Chapter Two
When Jasper woke thefollowing morning, he looked over at Agnes, feeling guilty for breaking his promise, even if she had been willing.
Agnes was awake, covering her yawn.“I guess it’s time to start walking.”She didn’t want to walk.She wanted to lie there on the side of the path and make love all day, but she knew they had to keep going.
Jasper nodded.“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.It’s time to go, so we’ll go.”
“Not that.I’m sorry I didn’t wait like I promised.”
She smiled.“I had the perfect wedding night, so don’t you go apologizing, Jasper Jones!”
He chuckled.“I don’t know what I’ve done in my life to deserve you.”
She quickly pulled her undergarments back on under the blanket and then stood to finish dressing.She started the water to boil while he got dressed.He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek atop her head.“I’ll get the mule packed up and ready.As soon as the water boils, we’ll be on our way.”
She turned in his arms and kissed him.“I’ll be ready.”
“We should reach Lake Bennett today.I traded in a boat for the promise of another, which will be waiting for us.”
“Does that mean we’re almost there?”
He shook his head.“We have three weeks or so by boat before we walk half a day to Yeti.”
She wanted to complain, but there was no point.“All right.Then we need to get started.”
Soon they were off to Lake Bennett.She was shocked at the sheer number of people camping there.“Why are there so many men here?”she asked.
“They’re prospectors, building their boats for the rest of their voyage.”He looked over the crowd of people and finally spotted the man he was looking for.He raised his hand in a wave.“Rusty!”
The man lumbered over to him.“You made it back.And with such a pretty wife.”He lowered his voice to a whisper.“You don’t really want to go with this man, do you?Stay with me.”
Agnes laughed.“I think I’ll go with my husband but thank you so much for the offer.”
“Dang my luck,” Rusty said, looking disappointed.
Jasper shook his head at Rusty’s antics.“I need a boat.”
“I got one waiting for you,” Rusty said.“But you can’t have it unless this beautiful wife of yours agrees to write letters to me.”
“I...I don’t know if that would be proper.I’m a married woman.”Agnes wasn’t sure about this man.He seemed a little crazy to her.
“I don’t mind,” Jasper said.“Rusty gets lonely and asks everyone to write letters to him.”
“I’ll write then.”It felt strange to Agnes, but she did enjoy writing and receiving letters.
“Let me go get your boat then.Are you a friend of Belle?Belle writes me a letter every week.”
“I am.”
“Good.Then she’ll tell you where to send it.”Rusty hurried off to get their boat.It was nothing fancy, but it would fit them and their belongings.“You selling that mule?”
Jasper nodded.“I am.”
“I’ll buy it.Men are always looking for mules.”Rusty looked over the animal.“How about $100?”
Jasper’s eyes widened.“I didn’t pay anywhere near that much.”
