Wagon Train Melody

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

S ummer 1884

Rudy Powers slowed his horse to a walk. He’d been sticking to the hollows and using what trees there were as cover, but it seemed he wasn’t as alone as he hoped he’d be by staying away from the Whoop-Up Trail. Fellow travelers were ahead of him. They too were off the trail, as if, like him, wishing to avoid others. Though, if they thought to be out of sight…well, the white canvas made it impossible to hide the covered wagon. He shifted in his saddle and gave his back trail hard study for a moment or two. He saw no sign of a rider or even distant dust. Perhaps his circuitous route had confused his pursuer.

Turning back to the scene before him, he studied the wagon. A child ran by the wheels. And then a second. Two little girls. A family traveling to promised free land. He eased forward, hoping not to alert anyone to his presence and yet curious enough not to ride away.

The children had disappeared. There were no horses hitched to the wagon. He scanned the surrounding area. Apart from the thin grove of trees, there was no place to hide horse-sized animals. And yet he didn’t see any sign of them. Odd. They sure couldn’t continue without something to pull the wagon. Another thought unsettled his peace of mind.

He’d seen only the two girls. No adults. Of course, they could be in the wagon or out of sight, but something didn’t seem right.

He reined in his horse and leaned over the saddle, trying to make sense of what he saw. It was possible the parents were sick or injured and the children were on their own. The idea scraped up and down his spine, reminding him of his own childhood. But at least he’d had a house to return to, a mother who might remember to provide some food, and lots of neighbors who didn’t seem to mind feeding a young boy.

This pair was in the middle of nowhere.

He flicked the reins and eased forward, ever on guard.

One little girl raced around the wagon again with the other child chasing her. Their merry laughter carried to Rudy, and he smiled. Children had a way of making the best of any situation.

He continued closing the distance to the wagon, his rifle at the ready just in case it was a trap.

Another sound captured his ears and he again stopped to listen. Singing. Clear and sweet. He recognized the tune. Amazing Grace. Often sung at burials. His neck muscles twitched.

The last thing he wanted to do was attend a funeral and help to bury the dead. But he couldn’t ride on without investigating. Slowly, cautiously, he continued toward the wagon, swinging in a wide arc until he could see the other side.

A woman knelt on the ground. Sure enough, a body before her. The singing continued.

Rudy checked the back trail again. No dust. No rider. Which left him no excuse for not offering his help to this family. He could at least dig the hole, though he didn’t have a shovel. He’d left in too big a hurry to have adequate supplies. When a man was running for his life, he had to make do with what he had on his horse.

He sighed and rode forward.

The two girls saw him first. They grabbed each other’s hand and ran to their mother.

She jerked around to look toward him then scrambled to her feet. She reached toward the wagon and lifted a rifle to her shoulder. “Stop right there, mister.”

He was at a disadvantage if it came to a shootout. She had the drop on him. Besides, he’d never shoot a woman.

He reined in and held his hands in the air, hoping she didn’t mean to blow him out of the saddle. How ironic would that be? Running from a man wanting to make sure Rudy wouldn’t talk and being shot by a woman protecting her little brood. He almost laughed. “Mean no harm, ma’am, but it looks like you could use a hand.” He kept his arms up, waiting for her to make an assessment.

The seconds ticked by without a decision on her part.

With his knees, he signaled King to move forward.

The woman scowled. The children hid behind her skirts. But her trigger finger did not squeeze.

He was close enough now to take in more detail. The woman before him was young. Pretty with brown hair and big brown eyes that alternately widened and narrowed as she studied him. With her looks, she wouldn’t likely stay widowed very long.

He shifted his gaze to the body. And blinked. It was only a boy. Almost grown, but a boy, nevertheless. He’d heard of strange alliances but?—

The children peaked out from either side of the woman. Cute little girls, but old enough that their father would barely be out of short pants when they were born.

He mentally shrugged. The family details were none of his business.

“Ma’am.” He jerked the word out. “I’ll help you if you lower that gun. I got no wish to be shot.”

The gun wavered. Then steadied. “Who says I need help?”

He didn’t respond but looked pointedly at the body on the ground. Then winked at the little girls who giggled.

The woman lowered a hand and pushed the littlest one behind her. “Girls, stay back.”

While she was distracted, Rudy swung from the saddle. She didn’t shoot him as he made his way to the body. First thing he noticed was the rise and fall of the man’s chest. And the bruises on his face.

“What happened?” Then he realized he’d forgotten his manners. He faced the gal who still held the rifle, though it now pointed downward. “Rudy Powers at your service, ma’am.” He touched the brim of his hat.

The girls looked around the woman’s skirts and giggled.

“And who are these charming young ladies?” he asked.

“I’m Sissy,” the bigger one answered. “This is my sister, Kitty. She's Auntie Alice—” she pointed toward the woman “—and that’s Uncle Bo.”

“Girls! What have I told you about talking to strangers?”

Sissy batted her eyes. “We should be polite.” She turned her big brown eyes back to Rudy. “I’m four. Kitty is three. Auntie Alice is?—”

“Sissy, that’s quite enough.”

