ordeal of losing Lucy and being kidnapped by Pointed Nose flashed through her mind. What if something like that happened again? She had no doubt of another rescue, but no one could know who’d be killed or taken next. If one of the children strayed too far…. Ellen swallowed the lump in her throat choking her. She had to find the boys and stop the wagon.
She hurried, finding Skeeter and Buster with a group of other children. “Come on, boys.”
“Aw, sis! We were having fun.”
“Come with me.” She held out her hands for them to take. “Let’s go and hurry.” They did as she’d asked and went with her to their wagon. “Pa! Pa! You have to stop. We need to hide from the Indians.” At Skeeter’s gasp, she added, “It’s a game.”
Their father snorted, snapping the reins to speed along the animals. “I don’t have time for games.”
“Pa, please. There’s a trading post ahead. Do it for Buster and Skeeter.” She almost cried in relief when understanding crossed his face. He pulled the wagon to a stop and she put the boys in first, climbing in after them. “Lay down as flat as you can.” She laid down and when they followed, she hurried to cover the three of them with blankets. “Shhh, we have to be very quiet.”
Skeeter pushed the bedding away from his face. “Are you sure this is a game?”
“I am. Some say that Indians can hunt any animal, even man. So we’re going to play hide and seek with them. If we can roll on without them even knowing we’re here, we’ve won.”
The older boy nestled in next to his baby brother and put his arm around him. “Buster, can you be quiet so we can win?” The baby nodded and Skeeter smiled up at Ellen. “We’re ready, sis.”
She replaced the covers over them and waited. The wagon’s bounce jarred her bones, but she stayed still. Buster whimpered and began squirming. She heard Del, then Pa talk but couldn’t make out what they said.
“Ellen? Are you in here?” asked Del.
“I said she was.”
She peeked out from under the blanket, as did the boys. “Yes, I am.”
“You win! You win!” Buster climbed out from under the cover and went for Del.
“I do?”
“Del!” she hissed. “Go away! They’ll find us here and I can’t let that happen again.”
A flash of hurt crossed his face. “Non, ma coeur. I’d never let that happen. Come with me and we’ll trade for the boys some new shoes.”
She loved him and how he’d noticed the ragtag shape her brothers’ shoes were in. Ellen had been thinking of ways to fix their soles earlier today too. If Del went, she’d need to help him get the correct sizes. He wouldn’t escort her into an unsafe place. She smiled, ignoring her worry. “Of course I’ll go.”
“Do you have something to trade?”
“I’m not sure. If it’s for the boys, I could give them one of Lucy’s dresses.”
Pa’s face appeared at the back opening. “You’re not giving away a damned thing of my wife’s! Not to those damned Indians who killed her.”
“I’m not giving it to them. Just trading for the boys some new moccasins.”
“Are you arguing with me? You’ll hand them something of yours before giving anything of Lucy’s away. It’s all those boys have of their mother’s.”
“Yes, Pa.” She turned back to Del. “I’m not sure I have anything else of value.”
Her father snorted. “You could trade that dress, since you’re so quick to give away clothes.”
“Not this one! What would I wear on wash day?” She held up a hand to stop her father from a sarcastic reply. “It’s fine, Pa. I’ll find something to give them.” He smirked and disappeared from view.
Ellen looked at her two brothers and they returned her gaze. Who knew what sort of terrain they’d have to walk over in the next couple of months? She had two things to give, her mother’s wedding dress and silver hairbrush. Both had been hidden in the bottom of her trunk from Pa. Otherwise, he’d have considered them valuable enough to sell or let Lucy have. Del still stood there, waiting, so she opened her trunk and felt toward the bottom. The natives probably wouldn’t have any use for a fancy dress, so Ellen retrieved her hairbrush. Her heart ached as she ran her hand over the bristles one last time. She held it out for him. “Take this. It’s metal and should be worth enough to help the boys. I don’t need to go with you, do I?”
He stared at her for a moment. “No, you don’t. It’ll be good if you stay here.” He winked at her. “Pointed Nose might have a brother.”
“Lord, I hope not.” She tried to give him a smile. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I’ll catch up to you later this evening.” He went to the front of the wagon. “Monsieur Winslow, you may go. Thank you for stopping.”
She heard Pa mutter something before the wagon lurched forward. Before the vehicle could gain much momentum, she told Skeeter, “Skeet, hop out and I’ll hand the baby to you.” He scrambled out and she gave him Buster.
The older boy saw his friends and hollered to her, “Sis, we’re going to play and won’t be late for dinner! C’mon, Buster!”
