They didn’t reach passable grazing fields until late the second day. No one brought surplus cattle and felt desperate to keep alive every one they owned. The high bluffs along Sweetwater caused them to cross the river twice, losing a cow or two each time. From a distance, she watched a heated exchange between one of the men with the most animals and Sam. The halt order went around the group soon afterward.
Marie unhitched the oxen before Charles could. He nodded when seeing her bringing the animals to the water’s edge. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ll let you take them for water and grazing while I build the fire for dinner.”
She nodded at him as he went past her toward the back of the wagon. Charles’ even temper felt like a small reward to Marie. Considering all the barren earth they’d passed in the morning, she enjoyed leading the hungry animals to a patch of good grass. She noticed Sam driving a few cattle toward her. He’d been on her mind far too much since she rode with him on his horse. Unsure whether she wanted to avoid him or not, Marie slowed her pace to a near stop while trying to decide. She snuck a peek over her left shoulder, wondering how close he was. When nudged in the back by the animals’ noses, she chuckled and continued taking them for food and drink. By focusing on the distant hills, she could keep her back to Sam and avoid conversation.
“Mrs. Warren?”
She startled with a yelp, surprised at Sam’s voice to her right. “Yes, Mr. Granville? What may I do for you?”
“For me?” His eyebrows raised. “Nothing at the moment. I just wanted to point out the snow on the peaks over there.”
“Snow this time of year? I thought it were some sort of gypsum or maybe the source of all the alkali in the area.” Putting her hands on her hips, she examined his face while asking, “Are you sure it’s snow? I’d hate to tell Hester and have her think I’m an idiot again.”
Sam’s smile faded into a frown. “No, it truly is. I’ve been there and back on other trips. I’ll tell her so myself.”
His defense of her warmed Marie more than any shawl she wore. “If we were home right now, I’d send someone over to get some for a mint julep or two.”
“I’d go if you had the fixings.” He dismounted.
“If I did, I’d certainly let you.” She smiled, trying to ignore how his pants fit him so well. “I’ve never seen snow up close.”
“Honestly? I can’t imagine.”
From his expression, Marie thought he seemed worried and wanted to reassure him. “I’ve seen frost and a few flakes, but not enough to make a snowball. I’ve always imagined them to be like shaved ice.”
“They’re something similar, maybe softer.”
“I suppose that’s good if you’re in a snowball fight.”
“It is since my brother has a vicious arm.” He took a step closer. “If we had more time, I’d ride up and get you your own bit of snow to see up close.”
Sam seemed boyish all of a sudden, and she enjoyed the expression on his face. “It’s very kind of you to offer.” They stood in silence for a moment. She felt self-conscious standing there alone with him among the animals. “I’ve read a lot of the book you loaned me. There’ll be plenty for me to throw at you in a few weeks.”
Grinning, Sam swung up onto his horse. “Ma’am, you have no idea what sort of expert you’re challenging.” Uncle Joe rode up to him, asking about the watch schedule.
She tried to not listen in as they talked. Instead, she led the oxen away slowly to not attract attention. Marie looked at the white-topped mountains. Even if impractical, she liked how he’d offered to show her real snow. Glancing at him, she saw him looking at her while Uncle Joe talked. Shy, she went back to tending the oxen. By the time she led them to the river for a drink, Marie had looked back to find Sam gone. The other man watched the cattle in his place.
It was just as well. If he’d stay any longer, she’d have been tempted to flirt even more. When out of eyesight, Marie could think clearly. Snowball fights indeed. Between playing games with the children and now getting into hijinks with Sam, she found it difficult to be a real lady.
She shivered while bringing the oxen back to camp. The air was turning cooler with every hour. Charles walked past her with the water bucket, giving her a nod as he did so. They’d barely talked in the previous two days, something she thought for the best. Less chatter meant less arguing. With a smile and a wave to Uncle Joe, she finished staking out the animals and walked back to cook dinner.
