Free Unconquerable Callie by DeAnn Smallwood Page B

not my problem, thank heavens.”
    “What’s not your problem, Miss Collins?”
    Callie turned and hoped the quick rush of pleasure she felt didn’t show. Of course she felt pleasure, she quickly reasoned. She was probably lonely and anyone would have been welcome, even Seth McCallister.
    “The train, or more to the point, the teams pulling the wagons,” Callie said.
    Seth took a seat and picked up the lone cup. “Mind?” he asked with a smile.
    Callie shook her head and went for another cup. This was getting to be a habit, but a nice one.
    “You seem to be the earliest riser,” Seth said, pouring them both a cup. “And your coffee is perfect, just like your biscuits,” he added. “There was one other wagon stirring, but I didn’t have any desire to join them.”
    “And why would that be, Mr. McCallister? I’m surprised that a captain of a wagon train would play favorites.” Callie blushed at her words. Surely he wouldn’t think she thought she was his favorite. Darn her mouth.
    Seth answered her, apparently not noticing her choice of words or the color of her face. “Teething.”
    “What?”
    “The Wilsons. Baby has been howling most the night. Mr. Wilson said yesterday he was teething and not one bit happy about it. I figured that while they probably had coffee, I’d take my cup elsewhere.”
    “Probably a good choice. I like my first cup uninterrupted,” Callie said.
    “Am I interrupting?” Seth asked, his eyes meeting hers.
    “No. We both seem to have this in common.” She gestured with her cup. “I’m not sure we have much else we agree on, Mr. McCallister, but we do have coffee.”
    “That we do.” He filled both their cups again.
    “Caleb seems to do well with the oxen,” Seth said.
    “Caleb’s doing a great job. I’m lucky I found him.”
    “I understand you helped the family out quite a bit. Without you, they wouldn’t have been able to join the train,” Seth said, matter-of-fact.
    “How?”
    “Jacob Monroe told me. He’s a proud man and you knew that.” Seth gave her an admiring look. “They’re a good family. We need people like them settling the West.”
    Callie wondered if Seth McCallister thought the West needed people like her and prayed he’d never find out how she’d lied to get her spot on this train.
    “It’s the other way around, Mr. McCallister. The Monroe’s helped me out.”
    He continued to sip his coffee. The silence that grew between them was comfortable and easy, a peaceful start to what was sure to be a long day.
    Finally, he stood up. “Well, can’t postpone the sun. We’re crossing a small river, Miss Collins. We’re lucky. No hard rains, so no chance of flooding. Still, better make sure everything’s tied down. Your oxen might need some prodding at the start, but I don’t think you have a worry there. It won’t be anything like when we cross farther up the trail and have to load the wagons on scows. I don’t look forward to that.”
    “Thank you for the advice,” Callie said. “I’ll be sure all’s secure. And, Mr. McCallister, I’m glad you told me about the baby teething. I’ll make sure I give Mrs. Wilson a hand.”
    Seth gave her a steady look and gently shook his head. Callie Collins wasn’t turning out anything like he had thought. Nothing at all . . . but more.

Chapter 12
    The river crossing went easy. Just as Callie guided her wagon into the water, Seth McCallister rode up. His body taut as he spared her a glance, then started to move on seeing that she and Caleb had everything in hand.
    “Get your boots off, Miss Collins, Caleb,” he called. “Tie them around your neck. Better to have a few cuts on your feet from the rocks than a pair of boots shrunk up until they’d fit a youngun.” He whirled his horse around, not waiting to see if his advice was followed.
    Callie and Caleb crossed alongside the oxen, prodding them when needed. Even though the cold run-off waters came to Callie’s waist in spots and took her