Laney: Prairie Roses Collection 14 Read online

He nodded. “Put your stuff in the back of the wagon Keri is standing behind, then say your goodbyes, and come back here ready to work.”

  The kid grinned. “Thank you, so much. I won’t disappoint you.”

  Ethan watched him go, wondering if he was crazy for hiring the boy. He eyed the burlap bag. How sad that everything the boy had fit into one half-filled sack.

  CHAPTER 2

  The overwhelming relief Laney felt as she tossed her bag into the back of the wagon made her want to cheer and shout hallelujah. Instead, she ran back to the livery to tell Esther her good news. As she entered the trading post, she spied her friend filling sacks of flour. With the wagon train moving on, the travelers had already bought what they needed and returned to their wagons.

  “Esther, I got the job.”

  Her friend spun around, smiling. “I’m glad you got it, but I will sorely miss you.”

  Esther’s father gave her an odd look then headed into the back room. “I’ll miss you too.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “I do wish I hadn’t had to deceive Mr. Buckley, but he never would have hired a woman to help.” She up to her forehead and touched her hair. “Can you cut my hair real quick?”

  “If you’re sure that’s what you want to do.”

  “Now that the job is mine, I think I have to cut it. I need to keep my identity a secret.”

  “All right. Let’s go behind the store. I’ll grab some shears.”

  In a matter of minutes, the waist-length hair that had taken most of her life to grow lay in piles on the ground. She shook her head. “Sure feels lighter.”

  “It won’t take nearly as long to dry either.” Esther cocked her head. “I think it looks delightful.”

  Laney frowned. “I don’t look too much like a girl?”

  “You do to me, but then, I know the truth. It might help to wipe a bit of dirt on your face.”

  “Why?” Laney wrinkled her nose.

  “Boys tend to be dirtier than girls, and it might look as if you need a shave.”

  “All right, I’ll give it a try.” She glanced down. “I hate to ask, but do you have a smaller pair of boots? My feet are swimming in this pair.”

  “Let me check.” Esther rummaged through a pile of clothing and other items stacked on the counter that Laney guessed the travelers had traded in. “I know a man swapped a decent pair of boy’s boots for food supplies. Here they are.” She handed them to Laney.

  She sat down, slipped off the old boots, and tried on the other pair. “I think these are better.” Standing, she walked around the store and nodded. “These are good. Thank you.”

  “Do you need anything else?”

  Laney shook her head. “I can’t ask you for more. You’ve done so much already.”

  Esther took her by the shoulders. “Tell me what you need. It’s the last time I’ll ever be able to help you, my friend.”

  “All right. I could use ammo for my rifle so I can hunt food for the Buckley family. I left a crate of supplies from my cabin on your back porch, that I’m sure you can use, as well as my ma’s sewing basket.” She hated to leave her mama’s basket behind, but she couldn’t risk it being discovered and her disguise ruined.

  “That sounds like a fair trade.” Esther found the ammunition that fit Laney’s Winchester and slid two boxes of rimfire .44 cartridges across the counter. She glanced up with a somber expression. “I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’ll never see you again.”

  “I know just what you mean. Thank you for all you’ve done to help me. I’d better get back.” She slapped her hat on and it fell over her eyes.

  Esther giggled. “Looks like you need a smaller one since we cut your hair.”

  Laughing with her friend, Laney removed the slouch hat. “I suppose you’re right. Do you have one?”

  Esther stepped out from behind the counter, crossed the room, removed a tan hat off a peg, then handed it to Laney. “Try this one. It’s a boy’s size.”

  Laney smiled at the hat’s perfect fit. “Thank you so much.”

  Esther wrapped her in a tight embrace. “Please write to me when you can.”

  “I will.”

  “God go with you.”

  “And with you. Oh, you were so right about Ethan Buckley being handsome.” Laney smiled then waved goodbye to Esther. As she stepped out of the store, she felt more hopeful than she’d been in a long while. She jogged back to the wagons, put the cartridges in her bag, and then she looked for Ethan. He stood next to the boy she saw earlier, laughing. Her heart skipped a beat. He sure was good-looking—and kind.

