Mona Hodgson - [Hearts Seeking Home 01] (27 page)

“Yes ma’am. Had me a good time visitin’ with Mister Caleb.”

“He’s a pleasant man.” Anna glanced behind Isaac, looking for a Tennessee Pacer that wasn’t there.

A grin widened Isaac’s face. “He stayed behind at the camp we found.”

“Oh.”

“Just a mile on up the road, is all. At Little Blue River, this side of Independence.”

“That’s good news,” Mutter said. “Thank you. My daughter and I plan to ride into town this afternoon.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem, Missus Goben.” Isaac glanced up at the sun. “Got us a few hours of light left.” After setting his hat on his head, he raised his reins. “Best let the boss know about it all.”

When Isaac rode on up the line, Anna exchanged lead ropes with Mutter and climbed onto Molasses. Riding her horse the last mile might pass the time more quickly than staring at the wagon in front of them. She wouldn’t have much time with Caleb at camp, but she hoped to at least see him before she and Mutter rode into Independence. Maybe Mutter was right, and he’d go into town with them.

Less than half an hour later, Anna rode Molasses into the camp at Little Blue River. Großvater was helping Mutter, guiding their wagon into place. Boney stood beside the chuck wagon at the front of the line, and the last of the wagons soon rolled in, completing the semicircle. But she didn’t see Caleb on either end.

Anna looked at Mutter. “I’ll be right back, and then we can go on into town.”

Mutter nodded. “Don’t be too long.”

Anna clicked her tongue for Molasses to move forward. Caleb could have been behind the line, guiding the first wagons into place.

“Anna.”

Her shoulders relaxed as she twisted toward the familiar voice. Caleb appeared from behind the chuck wagon and strolled toward her.

“There you are,” she said, unable to control the size of her smile.

“You were looking for me?” A grin showed off the dimple in his cheek. “You missed me?”

“I did.”

“I’m glad to see you too.” He rolled his derby in his hand. “Anna, I had a lot of time to think out here last night.” Drawing in a deep breath, he held it for a few seconds then blew it out through his teeth. “I have something I need to tell you. When you’ve set up camp, do you think we could go sit by the river?”

Anna’s breath caught. “I’d really like to, but I need to ride into town with my mother. Those hats I’ve made since we left Saint Charles?”

He nodded.

“I’m hoping to sell them to the millinery in Independence, and the shop will be closed tomorrow.”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t want to sit with you … to hear what you have to say.”

“I understand.”

“Are you going into town this afternoon?”

“I rode in this morning with a list of supplies. Told the captain I’d stay here this afternoon to help folks grease up their wagon wheels and such.” Caleb shook his head. “Now I wish I hadn’t agreed to that. I’d rather go back into town since that’s where you’ll be.”

Anna smiled, despite the fact that she felt torn. She’d rather stay here since that was where he’d be.

“We’ll camp here until Monday. Perhaps we could have some time alone tomorrow?”

“I’d like that. Yes.”

Mutter rode up on Großvater’s sorrel with Boney on his mule at her side. “Caleb, are you coming with us?”

“No ma’am. Thank you. Seems I have work to do around here.” He set his hat on his head and looked at Anna. “Have a nice time.”

“Thank you. And I’ll see you when we get back?”

“I hope so.”

When Caleb strolled toward the Zanzucchis’ wagon, Anna looked at Boney. Her friend wore a grin as wide as the river. “We’ll need to stop by the wagon to pick up the hats,” she said.

Now, thanks to Caleb, all Anna could think about was getting to town and back as quickly as possible. Her curiosity mounted as she wondered what it was Caleb needed to tell her. More about the depth of his feelings for her? Perhaps his intentions? Or was it the secret that sometimes clouded his eyes and weighed on his shoulders?

She glanced at Mutter, who rode beside her. If he did share his past mistake and regret, should Anna confide her secret?

S
aturday afternoon, Anna glanced out at the bench in front of the millinery, where Mutter awaited her. She slipped the dollar notes into her pocket and fairly floated out the door. The kindly proprietor had purchased all five hats from her. Before Anna left the store, she’d helped pin the puffed hat onto the silver head of a customer.

Mutter was right to joyously anticipate this day and their arrival in the fair city. Independence, Missouri, was grand in its appearance, especially the view of Courthouse Square, the site where she was to meet the others who had ridden into town. The stately brick building with a chimney on each of four corners was trimmed in white marble, as was its magnificent spire. A wood-rail fence ringed the manicured lawns. Horse-drawn carriages, families on foot, and road-ready wagons with clean white cloth dotted the surrounding streets.

Mutter waved, her smile a warming sight.

As Anna approached the bench, she fanned her fingers and wiggled them.

Mutter’s eyes widened. “You have no hats!”

“She bought them all.” Anna sat on the bench.

“That’s wonderful, dear.” Mutter patted Anna’s knee as she had when Anna was a young girl.

Anna wanted to feel like that little girl again—innocent and trusting—but she’d seen the sack on the other side of Mutter. It wasn’t big enough to hold a bottle, but that didn’t mean Mutter hadn’t purchased one. But when? Every time she’d looked, Mutter had been seated on the bench.

Sighing, Anna rested against the back of the bench. What kind of daughter
would distrust her mother, not believe someone she loved could get better? Be better?

One who had heard too many promises that hadn’t been kept.

Mutter smoothed her shawl over her calico sleeves and looked out at the square. “This city is quite charming, don’t you think?”

Anna breathed in the sweet scent of bread baking in the shop up the street. “Like an oasis. You were right, Mutter; it is nice to be in the city at least for a day or two.”

