Page 159 of Eleanor’s Earrings

“By eight women?”

“By seven sisters and one particularly difficult future wife.”

Eleanor smiled. “Particularly?”

“The others only outnumber me. You argue with me individually.”

“That takes skill.”

“It does.”

Lydia sighed. “They are flirting again.”

Rebecca said, “At least he found the pliers.”

Nathaniel looked down at them. “I may lose them deliberately next time.”

Eleanor kissed his cheek.

“That is your reward for finding them.”

He immediately dropped the pliers. Eleanor stared. Nathaniel smiled. “Lost again.”

She laughed and kissed him a second time.

Lydia groaned. “We have created a monster.”

Nathaniel bent to retrieve the pliers. “A highly motivated monster.”

Chapter Twenty

April 23-27, 1854

Camp Before and Beyond the Next Crossing

Nathaniel returned to his horse on April twenty-third.

After five days of rest, Nathaniel’s horse no longer favored its strained leg. Rebecca approved a slow return to work, though she warned Nathaniel that horse and rider were both to avoid steep ground.

He could not use his right arm well, but he could ride slowly and give orders with the left. Eleanor remained responsible for the rear division, and he named her co-captain before the entire group.

“This is not temporary,” he said.

Mr. Daugherty raised a hand. “Do we vote?”

Mrs. Bell lifted her walking stick. “Do you want me to hit you?”

Mr. Daugherty lowered his hand. “No.”

“Then the appointment stands.”

Everyone laughed.

Eleanor looked at Nathaniel. “Did you arrange that?”

“I lack Mrs. Bell's courage.”

The day's road led to a shallow crossing. It was not dangerous enough to become a crisis, but it required careful spacing and doubled teams on the far bank.