Hannah by Cynthia Woolf

Author:Cynthia Woolf
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Firehouse Publishing
Published: 2019-01-24T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The night before was the Fourth of July. It was celebrated at Fort Laramie in grand style. The soldiers and the brides from the train attended or participated in horse races, egg-in-spoon races and three-legged races. That evening, a dance was held, and the brides danced with the soldiers in the fort. Hannah saw several of the couples walking hand-in-hand and was sure some of the men and women lost their hearts that night.

Many of the women baked pies and cakes which the officers of the fort judged. Lydia won first prize for her apple pie, made from the last of the apples from home. The prize for first place was a five-pound bag of coffee.

Hannah could hardly believe their luck. Five pounds of coffee. That was like having a sack of gold. They could have a fresh pot nearly every day. They wouldn’t, of course. Throwing out perfectly good coffee, just to have a fresh pot, would be wasteful, and if there was one thing the Granger girls were not, it was wasteful.

After he’d finished eating breakfast, Joe stood.

“It’s time I check in with Chester. Will you ladies be all right until I return?”

Hannah shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course. We were okay before you came and we can take care of ourselves.”

Joe crossed both his arms over his chest and lifted an eyebrow.

“All right. Things are definitely easier since you joined our party and we appreciate all you’ve done for us.” Hannah stood and crossed both her arms over her chest. “But we don’t want to be a burden on you either.”

He stepped forward and put his arms around Hannah’s waist.

She unfolded her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

She leaned back in his arms, sure he would hold her, and ran her knuckles down his cheek. “We are. No one will harm us here outside Fort Laramie.” She lowered her voice. “What about your bounties for Misters Smith, Jones, and O’Toole, as they are known here on the wagon train?”

“They are being picked up as we speak.”

A soldier galloped up and had his horse skid to a stop next to Joe.

“Mr. Stanton, Colonel Travers would like to see you. Immediately, sir. I’m to give you my horse.”

Frowning Joe turned to Hannah. “I’ll be back shortly. If I’m not and the train decides to leave, go with the wagon train. I’ll catch up.”

Hannah nodded. “All right. I thought we’d be here for three days.”

“If I’m not mistaken, that won’t happen now and you’ll pull out before noon, today. You won’t make many miles, but you’ll be headed out and that’s more important.”

“Then I’ll see you when I see you.”

Joe took her in his arms and kissed her soundly.

Hannah was dazed when he let her go.

He turned, hurried to the soldier’s horse and swung up into the saddle. He walked the animal until they were safely outside the circle of wagons then kicked the horse into a gallop, headed for the fort.

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