hair away from Evlyn's face.
s face. "Where am I?" She asked trying
ou've been unconscious for a
g. "Kind of woozy. How
ut." Callie patted Evlyn's shou
pull the nail out, but nothing past that." Evly
tween Linda Gurtslinger and me, we've
used so much trouble. I haven't b
only one foot. Besides, Benjamin has confined you to
I did was ste
ctions caused by wounds similar to yours. And you, you
ils? In o
tside this wagon until Benjamin okays it." Callie stood up and began to
plate holding a biscuit and some beef jerky. "How long does he figure it
ll still be in danger for a while after that. We've been cleaning it and changing t
as she bit into the biscuit. "Wha
will be here soon for her shift." Sh
yn set the biscuit aside and focused
But that's only if you get the infection he's worried about.
the pillow behind her
rom her friend. "We shouldn't have talked about this. You need to focus on
ie to tuck a quilt around her. "Just rest n
hile later to find Mrs. Gurtsli
er said setting her book aside. "Do
f into a sitting position. "I'
king shifts?" Mrs. Gurtslinger ask
epted the plate of food. "But I
prise on her face. "Angry at you? Dea
arted yelling at me. I'm sorry if I assumed inc
ttle confused about life and what y
ed. She was unaware that she had giv
ns." Mrs. Gurtslinger patted Evlyn on the shoulder. "But it's going to be al
ed. "Seeing
rehead. "Dear, I know you had a bad family life with your father, but that is no
M
nd gold in the world. There is no need to keep searching for something bett
self clear. "I really do, Mrs. Gurtslinger." She reac
from radiating from her face. "Oh, honey, I'm
king again. Mrs. Gurtslinger had returned to
nicely that same day when I asked their families to join us. D
your worries aside though. I promise I shall explain to them your
ld beans. "I just can't understand why my trust iss
ore leaning forward to check Evlyn's forehead
tainly like him too. But I didn't think my being h
"Peter McCain? Oh my. Oh my, my! Dear we have not been talking
g me not to let my previous experience with family life interfere with the family life
er McCain. I was referring to you
lyn sat up bo
up ahead looks clean. There's some water a ways
p there then." He tilted his head at
hoping that Gurtslinger wouldn't press it
uiet isn't yours." Gurtslinger leaned back in his sa
short uninformative answers would thwar
do with the Riebe girl
ld me. Never even hinted at it!" Peter held a hand up to keep Gurtslinger from speaking. "No. Wait, it gets better. She has four children! Four children and a husband! She abandoned them to work at a broth
d a brothel is a serious matter. I don't think I can be clean of conscious if I let her continue on
iking the girl in the first place. He should hav
leave our train and find another way west. Or
linger looking at him. A certain look in his eye that could only mean trouble. Peter's eye
ink you need to tell her. If you're the one you kicks her off the
e about my closure. You just hate throwing
"You got that right!" He agreed
ant to." P
er paused. "When wi
When we stop fo
r courage, boy. Remember, only a
il boss. "You are not b
o be a saying that fits your situation. Okay, I've got i
d. "That one makes
s the heaviest burden on tho
n God meant this assignment for." Peter sighed. "You're not going
, then I prom
ng his friend wouldn't drop it un
l quote. "Courage is what it takes to stand up and spea
his friend. "Really? Th
better words of wisdom you should've
head. "Mrs. Gurtslinger must n
t along, boy! Haven't yo
final words as he went to make sure
the notion that I was
at you were married with four children. She said that y
leaned forward and clasped Mrs. Gurtslinger's hands between her own
look on her face. "I'm afraid I did.
mighty living God that I have never been marr
iss Evlyn's cheek. "Oh, Evlyn! I believe you! I am sorry that I eve
y Rosa would tell you such a tale.
ve gotten confused? Perhaps you said som
ws. "I don't know. It upsets m
"Now, now then. You rest and as soon as we stop for t
ad rumors about her best friend. It was ridiculous and unthinkable. Still, she must have done it. Mrs. Gurtslinger said that she did. Accustomed to the bu
kened her pace. "Wait for me, Rosa!
, a tight smile on her face. "
friend. "I'm pregnant, not crippled." She whispered
bit testily. "I'm never had to deal with your
. "Rumor has it that we'll be stopping at a riv
is distaste at the task. "Of course. What good is a river if we can't was
ulder. "Rosa, " she said in her s
lips then turned to face Callie. "Look, not everybody
d; hurt radiating fr
ct all the time. You never say or do the wrong thing. You never experience anger. Other people, real people aren't like that. Th
a paused, turned away from
led as she again c
bout to say, she had thought better of and locked it up tight. "Forget it, Cal. Forget ever
NG OUT MY STORY! IF YO
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WANT ME TO CHECK OUT, TELL ME THE TITLE I
ES AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKIN
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