Wagon Train Melody

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

R udy tried not to constantly glance over his shoulder at the evidence of an approaching rider. Not that Alice wasn’t aware of his concern.

He fought an inner battle. Should he abandon this little family and head out on King? Or hope the rider wouldn’t see the palomino and ignore the covered wagon? Maybe seeing eyes could be made not to see. Vengeful hearts ride by.

“Rudy, are you praying?”

Alice’s voice from close behind startled him. Not that he hadn’t heard her move, but he hadn’t expected such a direct question.

“I’ve been known to pray.”

“Then I suppose you’re asking for the rider to not see you?”

“Guess I am at that.” Though he hadn’t put his prayer into words. “I was thinking that if God can make blind eyes to see, He can just as easily make seeing eyes blind.”

Two little girls listened to the conversation. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be frightened by what they heard.

“And I am praying God’s mighty hand will protect us.” Alice’s words were firm, full of assurance as if singing Amazing Grace over and over had filled her heart and mind with awareness of God and His love.

“I’m including myself in that prayer.” Even though she hadn’t specifically said so.

She didn’t say whether or not that was all right with her.

He glanced back and met her eyes and caught a glimpse of uncertainty. He was a good person, but she had no reason to believe it.

Kitty alternately covered and uncovered her eyes as if playing a game. “My eyes see.”

Rudy smiled down at her. “They are very nice eyes.” Both girls had an innocent look. Big brown eyes like their aunt. Sissy’s hair was light brown, Kitty’s darker.

Kitty nodded. “Unca Bo says I have pretty eyes.”

“He’s right.” Rudy wondered how Bo was doing and looked over his shoulder again. Bo rocked his head back and forth and Alice returned to his side to sing.

“Rudy,” she called. “Look behind.”

His shoulders twitched. He kept his reactions calm so as not to alarm the girls as he pulled the horses to a halt. “Stay here.” He jumped down and jogged around the wagon to get the palomino. He would ride as far and fast as he could from these people so as to not bring harm to them.

“Rudy. Stop. Have a look.” Alice repeated her words.

He sucked in air and turned to look back. He stared. “Where did he go?” No dust. Nothing. Had the rider stopped? He squinted hard. Then he saw a tiny swirl of dust at the horizon. “He’s changed direction?” How could that be?

“Appears so. Maybe it isn’t whoever you expected it to be.”

“Maybe.” He returned to the wagon seat and flicked the reins.

“What were you looking at?” Sissy asked. Her eyes were big with concern.

“Thought I saw something. But I guess I didn’t.”

“Was you scared?” Kitty asked.

Alice had calmed Bo and moved forward. “Girls, give the man some peace. Maybe Mr. Rudy would like to hear you sing.”

The girls glanced up at him, smiling.

“I’d love to hear it.”

In unison, they sang, “Jesus loves me, this I know.”

Rudy listened in awe. He had never heard children sing so sweetly.

They finished.

“That was beautiful.”

“Thank you,” they chorused.

“We likes singing,” Kitty said, nodding her head.

“Sometimes we sing with Auntie,” Sissy added. “We like that too.”

“You all sing very nicely.”

“Auntie, sing with us.”

She looked about to refuse and then nodded. “What shall we sing?”

“Oh Susanna,” Sissy shouted.

Alice laughed. “Why am I not surprised? Very well.”

The three of them sang the song. And he’d never heard it sung better.

They finished and he clapped. “Very nice.”

Kitty stood and faced him. “Now you sing.”

“Kitty,” Alice warned but he held up his hand.

“I don’t mind.” He knew many songs that were appropriate for tender ears and sang, “‘Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight? Come out tonight, come out tonight? Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight, and dance by the light of the moon?’” The girls watched him, wide-eyed and intent. Their enjoyment was obvious.

He glanced back at Alice and watched her surprise shift to enjoyment and knew she liked the song.