  Ethan spied her and waved her over. “You can join Chase in the middle wagon. Our wagons are easy to find because they’re the only ones with blue beds in the whole train.”

  Laney glanced at the blue Conestoga then cast a wary glance at the river.

  Ethan narrowed his gaze. “What’s wrong? You can swim, can’t you?”

  Nodding, she looked up at him. “Yes, I can, but I’ve never been on the other side of the river before. I guess I’m part excited and part anxious.”

  Pushing his hat back on his forehead, he studied her. “You mean you’ve never been out of Council Grove?”

  Laney shrugged. “I live—lived—on the far side of town, a ways out and tended to stay over there. I never had call to cross the river.”

  Ethan grinned. “Then it’s a bigger day for you than I realized, even though this river is narrower than most we’ll cross. Just do what Chase says, and you’ll be fine. Before we headed west, we mostly lived around Independence, Missouri, where Pa owned a saddlery. The only time I traveled much was during the war.” His expression turned somber.

  She didn’t ask him about that time as most men preferred not to talk about those awful days. The schooner in front of the Buckleys’ first wagon moved into the water.

  “Better hop on board. The reason we have three wagons is that we plan to set up a saddle and tack store in New Mexico, either in Las Vegas or Santa Fe, so we brought a lot of stock and supplies with us. We’ll have to see what we think of Las Vegas and the prospects there. If we don’t like it there, we’ll go on to Santa Fe.”

  Laney nodded and headed to her wagon, wondering what it would feel like to have such a firm plan for your life. Her future was blurry. As she approached the wagon, Ethan’s brother smiled at her. He looked so much like Ethan with his dark hair and eyes that they could almost be twins.

  “Howdy. I’m Chase, second oldest of the siblings.”

  “I’m Lane. Ethan says I’m to ride with you.”

  “Climb on up. I’ll walk across with the oxen. No need both of us getting wet. I’m glad to have someone to talk with.”

  Relieved to not have to cross on foot and get her new boots wet, Laney shinnied up the side of the wagon and sat in the middle of the bench. She prayed a quick prayer that God would help keep her identity a secret and that they would cross safely.

  “You look younger up close.” Chase studied her, and his brows dipped a bit. “Just how old are you anyway?”

  “Old enough.” Her heart thundered at his inquiry.

  “Guess we’ll see about that.” His smile told her he wasn’t put off by her answer. “Release the brake for me. “Where’re you headed?”

  Laney slid over and wrestled with the brake lever. “Not really sure.”

  “All right then.” He flashed a grin. “Let’s get these beasts moving.” He grabbed a stick from inside the wagon and held it up for her to see. “This is a goading stick. It gets these critters going, then they pretty much walk on their own. You always want to be on their left side and tap around or behind the shoulders to get them moving.”

  She watched as he merely tapped the huge creature closest to him, said “walk on,” and the yoked oxen stepped forward in unison. The Buckleys’ first wagon was almost across the river as her wagon entered the water. She clutched the seat to keep her balance and prayed again that they’d make it across. She had no idea what to do if the oxen
didn’t perform as they were supposed to.

  “See, simple.” Chase grinned. “These oxen are well-trained, but they still need a little persuading once in a while. We bought them off a freighter, so they’ve made this trip before and mostly know what’s expected of them.”

  She eyed the backside of the animals that were almost as tall as Chase, whom she guessed was around six-feet-tall. “What do you do if they get angry?”

  “That hasn’t happened so far. They’re more likely to get frightened. Then you calm them with your voice and by patting them. Singing helps sometimes.”

  She swallowed her apprehension, hoping she could get over her fear of the big creatures. She’d ridden Jasper, her father’s stock horse, and he was nearly as big as the oxen, but he was gentle—and familiar. It had nearly killed her to sell him, but she desperately needed supplies after her pa went to jail. He’d left her near destitute. At least she had decent hunting skills since it had been up to her to put food on the table, and she had a brand, new Winchester rifle she’d won at the Founder’s Day celebration.

