Sunset Embrace (45 page)

Sighing her consternation, she smoothed her hair and went toward the back of the wagon. "I'm in here." She stuck her head through the canvas opening in time to see Ross vaulting from the seat of a flatbed wagon. The man sitting next to him removed his battered hat but remained seated.

Ross grinned up at her. "You'll never believe our luck," he said, smiling broadly. "This is Mr. Pritchard. My wife, Lydia." The man nodded his head in Lydias direction. She stared at him, a sense of foreboding worming its way through her. Ross went on enthusiastically. "He and I met in town. He's been waiting for weeks to buy a wagon. I sold him ours and he wants to take possession right now. Says he wants to cover as many miles as possible before early winter. Thought that if they got started right now, his family could make it to El Paso and spend the winter there before going on toward California."

"He wants to take the wagon? Now?"

"As soon as we unload everything he's not going to buy," Ross said, laughing. "He's offered to help, so let's get busy. I bought this flatbed with the money Mr. Pritchard paid me because we'll need it later on. You and Lee can sleep in Moses's wagon while we're still traveling. We'll hang on to it for the time being in case we don't get the cabin up as soon as I'd like."

"Why don't you just sell him Moses's wagon?" she asked frantically.

"Because it's not as large as this one and he's got five children." Ross turned his head to Mr. Pritchard, who smiled back at him. "Everything you need handy, start transferring to the flatbed."

She stood transfixed as Mr. Pritchard climbed down from the flatbed and he and Ross began to dismantle the home she had known for the past two months.

When he paused long enough to notice her standing dismayed and idle, Ross came to her and, placing his hands on her shoulders, squeezed lightly. "Lydia? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she stammered. With Moses's help, Mr. Pritchard was unloading the chest from Ross's wagon and carrying it to the one Moses had inherited from Winston. It wouldn't take her but a few seconds to retrieve the velvet bag, but there was no opportunity. Ross was looking at her strangely. "I . . . I had to say good-bye to the Langstons."

He drew her to him and kissed her firmly on the mouth. "I know you're sad about it, but I promised we could go see them and I meant it. Maybe next year." He kissed her again. "Now please help me sort through this stuff and tell me what you think you'll need and what we can sell."

They worked past dark to complete the job. The Pritchards, who had come to Jefferson from Mississippi, were anxious to be on their way after a six-week delay due to the demand for goods and the drain on the ready supply. Mrs. Pritchard and the children—five boys, the man had proudly boasted as he admired Lee—were in town buying up what they could to supplement the items Ross was selling them.

At last, after two hours of hard work, he was waving them good-bye. Ross had advised him on how to team the horses and had personally said good-bye to each of them. They almost seemed reluctant to go, but obeyed Mr. Pritchards commands as he drove them away. He waved and wished them good luck as he drove off with the wagon, with the team, the spare wheel, two water barrels, trail equipme