He finished and the girls clapped. Alice joined them. “I remember hearing that once when a minstrel show went through town.” She studied him silently, assessing, measuring, deciding…

“What’s your conclusion?” he asked.

She blinked and looked away as if only now realizing how long she’d been staring at him. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You were trying to decide what sort of man I am. What did you decide?”

Her gaze returned to his. “It’s impossible to judge on such short acquaintance.”

“Let me help you. As I told you, my name is Rudy Powers. I’m a cowboy. Been on my own since I was twelve?—”

“Why?” she asked. “Why were you on your own at twelve?”

“My parents had both died. I suppose I wasn’t truly on my own. I joined my Uncle Zeke on a cattle drive. After that, the two of us wandered around finding work wherever we could. Zeke was always moving on to the next adventure. Five years ago, he left me behind when he moved on, saying he needed space, and I was old enough not to need a nanny.”

“Oh.” Alice drew in a sharp breath. “That was hurtful. I’m sorry. Have you seen him since then?”

“I haven’t seen him in a couple years. I assume he’s down in Texas somewhere. Maybe he finally got what he always wanted—his own ranch. Maybe he’s had enough adventure.” He paused. “Don’t know that I’ll ever have my fill. There’s always something new and exciting to investigate.” His gaze went to the west. He’d like to explore the mountains.

Alice’s expression was full of shock. She looked about ready to say something when Sissy leaned forward. “Mr. Rudy, who takes care of you now?”

“Well, little gal, I take care of myself.”

“We’ll take care of you,” Sissy promised and both little girls patted his hands.

He swallowed hard, hoping Alice wouldn’t hear it. He didn’t need taking care of. Hadn’t in a long time. But the idea of these sweet gals wanting to twisted his heart into a knot.

“Girls.” Alice’s voice was firm. “Mr. Rudy is only helping us for a little while. Then he’s got his own life to live.”

The girls sank back as if they’d been scolded.

“That’s a very generous offer.” He hoped his words would soothe their hurt feelings. “But your aunt is right. I’ll be moving on soon.”

He glanced back. Could see no more dust and tried to relax. That rider might not even be the man looking for him, but it was too early to let down his guard.

Alice sat beside Bo. He thrashed about far too often for her peace of mind. Of course, nothing would ease her mind but Bo sitting up and being lucid. In his right mind as Sissy would say.

He sucked in a noisy breath.

She stared at his chest, waiting…praying…to see it rise and fall. It didn’t. “Bo!” Her voice grew harder, louder. “Bo!”

“There a problem?” Rudy called.

She pressed her fingers to her mouth, unable to answer.

He stopped the wagon and trotted to the back. Saw the shock that held her eyes open so wide she wondered if she’d ever be able to close them again.

“He’s…he’s…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word. Dead.

Rudy climbed in beside her and put his hand on Bo’s chest. “Alice, he’s breathing. Look at my hand.”

It rose and fell slowly, steadily.

“I thought—” The words caught.

“Maybe he’s sleeping.” He kept his voice low so the girls couldn’t hear. “Breathing easier.”

She knew from the uncertainty of his voice that he was trying to ease her concerns.

“Auntie, is Unca Bo dead?” Kitty’s voice quivered.

Rudy returned to the front and lifted the girls down. “Your Uncle Bo is fine, but your Auntie needs some time to think. Could you two pick her some flowers?” He pointed to the patch of yellow blossoms a few yards away. The girls looked at him, searching his face. They must have been reassured for, hand in hand, they hurried away.

He returned to the back of the wagon. “I think maybe you need to stretch your legs for a few minutes.”

She looked at Bo then nodded and allowed him to help her down. They walked a few yards away.

She talked as they walked. It seemed she couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself even though Rudy was a stranger. “He scared me. I’ve seen way too much death. First my parents. I was seventeen when they died, and I went to live with my sister, Evelyn, and her husband. Evelyn is their mother.” She tipped her head toward the girls. “Then John and Evelyn died.” She shuddered. “I can’t lose any more of my family.”

