dark you can barely see what you’re putting on.” She zipped her jeans. “I don’t guess that matters, though, since we only have one outfit to wear.”
“Oh, it’s not so bad.” Lisa tried her best to sound cheerful. “I mean, the pioneers had to dress in here, and their wagons were a lot more crowded with stuff than ours is.” She held up her blue dress and noticed that the hem was covered with mud and that dust had settled in the fringes around the collar. “After all, we’re here to get a taste of what pioneer life was like. They didn’t have umbrellas and hair dryers and microwaves. All they had was what they could carry, and they couldn’t carry much in these little wagons.”
“Right now I wish this one was carrying a nice hot shower,” said Stevie.
“Maybe if we don’t complain it won’t seem so bad.” Lisa pulled her dress on. “You know, keep a stiff upper lip and everything. After all, we’ve got a job to do.” She sat down and began to put on her shoes. “In fact, we’ve got several jobs to do. We’ve got to learn all about the trip and the land, and do our research for Deborah’s article, and take care of our animals, plus all the other basic stuff, like surviving.”
“And like not letting Gabriel get under our skin.” Stevie pushed up the sleeves of her dress and frowned. “He is such a creep.”
“He is pretty arrogant,” Carole agreed, tying her long hair in a ponytail.
“Watch out, then.” Lisa looked out the back of the wagon. “Here comes Mr. Arrogant Creep now.”
Gabriel sauntered up to the back of their wagon. “Hi,” he said, smiling his funny, lopsided smile. “How are you ladies doing this morning?”
“Fine,” snapped Stevie, her hazel eyes flashing.
“Well,” he said, laughing, “you’re the only girls on this trip who are. Every other female I’ve talked to this morning has only complained about the weather. ‘It was soooo nasty last night,’ ” he mimicked in a high voice. “ ‘All my clothes got wet and my hair’s a mess! I miss my hair dryer!’ ” Gabriel gave a snort. “I think this trip might be too tough for girls, if all they can do is whine about one night of light rain!”
Carole and Lisa felt Stevie twitch between them. They knew how infuriating Gabriel’s words were to her. Lisa quickly shifted in front of her while Carole grabbed the back of her dress. It would do no good for Stevie to pounce on Gabriel like a mountain lion in front of the whole camp!
Gabriel continued, obviously unaware that he had insulted The Saddle Club and every other female on the trip. “Anyway, I won’t have to put up with any slackers today. As assistant trail boss, I get to ride withone of the scouts to make sure the trail ahead is clear.” He smiled at the girls and tipped his hat. “So I hope you ladies have a nice, dry, comfy day!”
“It’s looking sunnier already,” Stevie called as Gabriel strolled over toward Jeremy’s camp.
When he was out of sight, the girls turned back inside their wagon.
“Can you believe him?” Stevie clenched her fists in frustration.
“No.” Carole shook her head. “Actually, I can’t.”
“Boy, I can think of about a hundred jokes I’d like to play on him. Starting with greasing his saddle so that he can’t stay on his horse and then gluing the inside of his stupid old hat so that he can’t tip it to the ladies’ anymore!”
“Stevie!” Lisa warned. “You could get into some serious trouble if you started playing your practical jokes here.”
“I know,” Stevie replied, realizing that she had to behave. “Getting into trouble would be bad; Deborah is counting on us.” She sighed; then she looked at Carole and Lisa and smiled. “Anyway, there are so many wonderful things going on here, how could I possibly be thinking about getting into trouble?”
“Wonderful things?” Lisa raised one eyebrow. “Like what?”
Stevie grinned. “Like we’re here in the middle of this
Frankie Blue
john thompson
Alaina Stanford
Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright
C.W. Gortner
Helena Newbury
Jessica Jarman
Shanna Clayton
Barbara Elsborg
James Howard Kunstler