Dorothy Garlock - [Wabash River] by Yesteryear

Author:Yesteryear [Yesteryear]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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The town of Van Buren lay listlessly in the noonday sun. It seemed to Addie larger than Freepoint and much older. Lying on the bank of the Arkansas River across from Fort Smith, Van Buren was the jumping-off place for freight wagons, settlers, and army regiments going into or across the Indian Nations.

Enjoying their easy camaraderie, John told Addie a little about the town as they approached it.

“Thomas Martin, a friend of my father’s, came to this place on the Arkansas in 1818 and established a trading post. As settlers came in, a village called Phillips Landing was formed because a man named Phillips had bought up a big chunk of land. Later on the name of the town was changed to Van Buren, for the president.”

“Are you known here?”

“Some. Back in the twenties my parents settled about a hundred miles north of here. It’s where I was born and grew up. We came here about twice a year for supplies.”

“It’s hillier than I expected.”

“This is hilly country. The stores here are good, but for the amount of supplies we need back home we have to go to Saint Louis. The eating places and the hotels are fair; the saloons very good.” He grinned at her.

“Of course you would know that!” she said sassily.

John could not recall when he had enjoyed himself more. Time seemed to have flown by since they’d left camp, but in reality they had been on the road almost half a day. Addie Tallman—he never wanted the name Hyde associated with her again—was a delight. She was not only pretty but smart. She had a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor. She was also a “ring-tailed tooter” when she was mad. He chuckled when he thought of the tongue-lashing she had given the preacher.

“What are you laughing at?” Addie tilted her head to see his face.

“You might be mad if I told you.” He couldn’t stop grinning.

“Now you’ve got me curious. You’d better tell me or I’ll think the worst.”

“I was thinking of you standing in the lane stamping your foot and shouting every swear word you’d ever heard at the preacher.” Laughter rumbled up out of his chest. “After seeing that, I don’t plan on getting you mad in front of anyone.”

Addie’s face turned fiery red. “I can’t even remember what I said. Trisha said it was things she’d not heard me say before. I was so mad! Why, the idea of that . . . old stinkpot thinking he’d give Colin to that rotten old Renshaw skunk! Course, I didn’t know then that he was going to try to get Dillon too. I’d . . . I’d’ve shot his ugly head off before I gave him my boys!”

“Calm down, honey. I didn’t mean to get you riled up again.”

As the word of endearment seeped into her senses, she felt a wonderful warm glow of belonging—a feeling of security. She glanced at him and suddenly realized that his head was in

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