With Names Hill Ford within sight, the front of the wagon train began lining up at the edge of the river. As the Smith wagon continued past the wagons, Angie asked, “Where are we going?”
After Elmer explained to her Homer’s plan, she protested, “Elmer, no!” and stopped in her tracks, “I want to stay with the wagon train! What about Margaret?!”
“Take a few minutes to say your goodbyes,” Elmer instructed as he stopped the mules, “then we’ll be on our way. Besides, ain’t ya tired of the trip? We go it alone, we can be in Sacramento much sooner. You’ll be sleepin’ in a nice warm bed and I’ll be on my way back to Gertie. Don’t that sound good?”
Angie didn’t answer. The idea was not setting well with her and she was having a hard time grasping what was actually happening.
“We ain’t got time for this,” Homer grumbled.
“It’ll only take a few minutes,” Elmer responded to his brother. He then turned to Angie and said, “Go on now, go say goodbye to your friend.”
Angie ran and caught up with Margaret’s wagon.
“I have to say goodbye,” Angie told Margaret.
“Goodbye?” Margaret asked.
“We’re leaving the wagon train and going to Sacramento on our own,” Angie looked sullenly at the ground.
“But that’s not safe!” Margaret argued.
Angie shrugged her shoulders and continued to look at the ground.
“You can come with us,” Margaret offered, “I know it’ll be alright with my parents.”
“I wish I could,” Angie said, “but I can’t. I have to go with them.” She looked over at Homer and Elmer waiting for her.
“But you’re my best friend,” Margaret’s eyes started to fill with tears.
Angie smiled at the distraught girl in front of her. “It’ll be alright. We’ll see each other again in Sacramento. It can’t be that big of a town. Just ask for the Bishops. Charity and Benjamin Bishop. I’ll be living with them.”
Margaret nodded her head. “I will, I’ll look for you as soon as we arrive.”
The girls gave each other a hug and then Angie ran back to her wagon. As they continued away from the wagon train, Angie struggled with her emotions and tried not to look back at Margaret.
She could hear the wagon master calling a muster and she turned to see people gathering at the riverside. She felt panic run through her body as they walked farther and farther away, and looked at Elmer and Homer, hoping they would change their minds. But the realization slowly settled in that they would not be going back to the wagon train. Again, she felt her security being threatened. And again, the overwhelming feeling of loneliness consumed her.
“It’ll be alright,” Elmer assured her, noticing her dismay, “It’ll be just fine.”