Crossing The Prairies

Next Day

   Wade walked about fifteen minutes today! I know it's not much, but all things considered it makes me happy. He also remembered who Hattie was today, he was riding in the wagon while Hattie and I were walking beside it just laughing and joking when all at once he says, "Hattie, your cheeks are sunburned." I had noticed that her cheeks had been slightly reddened from when we had taken our bonnets off while away from our mothers two days ago, but once he said this her cheeks looked like they hadn't been shaded for a week.
   When he layed back down in the wagon I nudged Hattie, "What was that?" I asked, of course knowing Hattie I knew what her reply was going to be before she opened her mouth, "What was what?" She asked me trying to turn and hide her face from me. I knew she wasn't about to admit to anything so I let her have her way saying, "Oh never mind." She still kept her head turned away from me for a while, that is until we to a rest by the water and decided to cool our feet in it.
   Together Hattie and I helped Wade over to the waters edge so he could cool his feet as well.
   After a few minutes we began to hear yelling, I stayed with Wade while Hattie went to see what was going on.
   This is the news she came back with. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Kenker, the lady that stole one of the Campbell's spoons, were yelling at Tall Joe saying the couldn't handle the amount of travelling we do each day any longer, there were strong words spoken of which I shall not write here, and at one point Mr. Kenker even had his pistol pointed at Tall Joe. But he put both of them in their place in a right big hurry, he told them we would be going fifteen miles a day like it or not! Hattie feels kind of bad for them because they are an older couple, we guessed they are about fifty, but I say they knew what they were signing up for when they started this trip, we all did, and if we don't keep going we could all die in the mountains, the thought of that terrifies me, the thought of that alone kept me going when Wade was barely breathing in the middle of the night, even though I felt like I wanted to die for what I had done to him I knew there was more than just myself on this journey.