They retraced their steps to the wagon.

“I’ve delayed us long enough.” She would have climbed into the back unassisted, but he held out his hand and she allowed him to help.

“We’ll soon need to find a place to stop for the night,” he declared.

“Is there any chance we’ll find a town or someplace where people are living? A ranch, maybe?” Even as she spoke, she knew the answer.

“I’ll keep an eye out for such a place.”

She settled herself beside Bo, relieved to see his chest rising and falling. Why had she panicked earlier? “Thank you,” she murmured to Rudy.

“For what?”

“For risking your safety to help us.” She lifted her chin to indicate the rider they’d seen in the distance.

He looked ready to deny he’d done such a thing then nodded. “I’ll see you get to the fort before I leave you. Unless my being here puts you in danger. If it does, I’ll ride away as fast as my horse will go.” He searched the horizon then trotted toward the girls.

She understood what he meant. Whoever was after him was a risk to her and the girls. Maybe Rudy was too. But so far, he’d proven to be nothing but a help.

He brought the girls to the back of the wagon. They presented her with bouquets of flowers. She thanked them and buried her face in them. They had a wild smell.

She lifted her eyes and met Rudy’s look. He studied her without blinking.

She returned the study, aware of something tenuous between them. Something she didn’t recognize or understand. Or, for that matter, welcome. She had her future cut out for her. Get to the fort. Join forces with Clint. Raise the girls. Give them a home such as she’d known.

He gave a crooked smile and hurried to the front of the wagon where he set the girls on either side of him, and they resumed travel.

They’d only gone a little way when Kitty fussed.

“She’s tired.” Alice moved forward and lifted Kitty from the seat. “Come on, little one. You can rest in the corner.”

Kitty stiffened. “I not tired.”

“Of course, you aren’t. But hush now, you don’t want to disturb Uncle Bo.” The warning seemed to work, for she glanced at Bo and whispered,

“He sleeping?”

“Yes.”

“He sleeped all morning. Why he so tired?”

“He just is.” She spread a quilt near the wagon seat.

Kitty refused to lie down. “I not tired.” She stuck out her chin.

Thankfully, Bo didn’t grow upset by the commotion.

Rudy glanced back. “If you lie down, I’ll sing some songs. Would you like that?”

Kitty considered his offer a moment, recognizing it as an attempt to get her cooperation. Alice could see she struggled against her desire to hear Rudy sing.

“Oh, very well.” She huffed and flung herself to the floor.

Rudy chortled and glanced at Alice. “Stubborn little miss, isn’t she?”

Alice acknowledged his comment with a quirk of her eyebrows. “You have no idea.”

Kitty fussed and Rudy began to sing. He sang four songs before she fell asleep.

Sissy’s head fell forward.

Rudy caught her before she tumbled from the seat.

“I’m not tired,” she mumbled then lay her head on his leg.

Alice stood up. “I’ll take her.” She’d find a corner for the girl someplace.

“She’s fine here if you have no objection.”

Alice tried to think if she did. She knew she should have. She glanced out the back. If only because someone was after Rudy.

“I promise to ride away if anyone comes after me. I won’t put you in any danger.”

“I’m sorry for being?—”

He didn’t let her finish. “You’re wise to be cautious.”

She nodded, glad that he understood but still feeling guilty that she didn’t mind accepting his help while judging him for his circumstances.

Bo sat up, yelling and pawing at his broken arm.

She hurried to his side. Her singing calmed him enough she could ease him back to the floor and hold his arm down.

So much for hoping he’d turned a corner the last little while when his breathing eased.

She sang for a long while. Every time she stopped, Bo grew restless. Her head fell forward, and she jerked awake. How long had she dozed? Not that she needed to worry. She would have wakened if Bo stirred. He seemed restful at the moment, and she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Alice.”

The word jerked her awake.

