perhaps they were to become parents. She was quite sure now, though she still had not mentioned it to Willie. Don't want to raise false hopes, she had told herself.
Would Willie be pleased? She knew how he loved younguns, and she knew his eagerness to have a son of his own; but she could also guess his concern for her. He had hoped to make the trip West and be settled in their own home before a family arrived. A long wagon trip could be very difficult for an expectant mother. Yes, Willie might feel that the coming baby had picked an inappropriate time to be making an appearance.
Missie had no such misgivings. She was young and healthy and, besides, they would reach Willie's land long before the baby was due. Still, she had to admit to herself that she had put off telling Willie her suspicions until they were actually on the trail.
17
She had been somewhat afraid that if he knew, he would have suggested postponing their journey and to Missie's thinking, he had suffered enough delay already.
So she kept her precious secret. She hadn't dared even whisper it to her mother, though her whole being ached to do so. She'd fret, Missie told herself. She'd never rest easy for one night while we were on the trail.
Missie spotted their wagons side-by-side in the big circle. Willie was unhitching the team from their first wagon, and Henry Klein, their hired driver, was working with the second team. It had become evident weeks before, when they had begun to load, that one wagon was not going to be sufficient for living quarters on the way, plus a transport for all their needed supplies. Missie's father, Clark, had suggested the second wagon, and had even helped in locating a driver. Other members of the wagon train also had more than one wagon moving West. Most of them were fortunate enough to have another family member who could drive the teams.
As Missie neared the train, she surveyed the closing circle. The last wagon, the twenty-seventh, moved into position to complete it.
Missie approached Willie now and responded to his grin with a smile of her own.
"Been a long day--yer lookin' tired," he said with concern. "I am a bit--the sun's been so hot, and fer sure it takes the starch outa one."
"It's time fer a good rest. Bit of that shade should revive ya some. Ya wantin' me to bring ya a stool or a blanket from the wagon?"
"I'll do it. You have the team to care for."
"Mr. Blake says there's a stream jest beyond that stand of timber there. We're gonna take all the stock down fer a drink an' then tether them in the draw. Blake says there's grass a-plenty there."
"What time you be wantin' supper?" Missie asked.
"Not fer a couple hours anyway. Ya got plenty of time fer a rest."
"I'll need me more firewood. I didn't start gatherin' soon
18
enough. That little bit that I brought in won't last no time."
"No rush fer a fire either. I'll bring some wood back with me. Henry won't mind bringing some, too. Ya jest git a little time outa thet hot sun fer awhile--ya look awfully tuckered out." Willie's voice was anxious.
"It's just the excitement and strangeness of it all, I expect. I'll get used to it. But right now I think I'll take a bit of rest in the shade of those trees. I'll be as good as new when I can get off my feet some."
Willie left with the horses and the two milk cows that had been tied behind the wagons; Missie went for a blanket to throw down on the ground in the shade of the trees.
She felt guilty as she lowered herself onto the blanket. All of the other women already seemed to be busy with something. Well, she'd just rest a short while and then she would busy herself as well. For the moment it felt good just to sit.
Missie leaned back comfortably against the trunk of a tree and closed her eyes, turning her head slightly so that she could take full advantage of the gentle breeze. It teased at the loose strands of her hair and fanned her flushed face. How she ached! All of her bones seemed to cry out for a warm,
Would Willie be pleased? She knew how he loved younguns, and she knew his eagerness to have a son of his own; but she could also guess his concern for her. He had hoped to make the trip West and be settled in their own home before a family arrived. A long wagon trip could be very difficult for an expectant mother. Yes, Willie might feel that the coming baby had picked an inappropriate time to be making an appearance.
Missie had no such misgivings. She was young and healthy and, besides, they would reach Willie's land long before the baby was due. Still, she had to admit to herself that she had put off telling Willie her suspicions until they were actually on the trail.
17
She had been somewhat afraid that if he knew, he would have suggested postponing their journey and to Missie's thinking, he had suffered enough delay already.
So she kept her precious secret. She hadn't dared even whisper it to her mother, though her whole being ached to do so. She'd fret, Missie told herself. She'd never rest easy for one night while we were on the trail.
Missie spotted their wagons side-by-side in the big circle. Willie was unhitching the team from their first wagon, and Henry Klein, their hired driver, was working with the second team. It had become evident weeks before, when they had begun to load, that one wagon was not going to be sufficient for living quarters on the way, plus a transport for all their needed supplies. Missie's father, Clark, had suggested the second wagon, and had even helped in locating a driver. Other members of the wagon train also had more than one wagon moving West. Most of them were fortunate enough to have another family member who could drive the teams.
As Missie neared the train, she surveyed the closing circle. The last wagon, the twenty-seventh, moved into position to complete it.
Missie approached Willie now and responded to his grin with a smile of her own.
"Been a long day--yer lookin' tired," he said with concern. "I am a bit--the sun's been so hot, and fer sure it takes the starch outa one."
"It's time fer a good rest. Bit of that shade should revive ya some. Ya wantin' me to bring ya a stool or a blanket from the wagon?"
"I'll do it. You have the team to care for."
"Mr. Blake says there's a stream jest beyond that stand of timber there. We're gonna take all the stock down fer a drink an' then tether them in the draw. Blake says there's grass a-plenty there."
"What time you be wantin' supper?" Missie asked.
"Not fer a couple hours anyway. Ya got plenty of time fer a rest."
"I'll need me more firewood. I didn't start gatherin' soon
18
enough. That little bit that I brought in won't last no time."
"No rush fer a fire either. I'll bring some wood back with me. Henry won't mind bringing some, too. Ya jest git a little time outa thet hot sun fer awhile--ya look awfully tuckered out." Willie's voice was anxious.
"It's just the excitement and strangeness of it all, I expect. I'll get used to it. But right now I think I'll take a bit of rest in the shade of those trees. I'll be as good as new when I can get off my feet some."
Willie left with the horses and the two milk cows that had been tied behind the wagons; Missie went for a blanket to throw down on the ground in the shade of the trees.
She felt guilty as she lowered herself onto the blanket. All of the other women already seemed to be busy with something. Well, she'd just rest a short while and then she would busy herself as well. For the moment it felt good just to sit.
Missie leaned back comfortably against the trunk of a tree and closed her eyes, turning her head slightly so that she could take full advantage of the gentle breeze. It teased at the loose strands of her hair and fanned her flushed face. How she ached! All of her bones seemed to cry out for a warm,
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