{No Turning Back-part III}
Slow going today. It started raining shortly after we moved on from nooning. Just a soft, spring rain, but enough to make the trail all muddy. And it hasn't let up since.
I was trying to figure out how in the wet world I was going to build a fire and make supper when Clint and Joel rode up on Flint. They hopped down and saw my problem, and we stood out there for quite awhile before I said, "Forget it, I'll just fix us some cold sandwiches. "
"Which we already had for lunch." Joel reminded me.
"Shoo, I forgot." I said, "Well, I can scrounge up somethin'."
"I was really lookin' forward to somethin' hot for tonight." Clint said, " I don't mean to be a pain, but I been ridin' in the rain all afternoon. So's your Pa."
"Well, what can we do?" I asked.
Clint wiped at rain that had dripped off his hat brim onto his nose. "You got a tarp?"
"Nope." I said.
"Hang on, Callie. Don't we got that extra canvas from covering the wagon?" Joel asked.
"Maybe, "I said, "take a look."
He did and there was some extra canvas. Him and Clint went and found some branches and made poles out of them. They attached one end of the canvas to the side of the wagon and the other end to the poles.
"There ya have it," said Clint with a grin, "Yer own lean-to. I think if ya dig under the mud deep enough ya can find some dry ground."
I did dig, but the best I could find was near-soppin' ground, so I just went ahead and tried to build on that. I finally got it started, then let it burn for a little while before cooking. I fried up ham, potatoes,and hoecake and boiled coffee.
While we ate, Andy asked Pa where we were at. He said we were almost to the Big Blue River. "Matter a fact, we should be there 'fore nooning tomorra." he said.
"But Pa," Joel said, "What if the river's swelled from the rain? What then?"
"Then we wait, son."
"For how long?" I asked.
"Don't know, Callie Jo. I just don't know."
April 25th,1847 Big Blue River
We made it to the Big Blue two days ago. We've been sitting here since. It rained up until the middle of the night last night, and now we're just waiting for the river to go down some. There's a wagon train ahead of us, so we have to wait for them to cross first. Pa talked to their leader and found out they've been waiting 'bout five days.
With all this damp weather, Missy caught herself a cold, and I fear Andy's coming down with it, too. I made Missy a little bed in the wagon and I've had her stay there for now. I've been giving her lots of fluid, like Ma used to do, and I reckon we'll just have to wait it out.
Some lady named Mrs. Child came to my lean-to today and said she'd heard about Missy being sick. She offered me some sort of medicine in a little brown bottle. I took the bottle and read the label.
"MASON'S MIRACLE MEDICINE
Good to cure all diseases and ailments,
Also good for prevention of illness and stomach ulcers.
Take twice daily with one glass of water."
The medicine was syrupy, so I opened the bottle and smelled it. It smelled a little like honey, but underneath I caught a whiff of alcohol. I replaced the lid and said, "Thank you, ma'am, but my Pa don't put much stock in medicines."
She kinda fussed a little bit, but I held firm. Pa don't approve of made up medicine, and neither do I. Finally she left me be, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
April 28th, 1847
Today we crossed the Big Blue. The river was still a little swelled but the other wagon train had started crossing early in the morning and didn't have any problems, so after the midday meal, we packed up and started to cross.
Nothing much happened on our float. The Withers' wagon almost tipped, but Lem, who was riding beside it, somehow grabbed it and kept it from going over. By the time every wagon in our train had made it across, it was starting to get dark out, so we just made camp. Pa says tomorrow we'll meet up with the Independence Road.
I can't wait to get away from this river. The mosquitoes are terrible.
April 29th, 1847
Around mid-afternoon today we met up with the trail that comes form Independence, Missoura. It wasn't nothing fancy, just where two trails meet.
Missy's just got the sniffles now, and Andy never even caught the cold. I did find out that there are others in the train that've caught colds, too.
Walked with Viola today. We walked way out to the side of her and Carl's wagon. It was so nice to talk to someone about anything under this hot prairie sun. Viola's real excited about bein' a mama. I guess I would be, too. Her eyes and cheeks fairly glow, and she talks and talks about the things she's making for the baby. I sure hope she don't have no difficulties. I can't imagine having a baby on the trail.
April 30th, 1847
Since crossing the Big Blue, the trail kinda follows the Little Blue River. Sometimes we're a ways away from it, but we're always close enough to hear the water softly flowing. It's a nice distraction when you can hear it over the lowing of oxen, the creaks of the wagons, and the voices of people.
Pa says we'll cross it after awhile, only it won't seem like a river, because we'll be crossing 'most at the mouth. Then we'll connect with the Platte River, which will guide us on our way for a long time. He says we'll get sick of seein' the Platte. It's kind of muddy. I said I don't know how a body could get sick of a river.
"Oh, believe me, Callie Jo, you'll be dreaming rivers by the end of the trail. The sound of flowing waters will drive you up a wall." Pa told me.
I didn't argue, but I don't know that I could ever tire of a river's music.
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