Page 103 of Eleanor’s Earrings

Eleanor glared at her.

“What? She asked.”

Martha folded her hands. “Could other wagons carry part of our load?”

“We cannot ask families to burden their teams for us,” Eleanor said.

Caroline raised an eyebrow. “You asked for our opinions.”

“I did.”

“Then allow Martha to finish.”

Eleanor took a breath. “Go on.”

“We could repay them with work. Sewing. Cooking. Animal care. Lessons for children. Whatever each family needs.”

Charlotte nodded. “The load could be spread among several wagons. No one team would carry much more.”

“And we would owe half the train,” Eleanor said.

“We could drink less coffee,” Martha said.

“That is not a plan. It is a threat,” Eleanor said.

“Then we reduce the bacon.”

Lydia put a hand to her heart. “Now she threatens the entire moral structure of camp.”

“The same train that owes us for food, repairs, finding children, and saving wagons,” Caroline said. “Perhaps we are already part of a community, whether you approve or not.”

Eleanor looked at her sisters.

They were waiting for her to reject the idea.

“We will ask Nathaniel,” she said.

Lydia clapped. “She accepted help twice in one week.”

“Do not become excited. It may never happen again.”

Nathaniel approved the plan. More importantly, he made Eleanor present it herself rather than speaking for her.

At first, the gathered emigrants were quiet.

Then Mrs. Turner offered to carry two sacks in exchange for Martha helping with her youngest child's cough. Mr. Coleman offered room for tools if Rebecca would mend a damaged harness. Mrs. Bell said she would carry one of the Whitaker trunks because Eleanor had spent nearly two weeks preventing everyone else from behaving foolishly.

“I cannot promise to stop now,” Eleanor said.

“I would not ask it,” Mrs. Bell responded.

Within an hour, the second wagon was lighter. The lame ox moved to the easiest position beside a steady partner. Rebecca led the team for a short test mile.

The animal walked without worsening the limp.

Eleanor nearly cried.

She did not, because Lydia was watching for any sign of emotion she could discuss later.