By noon on the second day, they were sitting in the wagon at the banks of the Mussleshell River. Kid had moved the wagon off road to travel the river banks in search of a narrow spot to cross, and was pleased to see no strong currents. He opted not to mention the possibility of undercurrents, knowing the rocking of the wagon as it crossed the river would be a source of concern to Jessie.
"I think it's a fair assumption that you've never crossed a river in a buckboard before?" he asked as he brought the wagon close to the water's edge.
"I don't think I've ever crossed a river, period," Jessie replied.
"Then I'm going to tell you what to expect cause being a passenger, you're gonna feel like you've got no control"
"Are you sure it's a safe thing to do? Maybe there's a bridge we could cross somewhere along the banks."
Kid set the brake on the wagon and shifted in his seat so he was facing Jessie. "I want you to keep one arm wrapped around me and hold tight to the side of the buckboard with the other hand. The water don't look deep and the mules will likely be able to walk across, but if they gotta swim, I'll be giving em a pretty free rein. Either way, the wagon's gonna rock a bit, even if the wheels are able to roll along the riverbed. Now anytime you're crossing a river this way, there's the chance of the wagon getting stuck in the sludge. If that happens, I'll be giving you the reins and I'll be getting into the water to help the mules. If you're controlling the reins, as soon as the wagon starts moving again, you pull back just a little on the reins, not so much that you're gonna stop the wagon, but enough to give the mules a little leadership."
"I've never done that before, Jed."
"And you likely won't be doing it now, but I want you to know how to do it, just in case. Now you let me know when you're ready and we'll start across."
"How wide is it?"
"Not very. Maybe thirty or forty yards. Once we get started, it won't be more than ten minutes getting across."
Jessie took a deep breath, then placed her arms as Kid had instructed. "I'm ready," she told him.
Kid released the brake and urged the mules forward. Her left her arm tighten around his waist and she leaned her body in close to him as the wagon began to float in the water.
"Mules are swimming," he explained. "Means the wheels won't get lodged... You doing alright?"
Jessie nodded but didn't reply and Kid could see she was holding her breath.
The wagon jolted as it made land on the other side of the river and Jessie uttered a startled sound and grabbed hold of Kid even tighter.
"It's all over, Jessie. We're on the other side of the river. We'll make our way back to the road and be heading toward the town of Roundup next. If you've had enough adventure for one day and you want to stay in a hotel tonight, I'm sure there's a place in Roundup."
"No, I'm alright. Maybe tomorrow night," she replied.
A little after noon they reached Roundup and Kid described it to her as they rode down the main street.
"It's a pretty little town," Kid told her. "Wide main street but buildings are scattered a bit. Up ahead quite a ways are the Bull Mountains. We won't get as far as the mountains today."
Realizing Jessie was still a bit shaken from the river crossing, Kid suggested they stop for lunch and to stretch their legs.
"Sounds fine," she replied.
Kid pulled the wagon up to a hitching post near a small building with the word 'Restaurant' painted on the window. He helped Jessie down from the buckboard and slipped his arm about her waist to lead her inside and to a table near the window.
The menu was written in chalk on the wall and Kid read off the choices to Jessie.
"Beef stew sounds fine," she told him
"Two bowls of the stew and coffee for each of us," Kid told the waitress who then disappeared back into the kitchen.
"You look a bit tired," Kid said as he reached across the table to hold Jessie's hand.
"Just a harrowing morning, that's all," she replied.
"Sure you don't want to sleep in a real bed tonight, feel a bit of civilization again?"
"No, I really am fine, Jed. I know how capable you are. I know how safe I am. It just takes a little getting use to."
"I wish you could see just how beautiful you are," he said.
Jessie laughed. "Two days of traveling like this, beautiful is not a word to describe me," she replied.
"Jessie, if you could see anything in the world, what would it be?"
"That's easy. You," she replied.
Kid smiled. "I wish you could see me. You'd see just how much I love you."
"I already can see that, Jed, and I love you every bit as much. I've never felt safer with anyone. I've only been traveling with you for two days and already I'd let you take me into the wildest jungle."
Kid laughed. "Don't think that would be a good idea. I don't know a thing about surviving in a jungle."
The waitress returned with their bowls of stew and their coffee. "Will you be needing anything else?" she asked.
"Not at the moment. Thank you, Ma'am" Kid replied.
By the time they were finished eating, Jessie had begun to relax again.
"Will there be another town today?" Jessie asked.
Kid shook his head. "I think the next town is Hysham on the other side of the mountains so we won't be there till tomorrow. The pass through there is good, shouldn't be any trouble. How about we walk the length of the town to limber up a bit and maybe buy some peppermints. You like peppermints?"
