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Creative Writing: Alma's Journal

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Gabe came down to see her and patted the mule. Amos had quit grumbling when the blindfold came off. Now he held his head up, his chin on the edge of the roof. “Thinks he’s on a sight-seeing tour.” Alma smiled, “It is beautiful. I never imagined riding down a big river like this. I’ve floated sticks down the creek, guess if an ant rode the stick, this is what he’d feel like.” “Kind of. Captain Jones says we should make fifty to sixty miles today. Water’s flowing good and there’s not that much traffic.” “How long ‘til we get to this here, Cairo?” “Cairo, Illinois. I don’t know,” he looked up and asked the boatman who was listening anyway. Alma was glad they hadn’t tried to whisper, wouldn’t have done any good. “Three days, maybe more. Sometimes …show more content…

“Yep, but with the downturn, lot of river pirates to watch out for. One reason I took you on, said you had a rifle. You any good with it.” “Hit what I aim to,” Gabe said. Alma looked at him, knew he wasn’t boasting, from the deer he’d shot for her. “Pa taught me, and I’ve got my own gun. I can shoot if there need be,” she said. The Captain snorted and Gabe looked over her head in exasperation. Alma closed her eyes, remembered too late Ma’s advice. A woman wanted to get along in the world, she should keep her mouth closed when men are talking. Ma had never followed her own advice, unless Pa and the boys were drinking. Alma had never had reason to until the morning Pa hit her. She stared down and stirred the beans. She couldn’t do it, after a minute or so she raised her head and spoke to Gabe. “Don’t have nothing but these beans and bread. Bread’s near done, beans won’t be ready until supper time. Wish I had some meat to fry up with it.” Gabe flashed her a look and she didn’t need him to tell her not to share their bacon or pemmican. She shook her head at him once, then added. “Fish would be …show more content…

Then she looked coyly at Gabe. He lifted her up to sit on the edge of the roof with the other two men and ordered the hound down. When Gabe scrambled up beside her, she looked at the men who were waiting patiently. She bowed her head, whispered, “Thank you God for your bounty, and please protect us on our perilous journey.” She raised her head, pushing back her bonnet to feel the breeze on her heated face. “Go on, use your knives or fingers,” she said as she took a bite of her bread. Minutes later, it was the Captain who handed the rudder to Steve and stepped down to pass the dipper of water. Alma drained it and handed it back. Gabe smiled at her, amazed at how pretty she looked with her eyes shining and her smile appearing between every bite. It was good, and he noticed the men were enjoying it too. It looked like the Captain had finished his already, which was why he probably had jumped down. After everyone had washed down the food, the Captain asked. “Reckon we could eat more bread now?” Alma looked as though she were pondering a deep question then nodded. “Of course,” she looked ready to jump down but the Captain said. “Let me.”

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