Page 53 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“Coco will stay with Zeus, and so far, he stays with me, so there’s no need. Unless something spooks him he isn’t going anywhere, and besides, I have this.”
Jess holds up a thin sliver of carrot, and Zeus quickly snatches it. Bells works her way over, only for Jessica to laugh.
“Come here, sweet girl, I have plenty. Are we still on schedule?”
Bells settles into an easy cantor as we walk beside the wagon, as Jacob and the others lead the oxen on at a steady pace.
“I think we may have gained a mile or two in the last few days, but I am sure something will slow us back down. Jacob mentioned one of the wheels on Colby’s wagon will need to be changed tonight, so it will be late before I can call it an evening.”
“I will get your things together and have some fresh water and clothes on the back gate for when you get done.”
“Jess, you don’t need to do that for me.”
“I don’t mind at all … after all, isn’t that whatwivesdo for their husbands? I also washed the shirt you had on the first day. It should be dry now, so you can change shirts in the morning.”
Her words hit me hard, asyes, she is taking care of me like I’m her husband, and I find I like the idea more than I realized.
“Thank you, Jess. I feel like you are taking care of everyone and everything, and I’m just shouting orders.”
“Reggie, we are both doing our jobs, and in a few days, we will be doing something else.”
“Jess, I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a good bed and a nice hot bath.”
“I am trying not to think about it. The bedroll you got us is nice, but yes, there have been nights when I could feel the winter cold still deep in the ground seeping through the bottom mat. Nevertheless, I would have rather traveled this time of year than later. I think the heat would’ve made it worse for the animals and us.”
“I agree, and I knew I needed to get out here early in the spring if I wanted to secure a place by winter. Grant says there is a cabin on the property, and I told him to hire a crew to upgrade and expand it. However, until I can see it myself, I’ll have to trustthat Grant has at least made it livable for us. I don’t mind staying with him and Lauren for a bit, but I will be ready to sleep under my own roof soon. I have always liked my privacy, and that’s hard to do under someone else’s roof.”
“Do they know about … me?”
“No, as I’d sent him the telegram just as we were leaving New Jersey. I’ll be lucky if he even gets it before we get there, as he seldom goes to town.”
“They have a town close by?”
“Actually, it’s only a few miles from their homestead. There is a general store run by Old Man Harvey, and a seamstress who knows everyone and everything in town; her name is Beatrice. There is also a small inn run by the Graham’s where the stagecoach stops twice a week. Last year, when I was out here, the area had also opened a sawmill and was growing quite rapidly. The silver mines are also pulling in workers and their families, as more people move into the area.”
Jess has an odd look on her face, and I know she is trying to find her place in all this. Her uncertainty bothers me more than I want to admit, as I realize I am going to have to stop playing husband and do the right thing, but I have several days yet to think about how to approach this. Jess’ pointing brings me back to the present.
“I believe the landscape is changing daily. I’ve seen so many places I’d love to walk around and look at further. Some of these rocky canyons seem like they were placed by giant hands. It is a beautiful area, and so different from anything I have ever seen before.”
“Well hopefully, when things calm down we will be able to take some trips to explore the area a little more.”
Jess gives me a small smile before looking away.
“What?”
“Oh, it’s just that … you are making plans for us in the future, and I … I don’t always know how to interpret that.”
“I think we do well together, Jessica, and finding someone with whom you have a natural rhythm is rare to find. It doesn’t hurt that you are easy on the eyes, either. I mean, if you were ugly and couldn’t fix meatloaf, I’m not sure I could bear it.”
She throws a potato peel at me, laughing. “Your mother had her hands full with you, didn’t she?”
“Yes, but she absolutely adores me.”
Jessica rolls her eyes playfully at me, and something I have meant to ask her for days just comes out. “Hey, I was meaning to ask you earlier, but what did Tyberius give you the day we were leaving?”
“A bracelet that matches the ring you gave me. I put it up with the pearls that Victoria gave me that same day.”
I could smack myself when I see her face sadden, knowing it’s because she misses her new friend. I rack my brain for something to take her mind off it. “I will say, those two made loving another sure look easy.”
