The boy clamped his mouth shut, pulling the girl toward himself. He lifted his chin. “No, she’s not my sister, and you’re right. I don’t trust you. Tell me why I should.”
Jed shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t make you trust me; you’ll have to choose that on your own. How about you start by telling me your real names.” The boy shook his head slowly. “Then tell me if your family is looking for you.”
“No,” he said, swallowing hard and clenching his jaw. Tears pooled in the girl’s eyes. Rosa cautiously reached for her arm where a dingy bandage peeked out from under her sleeve.
“Oh, honey; are you hurt?” she asked. “We should take a look at that and get it cleaned up.” The girl pulled her arm away and hid it behind her back.
“I’m fine,” she said. It was the first time Jed heard her speak. She sounded older than he had originally thought. Rosa noticed it as well.
“You probably think you’ve managed well enough on your own,” she said to her. “And you might even make it through the summer without too much trouble. But what’s going to happen when the weather starts to freeze over? And what will you do if something happens to him?” Rosa indicated the boy with a slight nod. “Winter and sickness and injury, those are rough times. How long do you think you can live as you have been? You need to start trusting someone; it may as well be us. We’re safe people.”
Worry spread over the girl’s face. “We left our blankets back there!” she cried. The boy’s shoulders sagged as he gave into the exhaustion of being on the run. He closed his eyes; Jed and Rosa were about to win him over.
“We’ll stay,” he finally agreed. “But only for a few days.”
ELI
After agreeing to stay with the merchants, Eli looked more closely at his surroundings. He had never seen a wagon like this before. Jed lit lanterns and hung them throughout the small space, illuminating the ornamental interior.
“You live in this wagon?” Eli asked.
“It’s called a vardo,” Jed explained, nodding. The miniature house on wheels was brightly decorated; its cupboards and counters neatly edged with intricate carvings. The velvety curtains hanging by the bed and windows added a layer of texture and warmth. Jed unfolded a tabletop and set it by bench seats built into the wall, then topped the benches with plush cushions he brought from the sleeping area. As he arranged their home for the night, Rosa collected food items from the cupboard and disappeared out the door.
Eli continued to watch Jed, who motioned for them to sit at the table while he worked. He grabbed some wood from a hidden storage area and put it into a tiny stove in the corner. After he lit a fire, warmth spread throughout the space.
“I’m glad you agreed to stay. Are you ready to meet the others?” he asked.
Eli turned to Ada, who was still scanning her surroundings with wide, awestruck eyes. He squeezed her hand to get her attention and gestured toward the door with a slight nod. Cobra bounced to his feet and wagged his tail as Jed led them outside.
A campfire burned under an old blackened grate, upon which a large pot sat. Its contents bubbled, and the steam carried the savory scent of sage and rosemary to Eli’s nose, making his stomach grumble. Canvas chairs circled the fire, and a table strewn with onion skins and potato peelings stood nearby. The group sat around the fire pit, engaged in friendly conversation.
“Why don’t you join the others,” Jed suggested. “Supper should be ready soon. You’re welcome to leave your bag inside.”
“Thanks,” Eli said, holding the bag tighter and leading Ada to the fire. He picked two chairs closest to the woods, which were set somewhat apart from the others. As he sat, he took his pack off and stepped through one of the straps, securing it to his leg. He wasn’t going to let anyone snatch it from him. Cobra stretched out on the ground between Eli and Jed.
“Okay,” Jed said to the group as he pointed to Eli. “This is…well, we don’t actually know his name yet, so I guess we’re calling him Aaron for now. And this one, here,” he said, indicating Ada, “is Adam-ina.” Jed winked at her as she blushed. “You two know my wife Rosa,” he continued. “And that’s Floyd and his wife Hattie. This is Ira and Goldie and their kids, Sammy and Myra. And that’s Grandma Mae and her son Tony.”
Eli followed Jed’s introductions around the fire, nodding acknowledgments to each person. Ada waved her fingers timidly at the new faces. The woman named Hattie returned her greeting with a smile; her plump, soft frame filled the chair as she leaned back and sighed before speaking.
