Josie scrunched her forehead. She glanced at her arm where Travis had grabbed her. Her skin started to tingle as if his hand was on her at that very moment. When she’d pulled her knife on him that day, her reaction had been purely from instinct. She’d run off in anger and embarrassment that day, but had she truly been afraid that he would hurt her? It was hard to remember.
“I know I made the correct decision when I asked you to guide our wagons home.” Anthony smiled warmly, breaking Josie’s concentration.
Josie glanced up and returned Anthony’s sincere smile. “I’m glad I agreed to come.”
Josie maneuvered her horse away from Hammond to put a little distance between them in case he decided to reach for her hand again. She rode to the front of the line as they approached the creek and trees. This would be a good place to stop and rest for a day. There was grass, water, and shade.
Ada Hammond, who drove the first wagon, glanced up as Josie approached. She smiled at Josie much like her son. For her age, she had remarkable endurance, and seemed to be faring much better than most of the younger women.
“We’ll stop here and make camp, Mrs. Hammond.”
If Ada was surprised, she didn’t say it. “You’ll come and share some food with us once we’re set up, won’t you, Josie?”
“Perhaps once I’m done getting the other families settled, Mrs. Hammond.” She glanced behind her. “But maybe Salita Jane could stay with you for a little bit?” If the little girl remained with Ada for a while, it would help Loretta Colby.
“Of course.” Ada beamed. “Hop into the wagon, child.”
“Be careful when you climb over the things in the wagon, Salita,” Josie cautioned as she helped Salita down from her horse. “I have a very important bag in there, and I don’t want the things inside it to break.”
Salita nodded dutifully.
While Josie had packed lightly for this journey, bringing mostly what she could carry on the back of her saddle, there were a few items that Anthony Hammond had told her to store in his wagon. One of those things was the bag of medicines Caroline had sent with her. While the satchels with herbs would be safe, some of the medicines were in glass bottles and could shatter, so it was safer to keep the entire bag stored in the wagon.
Josie turned her horse and headed for the Colby wagon. Loretta’s son was doing a decent job of getting the oxen unyoked while the girl tried to help.
“Why don’t you tend to your baby, Mrs. Colby, and I’ll see to your camp,” Josie offered.
For a second, it appeared as if Loretta would decline the offer, but then she smiled and nodded with a grateful look in her eyes.
“I know I speak for everyone in this group when I say that you’re the bravest woman we know, Miss Hudson. Watching you lifts our spirits and keeps us going.”
She headed for her wagon and her crying infant, leaving Josie staring after her in stunned disbelief. These women were the strong and brave ones, not her. If they only knew the truth about how very weak she truly felt.
Chapter 9
Travis reined his horse to a stop near the Hammond wagon. He frowned. What was going on here? Oxen and mules grazed the green grass that grew along the stream. All the animals had been unhitched or unyoked, and women had started cooking fires. It wasn’t even past noon, yet.
He caught sight of Anthony Hammond helping one of the women lift a crate from the back of a wagon. Renewed annoyance shot through him as if he’d been scalded with hot water. Why was everyone preparing to camp for the night when there was still plenty of daylight left to put quite a few more miles behind them?
Earlier, he’d approached the train of wagons to suggest to Josie that she stop ahead where the creek flowed to rest the animals and the people for a while. He’d spotted her riding a short distance to the left of the caravan, staying upwind to avoid the dust the many animals and wagon wheels stirred up. A little girl was sitting behind her in the saddle. Of course, Anthony Hammond was riding right beside her.
If that hadn’t been bothersome enough, Hammond had reached over and held Josie’s hand. She hadn’t so much as flinched at the man’s touch. Anger at the sight had quickly replaced his mild annoyance, and rather than riding toward them, he’d spun his horse around and ridden off in the opposite direction so he wouldn’t have to look at Hammond’s blatant wooing of Josie Hudson.