  Chase glanced back over his shoulder. “So, how come you hitched up with us?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve got my reasons.”

  “Not much of a talker, huh?” He grinned as if she was a challenge.

  “I talk plenty, but I prefer not to talk about myself. If you’re opening a saddle shop, are you a saddle maker?”

  Ethan, me, and Matt can all make them, but Ethan has the most experience. Our pa taught us.”

  “Where are your parents?”

  “Dead. Ma passed not long after we returned from the war.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s sad.”

  “Yeah. We lost our pa in the war.”

  “My mama’s gone too.” She nearly bit her tongue at mentioning something so personal. Thankfully, Chase was focused on the oxen and didn’t ask about her pa.

  Once they had cleared the river, Chase guided the team a few hundred feet to where Matt and his sister waited with the first wagon. Laney climbed down and pulled her hat low to block the sun. She felt no different being on this side of the river, although she dreaded her last view of town. She spied Ethan’s wagon and held her breath as he navigated the river with his youngest brother by his side. Their wagon dipped in a hole, dangerously to one the right, and she gasped as the boy fell toward the water. Ethan grabbed the kid’s shirttail at the last minute, saving the boy and pulling him safely back to his side.

  “That was a close call,” Chase said. “Ethan would never forgive himself if anything happen to Joey.”

  So that was the youngest Buckley’s name. “What is your sister’s name? I believe she’s the only one whose name I don’t know.”

  “Keri—spelled with a “k” and one “r” and an “I”—as she is quick to say.” He grinned.

  “So, what happens now?”

  He scratched his chest. “Once all the wagons are on this side of the river, we’ll probably move on for a few hours.”

  “What’s expected of me when we stop?”

  “That’s up to Ethan. I reckon you’ll either be helping with the stock or working on supper with Keri. “

  Laney nodded. “I’m a fair cook.”

  “That’s good news. I’ll let Ethan know.”

  “I can hunt too.”

  “Glad to know it. Fresh meat is always welcomed.”

  Keri walked up to them, her hand across her bodice. “My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when Joey started over the side.”

  “Me too.” Laney glanced sideways at the pretty woman. Keri had light brown hair and blue eyes. Her fair coloring was so different from her dark-haired brothers. Laney suspected the young woman was close in age to her own twenty years. Laney’s gaze shifted back to the wagon as it reached land. Joey’s blond hair lifted on the breeze. She suspected Keri’s hair may have been blond when she was young, as her youngest brother was.

  “I’ve been mostly raising him since Ma died. Joey and I have our ma’s coloring—light hair and blue eyes—while the older brothers resemble our pa.”

  “That must have hard, losing both parents like that.”

  Keri nodded. “It was, but death is part of the life we all live.” She ducked her head for a moment then looked up. We do what we have to do. Joey is a delight most of the time, so it wasn’t as difficult as it could have been, and my brothers were a big help.”

  “I’m Keri, in case you don’t know.”

  “Lane—” She almost said Laney. She longed to tell Keri the truth, and maybe she would once they were days away from town, but for now it was best she kept her secret.

  “A pleasure to meet you.” Keri stared at her, making Laney’s heart pound.

  “I’d best get back to the wagon, ma’am.” Laney hoped speaking in a lower tone than normal would help her sound like a male. She walked in a way she hoped look like a man, then climbed back on the bench, glad Matt wasn’t there. She gazed up at the pretty blue sky. Lord, You know I don’t cotton to telling lies. Help me not to do so, other than the big one—that I’m a woman. Thank You for getting me this job. I don’t know what my future holds, but I know You’ll walk it with me.

  * * *

  Ethan blew out a breath as he lowered Joey to the ground. That had been a close call. The boy could swim some but not fully clothed with his boots filled with water. He glanced around and noted his family huddled together, but Lane wasn’t there. How had he handled the crossing?

  “Can I go see Spencer?” Joey gazed up with hopeful eyes so like his ma’s.

  “For a little while. Keep an eye on the wagons still crossing. We’ll pull out once they’re all over here.”

