Facing West by Kathleen V. Kudlinski

Author:Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

The Divide

“Jake’s down!” Mama screamed. The wagon jerked as the ox dropped to his knees. Becky fell off the tailgate. Tinware crashed to the floor inside the wagon. A bucket fell and rolled back down the mountainside.

“Dang!” Pa swore. He threw his whip to the ground and ran to the fallen ox.

“I’ll get the rocks, Pa!” Ben yelled. He didn’t have to look far. He jammed one behind each wheel, trying not to hear Becky’s cries.

“What happened?” Amanda called weakly.

“Jake tripped, honey, that’s all.” Mama said. Her voice was full of worry. “Now, don’t you get up.”

Ben ran to Becky. “It hurts, Benny,” she cried, “Oh, it hurts!” She hugged her arm tight.

Mama pressed her hand to her head. “Ben, can you take care of Becky? Jake needs water.”

“Yes, Mama.” Ben watched as she walked back uphill. Her dress hung loose as an empty flour sack. When did she get so skinny? Ben hugged Becky and rocked her carefully.

“What’s happening?” Amanda cried from her cot in the wagon.

“Nothing to worry about,” Ben answered.

She had gotten skinny, too, he thought. But that was because of the cholera. Amanda had been weak ever since she took sick last month. At least it hadn’t killed her. Mrs. Simmons had died of the disease. So had Mr. March, and every one of the Cuthbert children. Ben remembered the little row of crosses they’d left behind that day. He shivered and hugged Becky tighter.

“Oooow!” she wailed.

The next team pulled up behind Ben. Mrs. Cuthbert hurried over. For a change, she wasn’t crying. “Let me see it, Becky,” she said. She ran her hands over the little girl’s arm. It was black and blue already, and swollen. She looked at Ben. “Get your mother,” she said. “I think it’s broken.”

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