Uncivilized by Laura Stapleton

Author:Laura Stapleton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical fiction romance, romance 1800s, western and frontier fiction, omance historical western
Publisher: Laura Stapleton

The next morning, Pa paused before sipping his coffee and spoke to Ellen. “What’s that on your arm? Some sort of bandage?”

She stopped sipping her own coffee and nodded. “It’s from Sam’s shirt. Someone noticed I was favoring this hand and suggested it for my wrist.”

“Didn’t know you were hurt, thought maybe you weren’t getting enough attention.” He turned to his younger son. “Skeeter, help your sister with chores until she gets better.”

Ellen had the distinct feeling from him that her injury was an affront to him personally. His words didn’t say so, but his tone did. She fought the urge to insist she was fine and didn’t need her brother’s help. Except that she did for a few days. Even now her arm ached, and she moved her hand to check its mobility.

Skeeter leaned against her in a half hug. “Don’t worry, sis. I can help just fine.”

She smiled down at his earnest face. “I know you can.”

“You’re still changing Buster’s diapers. Right?”

“Yes, I am.” She chuckled. “Unless you’re wanting to…?”

“Nope!” He sat up straight. “I’ll wash dishes and put away the bedding. Too busy to clean poop. Sorry, sis!”

“I thought so.” She gave him a final hug. “Go get started and I’ll take care of our boy.”

Buster walked over to her, half eaten biscuit still in one hand. “Poop.” Hearing Skeeter laugh, the baby started bouncing. “Poop, poop, poop!”

“All right, that’s enough.” She scooped him up before setting him back down. He was wet and smelly, chanting poop for a reason. “Let’s go clean you up and talk about how big boys go to the bathroom out here.”

Buster followed her to the river, holding her hand. She stripped him down and let him play in the water while she cleaned up the diaper. Glancing upstream, she saw Skeeter finishing up and going back to camp. If she didn’t hurry, Lucky would be sounding the signal to move out and Buster would still be half naked. She worked fast to dress him again and give his clean but wet diaper another wringing out.

Each family made their way across the creek to the Snake River ferry. Word spread quickly across the waiting families of the cost. Pa shook his head. “I ain’t paying no eighteen dollars when there’s bound to be some sort of crossing up ahead. They’re taking advantage of the desperate.”

Ellen agreed. She looked ahead to see Sam and Lefty leading one of the wagons up the river to a better crossing. Wagon ruts went in that direction for a reason, and when the Winslows followed, she saw why. The river widened here and turned relatively shallow. They approached the riverbank behind the Nelsons. She watched as Sam, Lefty, and Del approached. They were wet up to their knees. That meant their wagon’s bed would be completely submerged. Ellen’s mouth went dry. Green River was bad enough. “Mr. Granville, I’m not going across here. I can’t.”

“You don’t have a choice, girl,” said Pa.

Sam swung off his horse. “Lefty, get the next group ready and I’ll be there in a minute.

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