Shattered Trail

Chapter Ten

As we bump along in the stagecoach, everyone's nerves start to get a little frayed. It's hotter than it has been for a long time, and I soon find myself shrugging out of my shawl and wishing I'd worn a lighter dress. Tobias is starting to squirm- I can imagine that it must be horrible for an energetic little boy to have to sit for hours on end. Lavinia has snapped at him several times, and Mrs. Reed hasn't said a thing about it. The only person who doesn't seem to be having trouble is Maudie- she's just perched on my lap, looking out the window with wide eyes. Every so often, she'll tap me and point something out- the fattest cow I've ever seen, a stray chicken beside the road. Animals seem to fascinate her.

We stop for a quick dinner at a rather rough-looking place along the road, and although Tobias, Lavinia, and especially Mrs. Reed seem slightly appalled at the small dinner of vegetable soup and thick brown bread, Maudie wolfs it down. Being so little, she scarcely cares what it is as long as it tastes good to her. But it's better than anything I've eaten in the past few weeks, and I scarcely leave a drop of soup remaining.

All too soon we're herded back into the stagecoach for several more long hours. As we're riding, it begins to rain- not heavily, but just enough that it creates a nice, light noise that drown out the rumbling noises of the road.

As we're riding, the woman across from us smiles hesitantly me. “That stew back there was wonderful,” she says, looking at me hopefully, as if she's doesn't have a conversation soon, she'll die.

This surprises me. I'd assumed she was a wealthy girl that had never eaten something like that, and, like the Reeds, turn up her nose at such a simple meal. But looking at her now, I notice that her shoes have several holes in them, and the hem of her dress has a tear in it. She clutches her dingy white shawl like it's the last thing she owns, and a wisp of her hair has escaped, dancing around her head madly in the breeze. She looks wistful- like the end of this unbearable ride will bring her a new life. I wonder if my expression is the same.

“It was, wasn't it? Absolutely delightful,” I say, smiling back at her. “I very much enjoyed the potatoes in it. I thought they were fantastic.”

“Of course,” she replies, “and I really enjoyed the carrots.”She begins to play with a string coming off of her shawl.

Mrs. Reed looks over at me, like she's trying to decide if it's a good thing I'm having the conversation or not. But Lavinia taps her arm, and her attention is directed back to her daughter.

“So where are you going?” I ask the girl, and she looks up, tucking a wisp of golden hair behind her ear.

“My husband owns a store in Independence, Missouri,” she replies. “My father is accompanying me there.” She pats his arm and smiles up at him, but he just offer's her a stony glance.

This girl's surprised me again. She looks a few years younger than me- sixteen, or seventeen at the most- and she already has a husband. Then again, I must be considered an old maid- twenty is quite old to not have a husband, and I suspect that my beautiful wedding dress from the Emmerson's will never be put to use.

“You're married?” I ask, before I can stop myself. That's probably considered a rude question- but I don't care. I'm too curious.

She nods solemnly. “It was a year last month. He moved out to Independence half a year ago to start a store, and then he sent for me.”

I bite my lip, but my next question somehow slips out of my mouth. “Excuse me for asking, but how old are you?”

She laughs. “I know, I look quite young. I've been told.” She giggles again. “I was seventeen on my last birthday.”