Wagon Train Reunion (Journey West) by Ford Linda

Author:Ford, Linda [Ford, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

He asked her to walk with him? Abby couldn’t think what it meant. Perhaps only a desire for company. Or maybe he thought she wanted to see how the others were doing though Emma had said the measles outbreak had subsided. Only two new cases in the past two days, and those who had it were well on their way to recovery, without any of the dreaded side effects.

Emma still accepted her help with the sick travelers. Except for Clarence Pressman. “He’s embarrassed about his accident,” Emma had explained. “I promised him I would treat him alone.” It seemed a little strange, yet under the circumstances strange things became ordinary and ordinary things impossible.

Thinking that helped her make up her mind. Did it matter what reason Ben had for asking her to accompany him? She’d welcome some time away from Mother. She glanced toward the tent where her mother had already withdrawn.

No doubt she overheard this conversation. Unless she’d fallen asleep. If only Abby could hope that was the case. Otherwise Mother would clutch Abby’s arm and remind her of her promise, and of the opportunities for advancement in Oregon. Abby had had to bite her tongue several times in the past few days to keep from asking advancement for whom? Besides, she knew the answer. Mother might think it was for Abby’s sake but in reality, it was for Mother’s. She wanted to be assured she could live in the style she preferred even if Father’s business struggled or failed.

“I wouldn’t mind stretching my legs. I was getting rather used to all the walking and today we’ve not walked a mile. My legs are restless.” She realized she babbled nonsense and forced herself to clamp her mouth shut.

She followed Ben as he stepped over the wagon tongue and held his hand out to assist her across. She couldn’t refuse without appearing rude and risking falling on her face should her skirts catch on the wood. But she’d had her hand in his just a day ago and knew the touch would set her nerves to dancing and threaten her resolve.

She wished to be free, to find independence so neither her parents nor a husband could decide her daily activities and the shape of her future.

Please, God, make it possible.

As she placed her hand in his work-roughened, big-palmed one her heart caught against her ribs. As soon as both her feet were on solid ground, she withdrew and pressed her hand to her waist.

The ground might be solid beneath her feet but not beneath her heart. She drew in a deep breath forcing herself to remember her goals.

They turned to the right.

“We’ll finish crossing the river by noon tomorrow, God willing. Sam says we’ll need to move after our noon break. He’s worried about every delay. He often says, ‘Travel, travel, travel. Nothing else will get you safely to the end of your journey. Nothing is wise that causes even a moment’s delay.’”

She heard the tension in his voice. “You sound concerned.

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