  Joey took off running. It seemed if he wasn’t on the wagon, he was always galloping somewhere. Ethan grinned, wishing he had half the boy’s energy. He stopped beside his siblings. “Any problems?”

  Matt shook his head. “Other than that close call with Joey, nope.”

  “Good.” Though only fourteen, Matt was just a few inches shy of Chase’s height and already taller than Keri, although he was on the slim side. He glanced at Chase. “How’d Lane do?”

  “Fine, other than being white-knuckled and tight-lipped.” Chase quirked his mouth to one side.

  Ethan chuckled. “You were hoping for someone who likes to talk as much as you?”

  “I reckon, but I’ll settle for a guy who likes to listen.” Chase grinned.

  “Give him time to get to know us.” Keri crossed her arms. “Why did you hire someone so young?”

  “He was the only one interested in the job.”

  She blew out a breath. “I don’t mind helping someone who needs it, but I sure hope he’ll be a help to us. We don’t need another kid to watch over.”

  Ethan adjusted his hat to block the sun. “The boy provided rabbits for dinner. That’s a good start.”

  Keri nodded. “True.”

  “Matt, Chase, come with me. Let’s check the wagons to make sure nothing happened during the crossing.”

  As they neared the wagons, Ethan spied Lane on the seat of the middle wagon. “You’ll spend plenty of time up there when we’re moving. Might want to stretch your legs and help Keri hunt down some firewood while we have trees around.”

  “Yes, sir.” Lane clambered down then glanced at Keri.”

  His sister grinned. “I bet I can find more than you.”

  Lane’s blue eyes widened as Keri hiked up her skirt and took off running. The boy looked around then headed in the other direction toward a bunch of cottonwoods.

  Chase chuckled. “Guess we know how to get the kid going.”

  Smiling, Ethan turned to Matt. “Why don’t you try to befriend him. You’ve got to be close to his age.”

  Matt shrugged. “That don’t mean he’ll want to be friends.”

  Ethan rested his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Just give it a try. I’ve got a feeling Lane needs us as much as we need him.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Laney helped Keri a
nd Joey peel potatoes and carrots for the rabbit stew. She glanced at the nice stack of firewood, smiling that she had bested Keri because of her lucky find of a dead limb that had fallen to the ground not far from camp. It had taken her three trips to get the wood back to the wagons. She dumped her bowl of cubed potatoes into the savory stew pot. “Is there anything else can I do?”

  Keri pointed to an empty bucket. “Could you please fill that. Be sure to go a bit upstream from where we crossed so it won’t be muddy.”

  Laney nodded, picked up the bucket, and headed back to the river. From this side, the town looked smaller. Today would probably be the last day she ever saw Council Grove, since she couldn’t return knowing her pa would be here. She would miss Esther something awful. She’d been the only close friend she’d ever had. She also missed the home she had when her ma was alive. Life had always been difficult with the kind of father she had, but Ma had done her best to shelter her from the hard times. Her gaze lifted at a riot of blues, pinks and vermilion decorating the cloudy sky as the sun dipped near the horizon. She was glad when the wagon master had decided to camp here instead of moving on. It gave her a little more time with her town. Blowing out a sigh, she knelt and filled the bucket. By the time she returned to camp, her arm ached. She set it near the fire and wondered what to do next.

  “Thanks.” Keri smiled. “We generally bed down after supper since our day starts so early. Joey and I sleep in the first wagon, and Ethan and Matt usually sleep under the third, so I guess you can bed down with Chase beneath the second one.”

  Laney’s heart galloped. She hadn’t thought of where she would sleep or change clothes—not to mention bathing. Oh, dear. There was so much she hadn’t given thought to. All she had considered was getting away.

  Keri stood and looked at her. “Is something wrong?”

  Laney felt a blush rise—did men blush? She didn’t know. “I…um…” She glanced at her wagon. “I was an only child, and I’ve never had to dress around others. Maybe it sounds strange to you, but I’m uncomfortable changing in front of you and your brothers or sleeping beside one of them.