Free Wagonmaster by Nita Wick Page A

watched the canvas fall over the opening and wondered if she would ever understand the man.
    * * * *
    Addie entered the Adams’ wagon to the sound of sobs. Mrs. Adams sat next to the two-year-old’s crib. “Oh, Mrs. Reynolds! He’s so sick. He’s been crying, and his poor little legs have been cramping.”
    Addie moved to check the baby. A blue tint stained his lips, and the skin on his hands showed some bruising. “How long has he been sick? When did the symptoms begin?”
    The woman’s tearful gaze met hers. “Before I put him to bed last night.”
    Addie began spooning the medicine into the child’s mouth. The boy’s sunken eyes and a low temperature sent an ominous chill though her. He was in the advanced stages of the cholera. Her medical training told her the treatment was probably hopeless, but her heart denied the thought.
    The train readied to depart, but Addie would not leave the boy’s side. Reynolds agreed to drive her wagon. For hours, she spooned the liquid into his mouth, desperately trying to replace the fluids the child had lost. His breathing became more and more shallow. Her hands shook, and her eyes burned, but she refused to give up on the boy.
    * * * *
    Josh called a halt for lunch. He climbed down from the wagon and stretched his aching muscles. He’d forgotten what it was like to sit in that seat for hours at a time, but Addie had done it without complaint.
    Addie . He’d thought of nothing but her all morning. She’d worked tirelessly to help everyone on the train. It was true the others had been friendlier towards her, but most had been little more than polite. Mr. Adams no longer openly disapproved, but Josh knew he’d forbidden Mrs. Adams to befriend Addie.
    None of that had mattered to the good doctor. Even now she worked to help the son of a man who’d treated her with less respect than a town whore. Addie was the most forgiving and compassionate person he’d ever met. And the most stubborn.
    Josh knew he wasn’t good enough to shine the woman’s shoes, but he found himself time and again wondering what it would be like if she were really his wife. If Sarah had been stronger…. If Sarah had been more like Addie…. But all the ifs in the world wouldn’t change the past. Or him. He was a selfish man wanting to fulfill his dream of becoming a rancher and horse breeder no matter the cost. And he’d let Sarah pay the price. Never again .
    Josh stopped at each wagon in turn. Thankfully, no more cases of cholera had surfaced since the morning. The Adams’ wagon was the last in line before Jimmy’s. Mr. Adams squatted next to a pile of kindling, starting a fire. The man raised a turbulent gaze to Josh. Worry and sadness filled eyes red from lack of sleep. He just shook his head, telling Josh without words that the fate of his son was still in question. Josh placed his hand on the man’s shoulder to offer what support he could. Neither of them spoke, and Josh continued to Jimmy’s wagon to get something to eat.
    As Josh finished a meal of venison and beans, a movement near the Adams’ wagon caught his attention. Addie climbed from the back of the wagon. Even from this distance he saw the dark circles beneath her eyes. She took a few steps, but she appeared lost, confused. Josh stood, watching her closely.
    Pale and drawn, she held her hands against her stomach as if in pain. Could she be sick too? God, no! He took a few steps in her direction, fear clenching his gut. She stumbled and fell to her knees.
    He was at her side instantly, his heart racing, a little voice shouting at him not to panic while another screamed in fear. He dropped to the ground next to her. “Addie, what’s wrong?”
    The sob that tore from her almost undid him. “He’s gone,” she answered in a shaky voice, no more than a whisper. “He was just a baby.”
    Josh drew her into his arms,