Chapter 33 -- The Trip Begins
I let my eyes close and snoozed a little for a while, until Gloria called out, "Josh, wake up. Sue is making some hand signals."
I opened my eyes and tipped up my hat to see what Sue was doing. She was making the hand signal to shift into single file. The road had petered out and we were now approaching a trail. I pulled Barb to a halt and said, "Single File, Gloria," I said. "Go on ahead, I'll bring up the rear."
Gloria smiled at me and led her string on ahead. I let her mules pass and fell in behind them. I felt a little better and the sun was up pretty good now. It started to get hot so I pulled off my field coat and tied it behind me. Barb followed along with no need for my help and I glanced back and checked my string of mules out. They all appeared to be doing fine.
We followed the narrow valley along the river all day and broke out into the broader valley after a long day in the saddle. Sue picked a spot along side the river that was running shallow and broad now, to camp for the night. There was plenty of grass for the mules around and a nice grove of trees to place our camp.
The women and I unpacked the mules then Gloria and I picketed them in the grassy area near the camp while Sue, Amelia and Linda set up camp. By this time the sun was dipping low but we were set and had a supply of firewood for the night.
Linda and Sue prepared dinner and Gloria and I inspected the mule tack, making sure that everything was still alright. Amelia was looking at the map and making notes. I went over and looked over her shoulder.
Amelia smiled up at me, "We made good time, Josh. I was just looking at our route."
"Tomorrow will be a long day," I said and sat beside her. "We ought to reach Gallup to camp and we'll be in the saddle all day to do that. I'm hoping that the pasture will be good when we get there."
"Well," Amelia said, looking at the route that Sue had marked. "It looks like we'll have plenty of water on the way."
I smiled at her, "Amelia, all those water holes may be dry this time of year. But it shouldn't be too bad. It looks like this river is still running pretty well. There must be a lot of snow in the high country still."
Amelia folded the map and nodded. She smiled at me and said, "You know Josh, I'm excited to be going to Davis, but a little scared too and I'm already missing Burney."
I smiled at her and put my arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek, "Missing Burney or Able?"
Amelia blushed and patted my cheek. "Both, you'll tell him I'm sorry to have to go, but it's my duty. You'll tell him won't you?"
"I'll tell him, but he knows that already Amelia. I'll bet he is missing you already too. He always smiles at me when I mention your name. If he's mad or sad, I just say, 'Amelia is thinking about you,' and his face lights up and he always grins at the thought of you." I kissed her blushing cheek and got up to see what Linda was up to. Amelia was smiling at me as I stood.
"You tell him it's the same with me. Just thinking about him makes the day a little brighter," She said and looked off toward the east lost in thought.
I walked up to the campfire and Sue grinned at me, "Well we made good time thru the river today. I'll want an early start in the morning, Josh."
"Yes Ma'am, we can start a soon as we can see to saddle up. I figure an hour to pack the mules if we all work on it and we'll make good time tomorrow. It's all pretty open from here to Gallup."
Sue nodded, "Yeah that's what I'm hoping for. We'll see how the water holes are doing and it may give us a hint about the water situation in Arizona."
"It's going to be dry in Arizona," I said and squatted down next to Linda. She smiled at me.
Linda leaned over to me, "I'm going to be sore tomorrow. I haven't ridden this much in years."
I laughed, "You'll be saddle weary until you get to Davis, Linda. Today was easy and reasonable cool. I expect the trip across Arizona to be really hot so make sure you keep your hat pulled down." I tugged at the lip of her hat.
Linda stirred the stew she was making and said, "I hope... I mean..." She looked at me and then at Sue.
Sue took the skillet she was frying some chicken in and said, "It looks like the chicken is done. I'll sit it over here and let it cool until the stew is done." Sue put the chicken down and wandered off to see Amelia and Gloria who were talking and watching the stock graze.
Linda stood up and looked at me smiling. I stood and grinned at her.
She took my hand and led me to a log near the fire and sat down, pulling me down next to her. "You know when Amelia said that you would be coming with us, I got a little excited."
I took her hand in mine, "We haven't seen each other in five or six weeks Linda. I was happy to hear that you were making the trip," I said. "I kept looking for you to come back to the bath house but you never did, why not."
Linda's smooth beautiful face frowned a little, "Sorry Josh, I should have written you. After we had dinner that night, you know. Well, I got appointed to be Amelia's aid and they sent me out to Bunker 5 to prepare for the trip. I didn't have time to tell you," she smiled at me, looked down, "and I thought you'd be distracted by your mission."
I lifted her hand and kissed it, "I was kind'a but I wanted to see you again." I looked in her big green eyes and I thought I had gone to heaven.
She smiled at me and her eyes sparkled for a moment, then she blinked and looked down at her feet. "Well it looks like we won't be seeing each other for a long time now Josh."
I put my arm around her and gave her a squeeze, "We have the next week, Linda." I was thinking about it now. I needed a day or so to rebuild and there was a stretch of terrain we'd come to in a few days where we would have a short trek from one water hole to the next and we'd graze the mules for a day to get them fattened up for the push down to Topock. I was sure we could get a couple of hours alone then.
Linda kissed my cheek and put her head on my shoulder, "I'm missing you already, Josh." She laughed, "You know I'm pregnant don't you?"
I laughed and hugged her, "No, I didn't know. I knew it felt good, you know like it was going to take."
Linda kissed me, "I just know it will be a boy too. He'll be tall and handsome, probably blond and a little skinny like his dad." She pinched my ribs.
I laughed and kissed her, "That is good news. So you'll deliver in, what February? Good, you'll be in Davis and the hospital there is real good. They will take good care of you and the boy," I said with a grin. "Oh I hope it is a boy, Linda. You'll make a beautiful baby, I just know it."