Page 19 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“It is exactly the same thing.”

Caroline passed behind them with a bucket. “Should I find an impartial judge?”

“No,” Eleanor said.

“Yes,” Nathaniel said.

Caroline kept walking. “Excellent. I will fetch Lydia. She is never impartial.”

Eleanor finally released the barrel.

Nathaniel set it beside the wagon.

“There,” he said.

“I could have done that.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you interfere?”

“Because knowing you can do something does not require me to stand nearby while you hurt yourself proving it.”

Eleanor opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Nathaniel smiled. “That was almost an argument.”

“I am saving it.”

“For later?”

“When you deserve it.”

“I look forward to earning it.”

She gave him a look that should have discouraged him.

It did not.

That was becoming a problem.

Chapter Four

April 4, 1854

Approaching the Kansas River

The Kansas River was running high.

That was the report brought by the two men Nathaniel had sent ahead, and it caused half the wagon train to speak at once.

Eleanor stood near the center of the gathered emigrants and listened as men argued about ferries, fords, prices, and delays. They had not yet seen the river, but several spoke as though they had personally measured every inch of it.

Nathaniel stood on an overturned crate. “We have three choices. We can wait for the water to fall, pay the ferry operator, or prepare the wagons to float.”

“How much does the ferry cost?” someone asked.