Emma's Journey by Callie Hutton Read Free Book Online

Joshua came back with Davis, he rounded up the oxen and got them yoked for the day. Following breakfast, Emma cleaned the dishes, re-packed the wagon, and they were off. Joshua stayed with them most of the day.
    About a week after the accident, Emma came back from her jaunt to the bushes to find Davis slowly walking the oxen over to the wagon. He was obviously still in some pain, although the cuts, scrapes and bruises on his face had pretty much healed, leaving yellow marks where the black and blue ones had been.
    “What are you doing?”she asked. “Who told you to get up?”
    “Well, ma’am, I figured I’ve had enough of inactivity, so it’s time for me to pull my own weight. I can’t sit a horse yet, but I can do more than lie around. You just go ahead and finish packing up and I’ll get these animals ready for the day.” Davis winced as he spoke softly, but with determination in his voice. Emma shook her head when he paled as he tightened the reins, but decided not to confront him. If the fool wanted to be in pain that was up to him.
    Emma started off the morning riding on the front seat of the wagon while Davis plodded alongside. The day was hot, but with cloud cover. As the hours went by, Emma found her gaze drifting toward Davis’s sweat-soaked shirt, the muscles rippling on his back as he handled the animals and trudged slow but steady. Taller and broader than Peter had been, her cohort’s dark hair curled over his collar, and he used the red checkered bandana around his neck to repeatedly wipe his face.
    “Mr. Cooper,” Emma called, “I filled your canteen before we left, would you like a drink?”
    Davis turned and smiled up at her. She felt as if the clouds parted and the sun came out. Again she felt a shiver when she looked into his unusual blue eyes. She tramped down any reaction to this man. Her husband was dead barely a week. Even though she and Peter had only known each other a total of seven months when he’d died, it didn’t sit well with her to be aware of Davis at all.
    “Appreciate that, ma’am.”
    Emma climbed into the wagon and retrieved the canteen. Hot and flushed herself, she took several sips before climbing out, then handed the container to Davis. “Here you are, Mr. Cooper.”
    “Mrs. Thorpe, since we’ve been traveling together for a week now, do you suppose you can call me Davis?” He handed the canteen back to her and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Emma took it from his hand and held it in her lap.
    “I’m not sure that would be proper, but I’ll consider it, Mr. Cooper.” She began fussing with her apron. “But I’m thinking that now you should come into the wagon and rest a bit. You’re looking tired and sore.” The fumbling with her apron grew stronger.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    She’ll shred that entire apron before we reach Oregon.
    “No, I’m doing fine. We’ll be stopping for the noon meal in a bit, and I’ll rest then.”
    About a half hour later Ezra blew his bugle from his position at the head of the wagon train. The first vehicle rolled to a stop, with the rest following. Emma stretched, and rotated her neck muscles.
    Despite his bravado, Davis winced every time he moved, and felt ready to drop where he stood.
    “Mr. Cooper, I insist I walk with the animals this afternoon so you can rest.”
    “I don’t need much rest,” Davis said, holding onto the side of the wagon.
    “Nevertheless, I will be walking the animals this afternoon.” She glared at him, hands on her hips, chin thrust forward.
    Stubborn woman .
    She made her way to the back of the wagon and gathered some things for the noon meal. Davis ambled to the front of the line and spent time talking to Ezra and the other scouts.
    “Boy, you look like hell. Why are you up and about already?” Ezra peered at him through narrowed eyes.
    Davis nodded. “I’m a tad sore, but I’m done lying in that woman’s wagon. She needs help and I aim to give it to her.”
    “And how much help are you gonna be