Read Online Wagon Train Sisters (Women of the West) by Shirley Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

Bryans are doing,” Ben called from beneath his poncho. “Like as not, they’re bogged down somewhere.”
    “Like as not.” Jack couldn’t sleep. As each hour passed, the rain fell harder and the wind blew stronger. The Bryans had to be in trouble. No way could they survive the night in good shape, what with the ignorance of Frank Bryan. The rain was letting up, but only slightly when he rose and reached for Bandit’s saddle.
    Ben poked his head out of the poncho. “What the Sam Hill are you up to?”
    “I’m going back.”
    “Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! You’re going all the way back to help that crazy family?”
    “You don’t have to come.”
    “I knew it, I knew it.” Muttering under his breath, Ben crawled from beneath his poncho. “You know I’ll come with you, but don’t tell me you’re not interested in the welfare of a certain widow.”
    Jack stayed silent. What could he say when Ben had just nailed the truth dead-on?
     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Jack peered down at the woman standing between the two horses, clutching the lead ropes in a death-like grip. Drenched to the skin, she was beyond shivering. Judging from the stark whiteness of her face and the bluish-white tinge of the skin around her mouth, she had the beginnings of frostbite. Quickly he swung off his horse. “You’ve been here all night?”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. All she could do was nod. She resembled a drowned rat, her long hair plastered to her head and her clothes and blanket dripping wet. He pulled it from her shoulders, grabbed a dry blanket from his bedroll, and threw it around her. “Got to get you dry. Don’t worry about the horses. I’ll take care of them.” He picked her up and carried her out of the muck and mire to the wagon where Frank and Luzena anxiously waited. “We need to get her dry and warm in a hurry.”
    Frank asked, “Will she be all right?”
    “She’ll be fine, but the next few hours will be tough. Have you ever thawed out from frostbite?”
    * * * *
    Ma helped Sarah out of her soaking wet clothes and boots and into another dress that had miraculously stayed dry. Clutching Jack’s blanket around herself, she climbed from the wagon and huddled by the small fire Jack built with the last of the dry wood they kept in the wagon. Slowly the heat crept through her. So good to be warm again! She thrust her feet toward the fire. They were the worst, still numb with cold, especially her toes. Gradually they thawed, and then the pain began, a deep, throbbing agony that wouldn’t stop for a moment. It kept getting worse until she was rocking back and forth, biting her lip to keep from crying out. She had never known such pain, yet she wouldn’t make a fuss, especially with everyone so busy cleaning up after the storm.
    Sometime during the night, the canvas had sprung a leak. Her parents had to haul sopping wet blankets and items of clothing from the wagon and spread them in the sun to dry. Jack and Ben got spades from the toolbox and dug out the wagon wheels. With Ma, Pa, and Ben leaning in with their shoulders from behind, and the animals pulling with all their might, Jack took over the driver’s seat and urged the oxen forward. They all cheered when, with enough pushing and heaving, the wagon finally lurched free.
    They cheered again when Jack dug Rosie and Titan from the mud.
    At least Pa had the decency to apologize. “It seems I was mistaken, Mr. McCoy. You didn’t have to come back, especially after I asked you to leave.” For the first time in his life, a sheepish expression marked his face. “I’m beholden to you, sir. Don’t know what I would have done—”
    “Forget it.” Obviously Jack wasn’t interested in apologies. Despite how busy he was taking care of the animals, he kept the small campfire going, checking on Sarah often. Once, when she couldn’t help moaning from the pain, he asked Luzena, “Do you have any laudanum?”
    “I did, but Becky took it.” Ma’s