Free Takoda by T. M. Hobbs Page A

would keep watch until time for us to pull out. Mark would take the first watch the following night.
    Aunt Helen and I slept in the bed of the wagon and huddled together to stay warm. The pile of blankets and quilts helped, but the night air was still frigid near the mountains. Uncle Charles, John, and Mark slept by the fire on the ground on bedrolls. No doubt they were cold too, but at least they were near the fire.
    The next morning, we began our journey once more after loading our supplies back onto the wagon. It was slow moving, and, by the end of the day, I was once again ready to get out of the wagon to help prepare the meal, and move around. We had only stopped once for a quick meal of bread, butter, and dried apples, and once for the horses to rest and get a drink.
    That night, Aunt Helen and I made bread and gravy which we ate with dried meat. It wasn’t bad, considering we were all very hungry. Again, I took the pot and dishes to a nearby stream, and John tagged along. He was quiet tonight though, like he had something on his mind.
    We continued our travels for three days, until we came to a small town in Wyoming called Frannie. It was nice to see civilization. The first thing we did was go to the hotel’s restaurant for a nice hot meal. Uncle Charles and John went to the local land office. While we waited on our food, Ren, Mark, Aunt Helen, and I made quick work of the loaf of hot bread and butter they served us.
    When the others returned, they told us of the area we were to travel to, which was to the east, just beyond a town called Lovell. We were to settle near the Bighorn River. We talked contentedly, as we ate and rested ourselves after the long journey. Uncle Charles thought we had another day’s travel, but now that we were this close, it all seemed worthwhile.
    After finishing our meal and freshening up a bit, we went to the general store to get a few supplies, and were on our way again. We traveled until almost night fall, then made our camp, knowing tomorrow we would reach our destination.
    I cooked the meal that night, making a large pot of fried potatoes. We also had dried meat and bread we had bought in town. When we finished, I took out a large white handkerchief from in the wagon, unwrapped it, taking out the hidden surprise of a cookie for everyone, which I had saved from our meal in town. There was enough for everyone, except me. They all thanked me, and I went to wash the dishes at the stream nearby.
    I didn’t hear John following me, so I was startled when he came up behind me at the stream.
    â€œOh, John. Don’t do that,” I said, trying to catch my breath.
    â€œHere, I want you to have my cookie,” he said, holding it out to me.
    â€œNo. No, I saved those for all of you,” I said, drying my hands on my apron, as I stood from where I was crouched near the water.
    â€œThen you take half of it,” he insisted, carefully breaking the cookie into two pieces and offering half to me.
    â€œJohn...”
    â€œI insist. We better enjoy it, there may not be any for a while,” he said, smiling at me in the dim light.
    â€œThank you,” I replied, taking cookie.
    We ate in silence and smiled at each other uncomfortably after we had finished. I gathered our things and took the pot and dishes, with John again helping me carry them, back to the camp.
    That night it was hard to sleep, as I thought about what would await us tomorrow near the Bighorn River. The idea of living near the river sounded pleasant, and I could almost hear the sound of the water rushing by, as I tried to go to sleep.
    The next day, with everything packed away once more, we moved a bit more quickly, knowing we would be to our new home by the end of the day. And, just about dusk, we finally arrived.
    â€œLook. There it is,” Uncle Charles said, pointing toward an old abandoned cabin.”
    â€œCharles, you didn’t tell me there was already a cabin on the place,” Aunt