Unshaken

On The Road Again

Liam woke to the sound of bustling and commotion. Everyone was moving and packing their stuff. It was time to leave. The sun hadn't come up yet. He got up and did the same. Susan made another round check before she got on another wagon. "Alright, let's head out." Arthur yelled as the caravan started off. "We're gonna go down through Big Valley and through Tall Trees, then to Hennigan's Stead." Arthur explained to Liam, showing him a map. "Sounds easy enough. Where's Sean and Charles?" Liam asked. "I got them boys scouting ahead, make sure there's no trouble on the way. We'll meet up with them once we cross into Big Valley." Arthur informed him.

"We're finally doing it, huh?" Liam asked. "Here's hoping." Arthur anticipated. Liam was excited. He was gonna finally get a feel of the West. He wondered what the deserts were gonna be like. He knew the state bordered Mexico, which he found interesting. They rode for a while until the snow started to dissipate as they passed Ewing Basin. "Alright. We're in Big Valley now." Arthur said as they crossed the state line. Liam could see Charles and Sean in the distance. "Everything's clear ahead. We should go around Black Bone Forest and down past Lake Owanjila to get into Tall Trees." Charles recommended.

"Alright then." Arthur said as he turned to caravan south into Big Valley. They passed Hanging Dog Ranch which seemed like a ghost town. Liam remembered what had happened with him, Arthur and Sadie a while back. They rode alongside the creek that led to Owanjila. "Pretty country around here." Liam complimented. "Indeed." Arthur agreed. Charles led the group all the way to the bridge that crossed the water into Tall Trees. Arthur pulled the caravan onto the side of the road. "Alright, we can't all go through together incase we get found. We're gonna split up into three groups, meaning we'll all get a wagon that someone can hide in if needed. Tilly, Sean, Pearson, Karen and Susan, y'all come get on this wagon with me. Charles, Mary-Beth, Kieran, Uncle and Liam, y'all take the second wagon. John, Abigail, Jack, Reverend and Sadie, y'all take the third wagon. We'll split up and meet up outside of MacFarlane's Ranch just across the river. Stay safe and watch yourselves, good luck." Arthur said as his wagon rode off first.

Liam climbed on the front of the wagon with Charles while the others climbed in the back with the supplies. Charles waited a few minutes until he pulled the wagon off into a different path into the wooded area. Liam thought about how Arthur had split everyone up. It was smart. He included strong guns and navigators on every wagon. Liam watched the areas around him for any disturbances. "Never been over here." Liam told Charles. "It's where my people would've thrived." Charles said. "Mine too." Uncle joked as he went to sleep. Mary-Beth rolled her eyes. Kieran stayed quiet. "You nervous, Kieran?" Liam asked. "No, not-not at all. Just ready to be in New Austin." He said. "We're gonna be fine. Soon we'll be away from all that mess back there." Charles encouraged. Mary-Beth grabbed Kieran's hand as the wagon rolled on.

They rode past an old abandoned camp with bodies laid across the rubble. Liam saw feathers from their hair. Charles looked away. "Oh my, what happened to those poor folks?" Mary-Beth asked. "Massacred. This is Bear Claw. Rumors about murders here must've been true. Those poor people. Makes me glad we did what we did to the government." Charles grunted, a pain in his voice. "You and me both, brother." Liam said as they rode past the camp.

The trip lasted another hour until they came to the river to cross into New Austin. Charles backed the wagon into the trees when he saw a group of men ride by, luckily not spotting them. "That was close." Mary-Beth whispered. Charles waited a couple of minutes before crossing the river. They saw Sean sitting on his horse, watching them pull up. "What took you lot so long? Our wagon's just over here, ya snails." Sean joked as he brought them to Arthur's wagon behind some ridges up a way from there. "John and them ain't made it yet?" Liam asked as the group rolled up. "Not yet." Karen said. Everybody climbed off their wagons and stood around for a moment, stretching their legs until Sean rode up again with John's wagon. Reverend Swanson and Sadie were sitting in the front. When they stopped, John climbed out of the back.

"Had to hide before some bastards spotted me." He said. Abigail griped at him for a minute until Jack and Cain jumped out back of the wagon. The sun had started to set. Liam looked at the dry grass and the difference in the terrain. It felt free in a way. A warm wind grazed the land. "We'll set camp up here for tonight, and hopefully find somewhere to buy some land around here soon." Arthur said. The group set up tents and bedrolls and went to sleep, hidden in the trees of Hennigan's Stead. Liam stayed up for a while, anticipating the day that was coming.