A Dream Unfolding by Karen Baney Page B

quickly swallowed it away.   Regardless of her feelings, she and Drew were moving to La Paz in the Arizona Territory.   She would have to start over, again, in a new place with new people.
    The slowing of the wagon pulled her from her frustrations.   As Drew set the brake, Hannah quickly hopped down, without waiting for his assistance.   Since he struggled so much with the team, she figured it would only slow down the process and deepen her embarrassment if she waited for the gentlemanly gesture.
    She watched him from the corner of her eye.   Even several days into the journey he seemed to have to concentrate very hard to remember how to properly unyoke the oxen and set them afield to graze for the afternoon break.   It pained her to watch.   Having grown up on a farm, she learned long ago how to hitch a team and how to care for livestock.   She knew she could be done in half the time.   And the first day on the trail, she made the mistake of trying to help him.   He snapped at her, telling her that none of the other men needed help from their wives, so why should he?
    Hannah pulled the small bundle of food from the wagon.   Each morning, following a hot breakfast, she prepared food for the midday meal.   Typically, she set aside some bread, dried beef, cheese, and other cold foodstuff.   Only breakfast and supper were hot meals.
    A good ten minutes after all the other men finished setting the oxen out to graze, Drew joined her on the blanket she laid out next to the wagon.   She poured them both a cup of water, handing one to him.   When he reached up to take the cup from her, his fingers lingered against hers long enough to give her pause.   A tentative smile graced his lips as tingles traveled up her arm.   Releasing her hold on the cup, she quickly sank to the blanket, turning her attention to dividing the meal.
    She handed Drew his meal and waited while he blessed the food.   As soon as the prayer concluded, Hannah nibbled on the bread and dried beef, still fearing the silence between her and her husband.
    “Have you met any of the other women?” he asked.
    “No,” she replied sharply.   What did it matter if she spoke to the other women on the wagon train?   She doubted any of them were headed to La Paz.   And she did not really want to make friends that she would just leave again.   And she wouldn’t be in this position if he decided Indiana was far enough.   It was so unfair.
    Drew finished chewing his mouthful of food.   As he turned to look at her, his eyes clouded.
    “Hannah,” he said, reaching over to gently lay his hand on her arm.   “I didn’t mean anything by the question.   I’m just trying to…I hate this distance between us.”   His blue eyes bore through her defenses.   “I miss talking to you.”
    Tears burned her eyes.   Maybe he still loved her.
    “Anderson!” Eli Jacobs shouted, stopping her from responding to Drew.   “A word with you.”
    Drew set aside the rest of his uneaten meal and jumped to his feet.   Then he walked a few yards away to where the wagon master stood.   As the two men conversed in hushed tones, Hannah began packing up their things, her earlier despair returned.
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    “Are those your oxen, Anderson?”
    Drew nodded, unable to keep his nerves calm.
    “Haven’t you noticed this one,” Eli asked.   “He is favoring his hoof.   If you don’t take care of that soon, you’re gonna have a lame animal.”
    Heat flooded Drew’s face, growing hotter as Eli showed him how to care for the injured hoof.   How was he supposed to know what to look for?   He never worked with livestock.
    He tried to pay close attention to Eli’s instructions, but the image of Hannah near tears distracted him.   What was happening between them?   What had he said to cause her to cry?   Looking over at his wife, he caught her dabbing those tears from her face with her lace handkerchief.   Guilt jabbed his heart.   He was alienating his wife.