CHAPTER6
They were getting close. For two nights, the women on the stage had slept along the trail with the drivers keeping watch. Each night, the sound of the coyotes had sung them to sleep.
Blanche had loved every moment except the night she’d been ill. Food poisoning. And she suspected Alice Burns had fed her some old food, hoping she’d die along the way.
Why the woman hated her, she didn’t understand. But she had bullied her since she was a child.
The woman said she was a good, Christian woman, but Blanche had her doubts. If anyone was going to start trouble, it was Alice. So far, Blanche had not decked Alice, but she’d better watch her back.
The food poisoning was close to the last straw for Blanche. Tossing her last meal beneath the stars was not fun. She’d been miserable.
Daisy sat up with her, feeding her hot tea and crackers. Holding her hand when she threw up and making certain she was not alone. She considered her a real friend.
Her first.
In the distance, the mountains rose and touched the heavens. Snow clung to their tops and it was a sight Blanche had never seen. Beautiful and majestic, strong and powerful. Just like she was doing her best to become.
The air was cooler, and sometimes at night, she grew cold and frigid, pulling her blankets closer to the fire. After being sick, she felt vulnerable.
Especially when she suspected someone in their party had made her ill.
Thankfully, today they would reach their destination and she would no longer be near Alice or, at least, she hoped she wouldn’t.
Since they left this morning, fear rode her the way she rode a horse, wild and free. Would a man choose her for his wife? What would he look like? Would he have the ranch she wanted?
So many questions, and if she was disappointed, she would have given up everything for nothing.
Looking out the window, she realized the last few days of the trip had been the most grueling and she was ready to get out of the box on wheels. Ready to begin her new life.
Today was the last stop before her future would be decided. The stage came to a halt and she realized they were being given a break. Suddenly the stagecoach driver opened the door.
“Ladies, we’re taking a ten-minute break.”
Blanche stepped out of the stage and stretched. Riding in that rattletrap was a killer. She’d bounced all over that hard seat and even hit her head a time or two.
“You recovered,” Alice said, walking up and smiling at her. The sneer on the woman’s face sent her over the edge.
Without thinking, she drew back her fists and popped her in the nose. “You poisoned me, you witch, and now you’re gloating about it? I could have died.”
There was a gasp as the women watched them.
Daisy stepped between them. “Now, ladies. We’ve made it this far, let’s not fight.”
“I didn’t poison you,” Alice said, tears welling in her eyes. “I could never hurt someone. You punched me. You’re vile and evil and nothing but white trash. If I’d poisoned you, you would be dead.”
Blanche stepped forward to hit her again and Daisy grabbed her hand.
“Alice, unless you want to greet your husband with a black eye, I suggest you walk away. Enough.”
The woman smiled a smirky smile at her, wiped her fake tears away, and strolled off. “White trash.”
Daisy turned to Blanche. “Ignore her. Today is the end of the journey. We have so much to be thankful and happy about. You can’t go around hitting people with your fists.”
Blanche clenched her hands together, so badly wanting to hit the woman again.
“You know how bad I felt after she fixed my dinner.”
Daisy’s eyes pleaded with her, and she knew her friend was doing her best to help her. “I know, but you’re letting her spoil this special day. Walk away from her.”
“Just like you walked away from Thomas?”
Daisy frowned. “I’d have done more if I could have.”
“Exactly. She needs to stay away from me or I’m going to pummel her good.”
A sigh escaped from her friend. “And what will your husband think?”