While the vision of the two of them together was bothersome enough, his reaction to it was downright infuriating. Why it disturbed him to see Josie get friendly with a man who’d been nothing more than a stranger a couple of weeks ago was beyond his comprehension.
Probably because she’d always seen him in a negative light. She’d reacted as if he was trying to murder her, or worse, the day he’d reached for her arm to talk to her. She knew him better than that, didn’t she? How was it perfectly fine for Hammond to hold her hand?
After about an hour of riding through the nearby hills, trying without success to sort out his thoughts, Travis had finally cooled off and come to the conclusion that it didn’t matter to him. He’d overreacted for the last time. It was no skin off his back with whom Josie chose to associate.
Harley had asked him to keep an eye on her and make sure she was safe, and Travis had given his word that he would. He’d continue to watch from a distance and make sure that Hammond’s gestures weren’t bothering Josie, but other than that, it was none of his concern.
He smiled. She’d be furious if she knew. Hammond certainly wasn’t a threat to her safety, and he was likable enough, but for some reason seeing him in Josie’s presence all the time was aggravating. His resolve not to let it bother him wasn’t as easy as shaking drops of water off his rain slicker.
Anthony Hammond glanced up as Travis rode into camp. He smiled immediately. Travis gritted his teeth.
“What’s going on, Hammond? Why is everyone setting up camp?”
Hammond wiped his hands on his britches as he came closer.
“Miss Josie called for a stop for the day. She thinks it’s best for the women and children to rest today and tomorrow.”
Travis’ brows rose. “Tomorrow? She’s crazy.”
Hammond shook his head. “She’s concerned for the well-being of the people. Some of the women and children are plumb worn out and need to rest.”
“Where is she?” Travis glanced around camp, ignoring Hammond’s explanation. Time to have a few words with that blasted female. If she had her way, they wouldn’t reach Fort Laramie before next Christmas.
“The last I saw her she was helping Mrs. Colby set up camp.”
Travis didn’t wait for any more from Hammond. He swung his leg over his saddle and stepped firmly onto solid ground. He tugged his horse behind him as he marched toward the Colby wagon. Two of the woman’s kids stood huddled near the back, talking in hushed tones. They looked up when Travis approached. He made eye contact with the boy.
“Have you seen Josie . . . Miss Hudson?”
“She’s with ma, fixin’ supper.”
Travis handed his horse’s reins to the boy and followed the wisp of smoke that rose into the air from the other side of the wagon. Josie stoked the campfire and set a tripod over the flames. Mrs. Colby sat on a blanket spread out on the ground with another blanket draped over her shoulder and chest.
Travis nodded a greeting, but didn’t say anything. The woman was clearly busy feeding her infant. He walked toward the fire, his eyes on Josie.
Her appearance was so different from all these other haggard-looking women. While most of them looked worn and tired, the journey so far seemed to have done little to tire her out. She looked as fresh as the day they’d left Harley’s Hole. Well, maybe her buckskins were a bit dustier than usual, but the rest of her glowed like he hadn’t ever noticed before.
Something heavy filled Travis’ chest, and inhaling was an effort all of a sudden. His lips twitched as he watched her work, right before the image of Hammond holding her hand invaded his thoughts. The heaviness turned to irritation and
any hint of a smile left his face as his mouth clamped in a tight line.
Josie glanced up and their eyes met. For once she didn’t look away. Travis lengthened his strides.
“What’s this all about stopping for the day? And Hammond says you plan to stay camped here tomorrow, too.” His annoyance was difficult to disguise.
Josie’s eyes blazed instantly, and she stiffened. Straightening, she held her hands to her hips and raised her chin. If he wasn’t already angry, he would have smiled with admiration.
Before he had time to contemplate his reaction to her, a little girl staggered past him and toward Mrs. Colby. She looked as if she was going to fall over any second.
“I’m sleepy, mama,” the little girl whined.
“Run along and play, Salita.” The woman sounded worn out and mildly irritated with her daughter. “I need to tend to your baby brother right now.”
