Crossing The Prairies

Early June, Later on Same Day

A/N: Water Hemlock - One of the Most Poisonous Plants in North America.

Pa got Wade all cleaned up down at the river and changed him into a sky blue shirt which brings out the color of his green eyes. Hattie says they are beautiful, his eyes, and to me seeing them for the first time in so long I couldn't agree more with her.
We asked Wade if he remembers anything about what happened but he only sat there in the shade leaning against a tree and answered in a cheerful tone, "Nope." He remembers who his family is, and he remembers being on the steamboat, he even remembers the little girl who gave him the single white flower, but he says he doesn't remember who Hattie is or anything of about three days before the accident. I silently thank God for this, I know he will eventually find out what happened, but I don't know that I could face him just yet if he knew I was the one that almost killed him.
Tall Joe has let us stop early for the day because of Wade, but he says we can't have many more delays or we shall risk getting caught in the mountains and could freeze to death, so tomorrow will start as per normal, at four o'clock in the morning when the bugle sounds.
Tonight there is much dancing on behalf of Wade getting better, but I don't join in, I stay by his side the whole time, I think Gideon knows how much I have missed Wade because tonight he didn't even ask me to dance with him, or to walk through the camp, or even to join him for a cup of Mrs. Biggs hot chocolate, tonight he simply brought over a large blanket and sitting down on the other side of Wade he flung the blanket out and it covered the three of us.
Together the three of us watch everyone dance. Ma even dances tonight, she hasn't danced since before Wade got into the Water Hemlock.