Making sure everyone was prepared for the trip to come filled the following days. Cletus’ delay had produced some fruit. Two additional families had joined the train to make the trek to what they hoped would be greener pastures. It brought the total number of wagons to twenty-six. One was a widower with his son, looking to make a new life for himself after the death of his wife. Sam understood his need. The other was a young married couple. The wife was pregnant. “‘Bout halfway along,” was Gus’ assessment. Garrett was not pleased Cletus had allowed them to join up.
“The trip is hard enough without a woman carrying a child. That baby’ll come early if it gets to come at all,” Garrett said, shaking his head. “These wagons aren’t for ridin’ in…they’re for carryin’ goods.
“Can’t they take a b
