Josie's Valor

by Peggy L Henderson

  If she replied, he didn’t hear it. Travis glanced up. Josie nibbled at a biscuit, but didn’t look at him. A new wave of annoyance swept through him. She wasn’t going to make this easy.

  With each silent second that passed, his irritation grew. He wasn’t the enemy, but she sure acted as if he were. She’d known him for years and, although they’d never gotten along or talked much, he’d never given her cause to be afraid of him. Why now, and why did it bother him?

  She had no problem talking to Hammond and laughing at things he said to her. They often rode together during the day and Hammond seemed to be glued to her side more than ever, from what Travis had observed over the last few days.

  What was the man saying to her that had her smiling more than she’d ever smiled? Now that Hammond wasn’t around, there was no smile on her face. In fact, she once again looked apprehensive and unsure. Was she truly scared of being alone with him in this camp?

  Travis almost laughed. He’d never understood the workings of a female’s mind, and he’d never cared to figure it out. He scraped his plate with his fork and filled his mouth again. Better to keep eating while he thought of something to say to Josie that wasn’t going to rile her. Maybe he oughta talk to Hammond and get some ideas, but that would be rather foolish.

  “I think we should slow down tomorrow and not push so fast.”

  Travis stopped chewing and stiffened as if someone had stuck the barrel end of a rifle in his back. Josie’s words had come out of nowhere, and were a complete surprise.

  He looked up and was met with blue eyes that stared directly at him. His cheeks were filled with food and he hastily swallowed, which nearly made him gag as a chunk of meat lodged in his throat.

  Travis coughed. He stood too quickly, sending his plate to the ground. The rest of the stew splattered across his boots. Leaning forward, he continued to cough and gasp for air.

  Josie was beside him, pounding on his back with her fist and handing him a cup of water.

  “Cora always tells you not to eat so fast. You’re not a wolf who has to be worried about its food getting stolen.”

  Her smirk was apparent without him having to look at her, but for the second time in as many minutes, Travis glanced up to meet Josie’s eyes. How had he never noticed before that her eyes were as blue as a cloudless summer sky? Probably because she never looked directly at him.

  He straightened as he took the cup of water and drained it, clearing his throat a final time.

  “Growing up around my brothers ain’t much different than living among wolves,” he grumbled, his voice raspy.

  Josie made some kind of noise that sounded a lot like a disgusted huff.

  “Your brothers seem to have all learned some manners,” she said in her soft voice.

  Travis grinned. “I like to be different.”

  Their eyes locked for a moment before she abruptly dropped her gaze. She returned to the wagon’s tailgate, turning her back to him. Travis watched her, his eyes on the long braid of her blonde hair that swung halfway to her waist. If she’d ever worn it loose, he couldn’t recall, but the odd thought that it would be nice to see her with her hair unbound left him shaking his head.

  He tore his eyes away and reached for the plate he’d dropped. Hopefully there was more stew in the pot. He scraped what had spilled on his boot with the heel of his other boot, then covered the mess with dirt.

  “What do you mean, we shouldn’t push so hard tomorrow?”

  Without waiting for a reply, he headed for the fire and peered into the pot. He refilled his plate, then took his seat on the crate again. This time, he waited for an answer before taking another bite. Josie finally turned to face him.

  “The women and children can’t continue at the pace you’ve been setting. We need to slow down or you’re going to wear them out before we’re even on the trail a week.”

  Travis frowned. “I didn’t think we were going that fast. In fact, I think we oughta push for a few extra miles tomorrow.”

  Josie’s eyes narrowed. She shook her head. “For once, you need to think about someone other than yourself. These people are your responsibility.”

  Travis gripped his fork. He took in a deep breath to stave off the twinge of annoyance at her words.

  “I am thinking about more than myself.”

  Josie straightened. She raised her chin, which made her look an awful lot like her assertive sister, Cora.

  “You need to remember that you’re not here to prove how invincible you are.”

  Travis nearly spilled his plate again as a fresh round of annoyance slammed him. “I ain’t out to prove anything.”