“I still have some clothes from when I was younger that could be altered to fit you—and a warm nightgown you can have. Would you like that?” Ada nodded, whispering a thank you.
Goldie, who had been standing at the pot stirring, let everyone know supper was ready. Ira took off his hat, and they all bowed their heads. Eli caught Ada’s eyes. He bit his lip as guilt cast a shadow across his face. They hadn’t remembered to pray for several weeks. Sure, he was pleading hopelessly with God throughout their entire ordeal, but that wasn’t the same. Even when he was thankful for a successful snare or finding a source of water, Eli’s gratefulness was overshadowed by the pain of what they had lost. He was more focused on his despairing fear than on the trust he should have been asking for.
As he lowered his head, a small flicker of hope regarding these merchants sparked within him, but it was short-lived. A larger flame of suspicion, which threatened to consume his heart, snuffed out that hope before it could grow. One prayer and some clothes didn’t prove anything! Eli tugged at the fabric strips on his arm, wondering if these travelers would turn on them as soon as they found it profitable to do so.
“Father God,” Ira began. “You are a great provider, and we thank you for keeping us safe on our journey today. Thank you also for this meal we are about to eat. Please Lord, as we arrive in Clackton tomorrow, bless the time we are among those people. Help us show your love to the townsfolk, and please allow our sales to be enough to provide us with what we need for the winter. We would also like to thank you, Lord, for bringing these two young people to us. Even though we don’t know them yet, we are grateful that you know them intimately. We ask you to give them courage and give us wisdom in this situation. Lord, continue to protect them and allow them to see your hand in their lives. We pray this in your Son’s name. Amen.” Whispers of amen echoed around the fire, but Eli kept his eyes fixed on the ground. He wasn’t ready after that prayer to look at anyone, not even Ada.
After a moment, Jed nudged Eli and handed him a bowl of meat and vegetables. He motioned to pass it down to Ada and then handed him another bowl. As Eli ate, he watched the caravan visiting with one another. They were like a family: laughing, joking, and telling stories. He began to relax.
Neither of them could finish their supper; it was more than they had eaten in a long time. Eli picked at his food as he continued to study the people around the fire. His eyes soon landed on Jed and stayed there. He wondered about the pictures peeking out from under the man’s shirt. They evoked a faint memory of his grandfather that remained just out of reach.
“You look like you have a question,” Jed said, startling Eli out of his thoughts.
“Do those pictures on your skin wash off?” he asked.
“Nope.” Jed shook his head.
“But what if you decide you don’t want them anymore?” Eli asked again.
“These are tattoos; they’re permanent,” he answered.
“What if you don’t like one of them?”
“Well, a person better make sure he likes a tattoo before he gets it,” Jed stated. “I don’t regret any of mine.”
Eli wasn’t satisfied. He could hear the tension building in his voice but was unable to control it. “What if you stop liking one of your tattoos? Isn’t there any way to get rid of it?”
Jed looked annoyed by his persistence. “Do you have a tattoo you’re trying to get rid of?”
Eli hated how adults dodged questions by asking another; he didn�
�t think it was the right way to end a conversation, but it worked. He shrugged and looked away with a frown. He knew Ada was listening, but he kept his eyes fixed on the dark horizon, hoping to avoid her sympathetic gaze. It wouldn’t help his mood.
Finally, Jed sighed and offered an answer. “I suppose the only way to get rid of a tattoo you don’t like is to cover it with one you do like. There isn’t any other way, so don’t get one if you’re not sure about it.”
Eli nodded but kept looking past the group around the fire, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. They had slowly hushed to listen to the exchange as it unfolded before them.
Goldie broke the silence. “It’s time to put you kiddos to bed,” she said to her children. “Goodnight everyone! We’ll see you in the morning.” She smiled at Ira and whisked Sammy and Myra into their vardo.
“We should all go to bed,” Jed suggested. “We have an early start in the morning. Floyd, Hattie, you two have room in your vardo, don’t you? How about you take the girl, and Rosa and I will take the boy.”