Rudy chuckled. “Pleased to meet you all. Now let’s see what can be done for Uncle Bo.” He knelt beside the still man. No one had answered his initial question, so he repeated it. “What happened?”

Sissy stepped away from her aunt. “He got kicked.”

“By a horse,” Kitty added.

Auntie Alice took the hand of each girl and leaned over to their level. “Girls, will you let me say what needs to be said?”

Two heads nodded.

Kitty opened her mouth. “What you gonna tell him?”

“You two stay here.” She stood them by the wagon then moved closer to Rudy. “The horses bolted, and Bo got hit. He’s been out quite a while. And I think maybe his arm is broken.”

Rudy looked at Bo’s arms. Both were covered with his shirt sleeves. He ran his hands along each and indeed, felt a bump on the right one. “It seems to be in position. That’s good.”

“You know how to deal with a broken arm?”

“Seen a few broken limbs in my time. Keep them immobilized a few weeks and they’ll be right as rain.”

“Good to know. What about his head?”

He shrugged. “Can’t say what that means.” He kept his gaze on the man for fear she would see things in his expression he didn’t want her to see. He’d seen a few men knocked out. Seemed to him the longer they were out the worse the outcome. One man went from trail boss to needing to be told everything he needed to do. Couldn’t even get himself ready for bed without direction. Sad.

Rudy pushed to his feet. “Where are you folks headed?”

Alice held a warning finger toward the girls and they both sank back without answering his question. “We’re going to join my other brother.”

“Other brother?” Had he missed something? He glanced to either side.

“Yes, Bo is my younger brother.” Her eyes widened as she realized his assumption about their relationship, and she chuckled. “You thought— He’s only fifteen.” Another chuckle. “That’s funny.”

The little girls covered their mouths and giggled, though they didn’t likely know what was amusing.

Rudy grinned. “I did think it a little odd.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

He sobered. “Where is your older brother?” He assumed the other brother was older seeing as she meant to join him. Of course, he might be jumping to conclusions again.

She stared at Bo without answering.

He understood her reluctance to provide any information, but if he was to help them get there safely, he needed to know. But was he going to help them? Surely, they could manage on their own. He squinted as he studied the back trail. Had he tricked his pursuer into going the wrong direction? Maybe temporarily, but the man would soon realize his mistake and backtrack until he found Rudy’s tracks.

Hiding in a wagon might be the perfect way of hiding. Except for his horse. A golden palomino was hard to miss.

She didn’t answer and her sharp look silenced the girls.

“Guess you’ll be needing help to get Bo into the wagon.”

She studied her brother. “Hadn’t I better do something with his arm before I move him?”

“I’ll find something for a splint.” He trotted to the trees and selected branches that would serve the purpose and returned to Bo. “Do you want to cut his shirt off?”

She gasped. “That’d ruin it.”

He shrugged. “I’ve seen many shirts ruined. Everyone survived.”

She nodded briskly. “Let me get my scissors.” She hurried to the wagon and returned to cut the shirt neatly along the seam. Guess she meant to sew it together again.

He placed the splints along the arm. “I need something to secure them in place.”

“I’ve got just the thing.” Again, she went to the wagon and returned with a roll of bandaging made from old sheets.

“I’ll hold his arm. You wrap. Seems you’re prepared for everything.”

“I’m not prepared for having Bo unconscious.” She knelt beside him. Their arms crisscrossed back and forth as she wrapped the splints in place.

It gave him plenty of opportunity to study her more closely. Younger than he’d first thought. Her lips pressed together in determination. Her eyes softened in concern for her brother. Strands of her hair fell forward. She huffed it out of her way, sending a faint scent of soap to his nostrils.

“There.” She sat back.

“And he didn’t feel a thing.”

She snorted a laugh. “I guess that’s something to be grateful for.” She studied her brother. “I’d feel better if he’d open his eyes about now.”

“I’ll go find your horses. Maybe he’ll be awake by then.”

They both rose. She studied him. “I don’t like to accept help but seems I don’t have any choice.”

“I agree. I promise not to hang about any longer than necessary. As soon as I find the horses and help get your brother into the wagon, I’ll be on my way.” He swung to King’s back, looked down the trail.

“Mister Rudy,” Sissy called. “They went there.” She pointed toward the trees.

“Thank you, Miss Sissy.” He touched the brim of his hat and rode where she directed.

Alice watched the cowboy ride away. She supposed she should be grateful he’d shown up and she was. Truly. Thank you, God, for sending help. But she’d seen the way he continually glanced over his shoulder as if expecting someone to appear. Someone he didn’t welcome the sight of.

If she had to guess, she’d say he was running from something...or someone. She didn’t need to borrow a slice of his troubles. She had enough of her own.

But she wasn’t about to let that get her down.

Seeing her smile, Sissy and Kitty ran to her. She hugged them both.

“Everything will be all right,” she assured them.

“Because Mr. Rudy is helping us.” Sissy looked in the direction the cowboy had gone.

“Because God is helping us,” Alice corrected her.

“But didn’t God send Mr. Rudy? You prayed for help.”

