Page 70 of Eleanor’s Earrings

Their fingers touched. Nathaniel's gaze dropped to her mouth.

Eleanor knew he was going to kiss her.

She wanted him to.

“Eleanor!” Lucy called from the wagon. “Lydia put a frog in my blanket!”

Eleanor closed her eyes.

Nathaniel turned away, laughing.

“I did not put it there!” Lydia shouted. “It chose your blanket!”

Eleanor got to her feet carefully. “I am beginning to understand why Father planned six months on the trail. He hoped at least one of us would become sensible before Oregon.”

Nathaniel followed her toward the wagon. “Do you believe it will happen?”

“No.”

Neither of them mentioned the kiss that had almost happened.

Both thought about it for the rest of the night.

Rebecca had named the Whitaker oxen despite insisting that naming working animals was foolish.

Eleanor learned this when she heard her sister say, “Archibald, if you step on my foot again, I will personally turn you into supper.”

Eleanor stopped beside the team. “Archibald?”

Rebecca froze.

Lydia appeared instantly. “You named them?”

“No.”

“You just threatened Archibald.”

“That is not his name. Archibald would be a silly name for an ox.” The ox turned its head when Rebecca said it.

Lydia gasped. “He knows his name.”

Rebecca glared at the animal as if betrayed.

“What are the others called?” Grace asked.

“They are not called anything.”

Lucy pointed to the steady off ox. “That one is George.”

Rebecca’s silence answered for her.

Caroline began laughing. “You named four oxen after elderly gentlemen?”

“They have elderly personalities.”

“What does that mean?” Eleanor asked.

“They are stubborn, suspicious, and offended by hills.”