It only took seconds for Eli to understand the full meaning of what was just proposed. “Wait, no! You can’t separate us!” he shouted. He grabbed his pack and stood up, knocking his chair over behind him. Ada was immediately on her feet as well. They resembled cornered animals. Startled by his reaction, the merchants gaped at him. Hearing the commotion, Cobra jumped to his feet and began yowling.
“Yes, we can,” Jed stated. Eli grabbed Ada’s hand and backed toward the woods as the man continued. “You, yourself, admitted that you’re not related. And I get it, it’s different out there in the cold while you’re trying to survive.” Jed pointed behind them at the trees. “But it’s warm in the vardos, and we have plenty of blankets. If you’re not married, you don’t get to share a bed here. It’s too dark and cold to be running off on your own, so your safest bet is to stick it out with us tonight. I know for her sake you want to do the right thing.”
Eli took another step back. He shouldn’t have agreed to stay with these people! He set his jaw and clenched his fists, vaguely aware that he was gripping Ada’s hand and might be hurting her, but he couldn’t relax his hold. He looked first at Ada and then at Jed, trying to figure out what to do. Ada’s face furrowed into an expression of either fear or pain—probably both—and Jed stood firm with his eyebrows raised. Eli knew Jed was right. They wouldn’t be safe if they ran into the woods at this hour, especially without blankets. And their last candle had burned away a few evenings ago; it was too dark to find their way among the trees without it. It was also too dark to find the wood they needed to build a bed and a shelter.
They couldn’t leave, but if Jed separated them, how could he protect Ada? How could they escape if they needed too? It wasn’t fair! These people didn’t know what they had been through, but he couldn’t tell them; he didn’t know if he could trust them. It took every ounce of his will to push down his rage and not fight his way into the woods. Instead, he pulled Ada toward him and put his mouth to her ear.
“I’ll come for you, I promise,” he whispered. “We’ll take some blankets. We can make it if we have them. Trust me. I’ll get you out.” He released her and glared at Jed, feeling betrayed by this man who had promised to help. Ada allowed Hattie to guide her away, and Eli followed Jed while Cobra trotted beside him. As he glanced back at Ada, an angry tear slid down his face. He defiantly wiped it away.
It was dark and quiet in the vardo. Eli could hear rhythmic breathing and hoped Jed and Rosa were finally asleep. He wasn’t sure how long he had been wrestling with his heavy eyelids, but he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He gathered his blanket around him, stood up, and collected his bag and shoes. Tiptoeing to the door, he gently pressed down on the handle and tried not to make a sound. As he pushed the door open, he stepped to the ground.
He didn’t notice he was holding his breath until he turned and saw Cobra standing with his head tilted to one side. Startled by the dog, Eli inhaled quickly. Seeing that Cobra wasn’t interested in alerting Jed to his escape, he exhaled and reached out to pet the dog.
As he walked toward Floyd and Hattie’s vardo, he grabbed one of the chairs by the extinguished fire. He placed it near the steps leading to their door and sat down to put on his shoes. His heart raced, and his hands trembled as he pulled the Bowie knife out of the pack and set it on his lap. Wrapping the blanket around him, he listened for sounds coming from the vardo. He wanted to wait for the right moment to get Ada; he had to be sure Floyd and Hattie were asleep.
Cobra stretched out on top of Eli’s feet. The pressure from the dog’s warm body calmed him, and he longed to savor it. He was exhausted; he would need to push himself harder once they returned to the woods. They had to get as far away as they could. Putting as much distance between them and the caravan was his only goal. But for now, he would listen and wait before he made his move. He could afford to close his eyes for just one moment…
THE CARAVAN
Screams split through the night like a knife cutting fabric. Jed’s eyes flew open, and he bolted up from a dead sleep. When Rosa stirred beside him, he let out a sigh, reassured that she was safe. His eyes shot toward the far end of the vardo where their guest should have been sleeping.
“What’s that?” Rosa gasped, clutching at her chest. She turned toward Jed and followed his gaze.