She couldn’t argue with the child’s logic. They’d been about ready to depart when Bo tried to hitch the team to the wagon. What had spooked them? She looked around but didn’t see anything that would frighten the horses, and she returned to Bo’s side. Would he never wake up?

Kitty squatted by Bo’s head. “Unca Bo, why don’t you open your eyes?”

Knowing one way to calm the children’s fears, as well as her own, she sang Amazing Grace over and over. T’was grace that brought me safe thus far. And grace my fears relieved. She clung to those words.

Bo moaned.

She leaned closer. “Bo, wake up. Can you open your eyes?”

His eyelids fluttered and then he was again completely still. Alice didn’t like it, but she must not reveal her worries to the girls. They’d had enough of death and loss. All of them had. But he had to get better soon so they could be on their way.

The girls hovered at his head.

“Is he dead?” Kitty whispered.

“No, he’s not. Why don’t the two of you chase each other around the wagon like you did before?” They needed to be distracted. For her sake as well as theirs.

Kitty chased after Sissy, and they screamed with laughter.

Alice sat back on her heels. She was in a fine fix. But they couldn’t be far from Fort Macleod and Clint’s help.

The sound of approaching horses had her instantly on her feet and reaching for the rifle again. It was Rudy with the missing animals.

“Found them in a hollow,” he called. “They were enjoying a tasty bit of grass.”

“Thanks.” She reached for their halters. Sue was docile as ever. Sam was not. He tossed his head, pulling free of Alice’s hold. He snorted and turned tail.

Rudy cut him off. He swung from his saddle and spoke firmly to the horse. “Now behave yourself.” He led Sam to the wagon. She brought Sue.

“I know you need to be on your way. I can manage now.” She’d watched the horses being hitched up and thought she knew what to do, but she had never actually done it before.

Rudy stepped back but didn’t get on his horse. She could feel his gaze on her but ignored him as she tried to recall each step of this harnessing business. But the leather straps all looked the same. She couldn’t figure out what went where.

He took the rigging from her and step by step showed her what to do, explaining it carefully as he did so.

Thankfully, he seemed patient about it. He finished.

“Think you can remember all that?”

The girls were watching the whole procedure, their eyes following every one of Rudy’s moves.

Wonderful, Alice thought, seeing the adoring expression on their faces. Next thing they’d be wanting to keep him. She grinned to picture them dragging him home at the end of a rope and promising to take good care of him.

“Auntie might need help.” Sissy gave him an imploring look.

“I can manage quite fine. Thank you for your help, Mr. Powers.”

“It’s Rudy and you’re welcome.”

They considered each other for a moment. She wondered what he saw. If she had to guess and she had no other choice, she’d say he was wondering how she’d manage on her own until Bo recovered. She might be wondering the same thing, though she would certainly do her best. As for her, she saw a scruffy cowboy who hadn’t shaved in a few days, the dark shadow emphasizing his strong jaw line. His hat hid a portion of his face but not so much she couldn’t see that his eyes were dark brown.

She drew in a deep breath. “I need to check on Bo.”

The girls trotted before her, and Rudy followed.

“He dead a long time.” Kitty’s face wrinkled with worry. “Is he in heaven?”

Sissy took her little sister’s hand and shook her arm. “Auntie told us he isn’t dead.”

“But why he sleep there?”

Alice could answer the question, but it was always interesting to hear what Sissy had to say.

“I think he’s not sleeping.”

Kitty drew her sister to a halt. “Then why he don’t open his eyes”

Sissy shrugged. “Maybe he doesn’t want to.”

“Girls, he’s unconscious. That’s like sleeping, only he can’t wake up.”

Kitty turned, her eyes wide with shock. “You mean he gonna sleep forever?”

Behind her, Alice heard Rudy chuckle. She ignored him. “Not forever.” She shuddered to think of it.

They reached Bo and she knelt beside him. Apart from the bruises, he was pale. But at least his chest still rose and fell. She touched his shoulder, shook him gently. “Bo, are you awake?”

Nothing but the steady rise and fall of his chest. That was something to be grateful for, she reminded herself. She tried again, her voice sharper, more insistent. “Bo!”

He mumbled something and his arms flew out. The splints hit her on the side of her face.

She grabbed his arm and pinned it to his side.

“You bleeding.” Kitty leaned closer, inspecting the damage to Alice’s cheek.

Bo struggled, his left arm flailing. She ducked.

Rudy knelt at Bo’s other side and held down his arm. Bo muttered, his words indistinguishable but his tone informing them of anger and frustration.

Rudy looked at her cheek. “You are bleeding.”

“It’s a minor detail.” She didn’t want to say what concerned her far more. Not in front of the children. “Sissy, you and Kitty find me a hankie to wipe my face with.” As soon as the girls trotted away, she spoke softly to Rudy. “What’s happening to him?”

“Alice—I’m sorry—Miss Easton, I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. But he isn’t responsible for what he says or does when he’s out of his head.”

“Out of his head?” What a dreadful way of describing it. Yet it was true. This was not Bo. When would he come back?

She sat back on her heels, her mouth agape as she stared at the possibility he might not.