  Except to you, that I ain’t who you make me out to be.

  He glanced at his plate and shook his head. Why was he concerned about what Josie Hudson thought? When had her opinion of him ever mattered?

  “These families have lost a lot. You can’t expect them to have your endurance.”

  “We won’t reach Independence before winter if we don’t push a little faster.”

  Travis glanced up in time to see the heated look in Josie’s eyes. The angry spark made her come alive in ways he’d never noticed.

  “We can’t all be as great as you, Travis Wilder. You have to take their situations into account. If you push these families to exhaustion, they’ll never make it to Independence.”

  Travis stood and dropped the plate onto the wooden crate. His appetite seemed to have vanished. Evidently, Josie refused to see him as anything but an irresponsible wild animal.

  He stepped toward her, moving in close enough that she backed up a step. Travis cursed under his breath. He was doing exactly what he’d meant to apologize for.

  Damn! He couldn’t do anything right where Josie Hudson was concerned. He abruptly turned.

  “Fine, have it your way,” he called over his shoulder. “Tomorrow, you’re in charge of leading the train.”

  Chapter 8

  “Can I ride with you on your horse for a while, Miss Josie?”

  Josie slowed her gelding to walk beside the little girl who had called to her. She smiled and nodded.

  “Sure, Salita Jane, as long as your mama says it’s all right.”

  The girl’s face lit up in a wide grin, revealing a gap between her front teeth. Her skirts flapped as she ran to one of the wagons up ahead. A thin woman guided a team of oxen with a long stick as her bonnet flapped in the breeze against her back. She struggled to keep the lumbering beasts moving in a straight line while a young boy sat in the driver’s seat.

  Josie watched as the girl spoke to her mother. She pointed behind her to Josie. Loretta Colby turned her head just as Josie nudged her horse to catch up with the girl.

  “Is Salita bothering you, Miss Hudson?” Loretta held her hand to her forehead and squinted up at Josie. Hair that had come loose from her knot blew around her face. She had dark circles under her dull eyes, and the skin on her face was pale and sallow.

  Josie shook her head. “She’s not bothering me at all. I don’t mind if she rides with me until we stop for the noon break.”

  Loretta smiled weakly. She nodded her thanks. From inside the wagon, a baby cried.

  “Lucy, take care of your baby brother for a while,” Loretta called. “I can’t feed him until we stop.”

  Josie reached for Salita Jane’s hand and pulled her up behind her into the saddle. The little girl squealed with delight.

  “Now I can be just like you, Miss Josie. Someday I’m gonna wear britches and shoot a gun, too.”

  “Hush your silly talk, Salita Jane, or you’re gonna keep walking.”

  Loretta Colby shot Josie an apologetic look as she scolded her daughter. The poor woman was beyond haggard and tired. Even though Josie had called for a later start to the day, and she’d stopped sooner than Travis would have liked, many of the women were exhausted.

  Other than Anthony Hammond, there were only two men in this group of wagons, and they, too, had their hands full, same as the women. Wi
thout husbands or wives to share the work, each adult had to tend to their families as well as the animals. Everyone was expected to do their part, even the children, but many of the kids were too young to be of much help, and often caused even more work for their parents when they tried to be useful.

  Every one of these folks had already covered hundreds of miles and spent months on the trail to reach Fort Hall. They were all weary to the bone. Now they were faced with the long journey to get back to where they started the trip. Even though some had fared better than others, by the time they reached Independence, they would all have been on the move for nearly half a year with nothing but loss and sorrow to show for it.

  “Would you like to ride in your wagon for a while and I’ll tend to your oxen?” Josie offered, looking at Loretta Colby. “Salita can ride my horse with her sister.”

  Loretta Colby stared at Josie with a glazed look in her eyes. She shook her head.

  “You’re already doing more than your share of the work, Miss Hudson. I see you running around from sunup to sundown. We couldn’t possibly ask you to take on our burdens as well. We’ll manage.” She offered another weak smile.