“Come here, Salita Jane. You can help me get supper started.” Josie’s gentle voice was in sharp contrast to the way she’d looked at Travis with annoyance a second ago.
The little girl stumbled toward Josie, then fell forward. Travis reacted without thinking. He lunged and caught her around the waist before she fell into the fire. He held her to steady her, but the little girl remained limp. There was no other alternative but to scoop her fully into his arms.
“Salita?” Josie rushed up beside him, shaking the child’s arm. She raised her head to look at Travis with wide and concerned eyes.
Travis shook the girl, but there was no response other than a low moan.
“What’s wrong with her?” Josie’s voice rose in a near panic.
Travis frowned. “I don’t know.”
Mrs. Colby stood, rushing to their side. “Salita? What’s the matter? Why won’t she wake up?” The woman’s panic-stricken eyes went from Travis to Josie.
“This is more than exhaustion,” Josie stammered. “Is she sick? Where has she been?”
Travis looked around camp. Josie was right. The girl was nearly passed out cold, but there were no outward signs as to why. His eyes caught the other two children standing by the wagon. They looked worried and fearful, and remained rooted to the spot.
“Take her.” He lifted the limp girl into Josie’s arms, then walked up to the kids.
“Do either of you know what happened to your sister?”
They both shook their heads.
“Are you sure?” Travis glared at the oldest girl, who stared back at him with wide eyes. “If there’s anything you know, tell me.”
“She was at the Hammonds’ wagon a few minutes ago. She was drinking something.” The girl began to cry. “I don’t want Salita to be in trouble.”
Travis ran from the camp. He passed Ada Hammond tending to her fire near her wagon. Glancing around, he spotted a leather pouch lying by the back wheel. It was the bag that contained the medicines Caroline had given Josie to bring along. Next to the pouch was an empty, clear bottle. The ground around the bottle was wet as if the contents, or part of the contents, had spilled out.
Travis grabbed the bottle. The label read Laudanum.
“Damn,” he muttered. He grabbed the bag and ran back to the Colby wagon, ignoring the stares from Ada Hammond.
“Is something wrong, Mr. Wilder?”
Travis didn’t respond to Anthony Hammond calling to him.
“She drank laudanum,” Travis panted when he was back at the Colby wagon. “Is there anything in this bag that’ll make her throw up?”
Josie, who was cradling the little girl in her arms and trying to rouse her, shook her head. Her eyes widened with renewed panic, reminiscent of when Travis had grabbed her arm.
“Dear God, no.” Loretta Colby stood next to Josie, trying to soothe her crying infant and at the same time shaking Salita to wake up.
“I don’t know if there’s anything useful in the bag.” Josie stared at Travis. “It’s my fault.”
Travis ran his hand along his jaw. His eyes narrowed.
“How is it your fault? You didn’t give her the laudanum.”
Josie shook her head. Her eyes pooled with tears. “No, but I’m the one who told her to stay with Ada Hammond in her wagon. I warned her to be careful with the bag. She must have gotten curious and looked to see what was inside. The medicine probably looked like syrup.”
Travis gnashed his teeth. “If anyone’s at fault, it’s Ada Hammond’s. Sounds like you left the girl with her to watch.” Why was Josie trying to blame herself for something that was clearly not her doing?
Their eyes met, and some indescribable feeling came over him to console her somehow other than with words. He took a step closer, but stopped immediately. The last time he’d been too close to her, she’d reacted badly. Maybe he should summon Hammond. Josie would have no objections to his touch.
Travis mentally shook his head. This wasn’t a time to allow his irrational thoughts to get the better of him. There had to be something they could do to save this child.
“Think, Josie. What did Caroline tell you about the stuff she sent with you?”
“How much did she drink?” Josie sobbed as if she hadn’t heard the question.
Travis met her worried stare. “It’s hard to tell. I found the bottle empty on the ground, but it looks as if some spilled out. If we can get her to throw it up before it gets fully into her system, we might be able to save her.”
