Pronto laughed. "Nope, not unless you decide ta take up chaw, which means us kissin' might not be whot it once was." He declared in jest, knowing that the last thing she might do would be to chew tobacco, now spitting. He was none too sure about that, most folks have the need now and again, so tat one was up in the air.
"No tellin' whot lies ahead fer the rest 'o this trip, I do agree with you though, we've about had more'n enough excitement fer one lifetime, 'cept maybe the birth 'o them childern you keep talkin' about. The ones with all them odd names." And he chuckled. "Problem is we still got weather, summer storms an' such, but we could get lucky, an' I don't know of two more deservin' folks than us, ta get lucky the rest of the way." He was serious about that.
"How many is that?" Emeline asked with a grin, "a dozen? Two?" She laughed, resting her hand on her belly. "Mother Nature wouldn't dare anger a pregnant woman!"
Laughing, she snapped the lines, moving on, glad that her feet were dry, unlike Barnabas'. "And don't you go thinking you can go warming those feet against my legs tonight!" She stuck out her tongue at him for an instant, then pretended to be concentrating on her driving.
"Reckon I been told about cold feet. This here wouldn't be a bad spot for bathin', was that somethin' you was considerin', given the chance." He replied. "Well take the noon break. Let them horses graze some before we hitch 'em up and gets ourselves movin' again."
As nice as this all was, he was beginning to want to get home more than to be on the trail. Somewhat odd for a part-time wanderlust, yet this was different, he had his own home to go to, a wife, and expecting the arrival of his firstborn.
The urge to press on just wasn't there. To move as fast as possible, without a doubt, yet not push for Emeline's sake. Of course, if she wanted to push, then all bets were off and they would pick up the pace. Home was beginning to have a flavor all it's own.
"Bathe?" She hadn't thought about that, but then she hadn't thought about much but getting across that river! "That's a grand idea! If the horses need to rest anyway, I may as well, while the weather is nice." She laughed. "Or we could just wait until the next downpour, and dance in the rain!"
So long as there was a good place to wade in, the idea of a refreshing bath was nice. "You'll join me, of course, won't you? There's no need to tell my husband!"
"Dance in the rain? Now there's an idea, but then, more rain'll slow us down some." He pointed out, not that we got any control over such things. And, with alight current, an' not much close to shore, this'd be a good'a time as any."
"You'll join me, of course, won't you? There's no need to tell my husband!"
"Well, sure, I'd be glad to, an' he ain't payin' you no mind anyhow. 'Cept, one of us needs to stand watch. I ain't sayin' there's danger afoot, but likely as not, was we both in that river together, no guns ta hand, somethin' bound to happen!" He stated reluctantly, as getting in the river with her was quite the offer. Yet caution took precedence over pleasure. "So you take yers, I'll keep an eye out, then we can switch. How's that?" Poor choice, but a necessity.
"If we must," Emeline murmured with an exaggerated sigh. Of course, there would be plenty of time to play once they got home, but there wouldn't be any playtime if they didn't make it home because they let down their guard on the trail. "I'll try not to use up all the water!"
The area where they finally stopped wasn't particularly private, but it was shaded, and it wasn't as if there any other traffic on the trail! Emeline was unabashed about preparing to take a quick dip in the river.
"Barnabas, I'm going to rinse out some clothes while I'm bathing, do you have anything you want washed?" It was warm enough that she could hang the laundry around the wagon to dry as they moved on.
He watched as she started to undress, and yes, she was starting to show. He thought then, that perhaps they had waited too long to start this rugged trip home. "See to it you don't." He chided. "I got some, hold on an' I'll get 'em."
He jogged to the wagon some five yards off from the river, the horses close to hand, and picketed. He quickly grabbed what needed washing from a bag on the side of the wagon. The idea of taking a bath was not really of concern, it was the idea that there could be others about, red or white, or there could be bears, mountain lions, and the like. On the move all that could be true, along side the river they were open to anything.
He snatched the clothes from the bag and turned to see that Em was fully in the water and he smiled. An opportunity missed. it was then he saw him, standing in the trees holding his horse, His arm raised palm out. "I mean you no harm white eyes. I am Kicking Bear, Cheyenne. I could have easily killed you and taken what I wanted. But your squaw is with child, there is no need I have for your things I warn you to be careful, I am alone, but there may be others, uneducated as I am." He slipped up on his pony's back, "Safe travels to you and your woman." And he crossed in front of a stunned Pronto Pike and disappeared into the trees.
He looked toward the river and his precious Em.
Unabashed, as she didn't realize they had company, Emeline waded into the river, staying close to the shore, although the water was deep enough here that she could crouch down and let the water wash over her. She had a camisole and bloomers with her that she swirled around, to wash away the dirt and stains.
It felt good, to get the dust off her body, but she was careful to keep her hair up and dry, it was too much trouble to deal with more than the braid she had it in now. At home, there'd be a proper bath, and hopefully, home wasn't that far off!
Turning to look back at the wagon, she frowned. "Did you say something, Barnabas?" Or was he talking to himself?
"Uh, no, no," he mumbled, not liking being taken by surprise, especially in a situation that could well have been terminal for both of them, but way worse for her, then he wondered how to tell her, except straight out.
"We just had a passing visitor. A Cheyene name of Kicking Bear. We had words, he spolke real good American. Then he rode on." He explained. "Not to worry, if he meant harm, we'd be dead already."
But what he said about there were others would have him on his toes hence forth. Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho were still about. The Custer fight was not that far in the past, so anything was possible.
"What?!" Without even thinking about it, Emeline crossed her arms over her breasts, only realizing just in time that she'd let go of her wash, and her petticoat and chemise were floating away! With a gasp, she dove for the clothing, grabbing it just before it was out of range, then used that to cover herself.
"There was an Indian here?" She wasn't sure what bothered her more, knowing that there were savages so close by, or that a stranger may have seen her in her altogether! "Oh, Barnabas, is it safe?" Suddenly, she wanted to be safe at home, where doors could be bolted and there were others around to deter trouble.
No longer interested in bathing, she waded from the river, keeping her sopping underthings over her front until she could wrap up in the blanket she'd laid over a bush before she'd gotten into the water.
"Oh, Barnabas," she sighed, "this has been so much fun, and I wouldn't change anything, but I want to be home."