The guys have been using the livestock out to the taller grass to graze for the evening, hobbling horses so that they wouldn’t wander off. They inspected axles and wheels for symptoms and symptoms of damage and checked over the harnesses so all might be equipped for the following day’s march. Children have been returning to camp with armloads of firewood and kindling. She’d left her little brothers drawing the discern of a wheel withinside the dust for a sport of Fox and Geese. As lots as possible, anyone turned into maintaining to routine. Mary had simply begun out scrubbing the primary object of clothing—her brother William’s shirt, stiff with dried sweat—while she noticed younger ladies, Harriet Pike and Elisha Donner, coming towards her via the excessive grass, sporting washtubs. With an experience of comfort that amazed her, Mary waved to them. “Good evening, Mary,” Harriet stated stiffly. She and Harriet have been near in age however slightly knew every different. Mary concept Harriet acted a long way older than her twenty years, which she attributed to the reality that Harriet turned into already married with youngsters. It turned into odd to peer her with Elisha Donner, who turned into now no longer best seven or 8 years her junior however, maximum human beings stated, acted even more youthful. “You got here simply in time,” Mary stated, looking to sound cheerful. “The light’s going fast.” Harriet gave Elisha a protracted sideways appearance as she was taken care of via clothing. “Well, it’s now no longer of my choosing. I wasn’t making plans to do my washing tonight, however, Elisha begged me to return together along with her. She turned into too afraid to return down via way of means of herself.” Elisha stated not anything as she labored withinside the shallow water, however, her shoulders have been hunched excessive approximately her ears.
Elisha Donner turned into fidgety and nervous, like a spooky horse. “Is that so, Elisha?” Mary asked. “Is it due to that boy? There’s no disgrace in that. I suppose it’s placed anyone on edge.” The lady best shook her head, so Mary attempted again. “Is it the Indians, then?” Mary turned into sincerely excited via way of means of the concept of in the end getting to fulfill an Indian. They’d visible some withinside the distance the primary day they’d entered Indian Territory, a collection of Pawnee coolly looking from horseback because the wagon teaches meandered via a valley. But they hadn’t come any closer. Most of the human beings withinside the birthday celebration have been terrified of Indians, continually telling tales of raids on cattle and white youngsters being taken captive, however, Mary wasn’t. One of the settlers at the Little Blue River had informed her that some of the Pawnee, the ladies have been in charge. The guys did the looking and went to war, however, it turned into the ladies who made the decisions. The concept had surprised her. “It isn’t the Indians I’m fearful of,” Elisha stated. She turned into running speedy and stored her eyes educated on her arms, refusing to appearance up. She glaringly didn’t intend to be there a 2nd longer than she had to. “She’s fearful of ghosts,” Harriet stated with a sigh. “She thinks this vicinity is haunted.” “I by no means stated that,” Elisha shot again. “I by no means stated they have been ghosts.” She hesitated, searching from Harriet to Mary. “Mr. Bryant says—” Harriet snorted. “Is that what’s bothering you? One of Mr. Bryant’s tales? Honestly, you ought to understand higher than to concentrate on the guy.”
“That’s now no longer fair,” Elisha stated. “He’s smart. You stated so yourself. He got here out right here to write down an ee-ebook approximately the Indians. Says they informed him there are spirits out right here, spirits of the forests and the hills and the rivers.” “Oh, Elisha, don’t thoughts Mr. Bryant and his talk,” Mary stated. She wasn’t certain how she felt approximately Mr. Bryant. He turned into very knowledgeable. That turned into obvious. And he’d tested himself successful sufficient while he set Billy Murphy’s leg after he broke it getting bucked off his horse. But there has been something disconcerting approximately the manner he appeared to wander around together along with his interest fixated elsewhere, as even though he has been continually being attentive to a voice best he may want to hear. “But I’ve heard them.” Elisha’s forehead furrowed. “At night time, I’ve heard them calling to me. Haven’t you?” “Calling you?” Mary asked.