Land of My Heart by Tracie Peterson Read Free Book Online Page A

and men had no use for fancy doodads.
    No, Dianne had been right. With men, food would matter more. Food and tools, even livestock, which was why Susannah was determined to focus her attention on those things more than others. They had one whole wagon loaded with mostly food—canned, bagged, and crated. Another wagon had tools—mining tools, farming tools—as well as heavy-duty clothing and boots. Wagon repair items, as well as spare harnesses and animal feed, topped off the freight. That left the third wagon for most of their personal things. How very small that wagon seemed once they’d loaded it with their belongings.
    It’s a different life from what we’ve known, she mused. Returning to the counter to wait for the storekeeper, Susannah couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made the right choice. We truly know nothing about what we’re doing. We’re unprepared for even the everyday needs of travel—cooking, cleaning, doctoring. We’re worse off still when it comes to animals and their care .
    “Here we are,” the woman announced. She held up two children’s bonnets—one a red calico and one a brown solid. “This one,” she said, thrusting the brown one forward, “should fit the younger girl just fine.”
    Susannah looked the piece over, noting the quilted brim. “Fine work. I’ll take them both.”
    She made arrangements for the boys to pick up the cloth and made her way back to the hotel with the bonnets. She and Daniel Keefer were to meet in the lobby in just five minutes; already the day was getting away from her.
    Coming through the hotel doorway, Susannah immediately spotted two men sitting to one side. Both appeared neat and orderly. Their trousers showed no signs of dirt and their faces were clean-shaven, with exception to the older man’s mustache. They both rose as she neared. “Are one of you Mr. Keefer?” she questioned.
    With a smile that lifted the corners of his mustache, the older man nodded. “And you’d be Mrs. Chadwick, I presume.”
    “Yes. I hope I’m not late for our meeting.”
    “Not at all. By the way,” he said, motioning to the younger man, “this tall drink of water is Cole Selby. He’s going to be my right-hand man on the train. Cole will inspect your wagons after we speak and make sure you have the proper provisions for the trip.”
    Susannah nodded. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “Ma’am.” Cole barely looked her in the eye.
    Susannah gave it no further consideration. Her own boys could be quite shy around strangers. “I read The Prairie Traveler, ” Susannah spoke. “I’ve studied it since deciding to move west.”
    “There’s good information in that book, but there are also a lot of things you can’t really know except for experiencing them yourself,” Daniel replied. “I need you to keep this list of rules and study them up.” He handed her a piece of paper. “It’s important that your children know the rules as well. They’ll help to make things run smoothly and to keep folks alive.”
    Susannah glanced down at the list for a moment, then returned her gaze to Daniel Keefer. He seemed like a dependable sort. He had an honest face, weathered and tanned from his life out under the sun. “I’ll make sure the children understand.”
    “Most every rule on that list will be to your benefit. Curfews are established to make certain everyone is well rested. Can’t be having a bunch of rowdies staying up all night keepin’ other folks awake. Rules for how to treat the animals and where to arrange for them at night are for the sake of safety and order. Once we’re on the trail, you’ll see for yourself just how smooth things can run.” He shifted and grinned. “Of course, these rules help when things aren’t running as smooth too. Folks being folks—it’s always hard to have some three or four hundred people with one goal in mind and not have someone wanting to do things their own way.”
    “I see you have a rule about alcohol consumption,”