At the woman’s barest nod, the two proceeded.
Lark returned and joined Mr. Durham in breaking branches and chopping larger pieces for the fire. “I’ll fix some breakfast.”
After bathing Alice and changing her sheets, Forsythia and Lilac bundled the soiled bedding and garments into the large laundry pot Del had brought. They paused long enough to eat, then kept on boiling the wash, stirring with a straight green willow stick Lark cut. She had stripped off the bark to make the work easier. Hauling the soapy wash to the river, both Forsythia and Del took off their boots, hitched up their skirts, and waded into the water. By the time they’d rinsed all the laundry, both were nearly as wet as the wash.
“It’s a shame we can’t go swimming.” Forsythia handed Del one end of the sheet, and together they twisted the water out.
“In our clothes?” Del motioned back toward camp.
“Why not?” Forsythia almost dunked herself and then remembered the man working around the wagon. “No, you’re right.”
After wringing everything out, they draped the linens over bushes and branches to dry. When they got back to camp, Mr. Durham had scrubbed his wagon and collapsed under a tree, finally getting the rest he sorely needed.
As the morning sun climbed, Del and Forsythia took turns spooning tea into their patient and rejoiced when Alice kept it all down. Bathed and in a clean nightdress, Alice finally slept after taking some of Del’s broth.
Weary to the bone, Forsythia sank onto a fallen log and watched Lilac entertaining Robbie. He shouted with glee when Lilac let him perch on Starbright’s back while she walked the horse around. A very different scene than when they’d arrived. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.
Late in the morning, Forsythia and Lark headed back to their wagon for a rest, while Del and Lilac took a shift. They met another wagon heading down toward the river.
“You camped down there?” the husband asked Lark after stopping their oxen.
“Back up a ways.” Lark tipped her hat up. “But there are good spots by the river. We’re just helping some folks camped there who fell sick.”
“Poor souls.” The wife smiled at them from the wagon seat. “You’re good to help your neighbors.”
“Huh. We’ll steer clear of any sickness.” The husband glanced at his wife and the three children’s faces peeking from behind her. Another boy in his early teens rode horseback alongside the wagon. “Can’t let anything hold us up from joining a wagon train this late in the season.”
“Where are you folks from?” Lark asked.
“Ohio. Headed to the Oregon Trail. You?”
“Same.”
Forsythia smiled up at the wife. She seemed kind, more so than her sour-faced husband. “Perhaps we’ll see you on the trail.”
“If we all make it soon enough.” The husband hupped the oxen and nodded at Lark, ignoring Forsythia. “Thank you kindly.”
Forsythia studied Lark’s face as the wagon lumbered on. Brow tightened, her sister strode on ahead without a word. Forsythia followed, a tightening in her middle. Yes, they needed to press on. Time was running out. But how could they leave the Durhams behind?
11
We need to get moving again,” Lark said.
“I know, but what about Mrs. Durham? Do you think she’s strong enough?” Forsythia asked. They were gathered around their campfire after helping Mr. Durham put his son and wife to bed before himself.
“Guess we’ll see in the morning. He’s getting restless to leave too.” Lark poked a stick into the fire, causing sparks to spiral up with the smoke. “I keep remembering something about wagon trains not starting out after a certain date. I know we’re getting late in the season, but what that man said concerns me.” Calculations circled through her mind—how many miles a day they could make, how many miles still to Independence.
“Leaving them behind doesn’t seem right either.” Forsythia slapped at a mosquito on her arm. “Pesky things.”
“We could take turns riding with them to take care of her.” Del pushed herself to her feet. “But since she can drink from a cup now, probably the best way we can help is to keep Robbie with us.”
Lark nodded. “I’ll go talk with him in the morning. We won’t get as early a start as we’d like, but even ten miles is better than none.” Tension tightened her shoulders again.
“I set the snares, so perhaps we’ll have fresh meat for tomorrow.” Lilac climbed under her blanket.
Restless even in her sleep, Lark woke before the others and went to check on the animals. As of tonight, we go back to taking turns at watch again. She stroked Starbright’s favorite spot between her eyes and leaned into the horse. Was Jonah staying out of the saloon? And any other way he could get in trouble? When were Anders and Josephine getting married? Would they find letters from home in the Independence post office? Were those two evil men still looking for them? She tipped her head back and stared at the disappearing stars as light bloomed in the east. Lord, I sure wish the Durhams would choose to stop when we come to a town with a boardinghouse and stay long enough for Alice to regain her strength. The question, of course, was how long that might take. Another thought chased after that one. The Herrons were only one day back. They’d take the Durhams in for sure, or help them at least. Perhaps Mr. Durham could work for them. Thought piled on thought, but any reminder of the Herron family created a warm circle around her heart.
She heard Del starting the fire for breakfast and the others greeting her. They had invited Robbie and his pa to have breakfast with them. Forsythia planned to go tend to Alice. Better get going, Lark told herself. She gave the mare one last pat and returned to the fire.
“I’m going to water
