Fortune's Journey by Bruce Coville Page B

“I need your help.”
    The look on his face softened. He smiled at her, and it was like the sudden sun that follows a storm. “Why don’t you come with me?”
    So she did. And it was on this afternoon that Fortune finally realized what a stroke of luck it had been for her when she agreed to let Jamie Halleck accompany the troupe to California.
    To begin with, he appeared to be known by everyone who sold anything in the town of Independence. Even better, they all seemed to like him and were willing to go out of their way to help him. After catching her breath at initial prices given, Fortune would feel a sense of relief flood through her as Jamie cheerfully managed to talk the merchants into prices far lower than she would have thought possible.
    â€œHow do you know all these people?” asked Fortune, after their fourth stop.
    â€œMy father and I used to come here in the spring. There were always lots of high-paying odd jobs to pick up. It was a good way to make some honest money fast.”
    Fortune continued to be amazed both by how many people knew Jamie and how fond they were of him. Before the day was over he had not only done a lot of hard bargaining, he had called in a handful of old favors, in the process saving Plunkett’s Players a bucketful of money.
    She was smiling as they returned to camp that evening, leading a mule laden down with supplies. Though the mule was borrowed, the bacon, coffee, rice, beans, axes, ropes, and other essentials were all theirs.
    When they were all unpacked, Walter bent down and hissed in her ear, “How much did all that cost?”
    â€œAbout twice what I wanted to pay,” she answered. “But less than a third of what they were asking. Jamie saved us a bundle.”
    Walter straightened his derby, scratched his beard, and smiled down at her. “That’s good. Jamie’s a good boy.”
    Two days later they paid a ferryman to take their wagon across the Missouri River into Kansas. When they finally stood on the far bank of the river, Fortune had a sense that they had left their old world behind them and were truly facing the great unknown.
    The wagons assembled.
    Abner Simpson gave the call “Wagons West!”
    Aaron shook the reins and urged the team into motion.
    The real journey had begun at last.

Chapter Nine
    The morning of their third day out, Fortune was sitting next to Aaron in her accustomed spot at the front of the wagon. They had traveled about thirty miles so far, and she was astonished by the vast emptiness of the land around them.
    She glanced at Jamie, who was riding his horse just off to their right, and felt a surge of gratitude for all he had accomplished during the last few days.
    Rolling along on the far side of Jamie was another wagon, drawn by a team of six oxen. Fortune noticed and shook her head. “I can’t believe there are so many people on this trip!” she said to Mrs. Watson, who was sitting in the wagon behind them.
    She was used to traveling alone, as they had done for so long. Now when their wagon bounced its way over the ruts and bumps of the prairie, it was merely one of a crowd. Whether Fortune looked ahead, or behind, there were wagons as far as she could see, a great writhing snake of them. And each had the same goal—the golden dream of California.
    Her thoughts were interrupted by a lurch and a thump, followed by a terrible cracking sound.
    â€œWhoa!” cried Aaron, drawing up on the reins. “Whoa!”
    The team jerked to a stop.
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Fortune.
    â€œWe’ve broken an axle,” said Jamie. His face was grim.
    Fortune said one of those words that always made Mrs. Watson turn white, then sprang off the wagon to look.
    It was a miserable sight.
    The troupe gathered around her.
    â€œOh, Minerva! What do we do now?” cried Mrs. Watson, wringing her hands.
    â€œWe fix it,” said Jamie simply.
    â€œI suppose you know how,”