The woman looked up, smiled, and asked, “You hongry?” She had a kind face and a welcoming smile.
“Shore am. I’ve had mostly nothing’ since this morning, and my belly is tellin’ me it’s near empty.”
“Well, I ‘spect we can spare a bowl of stew.” Then she hollered, “Cora, find us another bowl. We’s got another mouth to feed.”
Leroy looked toward the covered wagon and saw a girl close to his age push back the curtain on their wagon carrying bowls for him and their family. Leroy jumped to his feet to help her down, and she thanked him with a nod and a steady gaze.
Suddenly, Leroy felt totally tongue-tied, and when the girl’s mother asked his name, he managed to stutter “L-L-Leroy.” Then Cora smiled really big, and he couldn’t help but stare in wonder at the softness of her face, a sprinkling of freckles across her nose and wisps of blonde curls that escaped her braids. She was wearing a simple calico print dress and a loosely woven pale blue shawl about her shoulders. She was just a few inches shorter than he was and not quite as skinny.
“Well, this here’s Cora, and I’m Misses Willett. My husband’s talkin’ with some of the men in the lead wagon. He shot us a deer last night, and that’s the venison that’s makin’ yore mouth water.”
“Indeed it is. Thanks, ma’am,” Leroy managed to mutter and then turned his gaze toward Cora as he accepted the bowl she handed him. He sat on the ground and waited for the stew, but he kept sneaking quick glances at the lovely Cora who would catch his eye each time.
She then walked straight toward him, plopped down and scooted closer. Leroy took a deep breath and held it when she turned to face him and asked, “What’d you say yore name was?”
Again, Leroy found it difficult to talk and for just a minute couldn’t remember his own name. As she continued to stare at him with a questioning expression, he finally spoke, “Leroy,” but in the middle of the syllables, his voice betrayed him and decided to jump up an octave.
Cora smiled and said, “Oh, Leeroy. That’s a nice name.”
Leroy hated to be called “Leeroy.” He much preferred the pronunciation “Laroy,” but coming from her it sounded like an endearment so he didn’t correct her.
The family, which included Cora and her two younger brothers, Ben, six, and Tom, four, all bowed their heads as their maw said grace. Leroy bowed his head but did not close his eyes. As Misses Willett waxed eloquently, Leroy turned his head just slightly, and there was Cora with her big blue eyes wide open looking straight at him. Leroy quickly shut his eyes tight and felt a wave of heat and cold sweep over him all together.
Misses ladled out the stew and asked, “So, where exactly are you headed?”
“Texas, ma’am – Fort Worth, to be exact.” Leroy devoured the stew and turned the bowl up to get the last few drops, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He then nodded at Misses Willett, and sputtered, “Thank ye kindly. That shore was good. I best be gittin’ back to my mule.” He picked up his hat, and as he did, Cora’s hand brushed against his. That sent shivers down his spine. He struggled to stand up, but his knees were so weak he nearly sat back down. He turned to Misses Willett and said, “I reckon I’ll be seein’ you on the trail,” and then he looked at Cora one last time as he turned to go.
Leroy let out a long, deep breath and wiped his brow as he walked back toward Bugger and Molly. He said under his breath, “What’s wrong with me? I darn-near fainted.”
When Leroy got close to his camp, Bugger looked up as he gnawed on some hard tack and asked, “Where ya been? That shore took a long time. Did everthang come out okay?” Bugger chuckled loudly.
Leroy ignored the crass remark and began preparing for bed.
Then Bugger offered, “So you want a piece of my hardtack?”
Leroy shook his head and said, “No thanks. I ain’t hongry.” Then he tended to Molly, got his bedroll out, read a verse from the Bible and dropped off to sleep in no time.
5
A Great Loss
Dappled sunlight filtered through the trees the next morning and coaxed Leroy awake. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to find that most everyone in their group was already up and on their way. Even Bugger was nowhere in sight. Leroy dressed quickly, saddled up Molly and gathered his stuff, but when he put on his shoe, something felt different. He soon realized in horror that his twenty-dollar gold piece was missing. Leroy frantically looked through the grass, his bedroll and practically tore his shoe apart hoping to find his treasure. He racked his brain trying to think if it could have fallen out somehow, but he distinctly remembered seeing it before he turned in the night before. Finally, Leroy let out a deep sigh and finished getting his things and headed out to catch up with the others.
The trail had narrowed down a bit, and with more travelers joining their company, the whole progression slowed to a crawl. The coolness of the morning gave way to the warming sun, and the overhanging trees were budding with greenery and some with tiny white flowers that floated to the ground when a stiff breeze shook the limbs. Birds were chirping and busily building nests, and a large yellow and black butterfly circled about Leroy’s head before disappearing into the thick woods.
It was a beautiful spring day alright, but Leroy took no notice as he was sick at heart over his loss. He goaded Molly past wagons and eventually caught up with Bugger. “Hey, Bugger, how come you headed out this morning and didn’t rouse me?”
Bugger just shrugged his shoulders. Leroy thought it was odd that Bugger didn’t say anything since he was always full of gab. So Leroy spoke more firmly this time, “I said, how come you didn’t bother to rouse me this mornin’ when everyone was headin’ out?”
Bugger began to whistle. Leroy grew angrier by the minute. “Look, Bugger, I have somethin’ to say to you, and you had better answer me, do you understand?”
Bugger finally looked him in the eye and said with contempt, “I ain’t got nothin’ to say to you, boy.”
With that, Leroy jerked Molly’s reigns and pulled up close enough to grab Bugger by the arm and yank him hard. When he did, Bugger grabbed Leroy, and the two of them tumbled to the ground punching and kicking each other. Leroy yelled, “Gimme my gold piece, you thievin’ scoundrel.”
The mules hee-hawed and came to a halt, and the travelers near them all stopped to witness the commotion. Leroy was getting the better of Bugger when a large man grabbed both boys by their belts and pulled them apart. The man spoke sternly, “What’s this all about, boys?”
Leroy sputtered and said, “This thief stole my gold piece.”
Bugger vehemently denied the accusation and yelled, “He’s a liar.”
“No, yore the liar. You took it. You know you did! Now fess up!”
The big burly man said, “Let’s take a look at yore money bag,” and he let go of both boys and reached for Bugger’s bag hanging from his saddle. He dumped the contents on the ground, and quarters and silver dollars spilled out rolling everywhere.
Bugger stood up tall and spoke with disdain, “See, no gold piece, jest silver. I thank you owe me an apology, Leroy, you little squirt!”
Leroy looked sheepish, but he could not make himself utter an apology. He was not convinced. “I know you have it. You probably hid it somewheres.”
The burly man said, “Well, I thank you young fellers oughta kiss and make up,” and he looked squarely at Leroy.
Leroy gritted his teeth, found his hat, crammed it on his head and jumped on Molly. Bugger straightened up, ran his fingers through his bushy orange