When they walked in, all the girls stopped to stare. The rough, wooden building of logs with bark left on was filled with wonders. Hats made out of animal hides, bolts of material stacked high, rugs, guns, and knives beside pots and pans. Books, candy, and wood carvings of birds. Anything you could think of to buy was on display.
As near as Emery could tell, no one was in the store except an old man sleeping at his desk with a half-empty whiskey bottle beside him.
“Morning.” Trapper woke the old guy. “Mind if me and my family look around.”
“Nope. You’re the first folks I’ve seen today.” His words were straight, but his eyes didn’t seem to be focusing on anything but his nose. “Wake me up when you’re ready to check out.” His head hit the desk so hard it rattled the whiskey bottle.
Trapper wandered off with his list in hand, and Emery moved to the material. She was deep in thought, trying to picture a dress made from each bolt, when Number Three and Four moved close to her.
“Mrs. Adams,” Number Three whispered. Her hat hid her eyes from view. “May I buy a pair of Levi’s and a flannel shirt? I got the money.”
“Why, Eliza?” Emery asked. “Wouldn’t you rather buy something pretty?”
She shook her head. “It’d make it easier to ride. I like riding just like Two does but it’s not easy in a dress. When we met the Millers, the mom thought I was a boy in a dress when my hat got knocked off. I can’t do anything about my hair, but I thought if I put on pants and a shirt, I wouldn’t have to wear the hat all the time. I don’t care if folks think I’m a boy.”
Four pushed closer. “If she does, I want to get them too.”
Emery thought of the terrible sack of a dress her mother had made her wear so no one would see her as a woman. In truth, Levi’s and a shirt made much more sense on this journey.
“I don’t mind at all.”
Thirty minutes later Emery met Trapper at the counter with her material, ribbons, and a simple white nightgown. She feared she was spending money she’d need to get by in Dallas.
Trapper had collected all the supplies and a chamber pot.
He’d also bought Number One a pair of leather gloves for when she drove the team and Emery a sensible pair of boots. Ladylike, but practical.
He wanted to make sure Number Five now had a new bonnet; she’d lost hers on the second day out. Number Four had a leather bag to keep her rocks in.
Two would have her own fishing pole and Three would have a book to read because she’d told them she loved books.
“You’re a pushover.” Emery laughed, brushing his arm.
“I’ve never had anyone to buy anything for. It was fun.”
When Trapper reached to shake the old man awake, Emery stopped him with a touch. She glanced around and saw there was no one around, then stood on her toes and kissed him on the mouth.
Trapper’s blue eyes darkened when she pulled back.
“Why’d you do that?”
“I didn’t want to wait all day to kiss you.” She stared in his eyes. They both knew there was no time for more. No place they could be alone. But she saw what she’d hoped to see in his face. He felt the same way she did.
“One day, Emery.”
“One day, Trapper.”
The unspoken promise passed between them.
The old man lifted his head and looked at them as if he’d never seen them before. Trapper moved a respectable distance away from her.
“Where are the kids?” He looked around.
“They are changing. I told Two she could wear pants if she wanted to.”
About that time she heard the tap of boots moving their way. As they moved out from behind the bolts of material, Emery smiled as five little princesses dressed in Levi’s and flannel shirts stood before her. Each had on boots almost to their knees and wide hats like Trapper wore. Their shirts were dusty red and sagebrush green and their smiles were pure sunshine.
Except for a few braids hanging down, she could have sworn she was looking at boys. Number One swung a rain slicker over her shoulder and Two, Three, and Four did the same. Five tried but her jacket flew behind her.
Trapper cleared his throat. “Whose idea was this?”
Emery looked at the girls “It was Eliza, I mean Three, and mine. If someone is looking for a wagon filled with little girls, they won’t find them.
“I needed a vest too,” Number One commented.
Four giggled and added, “She’s starting to bud.”
Trapper looked like he had no idea what they were talking about.
Number One moved forward as she changed the subject. “I saw a corral full of horses when we came in. If we can buy a few, Two, Three, and I can take turns riding beside the wagon. We’d have a wider view of the surroundings.”
All looked at Trapper. If he didn’t like the idea, they’d all be heading back to change clothes.
“It is a brilliant idea,” he said, smiling, “but I don’t know if I can afford all this.”
One ended his worries. “We’ve got enough to pay for the clothes and the horses.”
“They’ll cost you ten dollars a head,” the drunk behind the counter finally joined in.
One turned directly to him. “That’s outrageous, but I’ll pay your price providing I pick the horses.”
The drunk raised an eyebrow but finally nodded. “You do that, little girl.”
As they headed out, Emery heard Trapper ask One how come they had so much money in those tiny purses.”
She said simply, “The colonel doesn’t want his daughters to ever go without what they need.”
Trapper looked over at Four and Five, carrying two cornhusk dolls each. “I see some of the needs are questionable.”
“No, sir.” One smiled. “They needed them.”
Trapper scratched his head. “You know, One, someday you are going
