“Do the little ones need to eat before we set out?” he asked.
Deb was amazed to admit she hadn’t thought of it, even with the talk of milk. This whole morning had shaken her right to the ground, and she was a woman who prided herself on being able to handle anything. Though her Heavenly Father knew well that she’d never handled anything close to this.
The dog’s head snapped to alert, and without a sound it tore off into the tall grass.
“What happened?” Deb looked to where the dog had disappeared.
“He heard me say eat. He hunts his own. Reckon he’ll be back soon.”
The children stirred from the sound of voices and sat up.
Maddie Sue rubbed her eyes.
Ronnie woke up crying “Mama.” Gwen cradled him, and he leaned against her chest, murmuring “Mama” again through tears.
The children loved Gwen in a special way, as well they should. Gwen did the lion’s share of caring for them.
She and Gwen went to work getting a cold breakfast in the youngsters’ stomachs. Trace had a tin cup and divided the can of milk between his cup and one Deb produced. One for Maddie, one for Ronnie.
Trace had beef jerky and hard biscuits in his saddlebag, which he shared. Being the first food they’d eaten for the day, and with the morning half gone, the children were mighty hungry.
Deb took a strip of jerky and a biscuit and slipped it into her coat pocket. She couldn’t walk all day without food, but she feared she’d empty her stomach if she took a single bite right now.
She noticed Trace did the same.
Gwen ate with little enthusiasm. She was a sympathetic young woman and had to know what they must’ve seen. None of the adults commented on the eating behavior of the others.
Deb managed a few sips of water from Trace’s canteen, and soon they were finished with the simple meal. Little Ronnie started toddling around, heading for the tall grass. Where he’d no doubt vanish, never to be seen again. Gwen made sure to keep up with him.
Maddie Sue said, “Why is your horsie so tall?”
Stumped by the question, Trace looked down at the little girl. “I don’t rightly know. That’s just how tall he grew.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did she grow that tall?”
“Uh—” he threw Deb a confused look—“it’s a he. And he just did is all?”
“What’s a he?”
“The horse is a he, not a she.”
“Why?”
“Well, um, I reckon—”
“Why?”
Trace blinked and looked at Deb again.
“She just loves the sound of the word why.”
Maddie Sue walked over to him and reached up both arms. “Pick me up.”
Trace stepped back so fast he bumped into his horse, who quickly sidestepped. Deb was prepared to save Trace from the little girl, though it was funny to watch him all stirred up. It distracted her from the morning, and she hoped it put Trace’s mind on other things, too. Anything but the horror of that wagon train.
“It’s time we get going. Which of you wants to ride first?” Trace asked, doing his best to dodge Maddie Sue without letting her get under his horse’s hooves.
“Go ahead, Deb.” Gwen was as generous as she was pure of heart.
Shaking her head almost violently, Deb said, “I need to walk awhile.”
Gwen studied her closely. Whatever she saw must’ve convinced her because she handed Ronnie to Deb and reached for the saddle horn. She tried to get her foot in the stirrup and missed. The horse tossed its head, and the bridle jingled.
A furrow formed on Gwen’s smooth brow as she stepped up to the horse again. She smiled nervously at Trace. “Why is your horse so tall?”
He huffed, almost a chuckle. While it sounded strained to Deb, it was better than his grim silence and few words. “Best to let me help. Black’s a good horse, but he ain’t used to skirts. In fact, I don’t know as anyone’s ever ridden him but me. No sense making him jumpy.”
Before Gwen could try and climb up into the high saddle, Trace reached for her waist, pulled back before he touched her, then reached again hesitantly. He finally set his hands on her and hoisted her high enough that she could scramble the rest of the way herself. Trace handled her with the finesse he’d have shown for a sack of potatoes.
When Gwen’s skirt flapped in his face, he flinched as if it were the tip of a bullwhip.
At least his cheeks were no longer gray. He was blushing. He picked up the reins from where the horse had been ground-hitched and lifted them over the horse’s head. Gwen grabbed them tight, maybe too tight because the horse tossed its head.
Deb lifted Ronnie up to Gwen.
“No!” Ronnie’s scream nearly peeled the skin off Deb’s ears. He kicked his feet as though running in midair, and one of his little-boy shoes hit the horse in the shoulder. The critter shied sideways so fast, Gwen shrieked and threw herself forward to cling to the saddle horn and managed to drop the reins.
That set the horse off even more and it pranced. Gwen clung. She wasn’t much of a rider.
Ronnie had been quiet so far this morning. The long walk in the grass and the grim mood coming from Deb and Gwen had weighed on the normally rambunctious toddler. Well, that quiet was over now.
Trace jumped to grab his mount and calm him down while Maddie Sue followed after him demanding to be picked up. After a