  Josie held the woman’s eye contact for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. Despite being worn out, Loretta Colby was still a proud woman who didn’t want to rely on others’ charity, as she’d call it.

  “I’ll have Salita back to your wagon when we stop to rest,” Josie assured Loretta and nudged her gelding in the side.

  For now, taking the child off the woman’s hands was the best she could do. Josie rode near the front of the line of the seven wagons, taking note of how everyone else was doing. The women smiled at her as she rode past, most of them wearing haggard expressions similar to Loretta’s. The two men - Abner Hughes and Solomon Merrill – seemed to be faring better. Neither one bothered to look at her as she passed them.

  “I’m going to have my own horse and ride like you someday, Miss Josie.”

  Salita Jane hugged her little arms around Josie’s waist and hung on. Josie glanced over her shoulder. Pure joy radiated from the little girl’s face, brightening Josie’s mood. There had been a time when she’d been just as carefree and enthusiastic about life. Hopefully, nothing would happen to this child to ever take that away from her.

  Josie gazed into the distance. The sun shone brightly overhead. While the day had started out cold and foggy, it had turned decidedly warmer, and would probably be downright hot by the time the sun had fully reached its zenith.

  Every day since they’d left the mountains and entered the lower plains had been like this, making for even longer and tiring days. Thankfully, Travis had been true to his parting words with her three evenings ago, and had left the decision to her when to stop for the night.

  He’d only spoken to her when absolutely necessary, making suggestions here and there about good grazing spots for the animals and sources of water.

  Most days he wasn’t even with the wagons, but riding ahead scouting and surveying the land, which had been fine as far as Josie was concerned. On second thought, however, it might have been better if Travis had remained close by and helped out more with the wagons and around camp. If she brought it up or suggested it to him, he’d likely get angry again.

  A twinge of annoyance coursed through her. What else could she expect from Travis Wilder? The man did what he wanted and never listened to anyone. He’d probably told her to take over the decision-making about traveling time, hoping she would slip up and fail so he could badger her about it.

  A horse came up alongside her, breaking her train of thought about Travis.

  “How are you holding up?” Anthony Hammond wore his usual bright smile.

  Josie glanced sideways. It wasn’t clear if he’d addressed her or Salita Jane with his question, but she answered.

  “I’m doing fine, but some of the women and children are exhausted.”

  Anthony pressed his lips together and nodded. A cloud of concern passed through his eyes. “I know you’re going as slow as you can. Mr. Wilder would like to push faster, but I’m afraid it’s just not possible.”

  So, Travis had obviously spoken to Anthony about the pace she’d been setting. It was only a matter of time before he’d come to her and complain about how slow they were moving and insist he take over the decision-making again. Josie sat straighter in the saddle. That was not going to happen.

  She smiled at Hammond. “I know he wants to go faster. If it were him alone, he’d be halfway to Fort Laramie by now.”

  Hammond chuckled. “He’s got a big heart and good intentions.”

  Josie’s brows rose. She’d like to voice her disagreement to Hammond’s observation, but kept her real opinions of Travis Wilder to herself.

  “While I agree that Travis has valid concerns, I’m trying to allow for as much rest as is doable. We have to make enough miles each day or we’ll never make it back in time before bad weather sets in.”

  “Mr. Wilder and you are a wonderful team,” Hammond said.

  Josie nearly choked at his words. Was the man blind? Couldn’t he see that she and Travis barely spoke, and they got along about as well as a cat and dog? She clamped her mouth shut before she burst out in laughter. Anthony Hammond either wasn’t paying attention, or he only chose to see the good in everything.

  “Why do you say that, Anthony?” she finally asked, curiosity about his way of thinking getting the better of her.

  “Your system is working well as you both work with your strengths,” Hammond said. “You are so good with the people, keeping spirits up with your presence, while Mr. Wilder scouts and makes sure the territory is safe for us. It was quite remarkable how he communicated with those Indians the other day.”

