She nodded. Clearing her throat, she lowered her eyes. “Dell, you are free, of course, to take your meals with us on the trail.”
Something inside of Dell softened at the gesture. “I appreciate it,” he replied truthfully. “I sure didn’t relish the idea of eating my own cooking.”
She glanced at him and gave a low, throaty laugh.
Dell swallowed hard. This is going to be tougher than I thought.
Placing his hat atop his head, he mounted his horse and rode away.
Dell found the wagon master enjoying a cup of coffee at his fire. Dismounting, he lifted a large hand in greeting. “Hello, Mr. Cross.”
The wagon master’s weathered face remained stony. “Should I know you, mister?”
Dell removed his hat and shook his head. “No sir. There’s no reason for you to know me till now. Name’s Michaels. Dell Michaels.”
“What can I do for you, Mr. Michaels?”
Dell cleared his throat and pulled out the signed contract. He handed it over to Mr. Cross and waited while the man read it.
“So Miss Sinclair will be leaving the train with you?”
“Eventually. The turnoff to the ranch is a good two weeks’ travel, and I’d sure appreciate it if you’d allow us to continue with the wagon train until then.”
Mr. Cross hesitated. “It’s been rough going for Cassidy. She must be pretty desperate to consider this without even meeting the man she’s agreeing to marry. Fact is, I’ve been making some inquiries for a position in town. Haven’t found her anything yet though.”
“I’ll take full responsibility for Miss Sinclair and Emily of course.”
“She might prefer to work as a seamstress.”
Dell’s throat went dry. He didn’t want Cassidy to stay in town. He wanted her company for as long as possible.
“The life she’s being offered is a good one. But of course you can give her the choice.”
“I just might.”
“And if she chooses to go with me?”
The leathery wagon master nodded. “Don’t suppose it’d hurt anything to have another pair of hands and an extra gun around here. Those pesky Indians are stirrin’ up trouble again. Gonna have to go through Colorado this time around so my people get to Santa Fe with their scalps on their heads.”
“Thank you, sir.” Dell mounted the roan. “I’ll be on my way now so I can stock up on supplies and be ready to move out in the morning.”
“Mr. Michaels.” The wagon master squinted up at him. “I’m not crazy about this arrangement between you and Miss Sinclair. She’s a fine woman and deserves more than marriage to a stranger. I’ll be watching you, and if I think there’s anything strange about this setup, I’ll take her and the little girl all the way to Santa Fe myself.”
Dell nodded. “I’d expect no less from you.”
“Welcome aboard. We leave at first light.”
The two men shook hands, and Dell rode away.
Cassidy grimaced as the reins cut into her raw hands. Worn through from the weeks on the trail, her gloves were little or no protection against blisters, so she didn’t bother to wear them anymore.
Why hadn’t she thought to put a new pair of gloves on the list? She knew the answer to that. Dell had already paid for so much, including a yoke of oxen to replace the ragged mules, as well as a new wagon. The less she accepted from Mr. St. John, the less she’d have to pay back in housework if she couldn’t stand the man.
Or if he doesn’t want me.
The thought had occurred to her more than once. After all, no one had taken the slightest romantic interest in her before. This Mr. St. John might want a dainty, doting wife rather than a woman, large and strong. Cassidy knew her face wasn’t ugly, but neither was she pretty by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, how handsome could Wendell St. John III be if he had to advertise for a wife?
A flash of lightning caught Cassidy’s attention from the corner of her eye. She scanned the horizon, and anxiety gnawed at her as she noted thick black clouds blanketing the sky, threatening to burst at any moment.
“Emily, get back in the wagon,” she called. “Looks like we’re in for a storm.”
“Aw, Aunt Cass.” Emily obeyed but let her displeasure be known by a puckered brow.
Cassidy let out a frustrated breath. She’d have to get Emily back under control. Though she knew God expected her to train up the child with discipline, it had been difficult to punish her since her father’s death.
Stopping the wagon, she waited for Emily, who flounced over and climbed up.