A campfire burned with a pot of food sitting in the middle. She stirred the mix and soon after the beans and salt pork simmered in the pan. She heard someone rustle behind her and said, “You’re back so soon dearest?”
“I tried to hurry, sweetheart,” a man’s voice answered jokingly behind her.
She stood and whirled around to see Sam behind her. “Oh! Hello.” Marie’s face burned with embarrassment, while her stomach did flip flops of excitement.
“Hello to you, too.”
Seeing his smile reminded her of how much she’d missed him in the past couple of days. “I mistook you for Charles. He’s supposed to be bringing back water soon, I think.”
He shrugged. “One of the boys fetched up our water, or I’d be out there, too.” Sam kicked at a rock before saying, “It seems I’ve broken a promise to you, and I’m not sure how to fix it.”
She tried to remember such a thing and shook her head. “No promise that I can recall...”
“I wondered how you could forget after passing all those cactus fields.”
“Goodness, Sam,” she said in a quiet voice. “You’re busy enough without my pestering you for a treat.”
“It’s a treat for me as well. I’ll make a point to fry some up soon and have you over to try it.” He nodded toward the west. “The official reason of why I stopped by is just beyond the mountain range and headed this way. My bet is on rain, but as cool as the air is today, I can’t rule out flurries.”
“We’re to have snow here in camp?” She liked the idea but not the reality. “I suppose we might as well have the beauty since we’re suffering the cold.”
He smiled at her. “You’ll want to keep handy any extra blankets. I can’t have you freezing to death out here.”
“Hey, Granville, what’s going on here?”
Sam turned to Charles, “Hello. I’m letting everyone know about possible snow tonight.”
“Snow?” He barked a laugh, “Ridiculous! It’s July, young man, and we’re hardly in the Arctic.”
“Nevertheless, snow is possible, so humor me and be prepared.”
Giving him a withering look, Charles said, “Very well.”
She had noticed a flash of irritation cross Sam’s face before he squelched it. Despite his effort, the tension between the two men bothered Marie. She knew her husband hated being bossed around by anyone and could almost feel his resentment vibrating from him. “I’ll get the blankets, just in case.”
“Mrs. Warren, please excuse me, duty calls,” Sam said as he turned and left.
Once certain he was out of earshot of them, Charles said, “Humor him my ass.”
Did her ears deceive her? Marie strove to keep her voice low. “Pardon?”
“You heard me.” He stopped watching Sam walk away to peer at her. “All the doomsday muck that man shovels on us on a daily basis, I get tired of listening to it.”
Wanting to know what mental bee was stinging him, Marie ventured, “He does seem to be overly cautious.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” He settled in by the fire, grabbing a plate to fill. “Be careful here, watch out there, make sure everywhere. Between him and Hester parroting him to me, I’m going mad.”
Marie wasn’t surprised her sister in law hung on Sam’s every word. But to ease her husband’s mood she said, “Hester does that often?”
“Yes, and I’m sick to death of it,” he said in between bites.
Working on filling her own plate, she asked, “Come to think of it, where is she?”
�
��She’ll be along any minute.” Charles went back to eating.
Hester walked up to them, smiling. “Am I your ‘she,’ Chas?”
He looked up at her, then to his empty plate. “Yes, you’re the she soon to arrive, just as I leave.”
“Oh, don’t be a fuss. I just wanted to freshen up a little before the air turned colder.” She warned her hands at the fire. “Mr. Granville said we might get snow tonight and will need more blankets than usual.”
Marie glanced at her husband and saw his irritated expression. She grinned at him when he looked at her. “He did?” she asked, hoping Charles saw how right he’d been about his sister.
“I just said he did.” She paused in dishing up her food to say to him, “Did you have to marry the stupidest woman in Louisiana?”
Trying to keep calm, Marie said, “Your inability to speak clearly is not my fault.” She turned to Charles. “I might have been having some fun at her expense, but I’m in no way stupid, and she needs to apologize to me.”
