Beti wasn’t sure just what came over her. It wasn’t like her to laugh at a person in distress, but the surprise on Zeke’s face when he landed in the dirt tickled her funny bone like it hadn’t been touched in a long time. Her soul stretched enough to break through grief that had encapsulated her for so many months. Movement ahead alerted her that the foremost wagons had begun.
A thrill ran through her entire body. This was it. Her dream was coming true. She was going west. Beti called Nellie to bring the sheep into a closer group. She took a spot at the head of sheep sending Nellie to the back to keep them in good order.
The unpaved road out of town was wide enough that she could keep her flock to the left of her wagon and Zeke’s behind her. Once they hit the woods, she’d have to drop behind the wagons or risk one of the sheep getting trodden by a wheel. Deciding she’d best start as she meant to go, she nodded to Toby in the driver’s seat and took her place in the front of Silas and his ewes. She’d lead them behind Zeke’s wagon.
Men and women lined the street wishing the best to family members. It was all she could do to keep Silas and company moving forward as they shied away from the crowd.
“Miss Beti, there ye are!” Miss Polly waded through the sheep. “My dear, I am so glad I caught ye. I was just collecting the post and here was this letter for ye! It is such a blessing that I found ye.” She fanned herself with the folded paper square. “My goodness, but this wagon train sure is taking it’s time to get started.” Miss Polly stepped out of the way of the sheep to take a look at the column slowly heading out of town.
Beti eyed the letter serving as Miss Polly’s temporary fan. “Is that the letter?”
“Oh, my, yes. I’m sorry, child. Ye know, I’d forget my feet if they weren’t anchored on.”
Beti received the letter as her heart filled with regret at leaving the dear lady. She’d been so kind. Beti stuffed the letter into her pocket and wrapped her arms around Miss Polly.
“Thank ye, Miss Polly. I will miss ye.”
Surprised by Beti’s hug, Miss Polly quickly recovered and returned Beti’s embrace with warmth and not a few tears.
“I will miss ye, child.” She stepped back from Beti to dab her nose and eyes with her kerchief. “It is not too late. Ye can stay here. I have plenty of room.”
Tears misted Beti’s eyes. For a split second she reconsidered. Before she could form a solid thought, her dream resurged. “Thank ye, Miss Polly, but I have to try.”
The dear lady took the resigned breath of a wife and mother who’d heard all the arguments for adventure before. “Of course ye do. Go with God, child. Ye have my prayers.”
Zeke’s wagon rolled forward.
“I shall pray for ye,” Beti answered, and then she called for Nellie. The dog came around the back of the little group, and they all took their first step toward their new home. Beti prayed for the wagon train and all the road they would travel. She prayed for dear Miss Polly.
Beti supposed she could have made her home in Kemp’s Landing. Miss Polly hadn’t been the only Godsend in this place. The little church where she’d worshiped. Mr. Morgan. Even the townspeople who didn’t know her and therefore didn’t judge her every step. And of course there was Hezekiah Smith. The infuriating man who made her laugh.
Why had she not paid more attention to his injury? Perhaps because everything about the man vibrated with a playful energy. When she’d first seen him, she’d been captured by his strength, nearly overpowered by his masculinity.
He didn’t seem to focus on his leg. On the other hand, his mother and sister hovered over him like seagulls with a cracker source.
In truth, she was glad there was a wagon between them. While walking with her flock gave her lots of time to think, she didn’t want him before her eyes constantly. Then she would only think about him. And she was having enough trouble with that already.
Mose loped down on his horse giving the call for dinner. They hadn’t gotten far, between four and five miles since they left, but slow and steady was going to win this race. And Zeke’s numb backside would be only too happy to get off the seat and circulate a bit. Kids and their parents took off into the woods on either side of the road to take care of necessary things. Zeke rounded the wagon just in time to hear Beti command her dog to lay down.
Nellie laid belly down behind the sheep. The flock stopped too. All morning he’d watched her control the ever forming and reforming group of animals. She’d stopped them several times as the train of wagons ebbed and flowed. Zeke found himself fascinated by the precision of her commands and the response of the dog and the little herd.
“How long have ye been driving sheep?”
Beti looked up into his eyes. Wisps of mahogany curls escaped from her cap softening her face. He held his hand to keep from curling one around his fingers. Rather than fatigue, her tanned skin flushed with exertion gave her a look of exhilaration and vitality that caught him by surprise.
“Since I was a wee girl.”
“Shall I watch them for ye?”
“I shall wait for Toby. No doubt he will return momentarily.”
“He should have waited for ye.”
“I am his employer, Mr. Smith. I go second.”
He touched the brim of his hat and stepped back to his own wagon.
Mose returned from his rounds and swung himself down from the saddle. He pulled a folded cloth from his saddle bag and sat stood next to Zeke’s wagon.
“I think I’ve had enough sitting for a spell. Watchoo got to eat?”
“Same as you, I expect.”
“It was kind of yer sister to make me a meal.”
“Aye.” Zeke didn’t wish to talk about his sister. The disappointment in her eyes when their mother had told her she was staying behind still tugged at his heart. No matter the rightness of the decision.
“She said she plans to come to Kentucky herself.” Mose stuffed half the biscuit in his mouth.
Toby came back, and Beti slipped out to the woods.
Zeke nodded and took a bite out of his own biscuit. He squelched the notion to double check that his sister hadn’t stowed away in his gear. He made it through two biscuits before Beti returned.
“Captain says Mr. Edwards has offered to hold services on Sundays,” Mose offered.
