Indians approached them the next day and Luke and the Wagon Master rode out to have a confab. The Indians demanded two beef animals, or two mules. The wagon master refused the request.
“That might not be wise, sir,” Luke advised him.
“Nonsense, I’m not giving up animals, but I’ll be happy to hold a meeting tonight. If anyone wants to surrender their property as tribute, then we’ll do it.”
Luke was in a sulk when he came for lunch. Alma almost told him about Cara’s visit, that she had told the woman the true story. But with his gloomy swearing, she held the confidence for later.
The meeting went as Luke had predicted. No one was willing to give up their precious animals. Water was short, feed was hard to come by. Luke advised them that it might be smarter to give the Indians a couple of their weaker animals, rather than lose them anyway on the trek across the desert. That way, the Indians would be appeased and leave them alone to make a safe passage. Alma had gone to the meeting, eager to get the full story, since Luke was often short with the details. Half-way through, she felt her head nodding. Luke touched her elbow and asked if she needed help going home. She rolled her eyes at him, but was grateful when he called and Boomer came up to walk back with her. Behind her, she could tell, the argument would be long. Each man asked if he had an animal to donate. Each protested they couldn’t make the sacrifice. If the group would pay for the animals first, then they might surrender them. Back at the wagon, she paused in the dark, listened. Satisfied that she was alone, she paused outside a minute, before climbing up over the bench into the back of the wagon and her bedroll. She heard her dog turning in circles, his hard tail flicking the wheel with each spin. After the third he settled. Luke had been right, she felt like she could always lie down and sleep. At least she didn’t have morning sickness, or the blues, like some women Ma had midwifed. Inside beneath the canvas, the wagon was warm. Wearily she shrugged out of the heavy shirt and leather pants, breathing deeply. In the last two weeks, her waist had finally begun to thicken. As she sponged off, she circled the small round mound and was shocked to feel the child inside move. She waited, sure enough, he moved again. She wondered if he were turning around like the hound to get settled again. For the first time in weeks she started to cry. Gabe had known about his son, way before Alma. But she would have loved sharing this precious moment with him. <><><> It was late when the meeting ended, the moon full over the white capped wagons. Luke was coming to wake her for guard …show more content…
Luke finally found his voice, “No,” held out his elbow for her to take. She looked up at the man, taken aback by his peculiar actions. Boomer ran forward yelping excitedly, and Alma saw it was the birddog’s owner. She heard the man swear and kick at the excited hound, watched the female wag her hind quarters at him.
“A little too late to worry now,” Luke said.
The man swore again, then picked up his rifle and hat. When the dog refused to heel, he stalked off without her. He was almost to his wagons, when he turned to shout. “Horses are restless, keep your eyes open, boys.”
Alma ran forward to the rope picket and called for Amos. The tall old mule trotted over to her, braying. She touched his neck, petted him with caution, asking, “What’s the matter, old pal, what’s got you worried.”
He turned his head and brayed loudly in the distance, the stallion echoed his call. Luke noticed the mule’s ears and pointed to the left side of the enclosure. Alma raised her rifle, ready to fire. Sharply she yelled, Boomer. The hound complained, gave a last thrust, then dropped from the dog to turn quickly to run barking in the direction she
“That might not be wise, sir,” Luke advised him.
“Nonsense, I’m not giving up animals, but I’ll be happy to hold a meeting tonight. If anyone wants to surrender their property as tribute, then we’ll do it.”
Luke was in a sulk when he came for lunch. Alma almost told him about Cara’s visit, that she had told the woman the true story. But with his gloomy swearing, she held the confidence for later.
The meeting went as Luke had predicted. No one was willing to give up their precious animals. Water was short, feed was hard to come by. Luke advised them that it might be smarter to give the Indians a couple of their weaker animals, rather than lose them anyway on the trek across the desert. That way, the Indians would be appeased and leave them alone to make a safe passage. Alma had gone to the meeting, eager to get the full story, since Luke was often short with the details. Half-way through, she felt her head nodding. Luke touched her elbow and asked if she needed help going home. She rolled her eyes at him, but was grateful when he called and Boomer came up to walk back with her. Behind her, she could tell, the argument would be long. Each man asked if he had an animal to donate. Each protested they couldn’t make the sacrifice. If the group would pay for the animals first, then they might surrender them. Back at the wagon, she paused in the dark, listened. Satisfied that she was alone, she paused outside a minute, before climbing up over the bench into the back of the wagon and her bedroll. She heard her dog turning in circles, his hard tail flicking the wheel with each spin. After the third he settled. Luke had been right, she felt like she could always lie down and sleep. At least she didn’t have morning sickness, or the blues, like some women Ma had midwifed. Inside beneath the canvas, the wagon was warm. Wearily she shrugged out of the heavy shirt and leather pants, breathing deeply. In the last two weeks, her waist had finally begun to thicken. As she sponged off, she circled the small round mound and was shocked to feel the child inside move. She waited, sure enough, he moved again. She wondered if he were turning around like the hound to get settled again. For the first time in weeks she started to cry. Gabe had known about his son, way before Alma. But she would have loved sharing this precious moment with him. <><><> It was late when the meeting ended, the moon full over the white capped wagons. Luke was coming to wake her for guard …show more content…
Luke finally found his voice, “No,” held out his elbow for her to take. She looked up at the man, taken aback by his peculiar actions. Boomer ran forward yelping excitedly, and Alma saw it was the birddog’s owner. She heard the man swear and kick at the excited hound, watched the female wag her hind quarters at him.
“A little too late to worry now,” Luke said.
The man swore again, then picked up his rifle and hat. When the dog refused to heel, he stalked off without her. He was almost to his wagons, when he turned to shout. “Horses are restless, keep your eyes open, boys.”
Alma ran forward to the rope picket and called for Amos. The tall old mule trotted over to her, braying. She touched his neck, petted him with caution, asking, “What’s the matter, old pal, what’s got you worried.”
He turned his head and brayed loudly in the distance, the stallion echoed his call. Luke noticed the mule’s ears and pointed to the left side of the enclosure. Alma raised her rifle, ready to fire. Sharply she yelled, Boomer. The hound complained, gave a last thrust, then dropped from the dog to turn quickly to run barking in the direction she