On the south edge of the Ponderosa Ranch a lone covered wagon crosses the grassy field towards the river, it's passengers aim is to get to Carson City, a man with tanned skin like leather, soft blue eyes, and a hearty grin sporting a tan, weathered cowboy hat, white long sleeve button down. brown britches, and brown cowboy boots, a Colt pistol strapped to his side can be seen holding the reigns of the two driving horses, sitting beside him in a blue dress that matches her bonnet which hides her beautiful soft, dark, almost black hair under it, looking to be in her late twenties to early thirties, she smiles at her husband as she works on sewing up a hole in a boys, white, button down.
Elijah White sighs looking at the river that they came upon and shakes his head when he sees that it's out of its banks and puts on the brake on the wagon than looks at his wife "Looks like we have ta wait until she runs down a bit to safely cross 'Lizbeth," he says to her in a strong, kind voice.
Elizabeth looks up from her sewing at the river and nods "How long before we can cross Eli?" she asks in a soft, quiet tone.
He shakes his head looking at the sky seeing the sun directly above them "it's noon now, looks like we'll have to wait till tomorrow if it doesn't go down soon," in a disappointed tone wanting to get to Carson City and find his family a home.
Elizabeth nods slowly placing a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder "We need to tell Cass," she says feeling slightly put down at having to wait another day.
Elijah nods and gets off of the wagon helping her down as well than he scans the prairie looking for someone "Cass!" he yells than smiles when he hears the sound of a horses galloping hooves coming towards them.
As she crests the hill her parents had just went down a young girl the age of twelve wearing boys, rawhide trousers, a brown button up top, black cowboy boots with her mother's brown eyes and her fathers brown hair that at the moment is hidden under a black cowboy hat, and riding a brown and white painted horse gallops towards them, she stops and slows to walk than makes her horse stop in front of her father "Yeah pa?" Cassandra White asks her father the smile still on her face from her ride as her left hand sits on her hip above where a hunting knife in a leather sheath sits.
"We're gonna half to wait until tomorrow to cross darlin' the river's too high to safely cross," his voice very serious.
Cassandra nods her smile faded from her face "Alright Pa, we're campin here?" as she holds her horse steady.
"Cassie must you run that horse so fast? Poor Paint is plum tuckered out," Elizabeth scolds her daughter gently.
Elijah chuckles at his wife "Let her alone 'Lizbeth that ol' mare can take it, she's got plenty of grit," he says with a smile than answers his daughters question "yeah, we can camp here tonight and cross in the morning, it should be down enough by then, go cool your horse out than help ma with supper," he says as he goes to the back of the wagon unloading what they'll need for the night.
Casandra nods and walks her horse off a few feet away slowly cooling the mare out so she doesn't get injured.
Elizabeth smiles as she watches Cass her hands going to her stomach and folding over it in a protective fashion as the unborn child kicks inside her she chuckles quietly as she walks to the back of the wagon to help her husband. "She is definitely your girl Eli, and this little one, well, I think he's going to be just like her," she shakes her head with a smile.
Elijah laughs heartily shaking his head "oh don't say that! One tomboy is enough around here ha-ha," Eli gently teases her as he sets out the fire spit and cast iron kettle for his wife.
Elizabeth just shakes her head and chuckles at his teasing but nods with a sigh "I hope Cassie grows out of it soon…. She's almost thirteen, it's time to teach her how to cook, how to help provide for her own family one day," she says as she gets out the tin plates, forks, and the tin cup they all share as well as the bucket of water and the dipper.
Cassandra finishes cooling out the mare and dismounts, she untacks her horse and leaves Paint to graze on the grass walking over to the wagon after placing her tack by the fire. "I'm here to help ma," she says in a slightly grudging tone that's well hidden from her parents as she washes her hands in the river.
Elizabeth nods with a sigh. "Good, you can help me cook the beans," She lists off the meal that they had eaten since they started out traveling.
Elijah sees he's gotten the women folk set up and nods leaving them to cook in peace he walks towards the river looking at it.
Cassandra sighs quietly and nods as she gets a cool drink of water. "Okay ma" she says as she gets the bean sack and holds it for her mother.
Elizabeth smiles as she hears her daughter sigh not really wanting the food herself but doesn't complain as she knows her husband is just doing the best he can for them "I know, it isn't my favorite either, but at least we have food, some folks would think this was the best meal ever Cassie," she says as she measure the beans out into the pan with water to wash them.
Cassandra nods at her mother's words knowing they are true. "Yes ma," she says as she holds the sack of beans. Elizabeth smiles at her daughter as she covers the pan of beans with a lid and places them over the fire to cook and she starts making coffee.