So I'm back to continue writing to my fans, if I have any. Ha, don't worry I'm kidding. This chapter covers two more weeks diary-style. Next chapter they will be in the very eastern part of present-day Nebraska. After this, chapters will be mostly third person POVs for every two or three days. Also, their time in the mountains will be the hardest part of the story. This chapter will have a minor event that drives George over the edge.

Chapter 7: Weeks 2 and 3

Day 9,

Yesterday Bob got sick. He coughed all day and all night. Today he feels better, but I'm still driving. I told him that he's driving tomorrow. I don't care how sick he is, I'm tired of driving. He should be better tomorrow anyway by the way he's sounding.

Day 10,

Bob is driving today, I am sitting in the back, facing east, facing home. I have begun to miss my family. I guess that's normal, but I'm now understanding the fact that I won't see them for probably years. Bob has made a full recovery and is back to his normal self. We met a family and we are traveling together. They are in front of us. They seem nice, two brothers and a sister. Everything is OK. I'm going to stop writing now because Bob just fell off the wagon. He's OK, he just lost his balance.

That night, George heard the sounds of rustling, he awoke and saw a figure rustling through the wagon the men shared.

"HEY!" He grabbed his nearby rifle. "Hands up or I'll kill you where you stand. Don't make me do it!"

The man pulled a revolver on George. "No, your hands up or I'll shoot you."

"Out of fear, George shot. The bullet flew through the air and pierced his heart. The other family awoke, the three of them rushing over to George.

"What was that?" The sister asked.

"Someone was trying to steal our stuff. He's dead." George was shaking, he killed a man. It had been different with the Indians, as he thought they were savages and subhuman. (No Rascism intented. I have nothing but respect for Native American people. Many white men thought like that during the 1800s.) But this was a white man, a true man. Yes, he had tried to take his stuff, but still he didn't deserve to die.

The older man comforted George. "It's OK, you had no choice. That's how the west is, any crime is punishable by death. You have to understand that.

George stopped shaking, "OK, but I still don't feel good about doing it."

Bob walked over and pocketed the man's revolver.

"What are you doing Bob?"

"He's dead, he ain't gonna need it anymore."

George sighed, "I suppose you're right. Keep it, I don't care.

Day 11,

Yesterday I did a horrible thing, I killed a man who robbed me. I don't care if it was self-defense or not, it doesn't seem right just to end someone's life like that, maybe I'm just paranoid about it. Bob says I need to calm down. But I don't know how to respond.

Day 12,

The family that has been traveling with us had to stay behind to look after the sick younger brother. He has pnemonia or however you spell it. (I do know how to spell it, George doesn't.) They don't know if he will make it. They told us that they will meet us in San Francisco when they can.

Day 13,

We have been traveling west for almost two weeks straight. According to our map, we are about 500 miles east from the very first ridges of the Rockies. I don't understand how we have covered so much ground in so little time. I fear that those mountains will be hell for us. We are running low on food, so Bob went hunting and brought back more squirrels. We have done the math and we are traveling about 20 to 40 miles a day. So we won't be much longer until we reach the Rockies. Maybe 14 days until then? I don't know.

Day 14,

It's almost April, and you know the old saying 'April showers bring May flowers'? Well, today came a HUGE rain. We used our sheets to cover the back and took frequent turns driving just to be safe. But we still might get sick.

Day 15,

It rained again today, but not as hard as it did yesterday. It's been nice getting a break from the hot weather. Our sheets still are a makeshift cover for the wagon. Bob said he'd drive for the day and if he got sick again, he'd get sick again. So I'm sitting on the back of the wagon, saved by the sheets, writing in my diary.

Day 16,

It stopped raining this morning, but the sheets still are useful to shade us on this hot day. We went hunting again today and managed to get a deer and a few rabbits too. We took shifts today, I drove before lunch, and Bob drove after. We crossed another river today, the horses managed to hold up. We plan to take the day off tomorrow so we can let them rest.

Day 18,

It's getting more hilly everyday, a sign we're leaving the grasslands. I guess that things will be slower as the hills get steeper, but who knows. Bob's in the back, drinking whiskey. I'm driving today, since Bob drove two days ago. The wagon lost a wheel right before sunset yesterday, luckily, Bob knows how to fix wheels. I see another river up ahead, so I have to stop writing to make sure we get across safely.

Day 19,

We are on the rolling hills now, short but frequent hills have completely replaced the flat grassland we had been traveling on. It rained again today, another sign of April showers. I drove again today, wearing my hat for protection. It's ice cold rain too, can make the hottest person shiver. I don't know why Bob isn't complaining like I am, he's acting like this weather is normal for him, but it's not. I don't understand that man sometimes.

Day 20,

It sprinkled a little this morning, ever since it's been cloudy with no rain. I like this weather, it makes days more tolerable. IThe wagon has been showing signs of wear and tear. I'm not suprised, after all, we bought it used, but I don't know if it will hold out for the trip. Tomorrow marks the end of the third week. We've traveled pretty far, but we're not even halfway there according to the map. I can't believe that it's going to take more than six weeks, that's alot of travel time. Bob says that it won't take anytime. Maybe he's right. . .

That's it for now. This week won't have any chapters so don't expect any, however I will be writing another next weekend. Thanks for waiting. If you want to help, you can always review this to tell what I need to improve on. I DO know that Bob isn't as noble as George, that's part of the plot and his personality, so don't say anything like "Bob is a monster, make him nicer.". Bob will have some redeeming qualities, he's not completely heartless. George will be the primary protagonist as well, while Bob will have more of a dueteragonist role. Thanks for reading!

UglyTurnip.