Free Slocum and the Spirit Bear (9781101618790) by Jake Logan

jumped, huh?” Josiah grunted once the tale had been told.
    Putting on a brave face while tying his horse to the lead wagon and climbing into the driver’s seat beside his wife, Ed replied, “That’s right, but John and I sent them away with their tails between their legs.”
    â€œDidn’t kill none of them?”
    â€œAt least one was wounded,” Slocum said while tying his horse to the cook’s wagon. “Probably more. I’m guessing they were just trying to spook us into offering up some sort of toll for using this trail.”
    Tom McCauley had been watching intently. “Did they ask you to pay a toll?”
    â€œNot as such. We didn’t give them the opportunity.” Slocum sat up straight and looked at each of the anxious faces in turn. Every man, woman, and child in that wagon train listened intently when he declared, “They took a run at us and we turned them back with nothing but lead in their hides to show for it. All we need to do now is stay alert, which is what we’ve been doing this whole time.”
    â€œJohn’s right,” Ed told them. “This doesn’t change anything. We’ve made it this far and we’ll press on. When the next hardship comes, we’ll press through that as well. Once we get to Colorado and divvy up those mining claims, we’ll get together and swap stories about this journey for years to come. Tom and Josiah, you men are to take over scouting duty just like we planned. Let’s all just keep doing our part and move along. Daylight’s burning!”
    Most of the sunlight was still being blotted out by the clouds, but some still made it through.
    â€œWhat about that howling?” James Wilcox asked. Although Theresa wrapped an arm around him and whispered for him to be quiet, the skinny young boy fixed his eyes on Slocum as if the next words he spoke would be gospel.
    Meeting the boy’s gaze, Slocum told him, “It was just someone all gussied up to catch our attention and frighten us. That’s all.”
    â€œYou swear?”
    â€œIf I knew any more than that, I’d tell you.”
    That was good enough for James and it seemed to be good enough for everyone else. As Slocum climbed down from his saddle, Tom and Josiah climbed down from their wagons to untie horses that were kept independent of the wagon teams. After getting himself situated on his horse, Josiah looked in Slocum’s direction and grunted, “Yeah. Real good choice to bring you along. Can’t think of a better way to spend our money.”
    â€œShut your mouth, old man,” Tom said as he rode to the head of the wagons. “With all the complaining you do, it’s a wonder we haven’t cut you loose.”
    Josiah laughed to himself and rode on ahead, leaving Tom and everyone else behind.
    â€œDon’t mind him,” Theresa said as Slocum climbed up to sit beside her. He almost made it without a hitch, but one of his hands slipped and his weight was shifted to the leg he’d been using to climb aboard the wagon. Feeling a stab of pain through that entire side, he winced and let out a sharp breath. Theresa was right there to grab his arm and help him up. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “Are you hurt?”
    â€œJust twisted my leg, is all,” he assured her.
    But Theresa wasn’t having it. “Come on,” she said. “Follow me.”
    â€œTo where?”
    â€œThe back of the wagon. I’ve got some blankets and a few things in there that could help you feel better.”
    â€œI don’t need any medicine.”
    â€œMaybe not,” she said. “But you could stand to get off that leg for a spell.”
    â€œOnce I can sit down in that seat up there, I’ll be off my leg just fine,” Slocum insisted.
    â€œAnd it’d be even better for you if you lay down and let me take a look at it.”
    James clambered up behind his mother to