Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn Page A

him up in the dark tent and trying to catch the liquid shine of his eyes by the dim firelight that filtered in. “You’re not going to grow up to be a mean, harsh Jansai man, are you? Oh, no, not my little baby brother. I’ll see to that. I’ll take care of you, and I’ll kiss you every day, and I’ll love you so much that you’ll want to spread love everywhere you go.”
    She talked nonsense to him until he smiled and chortled at her in return. Truly, he seemed like the sweetest child. Jordan, who had been born when she was six, had been a dreadful baby, screaming at the top of his lungs any time he was hungry, dirty, or bored. Strange that he had become such a good-natured and easygoing boy now. She hoped this did not mean the baby, so happy now, would grow difficult and loutish as he reached his early manhood. She kissed him again on his soft, warm cheek and assured herself that he would never change.
    The next day was exactly the same, until shortly after their noon meal. They had not been traveling very long when there was an ominous crack from Simon’s wagon, and the whole back end tumbled untidily into the sand. Simon’s wife yelped and scrambled out the back, then hastily ran to conceal herself in the tent with Reuben’s wife. Simon brought the team of horses to a halt and jumped off the front bench to see what the trouble was. His sons reined in their mounts and circled back.
    Jerusha and Rebekah peered out through the front of the tent, gazing out over Hector’s shoulders. They were directly behind the fallen wagon, so they had an excellent view.
    â€œDamn axle,” Simon called from his hands and knees. “Broke clean in two.”
    â€œYou got a spare?” Hector said.
    Simon backed himself out from under the wagon and stood up, looking disgusted. “No. Didn’t bring one. You?”
    Hector shook his head. Reuben, who strode over at that point, also replied in the negative. The three men stood together in a tight conclave, discussing options.
    â€œWhat do you want to do?” Reuben asked. “Go on or go back?”
    â€œI can make it to Catter’s Creek in about a day,” Simon said, naming the nearest stretch of land that boasted a body of water and a stand of trees. “A day to get back, another half day to plane the wood. You might not want to wait that long. We can fix the wagon and go home. You two head on.”
    Reuben looked over at Hector. “Hector? You’re the one with a delivery. I’m just selling.”
    Hector lifted his shoulders in a halfhearted shrug. “There was no exact date set. I’m in no particular hurry. We can wait here till the new pole is ready.”
    Such conversations had happened on virtually every trip that Rebekah ever had been on. Something was always going wrong: A horse went lame, a driver got sick, a wagon fell apart. The Jansai were never in much of a hurry, and it was rare that some members of a caravan would forge ahead, leaving the unfortunate party behind. But the discussion always had to be held anyway.
    â€œI’ll leave my boys here to take care of their mother,” Simonsaid. “Make them hunt. Give them any chores you need done. Don’t let them sit around being lazy while others are working.”
    Reuben nodded. “You’ll leave now, then?”
    â€œI can make it to Catter’s Creek tonight or tomorrow morning. I should be back sometime tomorrow.”
    It was a quick matter to set him up with some provisions, make sure he had enough water for the journey, and hand over extra waterskins that he may as well fill while he was at the creek bed.
    â€œBut there’s a waterhole not three miles from here,” Reuben said, “if we run low while you’re gone.”
    â€œI know the one,” Simon said. “Only weeds there, though. No wood for the axle.”
    â€œYou’ll find what you need at Catter’s Creek.”
    In