“I think Mr. Cross will call a halt soon, judging from the weather,” Cassidy said, trying to draw Emily from her foul mood.
“Hello, ladies.”
Emily brightened considerably. “Hi, Mr. Michaels.”
He touched the brim of his hat and grinned broadly at the child.
“Aunt Cass is making me sit in the wagon, and I want to walk.”
Cassidy couldn’t resist a wry grin at her niece’s transparent attempt to gain an ally.
Dell nodded but looked at her sternly. “Couldn’t help overhearing. Your aunt Cass is right. The train’s already starting to move into a circle. You’d better stay put.” He turned his attention to Cassidy. “Lewis thinks we’re in for a pretty bad storm, so brace yourself. I came to help you get everything tightened down. Don’t want to lose anything.”
“Thank you, but it isn’t necessary.” Cassidy maneuvered her wagon into place in the circle. “There isn’t anything here I can’t take care of, and there are others who will need your help more than I.”
Cassidy wrapped the reins around the brake and jumped down from the wagon. She glanced up at Dell, noting a bewildered look on his face.
“Something wrong?” she questioned, a frown creasing her brow.
“What’s that getup you’re wearing?”
With a glance at her attire, she smiled. “It’s called a bloomer outfit.”
“But you’re wearing trousers!”
Thunder rumbled, and flashes of lightning were getting closer.
“Technically, they’re bloomers,” Cassidy replied distractedly, eyeing the sky nervously.
“They look like trousers,” he insisted.
“So? I’m wearing a dress over them,” she replied with a shrug.
“A short dress.” Dell’s gaze swooped downward. “It doesn’t even cover your ankles.” He sounded scandalized.
“The bloomers cover my ankles.” She looked down at her loose-fitting dress, which reached midway between her knees and ankles. Why was he acting so silly about it? “Don’t you think there are more important things to consider right now? Lightning striking the oxen, for instance.”
He ignored the remark. “Doesn’t seem like a very good example for a young girl like Emily.”
Miffed, Cassidy tossed her head. “You try wearing a dress with all those petticoats and see how comfortable you are out here on the trail.” A loud clap of thunder punctuated her heated statement. “Seems to me I’m teaching my niece to have some common sense, even if some menfolk would rather see a woman in a dress on a dusty trail.”
“I like Aunt Cass’s bloomer outfit. She said she might make one for me, if she has time.”
Dell’s expression softened at Emily’s interruption.
“Is that so, little miss? Are you going to be an independent woman like your aunt?”
Cassidy’s cheeks grew warm, but she lifted her chin. She had to be independent, didn’t she? She had her niece to care for.
“I don’t know,” Emily replied.
The tender smile Dell sent Emily melted Cassidy’s anger. He certainly would make a fine father. An unreasonable pang of jealousy hit her full in the stomach at the thought of him marrying another woman. She placed a hand over her waist as if to ward off the blow. What right did she have to be jealous? It wasn’t as though a man as handsome and wonderful as Dell would ever be interested in the likes of her anyway. And if by some miracle he were
interested, it wouldn’t matter, because she’d signed a contract with Mr. St. John. At the very least, she owed the rancher a chance to take one look at her and send her packing.
Cassidy shook herself from her thoughts. There was no sense in borrowing trouble. “I’d better unhitch the team before they get spooked and run away,” she said, moving to do so.
Dell dismounted and placed a large hand over hers. “I’ll do it for you.”
Cassidy winced, catching her lip between her teeth.
“What’s wrong?” he asked with a frown.
“Nothing.” She tried to pull away.
He pursed his lips, turning her hand palm up. “These are badly blistered,” he admonished, the concern in his voice warming her down to her toes. Intently, he gazed into her eyes. “Why aren’t you wearing gloves?”
Cassidy looked at the ground and swallowed hard. She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Her gloves wore out a long time ago,” Emily piped up.
“Emily, get inside the wagon before the rain starts,” Cassidy ordered.
The little girl’s face clouded over with hurt, but mercifully, she did as she was told.
