Wagon Train Cinderella. Shirley KennedyЧитать онлайн книгу.
Pa won’t listen to reason. “Because my stepfather feels we can make the journey alone without any help. He doesn’t get along well with other people.”
“I can understand why he feels that way. When you throw people from all walks of life together in a wagon train, there’s bound to be trouble of one sort or another.”
She remembered her conversation with Magnus. “According to Colonel Ferguson, there’s peace and harmony in this wagon train, no disputes.”
Luke broke into laughter. “Magnus Ferguson is a fool. Even so, with all the dangers of the trail, it’s not a good idea to travel alone.”
“Tell that to my pa, not me. We do what he says, and that’s that.”
“Maybe so, but people change on these journeys. No one ends up exactly the same.”
“He’s not likely to change his mind.”
He remained silent. She must be boring him to death. She wished she could think of something bubbly and amusing to say like Lydia would do, but nothing came to mind. He’d leave at any moment.
The fiddler in the distance ceased his playing and announced, “That’s all for tonight, folks.”
“I’d better go.” She started away. “Good night, Mister McGraw.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
In silence, they returned to the gathering where Florida was sitting. Lydia and Nellie returned, breathless from dancing. “I’m so glad I came,” said Lydia. Seeing Luke, she gave him a dazzling smile. “Mister McGraw, they tell me you’re acting as guide for this wagon train. I do so wish we could join you. Do you think you could speak to my pa?”
“Your pa made it clear—”
“You could try, couldn’t you? Please? We had so much fun tonight.”
“Please?” Nellie echoed.
Callie listened with disgust. She hated it when her stepsisters got that whiney tone in their voices.
Florida said, “I hate to say it, girls, but your father strikes me as a man who doesn’t often change his mind.”
Lydia pouted. “It’s not safe to travel alone. Mister McGraw said so.”
Magnus appeared. “Luke’s right.” He gazed at Lydia with admiring eyes. “Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll talk to your father in the morning.”
Lydia clasped her hands together. “Wonderful! I’m sure you can persuade him.” Her face clouded. “You won’t tell him we were here tonight?”
“Your secret’s safe with us, honey.” Florida looked toward her brother. “You’d better go along with Magnus tomorrow. If anyone can describe the dangers of the trail, it’s you.”
Luke shook his head. “Magnus can manage just fine.”
A pang of disappointment shot through Callie’s heart. Magnus could never persuade her stubborn stepfather to join this wagon train. How wonderful it would be if he could. She’d make friends with all these nice people, have fun at the campfires, not feel so alone all the time. No use thinking about it, though. Pa would never change his mind.
Lydia was still fawning over Magnus. “It’s been a delightful evening, Mr. Ferguson. We’ll expect you in the morning.” She looked toward Nellie. “Time to go. Are you coming?”
Callie watched her stepsisters start away. Lydia finally remembered and looked back. “Callie, I hardly noticed you sitting there, quiet as a mouse. Well, you’d better come along right now. You know how early you’ve got to get up tomorrow to start breakfast.”
* * * *
Luke watched the three young women head back across the meadow. Lydia—pretty but not a brain in her head. Nellie—passably pretty if she smiled more and lost that permanent pout. Callie—poor creature, so obviously beaten down and made to feel inferior by the entire Whitaker family. She wasn’t pretty…well, maybe she could be if she didn’t have that work-worn look about her, like she lived in fear of not getting her chores done. Her figure wasn’t bad. Despite that poorly fitting dress, he could tell that like Lydia, she had a good-sized bosom, tiny waist and slender hips. Nice face if it wasn’t so pale and strained all the time. She should laugh more. Even her hair wouldn’t look so bad if she didn’t have it all pulled back in a scraggly bun, like she couldn’t bother to spend more than a couple of seconds fixing it each morning.
Something about her intrigued him. What it was, he didn’t know. It didn’t matter because Caleb Whitaker had chosen to take the long journey alone. Beyond tomorrow, he’d never see any of them again. What a fool Caleb was, but that was his choice.
Maybe I will go along with Magnus in the morning even though it won’t do any good.
Chapter 3
Caleb Whitaker was a man of stern convictions who never shilly-shallied and never, with rare exceptions, changed his mind. He’d grown up with ten brothers and sisters in a mirthless home where his parents waged a constant battle against wickedness, sloth, and sacrilege. Because his father never spared the rod, Caleb, who was a rather stubborn boy, trod the well-worn path to the woodshed many a time before the importance of obedience and discipline became deeply ingrained in his nature. It was no surprise he had followed in his father’s footsteps, raising his children as he had been raised. Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Although Caleb was in many ways a fair man, God-fearing and hardworking, his children had learned in early childhood he could be a tyrant if anyone even thought of disobeying him. Both his two oldest sons had left home at an early age, grateful to escape their parents’ tyranny. Only the girls were left, and the youngest son, Tommy, who hardly said a word and acted strange. Caleb ignored him. The boy was nothing but an embarrassment.
Hester Whitaker’s unforgiving nature resembled her husband’s. In fact, she was, in her own way, every bit a despot as he was. Raised in a home as strict as Caleb’s, she saw nothing wrong with stern discipline. Her way was the only way—a belief that went hand-in-hand with her unyielding temperament. Lydia and Nellie were the only exceptions to her stringent rules. She doted on her two girls, constantly defending them against their father, never subjecting them to the firm punishment she meted out to her other children. Nobody knew why she favored her two daughters over all the others. She never explained, perhaps because she had no explanation.
Now, at dawn’s first light, Callie and her stepfather were the first ones up, Callie making the coffee, Caleb yoking the oxen. At the sound of approaching horses, he uttered a curse and looked across the meadow. “What do those damn fools want?”
Callie followed his gaze. Magnus Ferguson and Luke McGraw headed their way on horseback. Her pulse quickened, but she wasn’t sure why. It couldn’t be Luke. He was rude and none too friendly. It had to be Magnus. Such a handsome man. Available, too, although he’d never look at her twice.
They rode up, Magnus in the lead. While Luke briefly touched his fingers to the brim of his hat, Magnus, in a grand gesture, swept his hat off and nodded to Callie. Smiling broadly, he introduced himself to Pa. “I take it you’re Mister Whitaker?”
Caleb kept his usual stern-faced expression. “If you’re here to persuade me to join your wagon train, don’t waste your time.”
“Are you sure, Mister Whitaker?”
“Positive.”
A shadow of annoyance crossed Magnus Ferguson’s face. “Then I won’t bother you further. I’m a busy man with a wagon train to lead.” He cut a sharp glance at Luke. “Let’s go. Looks like we’ve wasted our time.”
“Go ahead. I’ll follow in a minute.” As Magnus wheeled his horse around and left, Luke dismounted, looking not the least perturbed by Caleb’s unfriendly words. “At least hear me out.”
“Make