Mona Hodgson - [Hearts Seeking Home 01] by Prairie Song

the ties on her bonnet. “The captain may have work to do, Maisie.”
    The green-eyed girl glanced up at his horse. “He can ride his horse while he plays the game.”
    He chuckled. To a child, it probably seemed that was all he did. “We’ll have to see about that, Maisie. But I appreciate the invitation.”
    Caroline clasped her hands. “Thank you for adding the Scripture reading to our morning routine.”
    Nodding, he lifted the reins. “I hope it helps. All of us.”
    “Be strong and of a good courage.”
    Garrett felt as if Caleb had hand-picked the morning’s message just for him. The prowling bear was enough of a challenge for any caravan leader, but he knew from experience there would be more. Much more. He wouldn’t think about that right now. Not in the presence of such an intriguing woman.
    He straightened in the saddle and brushed the brim of his hat. “Good luck with the game.”
    Caroline nodded, a smile smoothing her lips and sending tingles up his spine as he urged the horse forward.
    “Be strong and of a good courage.”
    A good message for his heart too. Caroline Milburn wasn’t CorlissHuffington Cowlishaw. Corliss would never have ventured west, let alone signed on as a nanny and made up a game to entertain children. She would have called Caroline’s
bouquet
of mint a handful of weeds. No, the enchanting widow was not in the least like Corliss.
    But neither was he like Phillip Milburn, a Union soldier, a fact that wouldn’t serve him as well.
    As he rode past the Becks’ wagon, Camille Le Beau took long and quick strides toward him, one hand in the air. Her other hand held a lead rope with four horses following her. “Capitaine.”
    “Good morning, Mademoiselle Le Beau.”
    “We need to wait for my papa. He is not yet ready to depart.”
    A sharp huff distracted Garrett, and he shifted in the saddle to look behind him.
    Emery Beck had walked up to the back of his stallion and stood with his arms crossed. “His uppity horses got spooked.” His beady eyes narrowed. “I knew they’d be trouble.”
    Garrett straightened, returning his attention to Camille Le Beau. “Is there a problem? Is it the horses?”
    “Two of them have run off. Anna’s also. Papa and Monsieur Goben are searching.”
    “I doubt the horses went far.” They were lucky only three of them headed for the hills, what with a bear and then all the pot banging and yelling in the night. “I’ll get a couple of men to help find them.”
    “
Merci
, Capitaine. Mama and I will ready the wagon.”
    When she turned away, he did too. Arguing with Emery Beck would be a waste of time. Hopefully, looking for the horses wouldn’t be.
    “The L ORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
    And when thou goest
. The paraphrase was his.
    “Captain, you are wrong to coddle that man and his daughter.” Mr. Beck’s voice would’ve carried in a gale. “And their high-strung horses.”
    Garrett twisted in the saddle to answer over his shoulder. “I’ll let you know when we’re ready to pull out.”
    No matter with whom thou goest
.

    Caroline added more foodstuffs to the Kamdens’ table. During the noon stop, various members of the Company brought victuals of some sort to the wagon she shared with Davonna Kamden and the youngest of her grandchildren. Maren delivered a plate of potato cakes. Mrs. Zanzucchi brought a loaf of Italian bread, and Anna, a plate of smoked ham. Lorelei Beck was the next to approach Rhoda with wild blackberry tarts.
    “What a rude awakening.” Lorelei shuddered, blond curls bouncing at her ears. “You all must have been terribly frightened.”
    “Yes. Well.” Caroline slanted a gaze toward the farm wagon.
    Davonna poked her head out through the puckered canvas. She hadn’t stepped a foot off the wagon all morning. She looked at Anna and Lorelei then at Maren. “Did they tell you it was my fault?”
    “Your fault a bear came into camp?” Maren squinted. “How is that possible?”
    “I