“Don’t drag me into this.” He stood tossing his dishes into the pail. “Both of you have nothing new to say about anything. Hester, you wash up. Marie, get those blankets all of you must have. I’m finding somewhere else to be this evening.”
Chapter 5
Ice Slough gave them a reason to take a midmorning break. Sam steered them around the area as best he and his men could. Prior settlers digging in the peat-like grasses had left holes in the surface. When seeing Arnold, he hollered, “See that the Winslows stay clear of here. The old man tends to forget where he is.”
The younger man tipped his hat and rode out to complete his orders. Ellen’s father had a bad habit of ignoring the road ahead. Sam didn’t feel like putting down an animal today due to the man’s carelessness. He helped dig ice from under the matted grasses. His favorite part was where everyone marveled at the clear blocks chopped out from the earth. He grinned at the children watching with big eyes. They’d all enjoy Soda Springs even more. Wanting to help his hands, Sam ambled over to his own wagon at the edge of the slough.
As he dismounted, Lucky walked up to him. “Hey, boss, just in time. We ain’t started working yet.”
“Too bad, I was hoping to miss all the fun.” He watched as Uncle Joe and Arnold pulled back the covering. Lucky ran off to help Lefty with the shovels. “We’ll need a couple of small barrels, too, men.”
“I’ll get them,” Uncle Joe volunteered.
Sam nodded and soon they all dug up ice and layered it with the pulled peat. With both barrels full, it took two men to put them in the wagon. A quick check of the other families showed some needed help. He and the boys helped so they could all start moving again.
Rolling alongside the river as it twisted and turned held annoying consequences. Sam’s patience ebbed low as the day wore on. Wagon drivers who ignored his warnings about the sand soon found themselves creeping along. The soil’s pull wore out oxen already undernourished and overworked. The sun overhead worsened his mood as he gave the order to halt. Both the sun and his hunger told him it was midday. He led Scamp to the river for a drink. While the animal slurped up the water, he dug around in his saddlebag for some jerky and cornbread.
As he chewed, Sam looked at the ground for curiosity’s sake. Rain, or more likely a dusting of snow must have dampened the earth in the past few days. Wildflowers bloomed in among the grasses. He recognized the blue flowers, but not the white or yellow ones. Kneeling, Sam picked an orange colored flower. This one he’d seen before now. The leaves were thick, almost like a cactus with no spines.
“Hello, Mr. Granville,” Hester called out, walking towards him with a bouquet in her hands. She had them in a jar too small for all the stems.
He looked down at his single bloom, then back at her. “You’ve been a busy lady, ma’am.”
“Oh, these?” She lifted them to her nose and breathed in deep. “My brother found these while walking the oxen and picked them for me. Aren’t they lovely? He’s so thoughtful.”
Sam put a smile on his face. If this is what Warren gave his sister, what must he have given Marie? A stab of jealousy hit his chest. Feelings he had no right to feel. “Quite lovely, Miss Warren.”
“Hester? You forgot the bucket.” Marie held up the pail for her.
“No, I didn’t. I couldn’t carry both my flowers and that.” She smiled. “You don’t mind getting the water for us, do you? Thank you, sweetie!”
Triumph rang in the older woman’s voice, and Sam looked to Scamp as the animal pulled at the grasses. Hearing the sounds of Marie stepping through the tall grasses lining the river, he glanced over at her as she filled their bucket. He wanted to say anything to start a conversation with her but wasn’t sure what. Off the top of his head, Sam said, “I’m betting your bouquet is bigger than Hester’s.”
“How much would you bet?” She turned to him, her expression sly. “Do you have a dollar amount in mind?”
“No, just a lot. The man probably had to make two trips for all your flowers.” His heart felt odd, but he continued, “Is that what your water is for?
“Oh no, not at all. This is for us to drink.” She shrugged. “Hester got flowers, but I’ve not received any from Charles just yet. He hasn’t had the chance, I’m sure.”
“I’m sure he will make time later.”
“Maybe, er, probably.” She twisted grass blades in one hand. “He knows Hester likes those sorts of things.”
“You don’t?”