“I don’t know, but the boy’s gone!” he said, leaping out of bed. As he slipped his feet into boots and grabbed a jacket, Rosa wrapped a blanket around herself and followed him outside.
Loud shrieks invaded Goldie’s peaceful slumber. She sat up and shook Ira awake.
“Mommy, what’s that noise?” Sammy asked with a quiver in his voice. She rushed to the children’s stacked beds and picked up Myra, who was rubbing her eyes and whimpering. As she sat on the young girl’s mattress, Sammy climbed down from his bed. He sat on the ground and leaned against his mother’s leg. Goldie rocked Myra and reached down to put her hand on her son’s shoulder.
Ira shook his head, trying to rid himself of his sleepy fog. He threw on some pants and grabbed a hunting rifle from the closet by their door.
“Be careful, husband,” Goldie pleaded. Nodding, he stumbled outside and met Jed and Rosa as they came out of their vardo.
“The boy ran off,” Jed informed him and held out his hand for the rifle. Ira tossed it to him; he didn’t mind using it for hunting but preferred leaving the armed protection to someone else. Jed checked the gun and led them toward Floyd and Hattie’s vardo, where the commotion was coming from.
As the group passed Tony and Mae’s wagon, the door swung open and Tony stumbled outside, dressed in only his thermals and boots. He rubbed his face, running an open hand along the sides of his mustache; with his other hand, he held his rifle. Always the protective son, he ordered his ma to stay put until he knew it was safe. Mae nodded and closed the door behind him.
“Lordy!” Hattie gasped as the screams shocked her into awareness. Her arm shot out toward Floyd, hitting him in the chest. The strike halted his vertical movement and pushed him back onto the bed. The girl’s shrieks continued to pierce the air, and before Hattie could make sense of what was happening, the boy burst into their wagon.
Rushing to the girl’s side, he grabbed her shoulders. “Shh. Shh. It’s okay! I’m here. Look at me. You’re safe.” He held her as she tried to push away. She was unreachable in the clutches of a terrifying nightmare; her eyes were wild, yet vacant. As the boy spoke in a soothing tone, her arms slowly stopped resisting his grip. He placed a hand on either side of her head and pulled her close to him. Her tears streaked over his fingers and she shook uncontrollably.
“We were at the rock quarry again,” she cried. “I couldn’t find you!” Her eyes darted around the vardo. “Where are we? We have to get out of here!”
Hattie glanced at Floyd, her mouth agape. She wasn’t sure what they should do. She grabbed onto his arm for support as they scrambled out of bed. She was about to ask the boy how she could hel
p when the door flung open and Jed rushed inside, followed closely by Ira and Tony.
Jed pushed his way into the vardo; the girl gasped, and the boy spun around to meet his gaze.
“I told you!” he said with a glare. “You can’t separate us.” He turned his attention back to the girl and continued to console her.
“How’d you get here so fast?” Jed demanded as he took in the scene around him. The boy didn’t reply.
“Does she do this every night?” Ira asked.
This time he did answer. “Not this bad; not if I’m with her.” He sounded distracted, almost dismissive. The girl let out an anxious moan and sank against him as he put his arm around her and rubbed her back. “It’s all right,” he said. “It was just a dream. You’re safe.” The boy pulled his blanket across her shoulders and his voice lowered to a whisper; Jed could no longer make out his words.
Rosa, who had crept in behind the men, placed her hand on Jed’s arm. “It’s getting crowded in here. Why don’t Hattie and I stay with them while the rest of you wait outside?” she suggested. “We can figure out what to do after she calms down.”
Jed nodded, and the men filed outside. He stepped down from the vardo and noticed that a chair had been placed close to the door. A knife lay forgotten on the ground. He picked it up and looked at his dog, who sat dutifully by the chair. When Cobra saw his master’s countenance, he lowered himself and put his chin on his front paws.
“Some watchdog you are,” Jed quipped. Cobra placed a paw over his nose and whined.
JED
The men stood together in the cold evening air. As Tony went to his wagon to tell his ma what was going on, Jed peered over at Floyd.
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