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this marriage situation was going to be great!
    Trace automatically started out in the lead of the train with the VanKomen wagon next and then Mose’s, followed by their other drivers. They established an unspoken system of protecting her between them. It was doubtful that Filson would approach the train in broad daylight, but just in case, they would be ready. At any rate, there would be a buffer zone between Josiah and his family and the other, rougher element who followed in the rear of the train.
    That day passed quickly, although the infernal dust had already begun to boil up around the wheels of the wagons. Being at the front helped, but it was an early reminder of the misery that this trail could inflict. They paused at midday and ate the lunch the women had packed and let the stock graze for a few minutes before heading out again. The midsummer weather, albeit hot, was good for making progress and they pushed on steadily.
    That evening, Trace helped Josiah stake out the troublesome mule and things went better with the stock. Dinner was ready for them once again when they were through with the animal chores, and Trace thought again that he could get used to this in a hurry. He was sitting by Mose as he ate and he wondered when Mose was going to say something to him about last night’s sleeping arrangements. They’d hardly spoken all day through the long pull, but he expected something now that they were seated and had a moment. He knew Mose too well to think he was going to let last night pass without some kind of ribbing.
    Actually, when it came, there wasn’t much tease to it. Mose just looked at him with a grin and asked, “Ja get any sleep last night? After your company arrived?”
    Trace grinned back. “I did, actually. Well, after a while.” He paused as they ate. “Never dreamed she’d do that, but it wasn’t too bad.”
    Mose looked off into the distance, and the grin died out of his face. At length he said quietly, “Sleeping beside Callie was the greatest peace I’ve ever known.”
    Trace didn’t answer that. In the first place, he didn’t understand. Last night was the only time in his life thathe’d slept anywhere near a woman. And in the second place, what could you say to a friend who had watched his wife die so tragically? He knew that, even after more then three years, Mose mourned.
    His smile had finally come back, although it had taken a while, but there were still times Trace knew Mose was thinking about her. Trace had never had a woman he cared about the way that Mose had adored Callie. He’d have almost thought it was weird except that his parents loved each other that way. In a way he was a little jealous of his friend even though Mose had lost his love. It must be nice to have a friendship like that with your wife.
    The two of them sat there like that for a while. In spite of the differences in color, or perhaps because of it, there had never been two closer friends. They considered each other a brother, but what they had went far beyond mere brotherhood. There were times that they read each other’s minds. Lots of times. That uncanny link had been the catalyst to many a good business deal, and more than once, it had saved each of their hides.
    As they quietly sat there, Giselle came and took her bedroll out of the wagon and set it back under Trace’s and then disappeared for a moment. She reappeared and rolled the bedding out and then did the same thing she had the night before: shook out her hair, said her prayers, and took off her robe to lie down. She appeared to go to sleep within minutes again and Trace wondered at her ability to drop off so quickly under new and strange circumstances. He knew she had worked hard and for long hours these last two days, but after her admission that she had never slept outside, he’d expected some little period of adjustment.
    A few minutes later, Mose got up and gave Trace a wide grin and said “Nighty night” before heading off to his