“All right! Be careful!” She eased down, the wagon going fast enough to be scary to hop from. She stumbled but didn’t fall. Ellen wasn’t as lucky as her brothers. None of her friends seemed to be around, so she had a long and dusty walk by herse
lf. Just as well, she thought. She wanted time alone to grieve for her mother’s hairbrush. The thing wasn’t valuable. No one would treasure such an item, but it’d been almost all that was left of the woman she remembered. Lucy had been a kind person, but not her own mother.
At least there was the dress Ma had married her Pa in. She almost snickered when remembering how Lucy had insisted on trying it on one time. The poor woman, Ellen shook her head. She’d looked like a ten-pound sausage stuffed into a five-pound bag. The second Mrs. Winslow had even split a seam in struggling her way out of it. Lucy had been round where her ma was slender and shorter.
The men decided to camp early at a good-sized stream with abundant grass. Ellen had heard mentions of Indian activity during her chores at the creek. People quieted when they saw her, so she didn’t get a chance to catch everything. Their gossip worried her and she hurried to get back to the wagon. A woman’s scream stopped her mid step. Her heart raced. The woman sounded like Marie. Ellen ran to the source as did several others.
Uncle Joe laid there, Marie kneeling beside him and crying. An arrow stuck out of his chest, his hands clenched around it. Ellen stared, stunned, as people from everywhere gathered. Sam, Del, and the other hired men rode up and several of them cursed. Del was the first to dismount, hurrying to Ellen and asking, “Where are your brothers?”
Memories of losing Lucy overwhelmed her, and he had to ask a second time before she answered, “I—I don’t know.” She couldn’t take her gaze from the scuffmarks Joe’s boots had made in the dirt during his death throes. Had Lucy done the same thing? She’d not thought to ask Del what her stepmother’s body had looked like that morning.
“Find them and get back to your wagon. We can take care of this.” He walked to where Marie openly sobbed and knelt to her level. “Ma coupin, allons, s’il vous plait.”
“Non, Adelard. I can’t just leave him here.”
“You won’t. The men and I will care for him. Go back to your wagon and wait for Sam.”
His words seemed to wake up Sam, who wiped his eyes. “Please, Marie.” He raised his voice. “Ladies, please go back to your wagons with your children and wait inside. We’ll take care of Joe now and have his service in a safer place tonight.”
Del turned and went to her. “Mon amour? Your brothers.” He held her right arm, giving it a little shake as if waking her.
His action roused Ellen from her trance. “Oh, God, of course. Excuse me!” She hurried to where she’d last seen Skeeter. None of the children were there. Panic squeezed her lungs until Pa called out to her.
“Hey, get over here!”
She ran to him. “Have you seen the boys?”
“Yeah, Skeeter’s back there trying to change Buster’s diaper. Get back there and help him.”
Ellen did as he ordered and found the boys sitting on the tailgate. “Pa said you need help with Buster?”
“Nope!” said the boys at the same time and laughed.
“I goes potty like a big boy,” Buster told her, his little chest puffed with pride.
She smiled. “That’s wonderful and I’m very proud of you. Now, both of you need to get into the wagon.”
“Why?” asked Skeeter while Buster climbed into the back.
“I’ll tell you in a minute. For now, just get in there.”
Pa turned the corner and frowned. “What the hell? Didn’t Granville tell you to get the boys in the wagon?”
“Yes, and I am.”
“Doesn’t look like it. Skeeter, get in there and stop arguing. Ellen, did you get Buster changed?”
She and her younger brother exchanged a glance before she answered. “Yes, Pa, he’s good now.”
“Then stop lallygaggin’ around and get in there. Indians are running around massacring people, and you’re out here in the open with my sons.” He closed the tailgate with a slam. “Get in. Leave the animals hitched because we might be moving on.”
She did as he asked, sitting with her brothers. They were too quiet and Ellen wanted to reassure them. “This is a dangerous area, but we’re safe in here. Pa and the other men won’t let anything happen to us.”
Buster nodded and Skeeter asked, “Was someone killed?”
Ellen debated on telling him a story or the truth, and the truth won out. “I’m afraid so. An Indian shot Uncle Joe.” The words hurt her to say, and she choked on a sob. Her brothers leaned against her. “He was at the creek getting a drink, I suppose.” Buster snuggled into her. She patted his back. They sat in silence for what seemed like forever until Pa appeared at the tailgate.
“We’re moving on to more open country, so we can see those bastards sneaking up on us.” He let down the gate. “You all get down and hurry up. It’ll be late before we stop tonight.”