  Hammond was referring to the small band of Shoshone Indians who’d watched them from atop a hill a couple of days ago but hadn’t approached. Travis had disappeared for a while after Josie had spotted the Indians. He’d come back later to reassure everyone that the Indians meant no harm and were only passing by.

  What was it that Hammond saw in her and Travis that perhaps she couldn’t see? Perhaps she’d wrongly accused him of only looking out for his own interests. In the past, that was what she’d come to expect from him. He did seem to take his job seriously as scout and protector of these women and children, however. Everyone in the group, not just Anthony, had nothing but praise for him.

  The general feeling among these women was that Travis would protect them if the need arose, but perhaps Josie needed to have some words with him about helping out more with keeping the wagons moving rather than riding off for most of the day.

  “Mrs. Colby seems to be faring the worst.” Josie glanced toward Anthony. Best to return to the original conversation and stop pondering about Travis Wilder.

  Anthony nodded. “The birth of her baby several weeks ago was difficult, and she’s still mourning the passing of her husband not a month prior.”

  Josie glanced over her shoulder at little Salita Jane. The girl was content and clearly enjoying the ride. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to be talking about her parents in her presence, but the little girl seemed to be oblivious to the subject of their talk.

  Pure joy shone on her face. Her freckled nose was red from sunburn, and her unkempt hair fell over her forehead in matted strands. Josie’s heart went out to the child, who’d started shadowing her the last few days. Her mother was always busy and had little time to spend with each of her four children individually. The baby took up most of her time.

  “Mother and I try to help as much as we can,” Anthony said. “It’s hard to keep spirits up when everyone is weary from travel. We just have to remind everyone that they wanted to make the journey back to their families rather than forging onward.”

  “Either way it would have been hard.”

  Her own experience traveling along the trail heading west was still fresh in Josie’s mind. At the start of their venture, Cora had managed to find a man who’d agreed to marry her, but
he’d turned out to be a swindler who only wanted her money. Their lives would have turned out completely differently if they’d ended up going all the way to Oregon.

  Knowing her sister, she would have forged ahead against any odds if they hadn’t gotten lost, and then met Nathaniel Wilder. Unlike these women, Cora and her sisters had met with a stroke of good fortune.

  Up ahead, a grove of trees swayed in the breeze, and the way they grew in a line indicated that there was water ahead. Josie glanced over her shoulder at the wagons. Her eye immediately fell on Loretta Colby. The woman stumbled along, and the faint wail of her baby came from inside her wagon. Josie straightened and looked at Hammond.

  “What day is today, Anthony?”

  “I believe it’s Saturday. Why do you ask?”

  “We’re stopping up ahead for the remainder of the day, and tomorrow is going to be a rest day.”

  Loretta Colby was not going to be able to continue walking much further today, that much was clear. It would be good for everyone if they stopped early, and took an additional rest day. Once they moved on, Josie would make it a point to guide the woman’s wagon for part of each day as well as help some of the other women in need, no matter how much any of them protested.

  “Are you sure we should stop so early in the day?” Anthony stared at her with slight apprehension in his eyes. “Will Mr. Wilder be agreeable to that?”

  Josie laughed. “I don’t care what he agrees with and what he doesn’t. We have to stop for a day, or someone might become very ill from exhaustion, or worse.”

  Anthony nodded. Admiration shone in his eyes plain as day. He reached his hand over and placed it on top of Josie’s, giving it a light squeeze. Josie tensed.

  She forced a smile, even though her first impulse was to jerk her hand away. Her heart rate increased and she held her breath, expelling it in a relieved sigh after Anthony removed his hand. It had been an innocent gesture on his part, yet she couldn’t get it out of her mind that he was trying to attack her.

  Would it ever be any different when a man touched her, either on purpose or accidentally? She’d never felt threatened from Harley’s embraces. At first, perhaps, she’d been apprehensive, but she trusted and loved the old mountain man as she would her own grandfather. None of the Wilder men had ever embraced or touched her, with the exception of Travis the day before they left Harley’s Hole.