Passage West by Ruth Ryan Langan Read Free Book Online Page A

plans. A moment later they started across the room. Swearing under his breath, Rourke picked up the bottle and glass and strode toward the door, completely missing the look of surprise on the faces of the men he’d managed to evade.
    As soon as the men drifted toward the post, the women put kettles of water over the fire, and strung blankets from their wagons to nearby tree branches for privacy. Then they got down the tubs and indulged themselves in an orgy of washing. First there were the clothes, that had only been rinsed in rivers since their departure from home. Then came the children. And finally the women immersed themselves in warm, scented bathwater, soaking away the dirt and grime of hundreds of miles.
    Abby allowed Carrie and Aunt Vi to go first, knowing how much they’d looked forward to this luxury. When they were finished, Abby stripped off her rough, scratchy clothes and left them soaking in a bucket of lye soap. Later she would rinse them in a kettle of boiling water and hang them over a line to dry.
    When she emerged from the tub, Carrie and Aunt Vi were giggling like two children.
    “All right. What are you up to?” Abby asked, vigorously rubbing her hair with a towel.
    “This,” Carrie said, holding up a gown of pale ivory voile.
    “Where did you get that?” Abby touched a hand to the soft fabric.
    “We’ve been sewing it while you drive,” Aunt Vi said proudly. “It was an old dress of your mama’s. I ripped the seams and made it smaller. And Carrie added the smocking across the front and back yoke.”
    “It’s beautiful.” Abby hugged the two women, then stepped back, afraid to wrinkle the fabric. “But it’s too grand for me to wear. Why don’t we save it for you or Carrie.”
    “Because it’s yours. We made it for you, and we want to see you in it.” Aunt Vi took the towel from Abby’s hands and finished drying her niece’s hair. “I hope it fits. I had to guess at your size. You’re so thin, Abby.”
    Abby laughed, choosing to ignore her aunt’s veiled fears. “I know it’ll be perfect. And so are both of you.”
    Climbing into the wagon, she dressed quickly, then stepped out for their inspection.
    “Oh, Abby. I knew you’d look beautiful in it.” Carrie caught her sister’s hand as she began to braid her hair. “Let me fix your hair, Abby.”
    With a sigh of resignation, Abby knelt in the grass and allowed Carrie to brush her hair and pin it back with two combs. It fell in soft waves down her back.
    “Now you look like a lady.”
    Both sisters laughed.
    “Spoken like a true niece of Violet Market,” Abby intoned.
    “There’s nothing wrong with looking like a lady,” their aunt said in all seriousness.
    “I know, Aunt Vi. But sometimes we just can’t help teasing you.”
    “Come on,” Violet said, putting an arm around each girl’s waist. “Let’s go join the other women for a grand visit.”
    While the women sat around a campfire in the circle of wagons, they could hear the sound of men’s voices and raucous laughter emanating from the post. Occasionally one of the women would smile, hearing her man’s voice above the others. They could easily forgive such lapses, since their men rarely had the chance to drink and forget the hard work ahead of them.
    While the women talked, they sewed or quilted, exchanging recipes and gossip. As the small children gradually stopped their play and drifted to sleep, they were tucked into the wagons.
    Carrie’s head bobbed. “I’m going to bed, Abby,” she whispered.
    “All right. I’ll be along in a few minutes.” Biting the end of the thread, Abby studied the face on the rag doll she’d been repairing for Nancy Garner’s little one. Nancy, her face grim, eyes swollen from crying, sat a little apart from the circle of women, staring listlessly into the fire. She would have to get over the loss of her piano, but Abby knew it would take her awhile. In the meantime, her small son had been feeling neglected until Abby