He had been awake for a bit when she peaked out of the tarp."Mornin' it is, we're dry as a bone, an' I do believe that' be the sun makin' it's self known." He had managed to pull on his trousers without waking her, Booits? Now that would have been a different story altogether.
"Well woman, we got it to do alright, but I doubt there's any damage ta speak of. Plenty of grass for the horses, wet grass, take care of waterin' 'em til we strike a stream. Believe we're okay." With his boots on, hat on his head, he pulled on his shotgun chaps buttoning them up, and made his way to the tailgate. Shoving aside the canvas flap, everything sparkled in the morning sunlight.
"All the horses 'er still with us." He unlatched the gate and let it down, then slipped out of the wagon and stood surveying the area. Over his shoulder, he said, "All's well Love, I'll start ta hitchin' up the team. Gonna be a bright sunny day, yes sir!"
"Good to hear about the horses," Emeline called from the back of the wagon and she shimmied into the pants and a long-sleeved shirt -- they were men's, well, boy's clothing, but at least they fit her, and would be far more practical for the conditions today.
Sitting on the edge of the gate, she pulled on boots, then let Barnabas help her to the ground. "Mud...my favorite thing first in the morning." She hugged Barnabas and kissed him on the lips. "Well, besides you!"
While he was tending to the horses, she shook excess water from the tarp that had accumulated in the low spots, put away their bedrolls, then fished out some biscuits and dried fruit for breakfast. It wasn't a feast, by any means, but it would give them energy, and tonight she'd be sure to put extra effort into supper and coffee.
Once the horses were hitched to the wagon, the saddle horses ready and the wagon itself buttoned up except for the tailgate, breakfast, such as it was, eaten, they were ready for the trail, with the mud, until it dried off. Pronto tied one mount onto the wagon, and led the other to Em, who he had asked to just sit on the gate until he got things ready. "You ride, I'll drive. Mud'll make fer slow goin' for a bit, hopefully, and then maybe we can make some time." He told her.
"Hope that was all the rain we get for a while. Water barrel got topped off which is good, though I don't believe water to be a problem with all the streams we've seen so far, and surely they'll be rivers up ahead to cross. Gonna be somethin' alright." Once she was mounted, the tailgate closed, and he was up on the seat ribbons in hand, they were ready to set off again on the journey home.
The first couple of hours riding on the horse weren't bad, Emeline enjoyed riding, and it was easier on her backside than the wagon seat. And with the mud, the wagon tended to slip now and again on the hills, making her grateful that she wasn't the one dealing with that. But as the day wore on, the roads became drier and more manageable, and they were able to move at a better pace.
When they came upon a river it was nearly dusk, and she stopped, looking at Barnabas. "So...try to cross or camp here and have a good supper and hot coffee?"
He looked over at her and said, "Best we back off a ways and make camp for the night. A good supper and some hot coffee sounds real good from where I sit. No need of push into the dark, much less lookin' to ford a river."
He was tired after a full day on the trail, fighting the mud early on had certainly sapped him, and the thought of making camp, seeing to the horses, and then taking the evening to relax and enjoy. All in all, they had made good time, given the circumstances, or so he figured.
"There's a cul de sac just off to the right . Room for the wagon, space for the horses to graze make for a nice camp, and no clouds overhead neither!" He said with a grin. He turned the wagon toward the opening in the trees to where this spot was. Rocks and trees formed the back wall of this cul de sac which was good size, actually bigger than he had thought. It would be comfortable for the night, so once he parked, he hopped down and went to work stringing a picket line, then unhitching the team, and picketing them, then unsaddling the horses and picketing them as well. He would move them to the picket line before dark.
Work was just never done, as Em had her share to do as well. They worked well together getting set up for the night. Em had a fire going and the coffee was on, supper was in the works as well.
Emeline was happy to stop for the day, she was weary and aching, and was glad to get out of the saddle. As Barnabas saw to the horses, she gathered some wood, picking around the rocks and tree trunks where the rain hadn't reached, and when she had enough dry wood, she got a fire started and water on for coffee. Supper would be a stew of canned beef, potatoes and tomatoes, as well as some apple turnovers she was planning to 'bake' at the edges of the fire. After last night, it would be a feast!
"The ground is pretty damp," she commented, handing Barnabas a fresh mug of coffee, "we can put a tarp down under the wagon, or just sleep in the back again." Either worked, and neither was much of a bother.
"This here turned out to be a right nice spot. Come the morning we'll get ourselves to the river, let the animals drink their fill, refill the canteens. No worry 'bout the water barrel, she's to the brim from the rainwater." He took the cup in his gloved hand. " Thanks, love. Yer coffee, always the best. Ya make 'er like she's 'sposed to be, hot an' strong, an' them vitals yer workin' on? Smelllin' deeliciousl. I do miss yer cookin'."
"Ya know, by the time we get home, we won't be so darn sore. Been loafin' too long, gotten soft, I reckon. There's bound ta be an extree pilla in that wagon for you ta sit on tomarra, while I ride. Takin' turns is a good plan, we both need to drive an' ride, get us back in shape you might say." And he knew, all too well that he had softened up while on this trip, yet, it had been worth it, every mile and every nickel of it.
"There's a place settin' on that knoll, lookin' over that waterfall, just a waitin' on us ta get there, an darlin', that can't come fast enough."
"You're right about getting soft," Emeline chuckled, "my backside is screaming for relief, I might just take you up on that pillow!" Getting back to 'work' was going to be a change, but she didn't mind, there was a satisfaction in having put in a good day at something.
"Here you go, a sample of my cooking, but just wait until I have a real kitchen and more supplies!" She grinned. "Although you may start to miss the trail cooking. Just let me know, and I'll build a fire in the woods to cook for you!" She laughed as she dished some food onto a plate and handed it to him, then made a plate for herself and hopped up on the tail of the wagon to eat. "You think that river will be down a bit in the morning?" Hopefully, the run-off from the storm will have let up, and the river level would lower some by morning.
There would be room for two on the tailgate of the wagon, but the getting up there without losing one or both of the meals was a risk he just was not willing to risk. He settled on a good-sized rock, using his lap as a table, hanging onto the plate with one hand, shoveling in the stew with the other.
"Maybe, could be slowed down by mornin', be an easier start. I'll saddle up and see what it's like, how deep." He offered between bites. " That is, if this is a palatable place to cross, that'd slow us some if it's not." he continued to eat then said, "Maybe need to hunt up some game, try an' keep it small, not so much gone to waste. Animals appreciate it I 'spose, if I have to take a buck of any size." He grinned, "Maybe fetch up a couple rabbits. Make a good stew."
He finished the first plate and helped himself to another, turned, and asked, "More, Love?" He set his plate on the tailgate, the idea was to stand for the remainder of the meal. Then another cup of coffee.
"Yes, please." Emeline held her plate out for a refill. "Just a little." It was nice to have a hearty meal after the bare minimum last night, and breakfast today. "Just save room for dessert!" That could wait for later, when they had everything done and were ready to settle for the night.
"I've got some extra biscuits we can use for breakfast, and to munch on on the trail, and maybe a surprise or two!" It was a perk of being a cook, especially since she'd had plenty of experience on the trail and working with basic equipment, and having to please hungry miners. She could do a lot with a little.
"Hopefully, that river isn't too deep, I'd hate the setback." She didn't mention that she just hated river-crossings in general, especially when the water was past the horses' bellies and the wagon had to float. It was just unsettling, even though she'd never had a mishap.