Halfway through the mornin', disaster struck. Pa discovered that we were short in the covered wagon department and we had to scramble to round up 'nother one. He said we would have to choose between the cast iron cooking pot and the extra woolen blankets. Thankfully, we found a local merchant willing to loan us wagon...though just for the journey west.
It was a mad scramble to get the homestead cleaned up and the wagons packed, but we did it. The boys were sad to say goodbye to their teacher and townsfolk, as was I, but I heard there was quite a barn-burner in our absence.
The trail was snowy, rainy and cold but we made it to Albert Lea in one piece and without havin' to replace an ox or wagon wheel. The boys and Pa gathered supplies while I prepared dinner and we all hit the hay early. I forget how lumpy and cold the ground can be in these parts....missed my bed somethin' fierce, but I know warmer ground is in our future.
