Page 133 of Eleanor’s Earrings

He lay on his side below the horse, eyes closed. The animal scrambled up and moved away, favoring one leg.

Eleanor dropped beside him. “Nathaniel, look at me.”

He did not move.

Martha arrived with Caroline and Rebecca close behind. “Do not lift him yet.”

“He is not waking.”

“Give me room.”

Martha checked his breathing and felt carefully along his neck and skull. Nathaniel groaned.

Eleanor nearly cried from relief.

His eyes opened. “What happened?”

“You fell.”

“I gathered that.” He tried to rise and gasped when his right shoulder moved.

“Stay still,” Martha ordered.

Nathaniel blinked at her. “You sound like your sister.”

“I am nicer.”

Eleanor would have laughed if she had not been so frightened.

Martha found no sign of a broken neck or back, but Nathaniel’s right shoulder was badly wrenched and likely torn, and his thoughts remained slow from the blow to his head. They carried him to the first Whitaker wagon.

Rebecca returned leading his horse. The animal had scraped one knee and strained the leg that had slipped, but she found no heat, swelling, or break. She removed the saddle and tethered him near the Whitaker teams, where he could rest for several days before carrying a rider again.

The train waited.

Mr. Daugherty approached while Martha settled Nathaniel against the bedding. “Who is leading?”

Eleanor stepped down from the wagon. “I am.”

Several men exchanged glances.

“You oversee the rear,” Mr. Daugherty said. “That is not the same as leading the train.”

Caroline took a folded page from Nathaniel's saddlebag. “His emergency roster names Eleanor as deputy.”

Mr. Daugherty looked at it. “A woman cannot—”

“A woman can read the roster,” Eleanor said. “Can you?”

He flushed.

Eleanor looked at the drivers gathered around her. “The road is wet. The wagon master is injured. We can spend the afternoon deciding whether I wear trousers, or we can get every wagon safely down this slope.”

Mrs. Bell struck the ground with her walking stick. “I vote for the slope.”

No formal vote followed.

Eleanor inspected the descent with Rebecca and two experienced drivers. She ordered brush and rope laid along the slickest section, then sent each wagon down separately with men bracing the rear wheels.