should come to the meeting here tonight at 6:30. I’ll have the contracts for signing up and a supply list for every family.” Garrett raked his hair. “Four to six months’ worth of hard travel through mountain passes and desert, sir, fording rivers with wagons and women. It’s a long walk.”
The man’s cheek bulged again. “Sounds like you’re trying to discourage me.”
Garrett laid his fork on his empty plate, swallowing his last bite of pork. “I have an obligation to discourage anyone who might be at risk due to ill health or a frail constitution.”
He’d been on the trail. Knew the hardships of traversing an unforgiving land. He’d heard death’s cries; seen the heartache. This was the first time he was the one making the decisions about who went and who stayed …
And he didn’t want to make a mistake.
Nine
C aroline held a candle lantern in one hand and pulled her cape tight with the other. Thankfully, The Western House Inn was positioned just a few blocks up, at the corner of Boone’s Lick Road and Main Street. Not far from the center of town, but still it wasn’t proper for a lady to be out alone after dark. Jewell made sure Caroline had heard that twice, at the least.
It wasn’t like she’d planned to go out. She’d only decided to attend the meeting after the confrontation with Jack. She’d spent the bulk of the day avoiding the man. For that matter, she’d avoided Jewell as well, spending most of the time in the room she shared with Mary and Cora. The keepsakes she’d kept from Aunt Inez’s trunk were now well polished and organized. She’d cleaned each one, bringing back the good memories of her world before the darkness of war. The mother-of-pearl cameo hung around her neck, swinging between her shirtwaist and her cape, calming her with each step. Aunt Inez had never married, fancied herself an independent woman. Caroline was drawing confidence from the memories of her aunt … until she heard wagon wheels slowing behind her.
Her pulse quickened. Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea, after all. She lengthened her stride.
“Caroline?”
Hattie Pemberton’s voice relaxed her like a warm blanket placed over her shoulders, and she turned to greet her friend. Hattie’s brother, Charles, held the reins while Hattie sat in the backseat of the surrey with Anna.
“Mrs. Milburn.” Charles doffed his bowler, obviously dressed in his Sunday best for the meeting. “Wherever are you going this time of day?”
She frowned at his scolding tone. “I imagine it’s the same place you’re headed.”
“The Western House?”
“Yes. To the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train Company meeting.”
He glanced behind her. “Your sister and brother-in-law?”
“I’m alone.” The words stung her tongue.
“No, you’re not.” Hattie’s hand fluttered in the glow of her candle lantern. “Join us.” Holding her flowered hat, she scooted to the far edge of the seat.
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
Charles wrapped the reins around the brake lever, stood, and faced her.
Since the wagon was lit, Caroline blew out her candle lantern and handed it up to him. She pinched her skirt, lifting it above her boots, and settled her foot on the step.
Charles offered his hand. “I’m pleased we came along when we did. It’s not safe for a woman to be out at night alone .” The phrase was becoming downright tiresome.
“You can be certain it isn’t my first choice.” Letting go of his hand, she squeezed onto the seat beside Anna. “I do thank you, Mr. Pemberton.”
“I’m happy to oblige.” He seated himself, then turned to look at her. “Please. Call me Charles.”
When they arrived at The Western House Inn, Charles helped them down from the surrey and shooed them inside. “I’ll park the wagon and join you momentarily.”
Hattie didn’t respond. Instead she looked at Caroline, her eyes as wide as turkey platters. “You’re going west?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Anna’s
The man’s cheek bulged again. “Sounds like you’re trying to discourage me.”
Garrett laid his fork on his empty plate, swallowing his last bite of pork. “I have an obligation to discourage anyone who might be at risk due to ill health or a frail constitution.”
He’d been on the trail. Knew the hardships of traversing an unforgiving land. He’d heard death’s cries; seen the heartache. This was the first time he was the one making the decisions about who went and who stayed …
And he didn’t want to make a mistake.
Nine
C aroline held a candle lantern in one hand and pulled her cape tight with the other. Thankfully, The Western House Inn was positioned just a few blocks up, at the corner of Boone’s Lick Road and Main Street. Not far from the center of town, but still it wasn’t proper for a lady to be out alone after dark. Jewell made sure Caroline had heard that twice, at the least.
It wasn’t like she’d planned to go out. She’d only decided to attend the meeting after the confrontation with Jack. She’d spent the bulk of the day avoiding the man. For that matter, she’d avoided Jewell as well, spending most of the time in the room she shared with Mary and Cora. The keepsakes she’d kept from Aunt Inez’s trunk were now well polished and organized. She’d cleaned each one, bringing back the good memories of her world before the darkness of war. The mother-of-pearl cameo hung around her neck, swinging between her shirtwaist and her cape, calming her with each step. Aunt Inez had never married, fancied herself an independent woman. Caroline was drawing confidence from the memories of her aunt … until she heard wagon wheels slowing behind her.
Her pulse quickened. Perhaps this wasn’t a good idea, after all. She lengthened her stride.
“Caroline?”
Hattie Pemberton’s voice relaxed her like a warm blanket placed over her shoulders, and she turned to greet her friend. Hattie’s brother, Charles, held the reins while Hattie sat in the backseat of the surrey with Anna.
“Mrs. Milburn.” Charles doffed his bowler, obviously dressed in his Sunday best for the meeting. “Wherever are you going this time of day?”
She frowned at his scolding tone. “I imagine it’s the same place you’re headed.”
“The Western House?”
“Yes. To the Boone’s Lick Wagon Train Company meeting.”
He glanced behind her. “Your sister and brother-in-law?”
“I’m alone.” The words stung her tongue.
“No, you’re not.” Hattie’s hand fluttered in the glow of her candle lantern. “Join us.” Holding her flowered hat, she scooted to the far edge of the seat.
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
Charles wrapped the reins around the brake lever, stood, and faced her.
Since the wagon was lit, Caroline blew out her candle lantern and handed it up to him. She pinched her skirt, lifting it above her boots, and settled her foot on the step.
Charles offered his hand. “I’m pleased we came along when we did. It’s not safe for a woman to be out at night alone .” The phrase was becoming downright tiresome.
“You can be certain it isn’t my first choice.” Letting go of his hand, she squeezed onto the seat beside Anna. “I do thank you, Mr. Pemberton.”
“I’m happy to oblige.” He seated himself, then turned to look at her. “Please. Call me Charles.”
When they arrived at The Western House Inn, Charles helped them down from the surrey and shooed them inside. “I’ll park the wagon and join you momentarily.”
Hattie didn’t respond. Instead she looked at Caroline, her eyes as wide as turkey platters. “You’re going west?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Anna’s
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