Snippet #1796511

The cry went up to set camp. Immediately the brothel was set up and the children tucked away. The saloon went up and between the two many of the men were detoured from setting up their families arrangements for the evening. The women, Melanie and Daiyu included kept the children inside the wagons.

Nathan insured his family was set for the night before heading off to the saloon. A game of cards was calling his name. Melanie, the anger clear in her voice read a bit to her children before tucking them in for the night and laying down herself. Daiyu, still shaken from the day slid quietly out of the wagon and moved to the central fire. A few of the men were sitting around, keeping watch until all the dwellers of Hell on Wheels had settled in for the night. Daiyu sat apart from them, some mending in her hand. Under the guise of needing the firelight to sew she sat.

She could not get the image of the Indian's face, his eye looking at her out of her head. She cast a glance to the reverend's wagon. No one stood guard and she knew he was not unconscious as they thought he was. Daiyu's eyes turned to where the new man lay on his bedding. He was going to sleep outside. Her eyes turned back to the mending that sat on her knee. She fixed the hem of Helen's petticoat and a few buttons on Nathan's shirt before she headed back to the Porter's wagon.

Climbing in, she lay on her blanket. Slowly the camp became quiet. The men stumbled back to their families or passed out in the saloon. Nathan climbed in sometime later and he and Melanie began a quiet, harshly whispered argument about money he may have spent. They two eventually fell into an uncomfortable silence.

At some point Daiyu drifted off to sleep. The camp grew completely still and in the dark no on had noticed the Indian escaping from the reverend's wagon.

A cry awoke the majority of the camp the next morning. Nathan climbed out, Patrick close on his heels as he went to inspect the wagon along with a great deal of the men.

Melanie grumbled, "I have a headache. Take care of the children Daiyu." Daiyu nodded and steered Helen out of the wagon. She ushered the little girl into the bushes, not as far as the previous day so that she could relieve herself. That done they returned without incident to the wagon. Daiyu set the little girl about playing with her doll while she gathered the children clean clothes and some breakfast.

The meager meal was prepared, the children dressed and made presentable and their wagon ready for the road. Nathan had returned to eat telling Daiyu about the mess in the reverend's wagon. There was plenty of speculation as to how the brave had done it but the only certainty was that he was gone. Nathan expressed that he felt the man gone permanently, knowing better than to attack the caravan again.

Daiyu was not sure, she had seen the look in the man's eye. Nathan changed into a clean shirt and pants. Around them the camp was torn down and readied for travel. Waiting for the call to move out the Porter's climbed into the wagon and waited. Melanie still lay on her blankets and Daiyu kept the children quietly playing, not wishing to disturb their mother.

"Yui sing please? It will help momma's head and Patrick will be quiet." Helen stuck her tongue out at her brother. Daiyu smiled at the girl and pulled her into her lap. Patrick came to sit closer as well. Daiyu began to sing softly, loud enough for the children but not enough to disturb Melanie. It carried out the back of the wagon, a faint noise on the wind as they waited for the caravan to move.