“Look at me,” Dell commanded, placing a finger beneath Cassidy’s chin and lifting her head until they were face-to-face. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed gloves?”
“I didn’t think I would.” She jumped as another loud clap of thunder shook the air. “That storm’s getting closer, Dell. I really need to get the oxen unhitched.”
“Go inside with Emily. I’ll unhitch the team.” He gave her a gentle nudge toward the wagon.
“B–but what about the others? They need you.”
“They can take care of themselves. I’m staying right here.”
A large gust of wind whipped at Cassidy’s skirt and nearly knocked her off her feet as the sky opened, pouring rain on the band of travelers.
“Get inside.” Dell ducked his head against the blast of wind and pushed toward the oxen.
Ignoring his order, she rushed to unhitch the other side. Soon the oxen were free of the wagon.
“Get inside, Cassidy!” Dell yelled again, pulling at the reins. With nothing else to do, she obeyed.
Heavy rain assaulted the prairie for two days, delaying the train and dumping several inches of water on the ground. Cassidy gave up trying to build a fire after the first day, and she and Emily, with Dell as their guest, subsisted on dried meat and cold beans.
When the skies finally cleared, the people were anxious to head out. But the muddy, rain-soaked ground prevented any movement. Details of women gathered drinking water. The children set about collecting buffalo chips for the fires, and the men took turns guarding the camp and hunting fresh game.
Cassidy’s hands were healing, and she dreaded having them blister again once the order was given to move out.
Stepping out of the warmth and dryness of her wagon on the third day after the rain had begun, Cassidy glanced at the puddles of water on the ground and sighed. She’d be soaked before she made it back to the wagon. She dreaded stepping down from her canvas-covered home.
“Might as well get it over with,” she grumbled to herself. Gathering her water buckets, she set off for the river a few yards beyond the camp, keeping her eyes fixed firmly on the ground to avoid as many puddles as possible.
“Miss Sinclair?” Mrs. Marcus, wife of Reverend Marcus, stood before her with her own buckets filled.
“Hello,” Cassidy said. “How are you faring after all this rain?”
Mrs. Marcus gave her a rosy smile. “The Lord has kept us well and as dry as can be expected, I suppose.”
Cassidy inclined her head, feeling suddenly ashamed at her foul mood. “We can be thankful it wasn’t any worse.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Marcus agreed. “As a matter of fact, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you. My husband is conducting a service at our campfire tonight, and we would love for you and Emily to attend.”
A thrill shot through Cassidy at the thought of having fellowship with other believers again. Thus far on the trail, they’d had few opportunities, and none since leaving Council Grove a week earlier. “We’ll be there.”
“Wonderful. We’ll look forward to seeing you after supper.”
Mrs. Marcus continued on her way back to the camp, and Cassidy resumed her trek to the river. Once she reached the grassy bank, she stooped to fill her buckets. At the thought of the meeting that night, anticipation welled in her soul, and she broke into a hymn of praise.
As she straightened, her heart leaped at the sight of Dell leaning casually against a nearby tree, watching her.
“It’s a good thing I wasn’t an Indian sneaking up on you,” he admonished lightly. “If I had been, I’d already have that pretty ginger-colored hair hanging from my belt.”
“Then it’s lucky for me you aren’t an Indian,” she retorted, feeling her cheeks grow warm at his compliment.
Dell chuckled and reached for the heavy buckets she carried. “Why are you so happy?”
“Reverend Marcus is holding a Bible meeting tonight.” Cassidy couldn’t keep the enthusiasm out of her voice. “Will you attend?”
“No.”
Cassidy frowned at his clipped answer. “Aren’t you a believer?”
“Let’s put it this way. I believe if there is a God, He isn’t very interested in humanity.”
Cassidy gasped, placing a hand to her chest. “Dell, don’t say that.”
His mouth curved into an amused smile. “Afraid of thunder and lightning from heaven?” He leaned in closer. “Don’t be,” he said in a conspiratorial tone. “The skies seem to be clear. As a matter of fact, Lewis gave the okay to move out tomorrow.”