He rummaged through the bag, pulling out small satchels of herbs and other medicines he knew nothing about. He’d never held the same interest for healing and medicines as Trevor. He glanced up as a thought occurred to him.
“What about puke weed? Did Caroline give you any of that?”
Josie scrunched her forehead. “Maybe. I can’t remember.”
Travis tore open satchels of herbs, reading the labels on all of them. Finally, he found one labeled ‘Indian Tobacco. Good for breathing problems.’
“That’s it, isn’t it?” He looked to Josie for confirmation. “Remember when Anna gave this to Ethan by mistake? He was sicker than a dog.”
“Are you sure this is safe to give to a little child? What if it makes her worse?”
Travis glanced from Josie to the child’s anxious mother. “We have to try. It’s a chance we have to take.” He hesitated, but said the one thing on everyone’s mind. “She might die, but we have to do something to try to prevent that from happening.”
Mrs. Colby nodded. “Do it. Give her the medicine.”
Travis called to one of the other kids to bring a cup of water. He added a pinch of the herb and mixed it.
“Try and rouse her,” he instructed Josie, who still cradled the lifeless child.
Josie shook Salita, and the girl moaned again. Travis lifted her head and held the cup to her lips.
“Drink, Salita,” Josie coaxed.
The girl was conscious enough to drink several swallows. Almost instantly, she began to retch. Josie held her so the girl could vomit without choking on it. When she was done expelling her stomach contents, she whimpered and cried for her mother.
Ada and Anthony arrived in camp, as did many of the other women. Some consoled Loretta Colby, others offered to take care of the woman’s children. Josie continued to hold Salita while the little girl convulsed again and brought up more liquids from her stomach.
When Salita finally settled into a restless sleep, Travis handed Josie a blanket, and she wrapped the girl in it. She settled on the ground, holding and rocking the little girl continuously.
“Offer her some water if she’ll keep it down,” he suggested, holding out his canteen.
Josie reached for it. Her fingers scraped across his, and she visibly tensed. Travis held the canteen longer than he needed. He suppressed a grin. Josie wouldn’t dare pull a knife on him for making contact with her this time. Certainly not while she was holding the sick girl in her arms.
He finally let go when she tugged on the canteen, and rubbed his hand against his britches to get rid of the odd tingle in his fi
ngers.
Hours must have passed and Josie remained with the child. The girl slept fitfully, but at least she was alive and breathing. Loretta Colby had gone with Ada Hammond, who’d offered to feed her and her kids.
“Go. You need to rest and take care of the baby,” Josie had encouraged her.
She hadn’t seemed to notice when everyone had left, and only Travis remained. After some time, she finally glanced up, but didn’t say anything. Travis stoked the campfire and set some coffee to brew. He pulled some pemmican from his pouch and handed her a piece.
Josie reached for the food while holding the little girl in her arms, but didn’t eat. She looked up again and their eyes met.
“You saved her life,” she whispered.
The look of trust and gratitude in her eyes momentarily overrode the worry in Josie’s gaze. Travis’ chest filled with the familiar heavy sensation that seemed to overtake him whenever thoughts of Josie occupied his mind lately. It left him staring at her and swallowing the sudden lump in his throat.
Chapter 10
“It’s remarkable how quickly little Salita is bouncing back after that terrifying ordeal. I’m still just sick that I wasn’t watching the child more closely.”
Ada Hammond groaned as she lifted the large basket piled high with clothing, sheets, and blankets off the tailgate of her wagon.
“Can I carry that for you?” Josie offered, coming up beside the old woman.
Ada waved her off with a shake of her head. “The day I get to be too old to carry my own laundry is the day you can bury me under six feet of dirt, dear.”
With a smile, Mrs. Hammond glanced in the direction of the Colby wagon, where Salita sat on the ground, playing with her doll and chatting animatedly with her sister. She still looked a little pale, but otherwise seemed to be in good spirits.
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