Chapter 64

Most mornin's, when the weather was fair, I would walk, leadin' the horses. We was movin' at such a slow pace anyways that the walkin'didn't slow us down none. Settin' in the wagon all day got to be uncomfortable, and I was a feller used to bein' on my feet.

Izzy usually walked beside me, and she would tell me stories of when she was growin' up, and I'd tell her 'bout havin' Emmett as a brother. I reckon I was preparin' her, 'cause Emmett warn't nothin' like me.

He was friendly, but right loud, and I knowed he took a little gettin' used to.

This mornin' it was rainin', so I rode in the wagon. It was just as well, 'cause Izzy got up feelin' right poorly and I made her lie down again.

Chapter 65

I could hear Izzy singin' softly while hangin' the wash.

"Come heartless bard of other years
Once breath'd a helpless strain
That absence conquers every tie
and love grows cold again"

We was only 'bout two days from my brother now, and she was excited at the prospect of meetin' Emmett and Rosa, but I could tell she was also a might nervous.

It was to be expected.

"It may be thus but yet I know
My thought will fondly roam
Still though the dreams of the past
It finds my Southern home."

I was in the back of the wagon, sortin' through Pa's books for somethin' we could read after supper, when I noticed that her singin' had stopped, and Jack had started in to barkin' like mad.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up at the thought that somethin' was wrong, and I pulled out my sidearm afore peerin' through the openin' in the wagon's canopy.

The first thing I seen was Izzy, crouchin' down in front of the fire with her arms wrapped 'round a mighty agitated Jack. Her eyes was wide and the rest of her seemed frozen in fear as she stared at three Indian braves on horseback, sittin' still as stone at the edge of the trees, while they eyed her with curiosity.

Chapter 66

It was comin' on to late afternoon when we arrived in San Angelo. Izzy had insisted on wearin' her best dress, the red one. It was my favorite anyways on account a she wore it for our weddin'. She'd mended her other dresses as best she could, but the brown one hadn't been on her since the day I'd sent James Forrest to meet his maker.

Emmett had been right when he said there warn't nothin' much to the town as of yet, but there was a fair amount of buildin' goin' on in preparation for when the nearby Fort was fully manned.

I scanned the street while helpin' Izzy down from the wagon and noticed a tavern and a blacksmith shop. Once we stepped inside the tradin' post, it took my eyes a minute to adjust to the dark after bein' in the bright sunlight.

Chapter 67

My heart was in my throat as I watched my brother cradle Izzy against his chest and carry her into the house. Rosa followed behind, directin' him towards the settee in the parlor.

Once he laid her down, I practically pushed Emmett out of the way so's I could kneel beside my poor girl. "Izzy," I called softly while takin' her hand between both of mine.

It struck me then how pale she was.

I could hear Jack whimperin' out on the porch, and knowed just how he was feelin'.

Rosa come up then and handed me a wet cloth. I untied Izzy's bonnet and pulled it off afore rubbin' the cloth over her forehead. I breathed a sigh of relief when I seen her eyes begin to flutter open.

"Izzy." I whispered.

"Ed," she said with a small smile.

"Ya give us quite a fright, darlin'."

She blinked a couple a times afore her eyes grew wide, as she obviously caught sight of Emmett and Rosa standin' behind me.

"Oh my," She gasped as her hand went to cover her mouth. "I am so sorry, what must ya think of me?"

"I'm thinkin' that was pert near the most excitin' 'howdy do' that I ever been witness to." Emmett said afore barkin' out a laugh. "I have a feelin' that life with Izzy around is gonna be right interestin'."

I could hear Rosa gigglin' with him, and afore long me and Izzy couldn't help but to join in.

I stood then to face my brother. "Good to see ya again."

He was smilin', but I could see the pain in his eyes afore he answered, no doubt he was thinkin' 'bout Pa, who was supposed to have made the journey with me. "You too, Ed. Been waitin' a long time for this day."

Emmett was never one for handshakes, his emotions always run way too high for that, so's I warn't surprised when he pulled me into a hug.

Then it was time for Rosa to peck my cheek afore busyin' herself by bringin' Izzy some tea. Next thing I knowed, they was chattin' like old friends.

I was more than thankful that Izzy seemin' to have recovered from her faintin' spell, but was kickin' myself for not givin' more of a care 'bout her health. After all, it hadn't been quite two months since she'd gotten that beatin' from Forrest….

I had a cup of coffee with my brother, and then he helped me see to the horses, afore he give me a quick tour of the house and grounds.

"Does that happen often?" Emmett asked as he pointed out the kitchen and privy out behind the house.

"What?"

"The faintin'."

I shook my head. "As far as I know, she ain't never done that afore. Mayhap it was just the heat and the fact that she was a might excited 'bout meetin' y'all."

I couldn't rightly make myself think 'bout it bein' somethin' worse.

The house was big; bigger than our home in Tennessee was.

There was a wide hallway that run from the front door all the way to the back of the house. Off the hallway, was a parlor and a dinin' room on one side, and two bed chambers on the other.

"Rosa and me took one of these rooms down here, it bein' summer, I thought ya'll would probably want the same, instead of one upstairs." Emmett looked a little embarrassed as he pointed to the empty bed chamber that would be mine and Izzy's."

We walked upstairs where there was two more empty bed chambers.

After the tour and a visit to the privy, Emmett helped me unload the wagon. When we carried the provisions into the kitchen, I was right happy to find Izzy in there, lookin' more like herself, as she helped Rosa cook supper.

"How are ya wife?" I asked in a teasin' fashion as I set down the potatoes from our wagon.

She smiled. "I reckon I've never felt better'n I do right now, husband." She answered as she started removin' the taters from the sack. I let my eyes linger on her face a little longer than was proper, but I didn't care; we was with family anyhow.

Izzy was fair beautiful to me, and I sometimes wondered how I was able to tear myself away from the sight of her to get anythin' done.

As I watched, her smile suddenly fell away, and was replaced by a pinched expression. "Uh..." she groaned afore droppin' the tater she was holdin' and runnin' outside.

I just stood there in shock as I stared after her. I turned to Emmet and Rosa to find surprised looks on their faces as well, afore takin' off out the door in search of my wife.

When I caught up to her, she was bent over at the waist, while heavin' the contents of her stomach into the yard.

"Izzy," I said in a hoarse whisper, as I felt myself startin' to panic.

Somethin' was wrong with my wife, but I was at a loss as to what I could do to help her.