“This looks like a good place to stop. What do you think?”

She looked out the back. A hill rose behind them. She shifted to look out the front. “Trees and water. It’s all we need.” She yawned. “Sorry.”

Sissy sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Where are we?”

“We’ll stop here for the night,” Rudy looked back at Alice. “If you’re all right with that?”

Alice understood from the wary look in his eyes that he meant more than stopping. He meant him being there. Did he expect to spend the night with them? Did she object if he did?

A look out the back and to each side revealed no pursuer. What if they were overtaken in the night? But what if Rudy left and she was alone with the girls and Bo? And two horses she couldn’t control?

He waited for her answer.

“I’m all right with spending the night here.” She held his gaze, silently informing him that she welcomed his presence. Though perhaps she’d accepted the necessity more than welcomed it.

“Very well.” He jumped to the ground, lifted the girls down, then hurried to the back to help Alice before she could scramble out on her own. She readily admitted having someone help her made getting in and out a whole lot easier.

Bo rested quietly as Rudy built a fire and tended the horses while Alice folded down the table that hung at the side of the wagon and began meal preparations.

“Auntie is gonna make us bacon and potatoes,” Kitty announced to Rudy when he returned from watering the horses.

“Sounds good. Smells even better.” He circled the camping area, checking the ground as well as the horizon.

The girls trotted after him. She suspected Rudy was simply keeping the girls amused and running off some of their energy and was even more convinced when he chased them, caught them, and tossed them in the air, bringing squeals of delight from the girls.

Alice blinked back tears. John, their father, had played with them like that.

In a few minutes, she had the simple meal ready and called them in.

They trotted back. Rudy gave her a questioning look. Maybe she hadn’t wiped her tears away as thoroughly as she thought.

They again sat in a circle. Holding hands. “Kitty, it’s your turn to say grace.”

“I want Mr. Rudy to say it.” She looked at the man with such wide-eyed innocence and trust that Alice wondered how he would refuse.

“It’d be my honor.” His hat had already been tossed aside so he bowed his head.

“Girls, close your eyes,” Alice murmured, although she was every bit as curious as they were to hear what Rudy would say.

“Dear Heavenly Father,” he began. “You provide so generously and faithfully for us. Thank You for safety in our travels. Thank You for this great smelling food. Bless each one of us. Amen.”

It was a simple prayer and yet—Alice shook her head. She didn’t know what she’d expected.

The girls ate hungrily, but as soon as their tummies grew full, they began to chatter. Non-stop. They plied Rudy with questions. Alice knew she should stop them, but she wanted to hear his answers.

“What a cowboy do?” Kitty asked.

“Make cows go where they belong. Sometimes all the way from Texas.”

“Where Tescas?”

“Way far away to the southeast.” He pointed in the general direction.

Sissy squinted that direction then brought her gaze back to Alice. “Where’re we from?”

Alice pointed in a generally east direction.

“My papa and grandpa owned a store,” Sissy said. “It smelled like oats and oil.”

Alice again blinked away tears.

And of course, Rudy had to notice.

She gathered up the supper dishes. “Girls, go run around before it’s time for bed.”

Kitty grabbed Rudy’s hand. “You come too.”

It only took a few minutes for Alice to clean up. She climbed into the wagon to check on Bo. He’d been out a long time. Oh, if only he would wake up.

Until he did, she didn’t see how she could manage without Rudy’s help.

She looked to where Rudy played with the girls. They tackled him and he grabbed them both, carrying them under his arms like sacks of grain.

More tears stung her eyes. When had she ever been so prone to crying? Unless one counted the days after her parents’ deaths and more recently, the deaths of John and Evelyn.

It was time to prepare the girls for bed. The problem of where they’d sleep loomed. The last three nights, she and the girls had slept in the wagon and Bo on the ground. But Bo was now on the narrow mattress.

Did they have any other choice than to sleep outside on the ground with no protection from prying eyes or prowling animals?