Mutter shifted on the bench to face her. “Dear, I don’t think a day or two here is enough.” She clasped her hands on her lap. “I think we should stay.”

“In Independence? For how long?”

“To live.”

“But we haven’t even left Missouri.”

Mutter stared at the Square and heaved a deep sigh. “It wasn’t my idea to leave.”

Anna shivered, pulling her shawl higher on her neck. What about her friends? Caleb Reger? She was just beginning to appreciate his
finer qualities
. Could she watch them all leave her behind? She hadn’t come this far to stop now, had she? Surely Mutter didn’t mean to give up now. Anna hoped a new place and a fresh start would do Großvater and Mutter good. Do them all good. That was, after all, why she’d suggested they move west.

She twisted on the bench to face Mutter. “What about Großvater? He’s enjoying the journey.”

“The trip made him very ill. We could have lost him.” Mutter pressed her lips together.

“But we didn’t, and he’s quite well again. And I’ve not seen Großvater so happy in a long time.”

Mutter drew in a deep breath, straightening against the back of the bench. “We’ll ask him what he thinks we should do.”

If Mutter insisted on staying, Großvater would give in to her. He, too, was eager to please his little girl. He’d do anything if he thought it would keep her clearheaded.

“All right, Mutter.” Anna saw no benefit in aggravating her mother right now and spoiling their time in the city together.

“Oh.” Mutter pulled the sack from the bench and held it up. “I nearly forgot why I walked down to the general store.” She glanced at the sign board swinging in the breeze a couple of shops down.

“You went into the general store?”

“Why, yes, dear. Where else was I to find this?” Mutter slid a block of beeswax from the sack. “We talked about the two of us making candles, remember?”

Anna nodded. She remembered Mutter’s suggestion, but hadn’t expected her to follow through. Again, she felt guilty for distrusting Mutter. Maybe the change she’d been praying for long and hard was finally beginning.

Anna followed Mutter into camp at a slower pace. They’d remove the saddles from the horses at the wagon before walking the sorrel and the chestnut to the pasture. As they rode in, she’d kept an eye out for Caleb but hadn’t seen him. It was just as well they not talk just yet, since he had decided to tell her more.

If there was any chance Mutter could talk Großvater into remaining in Independence, Anna wasn’t ready to hear what Caleb had to say to her, let alone face him knowing she may not be continuing on with the caravan. Mutter knew how fond she and Caleb had become of each other. How could Mutter ask her to even think about watching him ride away?

Once the horses were settled, she’d take a bucket to the river for washing water. It might also be a good time to look for feathers or weaving grass to make more hats for the next town.

By the time Anna arrived in camp, well behind Mutter, Großvater’s horse nickered at the back of the wagon where it stood tethered to a wheel. Mutter was poking around in the wagon box while Großvater bent over the ground near the worktable, kicking through the grass and leaves.

Anna climbed down from Molasses and tethered her horse to a low branch. “Großvater, did you drop something?”

Standing, he let out a rush of air, his cheeks puffing. “I don’t think I did, but I have to be sure.”

“It’s not in here.” Mutter closed the lid on the box and looked at Anna. “Your großvater is missing the timepiece Dedrick gave him.”

Anna looked at the contents of Großvater’s valise littering the table. His felt hat sat on the corner. The pocket watch had to be there, somewhere.

Großvater’s shoulders sagged. “The Christmas before he left.”

“Could it have fallen out of your pocket?”

“Wasn’t in my pocket. Had it right there”—he jabbed his finger at the table—“next to my jerky. I had just wound it.” He resumed his methodical search through the grass.

Anna heaved her saddle onto the wagon’s wheel to let it dry out some. “I’ll take the horses to the pasture, then I planned to go to the river for water.”

Großvater peered up at her. “I already filled the barrel.”

“I want to get more to have extra to wash up before the meeting tonight.”

Mutter sighed. “Meeting? I had forgotten about that.” She looked at Anna, her shoulders squared. “We were going to talk to your großvater, remember?”

“Not now, Wilma.” Großvater yanked his hat off the table. “We’ll take care of the horses, Anna. You go on ahead to the river.” He pressed his hat onto the gray hair that circled his bald spot. “Mrs. Zanzucchi is missing her silver teapot. You know what the captain said. If I can’t find my pocket watch, I need to tell Boney or one of the trail hands about it going missing.”

“You think someone took it?” Anna pulled a red letter sack from the wagon box and stuffed it into her skirt pocket. Next, she lifted a bucket off its hook on the side of the wagon. She would be surprised if there actually was a thief. A grumbler or two, yes, but no thief. “Why would they want your watch, and how would they know to even look for it?”

“Stranger things have happened, I suppose.”

Anna groaned. “Yes. Things like Davonna Kamden accusing Caroline of taking her locket, then finding out it had been in her knitting sack all along.”

“That woman is forgetful.”

“And you’re not?” Mutter’s lips curled into a grin.

“Only when you’ve told me things I didn’t care to hear. Or plan to remember.” He set his fists on his hips and frowned down at the table. “I set my timepiece on the table with my valise. Went down to talk to Ian Kamden about a spare wheel. Left for no more than ten minutes, but when I came back, it was gone.”

Anna ruffled the grass at her feet. “I don’t have to go. I can stay and help you look.”

“No.” Großvater shook his head. “It’s not here. I have searched the table, the valise, and the ground.” He tugged open the mouth of his trouser pockets. “I emptied all my pockets.”