Chapter Four
Having started their travels early in the early morning, Adam and Sarah reached the Truckee River at a decent hour and followed it; stopping only when absolutely necessary. While the two had talked very little, Adam had quickly realized just how independent the young woman called Sarah Markwell really was. It was her hunting skills that had put rabbit on their plates when it came time to eat lunch.
By the time evening rolled around, Adam had grown tired of the silence and wanted answers. He stopped Sport until Sarah caught up with him, which only took a few seconds as she hadn't been all that far behind him. "Why were you by yourself?" He turned his head and looked at the young woman dressed in a black skirt and light blue shirt; her hair was pulled into a ponytail and hung to her waist. Her speech was that of one who was educated, and she had proved how well she could cook when she'd cooked up the rabbit she'd caught.
"I didn't start my travels alone." Sarah sighed, as she thought on her family. "My father, one of my brothers and I were traveling together, but my brother had a change of heart and hopped a train heading for California. Then my father up and had a heart attack on me and died last month. Since I had all our supplies, I had decided I'd simply take a small vacation and see what there was out here. I know," She chuckled, "probably not the brightest idea me being a woman and all, but I couldn't get myself to go live with one of my siblings either." She then turned her head and smiled at Adam. "Before I knew it, I felt as if someone was literally pulling me up to that cliff. You know the one just above where you camped. I guess the man upstairs figured if I was going to do that, then I could mix some of his business in with my travels." She paused and then asked, "What's your story?"
Adam frowned slightly. He should have known that by asking her for an explanation she'd want to know his. Only thing was, how was he supposed to tell a complete stranger what had happened when he couldn't even get himself to tell his own family? On the heel of that question came the memory of when he had realized Matsu was back on their land, and that he, Adam, felt strongly that something had to be done. Still, he wondered now what had possessed him to propose Matsu put him through the "Journey of the Dead". After all, there were other challenges less painful that he could have suggested. Not wanting to discuss it with Sarah, Adam shrugged his shoulders and answered, "I'm going to Placerville. I have a few friends I haven't seen for a while." He tapped Sport with his spurs and started moving again, only this time Sarah stayed right beside him.
Sarah gave him a slight nod and said nothing. She wasn't blind. She could tell something was troubling him, but she wasn't going to press him to talk. Though, she did find it somewhat annoying that whoever was pushing her to stay with him couldn't at least find some way of telling her what she was supposed to do. It's not like she really wanted to be seen traveling with a man who wasn't at least a male relative.
As if Adam had just read her mind, he said, "As long as you insist on coming along for the ride, I think it best if we say we're cousins."
The fact that he was obviously concerned about her reputation felt rather nice and reaffirmed the feeling she'd had that he was a good man. "We should start looking for a place to camp again." She looked up at the sky, "And we best see if we can find some shelter while we're at it."
Adam looked up at the clouds and sighed. The darkening sky, caused by thick clouds that were starting to roll in, were evidence enough of why Sarah had said such a thing. Good thing they both carried some sort of tarp with them. Looking around, Adam spotted a few trees he could wind rope around, making it possible to put some sort of "tent" up, one with enough room in it to make it possible for there to be a decent amount of space between himself and Sarah. "We'll have to make our own." He headed for the trees and explained his idea. A few hours later, they had the "tent" up, had eaten some dried jerky and had bedded down for the night.
Adam smiled and whistled as he and his brothers moved the cattle. It was a warm day, but not too warm and it felt good to be on the drive with his brothers. As he turned to face Hoss and Little Joe, Adam's eyes widened. Matsu was riding along side his brothers and looking at them as if he was debating which of them he would attack.
"Stay away from my brothers!" Adam hurried and did what he had to in order to put himself between his brothers and the Bannock Indian.
"Make me!" Matsu's eyes darkened as he lifted up his fist; it held a bloody buffalo bone.
Thunder rolled through the air as Adam's screams filled the air, causing Sarah to sit up right. Again, out of habit, she went on alert, but did not make a move towards Adam until his screaming stopped. Even then, she moved cautiously as she spoke. "Adam, it's okay, there's nothing here that will hurt you. Maybe get you a bit wet if you leave the tent, but not harm you, or I."
Adam, who had once again been trembling slightly, took a couple of deeps breathes and shook off the nightmare that had reached out and grabbed him once more. "I'm sorry." Adam said after a few moments. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Sarah moved a bit closer and laid her hand upon his shoulder. "I've been woke before. Don't let it bother you."
Adam turned his head and looked into her eyes. He could see the compassion she had for him in them. "You need to talk to someoneā¦" his father's words came back to him. Adam sighed as Sarah took her hand off his shoulder and moved back to her bedroll. For a moment he thought about telling his unexpected guest everything, and then he lay back down and did his best to relax. Soon he was fast asleep. Only after she could see Adam was asleep did Sarah relax and do the same.