She stopped walking and crossed her arms in determination. “Dell Michaels, don’t you dare make light of the Lord in my presence again.” Cassidy could feel her lips quiver, and tears blurred her vision. “God is the only constant in my life, and I will not stand for blasphemy.”
“Cassidy,” he said, the regret in his voice unmistakable. “Forgive me, please. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Listen, I do believe in God. At one time we were on pretty good terms, but now…”
“Now?” Cassidy prodded.
“Let’s just say He and I have some things to work out. I’m sorry.”
A fleeting look of pain clouded his blue eyes, melting Cassidy’s heart. Though there were times she didn’t understand why things happened the way they did, she had never considered turning away from God for any reason. But she had known a woman back home in Missouri who had blamed God after losing her little boy to whooping cough. Cassidy’s heart twisted as she wondered what had become of her.
“Do you forgive me?” Dell asked, drawing her from her memories.
Cassidy knew it certainly wasn’t her place to judge Dell, but if he had gone through a heartbreak similar to that of her friend, he would find no peace until God healed him. She wanted Dell to allow God to do that. Life was difficult enough, even when one drew on a strength from above; without a relationship with God, Cassidy couldn’t imagine how anyone survived the hardships.
Slowly, she lifted the buckets from his hands. “You don’t need my forgiveness, Dell,” she said softly. “But I truly believe whatever issues you have with God will only be settled once you surrender your heart to Him and accept His peace.”
Dell remained silent, looking past her, though it appeared he stared at nothing in particular. After a moment, Cassidy realized he wasn’t going to respond, so she bid him good day and stepped toward the circle of wagons, sloshing water on the ground as she left him to wrestle with her words.
Chapter 3
Seated on the ground with her back against a wagon wheel for support, Cassidy watched Dell romp with the children. The pleasant aroma of strong coffee wafted from her fire, and the gentle hum of quiet singing could be heard as the women washed their supper pots and went about their nightly rituals, readying their families for bed. This was quickly becoming her favorit
e time of the day.
Since Dell had only a bedroll and a few personal items, his chores were minimal compared to the duties of the family men in the wagon train. In the evenings, while the other men made repairs to their wagons or cared for their teams, he played tag, blind man’s bluff, baseball, or anything else the children could coax him into. Cassidy grinned. It certainly didn’t take much to convince him. He was a big kid at heart and loved to play.
She leaned her head back and smiled while Emily tied a handkerchief behind Dell’s head and turned him around three times. Dell was such a wonderful man. If only he would come to the Bible meetings, Cassidy knew God would be able to get through to him. He’d said nothing about their encounter during the rain delay, and Cassidy hadn’t mentioned it either. But she had prayed for him often. Somehow, she felt she should do everything possible to encourage Dell to reconcile his relationship with the Lord.
The campers had enjoyed the worship service during the three-day rain delay so much that once they returned to the trail, they gathered around the preacher’s fire a couple of evenings a week and worshiped together. But Dell never joined them.
“I got someone!” he yelled, yanking the blindfold from his face and tickling the towheaded boy held captive in his arms.
A giggle escaped Cassidy’s lips, and Dell raised his head. His eyes still twinkled from the game as his gaze met hers. Her pulse quickened, and she quickly shifted her attention to Emily.
“Time to get ready for bed,” she called, waiting for Emily to protest. She wasn’t disappointed.
“Aw, Aunt Cass. It’s hardly even dark yet.”
“Now, sweetheart,” Dell admonished the little girl, “you do as your aunt says, or she might not let us play together anymore.”
A look of uncertainty clouded Emily’s pea-green eyes, and she wrinkled her freckled nose. “Okay.” She flounced to the wagon. Bending over, she gave Cassidy a kiss and a hug. “Night.”
Dell removed his hat and extended a hand to Cassidy. “Like some help up from there?”
Warily she accepted his assistance but clutched the wheel for support.
Brides of Kansas Page 3
