Free The Traherns #1 by Nancy Radke Page A

to admire. I had to take
Web's word that he would probably come back here, so I stayed behind the next
morning as the other's left.
    There were plenty to tell me I was
a fool and to urge me to continue on with them. Even Hedda urged me to go,
saying that Trahern could catch up easily enough. This I knew, but I also knew
that our marriage was at best on slippery ground and a man like him should be
waited for. I wanted him to find me there when he got back. If he was wounded
when he returned he’d need help; not to discover that he'd married a flighty
wife without any wait in her.
    Besides, in the short time we'd
had together, I'd gotten used to having him around and I missed his homely
face.
    The fort was just a cluster of
buildings and the men around there often drunk. I slept lightly, my pistol by
my side, loaded and ready. My knife handy, too. If Trahern came back at night
he had better make himself known or I'd be without a husband by my own hand. I
debated that, but he knew I was handy with weapons; so could only hope he would
call out. I didn't trust any of those men when they were drunk.
    Also, Calvert Smith had stayed
behind, pulling his wagon in close to mine, saying it needed work on it. I
trusted him even less. He was always around, watching me and had approached me
several times with offers to help. I thanked him each time, but refused. Web's
warning had made me wary of the man. I kept my guns handy, my knife in its
sling.
    Trahern didn't come the next day
nor the next. I used the time to straighten up the wagon and repair the harness
and my clothes. I picked apart one of Aunt Edith's long, full dresses and had
enough material to make myself a nice looking dress. Calvert stopped by several
times, but I told him I was too busy to chat.
    Each day wagons would stop, sometimes
two trains would come in less than a day apart. Some were headed for Oregon,
but many of the folks were California bound. Most were looking for land or a
new beginning and were tradesmen and builders, but there were others looking
for gold, an easy stake and quick money to be had off those who did work.
    The latter bunch was a shiftless
lot, some meaner than a cross-eyed skunk. Calvert had begun to mingle with
them. I wished he had gone on with the train. His presence did my mind no good.
He had done no work on his wagon that I could see; and neither had Joe Peters.
    Then one morning I awoke to find
his wagon had left with a departing train. Now I could breathe easier. He'd
grown more and more surly and less and less pleasant as each day had gone by. It
felt good to be rid of him. He had hung around too much for my liking.
    Now if only Trahern would return
or send me word. There was not much grass left near the fort. Each train was
having to herd their stock farther and farther away. They were willing to take
mine out with them, but I didn't like to be beholden. There was no one left
this day except me so I tied my mules to the wagon wheels after I'd taken them
down to the river to drink.
    For the first time in days I left
the wagon and went into the small store there at the fort. I looked over the
goods displayed, but with no intention to buy. I was pondering what to do.
     Should I plan to leave with
the next train? I'd be better off in Ogallala. I could get a job
there—maybe—until I heard from Trahern. Web had said to stay, but
it would be a week tomorrow; how long should I stay? A month? Two months? I
couldn't stay here in winter. Should I try for Denver? That was bigger. But if
I couldn't find a job, there would be no rabbits to eat and eating in hotels is
the most expensive thing a body can do.
    I knew nothing about cattle or
picking a site for a cattle ranch. It would do no good for me to scout for one.
I could cook though, and I could make doughnuts. I had made some one night for
Trahern and we had everyone on the train coming by.
    About that time another wagon
train came into the fort area and I looked the people over. None of these