elicious Williams released the handles of the handcart and glanced at the dusty faces of her five stepchildren, ranging in age from two to twelve. A two-day walk on foot had left them all disheveled and exhausted. “Y’all stay here. I’m going to look for your uncle.” She put a hand to her bodice where the deed to land in Oregon, wrapped tight in oiled paper, crackled with promise.
“We’re most likely too late,” Ezra Junior said as he reached to the back of their mule, Old Blue, and helped down his youngest siblings. “Uncle Zeke is probably across the river by now and on the trail.”
“We won’t know unless I ask.” On tiptoes, she surveyed the throng of people converged in the town and spotted the sign to a blacksmith. As good a place as any to inquire about one Ezekiel Williams.
With their father not buried a full two days yet, Delly hated leaving the young’uns behind, even for a minute, but at the age of twelve, Junior was more than capable of keeping an eye on them while she asked some questions.
“Are we going to walk all the way to Oregon?” Ten-year-old Dorcas asked. “Because, we just got to Independence, and the bottoms of my feet are almost worn through. Mabel’s about to keel over dead, not to mention her kid, and Old Blue sounds like he’s been smoking tobacco for too many years.”
“The goat and mule are fine. We’ll walk if we have to.” Delly sympathized with the child, but she’d promised their pa she’d get to Oregon. She never backed down from a promise.
Her feet hurt too, not to mention her back. The blisters on her hands from the cart handles were as big as the Ozark Mountains and not near as pretty. Well, lily white hands were for ladies, something Delly definitely was not. Orphanages weren’t known for making ladies out of the children housed there. “I’ll return shortly.”
She hefted her skirts and dashed into the melee of Main Street. Please, Lord, keep an eye on my babies. So intent was she on her prayer for safety, she didn’t spot the massive horse until almost too late. When it reared, flailing massive hooves, Delly shrieked and jumped back. Her foot caught on the sidewalk, sending her spiraling backward and landing with a splash in a horse trough. Murky water closed over her head, before she came up sputtering.
A large hand engulfed hers and pulled her to her feet. “Are you all right, Ma’am? The road’s a dangerous enough place when someone’s paying attention, much less when they’re off in daydreams.”
“Daydreams!” Delly shoved her wet hair out of her face. “You should control that … that beast.”
Hazel eyes narrowed beneath the brim of a floppy hat. “You frightened Cyclone. He’s as tame as a puppy.”
“Hardly.” Delly wrung out her hair then struggled to repin the wet mass. “But I do thank you for your aid in getting me out of the trough.”
“You’re welcome.” He tipped his hat. “Exercise more caution crossing the street, Ma’am. Good afternoon.”
“Certainly, sir.” With as much of a swish as she could get out of wet cotton, she whirled and traversed down the sidewalk toward her destination. The nerve of the man! The deed! She pulled it from her bodice and unwrapped the paper. Water marks stained the edges. Delly shot a prayer of thanksgiving toward heaven, that the words on the paper were still legible.
She stepped through the open door of the blacksmith. Humidity and heat slammed into her. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Ezekiel Williams. He’s a wagon master.”
A man, bent over a fire, turned and spit a wad of tobacco, barely missing the hem of her skirt. His gaze traveled from the toes of her soaked boots to her dripping form. He raised his eyebrows. “Last train left day before yesterday. Won’t be any more this year.”
“Was it Mr. Williams’s train?” Delly kept her aching hands hidden in the folds of her faded calico.
“Can’t tell ya. Only that they’re gone. Check at the mercantile. Might know more over there.” He motioned his head to the west.
“Thank you.” She turned, glanced in the direction the children waited, then marched down the sidewalk and across the street. With a deep breath, she pushed open the mercantile door.
The aroma of pickles and baked bread greeted her. Dust motes danced on sunbeams radiating through a sparkling window. Rows of colorful fabric lined one wall, tools another. Behind a long counter were stacked piles of food stuffs. A plump woman leaned against the counter, elbows propped on the polished wood. She glanced up with a smile. “I’m Mrs. Avery, owner of this fine establishment. You look like you’ve come a fair piece and ended up half drowned.”
“I have.” Delly squared her shoulders. “I’m looking for wagon boss, Ezekiel Williams.”
“You just missed him. He led his train out yesterday, but came back today for some forgotten supplies.”
Delly grinned. They’d catch up with him after all.
The woman straightened. “Most likely they’re still right across the river waiting for the congestion to clear. If you hail the ferry quick, you might catch ‘em. A pretty little thing like you, the ferryman might let cut in front of the wagons.” She peered over Delly’s shoulder. “Got a wagon? Provisions? Where’s your man?”
“I have none of those.”
“Then most likely the wagon train won’t let you join. Single women aren’t exactly welcome.”
Delly rubbed her aching temples. She’d worry about that when the time came. Besides, Mr. Williams couldn’t turn away family. “I’ll take my chances, thank you.”
“Them yours?”
Hands flat against the glass, seven-year-old Ruth and four-year-old Daniel peered through the window. Delly sighed and nodded. Why couldn’t children follow orders? “Two of my five children, anyway. Is there a place I can fill our water jugs?”
“Sure. Well’s out back.” The storekeeper stuck her hand in a jar of licorice sticks and pulled out five pieces of the candy. “Treat the little ones.”
Delly smiled. “I’ve not much money to speak of.”
“No bother. My treat.” The woman cocked her head. “You plan on taking all five to Oregon?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“By yourself?”
“If need be.”
- ASIN : B0CPW6DR1X
- Publisher : Independently published
- Publication date : December 9, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 354 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8871324790