The heavy rain lasted for over an hour. Finally, it lessened. Garrett and Sam emerged from the wagon. They roused the settlers and began to make preparations for leaving. The Tuckers, Gus and Todd returned to camp driving the oxen before them.
“Jesus, Garrett,” Gus clamored, “we saw what was happening, but we couldn’t leave the animals. With the fire and the thunder, it was all we could do to keep ‘em from stampeding.”
“It’s okay, Gus. You did the right thing,” Garrett answered.
“How the hell did this start?”
Garrett looked around at the charred grass and the flame scars on the wagons. “Dry grass and someone not being careful to put out their cookin’ fire probably.” He sighed. “Get everyone over here. We’ve got to talk before we get goin’ again.”
Sam and the others helped the men yoke
