Read Emma's Blaze (Fires of Cricket Bend Book 2) for Free Online Page B

time?”
    “Hiram’s married, Appie’s married, Nick is married. The rest of us are happy bachelors.”
    “Ha!” Pete answered. “Bachelors, sure. But happy?” He pointed at Jess. “Jess here is head over heels for a girl back at home. Clara Belmont. Pretty as a picture.”
    “Really?” Emma asked. “Are you courting her?”
    “Courting?” Jess shook his head. “We ain’t courting.”
    “Why not?”
    “’Cause he’s chickenshit.” Pete laughed.
    “Me? How long are you going to string Helena along?”
    Emma turned to Pete. “You too!”
    The two brothers glared at each other. Emma held up her hands in a gesture of peace. “So the two of you are un happy bachelors. But what of your wayward brothers?”
    “Andrew couldn’t be tied down with iron chains. And I’m starting to think Bill’s either going to wind up an old bachelor, or surprise us all one of these days with one of those mail order brides. Why? You looking for a husband? Reckon you could take your pick.”
    “The last thing I’m looking for is a husband. Men are more trouble then they’re worth most of the time. I mean no offense.”
    “None taken,” Pete said. “We’ve been called worse than trouble.”
    After finishing her own dinner, she pulled herself to her feet to tend to the dishes. As she stood up with the aid of her crutch, everyone saw her big yawn.
    “Get to bed,” Appie ordered. “You ain’t healed up yet, you know.”
    “The dishes…”
    “Aw, hell.” Pete stood up. “I’ll do ’em.”
    “Don’t argue!” Jess replied. “Pete’s never agreed to wash a thing his whole life.”
    The men shooed her off to sleep with laughs and cheers, and she picked her bedroll out of the wagon. Emma realized she’d be sleeping without Bill by her side, and felt a little sadness and a bit of fear. She did so hate the nighttime.
    Appie noted her hesitation. “You can set up your bedroll by the wagon over there. I’ll be nearby.”
    “Thank you.”
    “That song you sang…”
    “Lorena.”
    “Lorena,” he repeated. “I remember that song. The soldiers used to sing it.”
    “During the war?”
    He nodded once. “Miles and miles each day, they’d walk. All there was to do was sing.” His gaze seemed fixed on the fire.
    “I apologize if it brought up bad memories.”
    “Not bad ones altogether. Just memories. You go get some sleep now.”
    That was all she needed. She didn’t push any harder. The difficult work of the day had exhausted her. She slept near the wagon, and quickly drifted off as she listened to the men talking and laughing. Her sleep was hard. There was no time for dreams.
    In the morning, she and Appie did it again: woke up early to get the fire going, and roasted the coffee beans before grinding them and adding them to boiling water. After that, they took up their pots and pans to wake the men unceremoniously. Pete had done a fine job washing up the dishes. They were all neatly stacked and ready to be handed out. When he saw her notice, he gave a fancy bow.
    After breakfast, Appie and Emma took back to the wagon and drove on. Appie let her drive for a bit and caught a nap. At the midday stop, Emma nearly fell again and cursed her ankle loudly. Having difficulty walking was proving to be incredibly inconvenient. Luckily, she caught herself on the wagon. “Damn,” she whispered, letting the broom she used as a crutch fall to the ground for a moment. Having limited movement out on the trail was a huge hinderance. She leaned on the wagon wheel.
    “Miss?”
    Saul McKenzie, the shy brother with the harmonica, stood behind her with one hand nervously jammed in the pocket of his coat. His other hand held the reins of a pretty brown horse, smaller than the other ones she’d seen on the drive.
    Emma remembered Jess’ words—Saul was terribly shy. Trying not to scare him away, she smiled sweetly. “Have you come to play me a song? I could use one.”
    “Not quite. You said you can ride.” When Emma