“I do, but honestly, flowers die anyway. It’s all so sad and just as well if he forgets to pick any for me.” She glanced up from the blades at him, smiled, then went back to braiding the greenery. “I don’t need flowers.”
He stared at her, examining her face. She sounded to him as if she wanted to believe her own words. Marie’s eyes betrayed her sadness. “Once you pick them, yes, they die. Perhaps when you reach your home in Oregon, he’ll plant you a flower garden.”
Marie laughed. “You do tend to see the good side of things, don’t you?” Pink tinged her cheeks. “I find that to be one of your best traits.”
“One of? Why, thank you, ma’am.”
“You’re welcome.” She abandoned her nervous playing with the grass. “They’re expecting a drink, so excuse me.”
He tipped his hat in response. As she walked away, he retrieved a cup from his saddlebag. Sam dipped up some water and drank, his mind still on her. She’d not fooled him. Marie liked getting flowers, even if they were temporary. He led Scamp away from the river, then paused. He couldn’t give her the bouquet she deserved outright. But, he could give every woman in their group a flower or two. Grinning, Sam took out his little pocket knife and began cutting the prettiest flowers he saw.
His horse followed, ambling behind until Sam held more than enough for every woman and man. He laughed, thinking of Lucky’s face at getting flowers from him. Maybe not every man, he thought. Sam swung up on Scamp without dropping the bouquet. He galloped at a slow pace until reaching the front of the wagon train. Once there, he worked his way across and back. Each girl and woman received a flower or two. Sam explained away the small gifts as a rare rainy summer occurrence. The children charmed him the most, the girls graciously accepting while the little boys frowned at why anyone would want such a stinky flower.
Each family visited meant he drew one more wagon closer to the Warrens. He suppressed a grin, seeing Ellen’s family between him and Marie. For his plan to work, she had to be the very last. Sam rode up to the wagon. “Miss Ellen, good day.”
“Good day Mr. Granville.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my goodness! Those are lovely!”
“I think so, too.” He pulled off a couple of blossoms. “These are for you.” Leaning down to her, he held his horse still as she walked up to take them.
“Are you sure? They’re so lovely.” She smelled the fragrance, the petals ruffling with her breath.
He pulled off a few more blooms and bent down again to Ellen. “Could you give these to your
mother, too?”
She took the flowers, smiling. “Yes, she’ll love them, too. We may put these in one water jar if that’s all right with you.”
Straightening in the saddle, Sam replied, “I don’t mind at all.”
“I’ll give these to her, Mr. Granville. Thank you.”
Sam tipped his hat as she went to their wagon. He turned to the Warrens’, his heart thudding in his chest from nerves. Wanting and doing were two different things. He’d not counted on feeling shy at giving her what seemed to be a huge bouquet. She wasn’t his to give anything to, and yet, a small kindness couldn’t hurt, he thought. Sam shook his head of worries and clicked Scamp forward. Reaching Marie’s wagon, he saw Hester and Charles on the front seat. “Good afternoon!” He felt transparent under Warren’s squinted eyes and ignored his feelings by pulling out a small bunch of flowers from the larger group. “Miss Warren, you inspired me to collect wildflowers this afternoon.” He gave her the nosegay. “I’ve given every lady their own flowers and can’t forget you.”
“Oh, Mr. Granville, this is an unexpected treat!” She breathed in deep the aroma, sneezing from the pollen. “Thank you!” Her eyelashes fluttered at him. “I’d not expected such a thing from a man like you.”
“Yeah, Granville.” Charles frowned at him. “Flowers are a bit forward, don’t you think?”
Hester gave her brother a playful slap on the arm. “Don’t be silly, Chas. It’s a wonderful gesture.” She tilted her head and asked Sam, “What do you intend to do with the leftovers?”
He shrugged in a casual way. “I suppose give a few to Mrs. Warren since I’ve not seen her yet.”
Hester winked at him. “You don’t need to bother with her. I’ll be glad to take what you have and add them to my others.”
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