"Yes?"
"There's a New Year's dance at Laramie. Will you let Barbara go with
me?"
"Laramie's a long ways off."
"We'll go one day and come back the next. She can stay with Sergeant
Driscoll's wife overnight."
"Have you asked her?"
"She said she'd like to go."
"You'll have to ask her mother."
"I know. She said I'd have to have your permission and her mother's."
Joe hesitated, then thought of Emma's wisdom. She would know exactly
what to do, and Joe said,
"It's all right with me if it is with her mother."
"Thanks again, Joe."
They left the logs beside those already at the new building site, and
Ellis wandered toward the main post where he lived with Snedeker. Joe
stabled the mules and fed them hay and grain; animals that work hard
should eat well. He filled his lungs with the crisp air and turned
toward the quarters Snedeker had given him and his family. Joe frowned
as he did so.
Laramie, staffed by soldiers and with the best freighters at its
command, was still strictly utilitarian. Though their quarters at
Laramie had been comfortable, they had not afforded what Joe was
beginning to think of as the luxuries they'd had in Missouri. Snedeker's
necessarily offered less than Laramie. The cabin was wind- and
weather-tight, but it was crude. Built as quarters for men, it had a
large kitchen served by a fireplace and a larger bunk room with ten
bunks and a bigger fireplace.
By stretching buffalo hides from ceiling to floor, Joe had divided it
into three rooms; one for Emma and himself; one for Barbara and little
Emma; and one for the four boys. Each had privacy, and using their own
mattresses and quilts on the bunks added to their comfort. But it still
lacked conveniences and Joe thought Emma was beginning to feel the
strain. She looked tired and worn, or was that his imagination? It
couldn't be, he decided. Tad was seldom in the cabin except for meals
and Barbara helped her mother. But the youngsters could go out for only
short intervals, and keeping four children happy in such a place would
be a strain on anyone.
Joe opened the door, entered, and closed the door quickly to keep the
cold wind out. He stamped snow from his boots. The youngsters rushed
across the floor to meet him. They clustered about his legs while he
removed his jacket and hung it on a wooden peg driven into the wall.
Barbara waved from the fireplace. Joe kissed Emma and after one swift
glance at his face she stepped back to raise an inquiring brow.
"Is something wrong?" she asked softly.