She and the boys climbed out and Pa secured the wagon again. Her brothers stayed close while they walked. The sun inched further and further down until it dipped below the horizon. Ellen wondered how they’d fix dinner in the dark if the near full moon didn’t rise soon.
Pa solved her problem as soon as everyone formed the usual wagon half circle. “I’m staking out the animals and getting everyone something to drink. Stay here, set out our beds, make sure Buster is changed for the night, and we’ll eat first thing tomorrow.”
She opened her mouth to protest. Uncle Joe’s memorial service might have already started and she wanted to attend. When her father gave her a threatening stare, Ellen did as he said, with Skeeter helping. Soon, they were all in their beds, even Pa. Ellen couldn’t sleep despite being bone tired. She watched the moon rise over the eastern mountains. The light shone enough to illuminate first Lucky, then Del as they walked their paces around the group during night watch. So much for Pa’s suspicion of Del serving as night watch. Ellen supposed that ended after her father’s second sleepless night. She eased up, sitting. Only for a few seconds did she debate about thanking Del before slipping out of her bed and going to him.
Ellen stood next to her wagon, waiting for him to walk by. When he approached, she hissed at him to catch his attention. “Del,” she whispered.
He held out his hand, saying, “Come here.” When she did as he requested, he pulled her to him in a tight hug. He didn’t speak, just held her in a bone-crushing embrace.
His warmth and strength fed her heart and soul. She’d not known how much she needed him until now. Hearing steps, she leaned back to leave only to find him unwilling to loosen his hold. “I think Lucky is nearby.”
“You need sleep but I can’t let you go, ma coeur. I need you.”
She lifted her face to his and their lips met. He kissed her with a passion that almost frightened her. She ignored the fear and buried her hands in his hair, deepening the kiss. When he pulled away, she had to stifle a moan of protest.
“Tomorrow. We’ll talk tomorrow evening. Monsieur Lucky has had to turn back twice by now and we’re not being safe. Sam has your brothers’ new shoes. I’ll remind him before we resume traveling tomorrow.” He caressed her face with the back of his hand. “Sleep well, my love,” he whispered before disappearing into the night.
Ellen licked her bottom lip, aching for him. Shaking off the hunger for more, she crept to her bed and tried to sleep.
The next morning started with a shout. The sound sent terror through Ellen as she sat up. Were they under attack? She checked the boys, both also now awake and staring at her. The one yell turned into a stream of curses at the top of Pa’s lungs. A lack of rest and now this rude awakening shortened Ellen’s own temper. “Dear, God, what is it now with him?” she murmured before stopping herself. She looked over at her brothers, Buster not understanding her transgression while Skeeter smirked. “No telling Pa what I said, all right?”
“I won’t if you don’t tell him the next time I’m bad.”
She chuckled. “It’s a deal.”
Ellen climbed out and went to see what had her father so upset. As soon as she spotted their cow on the ground, dead, she agreed with his tirade. She h
urried over. The blood clotted around the animal’s mouth and nose horrified her. “What happened? Was she poisoned?”
“How the hell should I know? She’s just dead and our ox is sick. When he dies, we’re on foot. Hope you can carry a lot because I don’t think your brothers can.” Pa threw down his hat in frustration and stomped off.
She picked up his hat, tears filling her eyes. As crude as he was, Pa was right. They’d be in a mess if their last animal died too. A thought occurred to her, and she glanced around to see if any other cows had died.
Arnold walked up to her. “Miss? Sorry about your cow. Is your ox doing well?” He held out a couple pairs of shoes.
She took them, the leather soft and pliable. “It seems so for now. Has anyone else lost stock today?”
“Yeah, several have. None are taking it as hard as your pa. Everyone else has more animals to lose, so I reckon he has a right to be upset.”
Ellen knelt down for a closer look at her cow’s face. “Did they all die the same way?”
“Yep. Mr. Granville says it’s the dust cutting up their lungs or maybe they breathed in water during that last river crossing. Scary thing is, no one knows for sure.”
She turned when Del cleared his throat during his approach. “Hello, Mr. Du Boise. Have you seen anything like this before now? Do you think people could catch this from the cattle?”
“No, never before now, and I have never known of people dying like this.” He made a come here motion with his hand. “Why don’t you step away, in case humans can become ill from this?”
The flash of fear in his eyes didn’t comfort her. She did as he’d requested and moved from the animal’s side. “I don’t suppose we should bury or butcher her.”
“No, ma’am,” replied Arnold. “It’s best to just leave her here.”
“I agree.” Del addressed the other man. “Sam wants to get started soon. He also wants your help in delivering a message to Fort Hall about Joe’s death.”
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