Read Online The Promised Land (Destiny's Dreamers Book 2) by Kathleen Karr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathleen Karr
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Maggie fervently hoped the jug was finished and no more would appear. She knew the men needed a little diversion, but Hal Richman’s death was still in her mind. She tried to push that thought back, swiveling around on the smooth surface to look towards the East, from whence they’d come. There was a trail of dust rising from the hard-packed wagon grooves in the distance.
“More emigrants coming,’’ Johnny noted for her. “They must have moved right on out from Laramie. They ought to join up with us tonight if they keep at it.’’
“Then we won’t be the first anymore.’’
“Does it bother you?’’
Maggie raised her shoulders and let them drop in a silent shrug. “I know it shouldn’t, but it does.’’
“So you’ve finally invested some sentiment in our undertaking.’’
“What are you talking about, Johnny? I’ve invested everything in this journey!’’
“That’s not what I mean. You’re getting caught up in it. In the idea itself. Being first for the season is all part of that.’’
“I had more in mind being first for what little grass remains in the God-forsaken way ahead.’’
He slung an arm around her casually. “I’ll have to try and break you of this worrying habit, Meg. There’s no point in it whatsoever.’’
“Easy for you to say,’’ she shot back, more crossly than she’d anticipated. “Have you taken a hard look at Checkers and Brandy recently? They are not thriving. Other folks have extra teams. We’ve been working all of ours right along. Lose the animals and you’ll be adding your precious printing press and type to the pile of discarded dreams along the trail.’’
Johnny withdrew his arm. “I expected a little more enthusiasm on the Fourth. Here we are striking out for new territory, expanding boundaries~’’
“Since when have you taken a patriotic view of this whole enterprise? I thought we’d dropped most of that when the `54-40’ signs began wearing off the other wagons!’’
“Margaret McDonald Stuart.’’ He sighed. “I can’t seem to say anything right to you today. Maybe it’s best just to give it all a rest for a while.’’ He inched his way into an upright position. “Would you care to take my free arm on the way down, or have you enough righteous anger left to manage it on your own?’’
“I’m not convinced you’ll be seeing straight enough to be of much assistance.’’
“ Ouch . Each word thrusts like an arrow. Pawnee. Straight to my heart.’’ He started sliding down. “I will leave you, then, Madam.’’ And he did.
The day did not improve for Maggie. She returned to her children and her wagons with fresh bruises from the descent. She ungraciously watched~from a distance~the new group of wagons pull into the Chandler camp while other members of their party milled around the newcomers, anxious to socialize on this most gregarious of days.
Long after she’d gotten the children to sleep, the sound of guns fired in random bursts of enthusiasm still peppered the night. It was beginning to seem like a waste of good ammunition.
Johnny had not returned to their camp, and Maggie had ignored the picnic, feeding the children their evening meal alone for the first time in months. Then she’d sat by the fire, stitching at Jamie’s Indian vest. It was Gwen who finally approached, looking like she had something to spill, but afraid to let it out. She sat by Maggie too casually.
“I haven’t seen you at any of the festivities.’’
“There were things that needed doing.’’
“Apparently.’’ Gwen waited a few long moments, then, “You haven’t met any of the newcomers yet, I gather?’’
“No.’’
“Pleasant enough group of people, for the most part~’’
Maggie pulled her eyes from her stitching. It was mostly a charade anyway. It was far too dark to continue with the sewing.
“What’s on your mind, Gwen?’’
It poured out.
“You really should be at the dancing, Maggie. The new
“More emigrants coming,’’ Johnny noted for her. “They must have moved right on out from Laramie. They ought to join up with us tonight if they keep at it.’’
“Then we won’t be the first anymore.’’
“Does it bother you?’’
Maggie raised her shoulders and let them drop in a silent shrug. “I know it shouldn’t, but it does.’’
“So you’ve finally invested some sentiment in our undertaking.’’
“What are you talking about, Johnny? I’ve invested everything in this journey!’’
“That’s not what I mean. You’re getting caught up in it. In the idea itself. Being first for the season is all part of that.’’
“I had more in mind being first for what little grass remains in the God-forsaken way ahead.’’
He slung an arm around her casually. “I’ll have to try and break you of this worrying habit, Meg. There’s no point in it whatsoever.’’
“Easy for you to say,’’ she shot back, more crossly than she’d anticipated. “Have you taken a hard look at Checkers and Brandy recently? They are not thriving. Other folks have extra teams. We’ve been working all of ours right along. Lose the animals and you’ll be adding your precious printing press and type to the pile of discarded dreams along the trail.’’
Johnny withdrew his arm. “I expected a little more enthusiasm on the Fourth. Here we are striking out for new territory, expanding boundaries~’’
“Since when have you taken a patriotic view of this whole enterprise? I thought we’d dropped most of that when the `54-40’ signs began wearing off the other wagons!’’
“Margaret McDonald Stuart.’’ He sighed. “I can’t seem to say anything right to you today. Maybe it’s best just to give it all a rest for a while.’’ He inched his way into an upright position. “Would you care to take my free arm on the way down, or have you enough righteous anger left to manage it on your own?’’
“I’m not convinced you’ll be seeing straight enough to be of much assistance.’’
“ Ouch . Each word thrusts like an arrow. Pawnee. Straight to my heart.’’ He started sliding down. “I will leave you, then, Madam.’’ And he did.
The day did not improve for Maggie. She returned to her children and her wagons with fresh bruises from the descent. She ungraciously watched~from a distance~the new group of wagons pull into the Chandler camp while other members of their party milled around the newcomers, anxious to socialize on this most gregarious of days.
Long after she’d gotten the children to sleep, the sound of guns fired in random bursts of enthusiasm still peppered the night. It was beginning to seem like a waste of good ammunition.
Johnny had not returned to their camp, and Maggie had ignored the picnic, feeding the children their evening meal alone for the first time in months. Then she’d sat by the fire, stitching at Jamie’s Indian vest. It was Gwen who finally approached, looking like she had something to spill, but afraid to let it out. She sat by Maggie too casually.
“I haven’t seen you at any of the festivities.’’
“There were things that needed doing.’’
“Apparently.’’ Gwen waited a few long moments, then, “You haven’t met any of the newcomers yet, I gather?’’
“No.’’
“Pleasant enough group of people, for the most part~’’
Maggie pulled her eyes from her stitching. It was mostly a charade anyway. It was far too dark to continue with the sewing.
“What’s on your mind, Gwen?’’
It poured out.
“You really should be at the dancing, Maggie. The new
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