"They're my favorite candy," Jessie replied.
Kid smiled. "Mine too. The hotel likely has a public privy outside so we could pay that a visit before we start out again."
"That sounds fine, Jed."
Half an hour later they were again seated in the buckboard and ready to start on their way. Kid opened the bag of peppermints and offered the bag to Jessie. She slipped her hand in the bag and took two out. Jed did the same, then reached behind him into the wagon and pulled out an empty cracker tin and slipped the bag inside. "Won't attract animals that way," he explained.
Kid backed the wagon into the street and they once again started on their way, managing to get another three hours of travel in before making camp for the night.
"Might just be beans and bread and coffee tonight," Kid said as he unloaded the things needed that evening.
"There's got to be something I can do, Jed. I don't expect to be waited on hand and foot."
"I brung flour, cornmeal, salt, and a tin of lard. You could make some camp bread while I tend to the mules."
Jessie smiled. "I'd love to do that, Jed. I want to be useful."
Kid gathered the ingredients she's be needing and lowered the back gate of the buckboard so she had a good surface to work from. Then he filled his hat with water for the mules before scooping feed into the feed bags for their supper. When he returned to the wagon, Jessie had a pan of dough sectioned and and a pan of canned beans ready for the grate. Kid made a pot of coffee and placed it among the hot ashes. He added a pot of water to the ashes as well for washing the utensils and plates when they were done eating.
"We'll get through the mountain pass tomorrow and reach Hysham and we can stay at a hotel there tomorrow night. After that it's Harden, then Brodus, then south into Wyoming."
"So the day after tomorrow we'll be in Wyoming?"
"Most likely. We'll still have quite a ways to go, but we should be in Porterville in a week once we're in Wyoming."
Jessie wrapped her arms about herself and gave a little shiver.
"You cold?" Kid asked.
"Just a little."
Kid got up and got the blanket from the seat of the wagon. Returning to the fire, he wrapped the blanket around Jessie's shoulders, then sat down beside her and wrapped his arm about her shoulders.
"Don't want my girl getting cold," he said.
Jessie rested her head on his shoulder, a position that always felt warm and comfortable to her. With his arm still around her shoulders, Kid gently brushed loose strands of hair from her face.
"I suspect this is what being married will be like," he said.
"Jed Curry, you expect us to be living out of a buckboard?" she asked teasingly.
"I can think of worse places to live," he replied without missing a beat.
"Smells like the biscuits are about done," she told him.
Kid moved to the fire and filled their plates. "Beans are at twelve o'clock, biscuits are at six," he said, guiding her hand to the plate and slipping the fork into her free hand.
"Why don't you let me wash the dishes when we're done?" Jessie suggested.
"Sounds good to me. I'll warm up another pan of water so we can clean up a bit before bed. Don't worry, I'll keep my back turned."
0-0-0-0-0-
They spent a long and arduous day traveling through the Bull Mountain Pass. Snow had not yet begun to fall but the temperature in the higher elevations dropped into the thirties, forcing them to stop just to layer clothing. Jessie also added her wool shawl and Kid his Sherpa. Jessie retreated into the canvas protected wagon and wrapped herself in quilts and the wool blanket as well.
"Aren't you freezing out there?" she asked, poking her head out the opening of the canvas behind the driver's seat.
"Warmest coat I've ever owned," he explained, "which is why I keep it despite how worn it looks. This coat has seen me through temperatures a lot colder than this. Besides, it'll start warming up again once we start down the other side of the mountain."
"I can't imagine being out in this kind of cold like you and Heyes were. How in the world did you two keep from catching your death of cold?"
"You'd be surprised what your can endure when you have to, Jessie...No, I take that back. You of all people know how to endure when confronted with obstacles."
Jessie reached a gloved hand out and rubbed Kid's arm. "One of the things I love about you, Jed, is that you admire what I can do, you don't pity me for what I can't."
"Jessie, I highly suspect there ain't much you can't do when you put your mind to it."
"Stop the wagon for a minute."
"What?" Kid asked.
"Stop the wagon."
Kid brought the mules to a stop. "You wanting out of the wagon?' he asked as he turned around in his seat to face her.
"What I'm wanting is this," she said and leaned forward and kissed him.
"Well, that's one way to warm me up," he replied and leaned in and kissed her in the manner to which she had become accustomed.
Jessie laughed. "That is what being married will be like," she said.
"Well, it's a start, anyway," he teased and she gave his arm a playful slap before ducking back inside the wagon to keep warm.
Kid licked his lips, then gave the mules a flick of the reins.