Free The Long Way Home by Lauraine Snelling

damage?’’
    ‘‘Three people killed, several wagons beyond repair, and probably half their supplies gone.’’
    ‘‘And the oxen and horses?’’
    ‘‘We kept the herd safe.’’ She noted his raised eyebrow. ‘‘The herd was some behind the wagons. Got them down in a hollow and running in a circle.’’
    ‘‘That was good herding.’’ He looked up at her, head turned slightly to the side. ‘‘Didn’t Cobalt circle the wagons?’’
    ‘‘No, sir.’’
    ‘‘Well, I’ll be . . .’’ The man shook his head. ‘‘See any Indians?’’
    ‘‘Only one that trailed us for some days. I never saw him.’’
    ‘‘Hmm. No new wagon trains shown up since you left. Nowhere near as many this year as in the past. Folks scared of the Indians, if’n you ask me.’’
    ‘‘Have you seen Wolf?’’ She hardly dared look at the man when she asked the question that had been festering like a boil.
    ‘‘Cap’n sent him out elk hunting with a squad.’’
    ‘‘So he hasn’t left for the north, then?’’ She kept her lips pressed together with an effort. Wolf hadn’t left!
    ‘‘Nope, but he didn’t look any too happy at the setback. He’ll go north soon as he can load his ponies.’’
    Jesselynn touched her fingers to her hat brim. ‘‘Thank you, sir, you’ve been most helpful.’’
    ‘‘What we gonna do now?’’ Benjamin rode beside her.
    ‘‘Guess we get something to eat and ask where we can bed down. I’ll go on over and talk with the captain’s wife, Mrs. Jensen. She was real nice when we were here.’’ They angled their horses across the parade grounds and dismounted in front of a two-story white house with porches across the front on both levels. The green trim looked freshly painted, and lace tieback curtains graced the windows. Flipping the reins over the hitching rail in front, Jesselynn mounted the two steps to the porch.
    ‘‘I stay wid de horses.’’
    Jesselynn nodded and crossed to knock on the green door. She’d barely raised her hand when the door flew open and Rebeccah Jensen took her hand and drew her inside.
    ‘‘Land sakes, child, what a wonderful surprise. I thought you’d be halfway to Fort Bridger by now.’’ She stopped her river flow of words and looked deep into Jesselynn’s eyes. ‘‘Something bad happened, didn’t it, to bring you back like this?
    Come, come in and sit down. Supper will be ready in a little bit.’’
    ‘‘No, I can’t . . .’’ Jesselynn motioned to her dusty pants and pointed to Benjamin out front. ‘‘We’ve been riding all day. I reckon you might let us have a plate of supper out on your back stoop or something. Or you could tell us where to go to get something to eat.’’
    ‘‘You think I’m going to waste female companionship like that? Not on your sweet smile. Why, I reckon a bath might be something you’d enjoy. Then, while Clara is washing your clothes, you can wear a dress of mine. Bet you’re dying to wear a dress again after all these months in those britches. I’ll send my maid out to show your boy where to put the horses.’’
    As she spoke, Rebeccah hustled Jesselynn up the stairs and into a guest room that had a hip bath in the corner. ‘‘I’ll send water right up. There’s soap and towels behind that screen. Oh, I am so excited to have you back. Are you thinking of staying here? Now that would be pure delightful.’’
    Jesselynn hated to break in on this happy daydream, but she had to set the woman straight. ‘‘No, we’re not staying. I came back to see if I could talk Wolf into taking our much smaller train on to Oregon.’’
    ‘‘Oh, I see.’’ From a chifforobe Rebeccah pulled a white cot- ton dress sprigged with blue forget-me-nots and the bodice laced with blue ribbon. She held it up against Jesselynn. ‘‘This should fit about right. You and I aren’t too different in size.’’
    ‘‘But . . . but this is too nice. An old housedress would do me just fine.’’ In