Romance in Time: An Oregon Trail Time Travel Romance by Susan Leigh Carlton

Author:Susan Leigh Carlton [Carlton, Susan Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Susan Leigh Carlton
Published: 2016-02-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter thirteen

The End of the Drive

It was another two weeks before the next letter arrived.

Dear Abigail,

I’m a little bit late answering your last letter, but it is a busy time for us. We’re beginning the fall roundup, and getting ready for the breeding season. The roundup is the busiest time of year for us since we are out on the range for several days at a time, getting all of the strays back into the herd, and cutting out the ones from other ranches that may have mixed in with ours.

We have to cull those we are going to sell and drive them to the marketing point. Fort Laramie is one of our customers, and we drive others to Cheyenne where we can ship to the East on the train. It’s about four days to Cheyenne and five or six to Fort Laramie. With that in mind, my best guess is we will be in Fort Laramie in about four weeks. This is an important time of year for a ranch. It’s when we determine how well we will eat for the rest of the year.

There’s a bit of a lull between the two drives to give our horses some rest. We cowboys don’t need the rest, but your life depends on your horses, so we are very careful with them. I say horses, because each man will have eight to ten in his remuda.

You have stirred my curiosity with what you said about needing to talk. Dare I get my hopes up? I can’t help it. Mama sends her regards, as does Papa.

Yours truly,

Thomas

* * *

Fort Laramie…

“Ohhh…”

“Something wrong, dear?” Cora asked.

“I have a letter from Thomas. It’s going to be another four weeks before he will be able to come back. They are driving a herd to Cheyenne, and then will drive another one here. They have to rest their horses between the drives. That means he will be sleeping on the ground for that time. I hope they don’t run into bad weather or it will be even longer.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

“I’m going to tell him my story. If he doesn’t believe it, I don’t know what I’ll do. If he does, and asks, I’ll go to Laramie with them. I’m pretty sure I can convince his mother by telling her about the diaries. If not, then I’ll stay here as long as I’m welcome and can help.”

“What diaries?” Cora asked.

“She kept diaries on the trail out here and on up until 1878. I’ve read them and know what’s in them.”

“What if you get down there and it doesn’t work out.”

“Cora, if it turns out that way, then I have no idea what I’ll do.”

* * *

“The Colonel told me there’s a herd due in tomorrow,” Doctor Turner told Abby. Could that be your young man?”

“He’s not my young man, Doctor Jim. He’s a good friend. I hope it is him. It’s been close to two months now.”

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