Lark and Mr. Durham exchanged glances. “Thank you.”
Back at the wagons, Lark told the others the news and led the way, swinging out around the town proper and stopping near a circle of wagons. She and Durham stepped down and went searching for the wagon master, asking those they encountered. They finally located him by his wagon, busy greasing the axles.
“Mr. Hayes, we heard you were lookin’ for more wagons,” Lark said.
The wagon master stuck his paddle in the bucket of grease, wiped his hands on his pants, and nodded. “Who are you? Where you from, and where you goin’?”
“Name is Clark Nielsen. My wagon is from Linksburg, Ohio. Myself, my three sisters, two span of oxen, and a mare.” Lark looked at Mr. Durham.
“Thomas Durham. My wife and I and small son have one span of oxen and a smaller wagon.”
“Adequate supplies?”
“Used the lists sent out. How many are in your train?” Lark studied the man who might be responsible for their safety.
“Twelve so far. The two of you make fourteen. You related?”
“No, met up a few days back.”
“What kinda arms you carryin’?”
Lark answered his questions carefully. One repeating rifle, one muzzle-loader, and a pistol. Good thing she’d bought more ammunition at that last store.
“And how many can shoot and hit their target?”
“All of us. My youngest sister is best at reloading, but she can shoot, too, and she’s a good hunter.”
Hayes cocked an eyebrow. Obviously he didn’t think much of female shooters.
“Our father made sure all of his children could handle firearms. He started us young.”
Hayes turned to Thomas. “Durham, is it?”
Mr. Durham nodded. “One rifle, one shooter.”
“I see. And where might you all be headin’?”
“My sisters and I are thinking on southern Nebraska. We don’t really want to cross the Rocky Mountains. It depends on what kind of land we can find. We’re thinking to homestead or buy.”
“And you, Durham?”
“We were planning on Oregon, but the more I hear about the Rockies, the less I want to attempt that, so we might stop in Nebraska too.” Durham looked to Lark, who shrugged.
He’s afraid his wife won’t make it that far. Lark kept her thoughts to herself. She had a feeling the real strength in that little family lay with the missus. And right now, that was slim.
“Let’s go look at your wagons,” Hayes said.
As they walked toward the waiting wagons, Lark asked, “How many trains have you taken west?”
“Three, this will be four. As the railroad expands west, wagon trains will be a thing of the past. I got me a good plot of land in a beautiful valley in Oregon. My wife and two children are there, along with my brother and his family. This train’ll be my last.”
Lark led him to their wagons, introduced him to her sisters, and invited him to look around.
“I see you got a guitar back there. Musicians?” Hayes asked.
Lark nodded. “We’ve done some entertaining back home.”
“On the road too?”
She nodded. “A good pick-me-up.”
“We can always use some music in the evenings.” He looked up at Lilac on the horse with Robbie in front of her. “You the hunter?”
Lilac shrugged and adjusted Robbie. “Me and Clark.”
Hayes turned to Durham. “That your boy?”
“Yes, sir.”
At the Durham wagon, Hayes tipped his hat to Mrs. Durham, who sat up on a couple of boxes padded with folded quilts. She was knitting, and Forsythia was stitching on a framed piece.
Durham introduced his wife, and Forsythia smiled at Lark’s introduction.
Hayes studied her for a moment. “And you can shoot?”
“Would you like to set up a test? I can also throw a knife. My father wanted his daughters to be able to defend themselves if ever need be, considering we were fighting a war. He wanted us to be self-sufficient.” Forsythia’s voice was steady, with no hint of her struggle from her last knife-throwing incident.
“Unusual man.” Hayes shifted his jaw.
“He was. He and our mother also made sure we got a good education. Any one of us could teach school, if need be.”
“Or farm or run a store.” Lark leveled a look at Hayes. “Or fight.”
“I see.” He tipped his hat again. “Good day, ladies. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other on the trail.” He turned to Lark and Durham. “I’ll need you gentlemen to join a meeting before supper to sign the contract and go over our bylaws. I also heard tell two more wagons are nearing town. I’ll give them one more day, and then we move out at the crack of dawn on Monday. So if you’re needin’ more supplies, now’s the time. I’ll tell you the lineup on Sunday. I suggest you move your wagons north and east to get closer to grazing land. Give your animals a rest. There’s water there too. Make sure your water barrels and canteens are full.”
The families watched him stride off.
Lark blew out a breath. Apparently they had been weighed and found acceptable—though she doubted that would be the case if Hayes knew her gender.
She grinned at her sisters and shook Durham’s hand. “Guess we’re bound for the promised land.” Thank you, Lord.
From atop Starbright, Robbie gave a whoop. Lilac smiled and hugged him.
Since they’d stocked up in the previous town, only Lark headed into Independence to check for mail. Hopefully there’d be another letter from Anders before they hit the trail, and she had a packet to send him from them. Forsythia, Del, and Lilac stayed behind to set up camp and help the Durhams.
She stepped into the post office, blinking in the dimness after the bright sun outside.
“Any mail for the Jimson family?” She tapped her fingers on the wooden counter, waiting. It would be good to hear from Anders.
“Here you go.” The clerk handed her four letters.
Four. What riches. She’d have thought two at the most. Lark paid for the postage on her letters to Anders, then hurried outside and leaned against the hitching post to examine the envelopes.
Two from Anders—or rather, Anders and Josephine
