Deny Thyself

hair away from Evlyn's face.

s face. "Where am I?" She asked trying

ou've been unconscious for a

g. "Kind of woozy. How

ut." Callie patted Evlyn's shou

pull the nail out, but nothing past that." Evly

tween Linda Gurtslinger and me, we've

used so much trouble. I haven't b

only one foot. Besides, Benjamin has confined you to

I did was ste

ctions caused by wounds similar to yours. And you, you

ils? In o

tside this wagon until Benjamin okays it." Callie stood up and began to

plate holding a biscuit and some beef jerky. "How long does he figure it

ll still be in danger for a while after that. We've been cleaning it and changing t

as she bit into the biscuit. "Wha

will be here soon for her shift." Sh

yn set the biscuit aside and focused

But that's only if you get the infection he's worried about.

the pillow behind her

rom her friend. "We shouldn't have talked about this. You need to focus on

ie to tuck a quilt around her. "Just rest n

hile later to find Mrs. Gurtsli

er said setting her book aside. "Do

f into a sitting position. "I'

king shifts?" Mrs. Gurtslinger ask

epted the plate of food. "But I

prise on her face. "Angry at you? Dea

arted yelling at me. I'm sorry if I assumed inc

ttle confused about life and what y

ed. She was unaware that she had giv

ns." Mrs. Gurtslinger patted Evlyn on the shoulder. "But it's going to be al

ed. "Seeing

rehead. "Dear, I know you had a bad family life with your father, but that is no

M

nd gold in the world. There is no need to keep searching for something bett

self clear. "I really do, Mrs. Gurtslinger." She reac

from radiating from her face. "Oh, honey, I'm

king again. Mrs. Gurtslinger had returned to

nicely that same day when I asked their families to join us. D

your worries aside though. I promise I shall explain to them your

ld beans. "I just can't understand why my trust iss

ore leaning forward to check Evlyn's forehead

tainly like him too. But I didn't think my being h

"Peter McCain? Oh my. Oh my, my! Dear we have not been talking

g me not to let my previous experience with family life interfere with the family life

er McCain. I was referring to you

lyn sat up bo

up ahead looks clean. There's some water a ways

p there then." He tilted his head at

hoping that Gurtslinger wouldn't press it

uiet isn't yours." Gurtslinger leaned back in his sa

short uninformative answers would thwar

do with the Riebe girl

ld me. Never even hinted at it!" Peter held a hand up to keep Gurtslinger from speaking. "No. Wait, it gets better. She has four children! Four children and a husband! She abandoned them to work at a broth

d a brothel is a serious matter. I don't think I can be clean of conscious if I let her continue on

iking the girl in the first place. He should hav

leave our train and find another way west. Or

linger looking at him. A certain look in his eye that could only mean trouble. Peter's eye

ink you need to tell her. If you're the one you kicks her off the

e about my closure. You just hate throwing

"You got that right!" He agreed

ant to." P

er paused. "When wi

When we stop fo

r courage, boy. Remember, only a

il boss. "You are not b

o be a saying that fits your situation. Okay, I've got i

d. "That one makes

s the heaviest burden on tho

n God meant this assignment for." Peter sighed. "You're not going

, then I prom

ng his friend wouldn't drop it un

l quote. "Courage is what it takes to stand up and spea

his friend. "Really? Th

better words of wisdom you should've

head. "Mrs. Gurtslinger must n

t along, boy! Haven't yo

final words as he went to make sure

the notion that I was

at you were married with four children. She said that y

leaned forward and clasped Mrs. Gurtslinger's hands between her own

look on her face. "I'm afraid I did.

mighty living God that I have never been marr

iss Evlyn's cheek. "Oh, Evlyn! I believe you! I am sorry that I eve

y Rosa would tell you such a tale.

ve gotten confused? Perhaps you said som

ws. "I don't know. It upsets m

"Now, now then. You rest and as soon as we stop for t

ad rumors about her best friend. It was ridiculous and unthinkable. Still, she must have done it. Mrs. Gurtslinger said that she did. Accustomed to the bu

kened her pace. "Wait for me, Rosa!

, a tight smile on her face. "

friend. "I'm pregnant, not crippled." She whispered

bit testily. "I'm never had to deal with your

. "Rumor has it that we'll be stopping at a riv

is distaste at the task. "Of course. What good is a river if we can't was

ulder. "Rosa, " she said in her s

lips then turned to face Callie. "Look, not everybody

d; hurt radiating fr

ct all the time. You never say or do the wrong thing. You never experience anger. Other people, real people aren't like that. Th

a paused, turned away from

led as she again c

bout to say, she had thought better of and locked it up tight. "Forget it, Cal. Forget ever

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