Wagon Train Sisters (Women of the West) by Shirley Kennedy Page A

were still discussing what to do when Jack appeared. In all the excitement, she’d forgotten he and Ben were supposed to leave today. “You’re still here,” she said.
    “Yep, still here.” Jack seated himself. “Mr. Bryan, you’ve got a problem. You’re going to need a driver for Hiram’s wagon. That’ll be me. I volunteer.”
    * * * *
    Next day, Hiram was in so much pain Albert Morehead declared another day of rest. The following day, the train moved on with Pa driving one wagon, Jack the other, Hiram lying in the back. The jouncing of the wagon caused him agonies of pain, even though Jack drove with as much care as he could. The train made good time the next day, traveling twenty-two miles on an easy trail. That night, after most everyone had gone to bed, Sarah and her mother sat by the glowing remains of the campfire. Luzena sighed with relief. “I’m so glad Mr. McCoy and Mr. Longren are staying with us.” After Sarah nodded in agreement, she continued, “My goodness, we wouldn’t have made it if it hadn’t been for Mr. McCoy. He’s done so much for us—saving you from that awful Josiah Peterson, curing my asthma, getting that Indian to give up Florrie’s necklace.”
    “And coming back to dig us out of the mud when he didn’t have to. Now this.” Sarah didn’t need to be reminded. “He’s a remarkable man. He’s done so much for us I don’t know how we can ever repay him.” She refrained from adding not only did she find Jack remarkable, she found him perplexing as well. Since their one kiss, all that time ago, he’d been friendly, polite, and that was all. Yet she sensed he was attracted to her. She wasn’t sure of her own feelings except she couldn’t get him off her mind. Even worse, despite her best efforts, she kept track of his whereabouts throughout the day. Utterly foolish. Why waste time on a man who had clearly stated he was leaving?
    Ma looked at her thoughtfully. “It’s been over a year since Joseph died. I know you’re still grieving, but don’t you think it’s time to…well, you know…consider getting married again?”
    Luzena’s question came as no surprise. Like all mothers, she wanted the best for her daughter. Of course “the best” was another husband. Sarah took time to think before she replied. So far, she’d lied about her true feelings for her husband. Not only was she tired of lying, she had little desire to keep it up. She looked up to where the moon lit the tops of towering pine trees silhouetted against a sky full of stars, a sky so much bigger than she’d ever seen in Indiana. At another time, another place, she might have continued to hide her feelings. Not in this beautiful spot, though. It was as if God hovered close by, listening, and she’d better not let anything but the honest truth pass her lips. “I fell out of love with Joseph a long time ago. At the end, I almost hated him. Maybe I did hate him, and here’s why…”
    Ma sat quietly while she talked. Even when she finished, her mother remained silent for a time before she spoke. “I’m so sorry. It must have been awful for you. I’m not as surprised as you think. I don’t want to say I told you so, but—”
    “You don’t have to. Both you and Pa warned me. I should have listened.”
    “But I hope you’re not soured on marriage. There’s lots of good men out there. Just look around you.”
    “Are you thinking of Jack McCoy?”
    “Absolutely not.”
    Sarah sat back in surprise. “Why not?”
    “Because marrying Jack McCoy would be a disaster. He’s a wonderful man in so many ways, but he’s a drifter. He’ll never settle down. Remember what he said to your Pa? ‘I’m a wanderer. Left home when I was twelve and haven’t put roots down since.’” Ma sighed with regret. “He’ll never put any roots down. It’s a shame, but he’s not for you, and you know it.”
    “I know.” She mustn’t let on how a sudden sense of loss had just twisted her heart. Ma was right.