gathered to watch her. "Where did you learn to ride so well?"
Surprised by that question, Gabrielle hesitated a moment too long. Then she explained, knowing he'd understand who she meant. "A friend taught me; we spent a great deal of time riding together."
Sorry he'd asked since Beau was not a man with whom he could compete, Jason slapped the leather thongs against his hand as he gave her an order, his stern expression a clear warning he expected to be obeyed. 'That's not an effort I want to see you repeat. Miss MacLaren, see that Sunny is side-tied so he can graze without straying; then I'll give you the hobbles for all the other mounts too. Since none is as obstreperous as your horse, you should have the job completed within minutes."
"Are you trying to punish me?" Gabrielle asked curiously. "I plan to do my share of the work, and I don't mind helping you care for the animals." Her bright blue eyes regarded him coolly, hoping for some sign he'd become more reasonable, but the muscles of his jaw were tense, his gaze dark, if anything he was growing more angry rather than calmer. When he didn't reply, she gave up her effort to placate him as hopeless and took the leather thongs from his hand. She then led Sunny toward the expanse of lush grass where the horse could spend a restful night with an abundant supply of food. She scratched his ears playfully as she removed his bridle and spoke in a low soothing tone while she attached the side tie and when she was satisfied her pet could walk comfortably if not run, she gave him a tender pat to send him out to graze.
"Did you ever see anything like that?" Clayton whispered softly to his friend. "She has a rare talent, a real gift for
working with horses."
Jason had been as entranced as the older man with Gabrielle's abihty. He'd seen Indian braves handle their mounts with the same easy grace, but never a white man and most certainly never a white woman. ''I have a feeling that is perhaps the least of her talents, Clay, but this was a disruption we didn't need and I'll not permit that stallion to cause such havoc again."
"Oh, certainly not." Clayton agreed readily, but he stayed to watch while Jason turned away. Gabrielle moved down the line of horses, talking to each as if it were an old friend, her touch gentle but firm, and while it took her more than the few minutes Jason had mentioned to accomplish the task he'd assigned her, no one could have pleased the animals more.
Noting that Jason had gone, Gabrielle returned to her wagon where she found Iris complaining because they'd have to eat their dinner either standing up or seated upon the ground. "Did you really expect a dining table and chairs to appear magically each night. Iris?" Gabrielle took the tin plate Paul handed her and thanked him warmly. He'd roasted two chickens and baked biscuits which were as light and feathery as any she'd ever tasted. She took a bite as she went to sit down beside Erica, then called to the man to show her appreciation. "This is delicious, Paul, do you have experience as a cook?"
"Sure, I've been eating my own cooking all my life!" He replied, a twinkle in his eye. "I'm glad you're enjoying the meal, but there will be plenty of times when we'll have to make do with bacon."
"Can't you men hunt along the way so we'll always have fresh meat?" Iris asked as she finally resigned herself to taking a place beside Margaret on the grass.
"I am a mighty fine hunter now that you mention it, miss, but where game is scarce skill doesn't fill the stew pot. Just enjoy each meal as it comes and let me worry about the next one.
Iris looked at her companions and whispered so Paul would
not overhear. "I know we were chosen for our beauty, but none of us will be pretty if we are no more than skin and bones by the time we arrive in Oregon City. I expected Mr. Home to have made some better arrangement for our food than he has. We are going to become dreadfully tired of bacon and biscuits. I never even
Surprised by that question, Gabrielle hesitated a moment too long. Then she explained, knowing he'd understand who she meant. "A friend taught me; we spent a great deal of time riding together."
Sorry he'd asked since Beau was not a man with whom he could compete, Jason slapped the leather thongs against his hand as he gave her an order, his stern expression a clear warning he expected to be obeyed. 'That's not an effort I want to see you repeat. Miss MacLaren, see that Sunny is side-tied so he can graze without straying; then I'll give you the hobbles for all the other mounts too. Since none is as obstreperous as your horse, you should have the job completed within minutes."
"Are you trying to punish me?" Gabrielle asked curiously. "I plan to do my share of the work, and I don't mind helping you care for the animals." Her bright blue eyes regarded him coolly, hoping for some sign he'd become more reasonable, but the muscles of his jaw were tense, his gaze dark, if anything he was growing more angry rather than calmer. When he didn't reply, she gave up her effort to placate him as hopeless and took the leather thongs from his hand. She then led Sunny toward the expanse of lush grass where the horse could spend a restful night with an abundant supply of food. She scratched his ears playfully as she removed his bridle and spoke in a low soothing tone while she attached the side tie and when she was satisfied her pet could walk comfortably if not run, she gave him a tender pat to send him out to graze.
"Did you ever see anything like that?" Clayton whispered softly to his friend. "She has a rare talent, a real gift for
working with horses."
Jason had been as entranced as the older man with Gabrielle's abihty. He'd seen Indian braves handle their mounts with the same easy grace, but never a white man and most certainly never a white woman. ''I have a feeling that is perhaps the least of her talents, Clay, but this was a disruption we didn't need and I'll not permit that stallion to cause such havoc again."
"Oh, certainly not." Clayton agreed readily, but he stayed to watch while Jason turned away. Gabrielle moved down the line of horses, talking to each as if it were an old friend, her touch gentle but firm, and while it took her more than the few minutes Jason had mentioned to accomplish the task he'd assigned her, no one could have pleased the animals more.
Noting that Jason had gone, Gabrielle returned to her wagon where she found Iris complaining because they'd have to eat their dinner either standing up or seated upon the ground. "Did you really expect a dining table and chairs to appear magically each night. Iris?" Gabrielle took the tin plate Paul handed her and thanked him warmly. He'd roasted two chickens and baked biscuits which were as light and feathery as any she'd ever tasted. She took a bite as she went to sit down beside Erica, then called to the man to show her appreciation. "This is delicious, Paul, do you have experience as a cook?"
"Sure, I've been eating my own cooking all my life!" He replied, a twinkle in his eye. "I'm glad you're enjoying the meal, but there will be plenty of times when we'll have to make do with bacon."
"Can't you men hunt along the way so we'll always have fresh meat?" Iris asked as she finally resigned herself to taking a place beside Margaret on the grass.
"I am a mighty fine hunter now that you mention it, miss, but where game is scarce skill doesn't fill the stew pot. Just enjoy each meal as it comes and let me worry about the next one.
Iris looked at her companions and whispered so Paul would
not overhear. "I know we were chosen for our beauty, but none of us will be pretty if we are no more than skin and bones by the time we arrive in Oregon City. I expected Mr. Home to have made some better arrangement for our food than he has. We are going to become dreadfully tired of bacon and biscuits. I never even
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