A Home at Trail's End (10 page)

Asa pointed at Elizabeth now. “I know you were worried about being the last one to get your house built, Lizzie. But it's plain to see that you and Eli are benefiting from our recent experiences.”

“That's right.” Matthew reached for an apple. “We made our learning mistakes on our own houses. Yours should turn out the best of all.”

“I am truly grateful,” she said.

“Looks like you'll have a right fine house,” Brady told her.

“It sure does.” She smiled at him and then turned to Eli. “I was a bit surprised that the house isn't sitting on the stone foundation I made…”

Eli nodded as he chewed a piece of bread and jam. “I hope you're not too disappointed 'bout that.”

“It was my idea to forgo the foundation,” Asa told her. “Without mortar, it just wasn't sturdy enough to hold a house up.”

“I got us some mortar in Empire City,” Eli explained. “But not enough to do a proper job on the whole foundation.”

“Besides that,” Matthew added, “it would have taken a week or more just to get the foundation ready to build on.”

Brady waved over to the house. “And just think, Miss Elizabeth, we'd hardly have any house built at all right now if'n we were still putting them stones together.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Well, that makes perfect sense.”

“And all those stones you gathered will be just fine for the fireplace,” Eli assured her. “I reckon we have enough mortar to do that job properly.”

“I bet you'll have the best-looking fireplace in these parts,” Asa told her. “Your ma will be jealous.” He elbowed Eli. “Clara's already at me to make a trip to Empire City to find her a cookstove like you got for Elizabeth.”

Eli laughed. “Good luck with that, Asa. I'm afraid it was a case of plain good timing that I happened along when I did. Otherwise I'm sure someone else would have snatched that stove up first.”

“Well, I promised Clara we'd have the Prescotts order us a nice big cookstove by this time next year. That is, as long as we get some crops in and some livestock birthed by then. But I don't see any reason why we won't. This land looks like it's just bursting to produce goodness.”

They all chatted hopefully about the future as they ate. Then, as the meal wound down, Eli excused himself, heading back over to the house as if he was ready to get back to work. Elizabeth, eager to have a moment alone with him, followed. “I brought Flax to keep you company,” she said as Flax came alongside her. “And maybe he can help make the bears feel a little less welcome.”

“Good idea.” He leaned down to scratch Flax behind the ears. “You going to scare that bear away, boy?” Flax wagged his tail.

“I'm truly amazed at what you've accomplished here,” she told Eli. “I never expected to see this much progress.”

“I couldn't have done it without your family.”

She ran her hand over the wood that framed where the window would go. “Getting this milled wood has made everyone's work easier. Thank you for doing that.”

“I did it for us, Elizabeth. For you and me and the children.”

“Is Matthew right? Is this house truly going to be finished in two weeks?”

“If we stay on course.”

She looked down at her feet. “So we could set a wedding date?”

He reached for her hand, squeezing it. “I don't see any reason not to.”

Their eyes met, and she felt a warmth rushing through her.

“You pick the date,” he said, “and I'll be there.”

She laughed. “That's just what I'm going to do.”

As the men went back to work, she packed up the food basket and bid them goodbye. Then, instructing Flax to stay with Eli, she happily rode over to see her mother. It was still somewhat amazing to see their little cabin sitting proud and square—inhabiting what had been bare land just months ago.

She found her mother outside, sweeping dirt out the front door. She waved and called out a welcome as Elizabeth slid out of the saddle.

“Well, look at you,” Elizabeth said as she walked up to the cabin. “You're in your house!”

“That's right.” Clara leaned the broom against the house. “Come on in and look around. I'm still getting things unpacked and put away, but we've slept in here the past four days.”

Elizabeth tapped her toe on the carpet that was covering the packed dirt floor. “Aren't you glad you brought this along?”

“Oh, my, yes.” Clara shook her head. “It's wonderful to finally have a real roof overhead. And I don't want to complain about the dirt floor, but I do look forward to when Asa can put in a real floor. He ordered some lumber through the Prescotts. Sounds like we should have it in a few weeks. Maybe before Christmas.”

“Speaking of Christmas, I need to look at a calendar.”

“A calendar?” Clara looked around the room, which was cluttered with crates in various stages of unpacking. “I know I have one somewhere. I'm just not sure where.”

“That's all right, Mother. I just wanted to let you know that Eli says we can set our wedding date. The house will be finished in about two weeks, and—”

“Two weeks?” Clara blinked. “Why, it seems they only just started it.”

“They're making good time. And the milled lumber is speeding it up some too.”

“I'm so pleased to hear that. You and Eli could have your wedding in December. Even before Christmas if you liked.”

Elizabeth sighed dreamily. “Oh, it would be so lovely to be in our own house…all of us…by Christmas.”

“What about Malinda and Will's wedding?”

Elizabeth returned to the present. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I know they're getting married the third Saturday in December.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. Their wedding is just a few days before Christmas. And certainly, Eli and I won't pick that date for our wedding.”

“Perhaps you could get married on the first Saturday of December—unless that's too soon.”

“That would put two weeks between the two weddings.” Elizabeth considered this. “But I'm not sure about having our wedding before Malinda and Will's.”

“What in the world would be wrong with that?”

“Wouldn't it be stealing the thunder from their big day?”

Clara laughed. “Goodness no, Lizzie. Remember, this is the frontier. Old social conventions don't necessarily apply here.”

“It would be so wonderful to move into the house before Christmas.” She touched a finger to her chin. “Not only that, but it would get us out of Malinda's house in time for her to put things back together before her own wedding.”

“You see,” Clara told her as she opened a box of sewing things. “A perfectly good reason to have your wedding first.” She pulled out the pretty blue fabric that Ruth had admired at the mercantile on the day of its grand opening. “Looks like I'll need to get busy with this.” She stretched out a length of the shiny fabric. “I thought perhaps I'd put some tucks in the bodice, and I have some lovely pearl buttons packed away somewhere. Perhaps a touch of lace on the collar?”

They discussed dress designs for a while, and then Elizabeth excused herself to return to Malinda's. “I can't wait to tell her the good news,” she said. “Hopefully she won't mind that our wedding will precede hers.”

“If she has any concerns, you can simply point out that you and Eli have been acquainted longer than she and Will. Then just remind her that your marriage will free up some much-needed space in her house.” Clara hugged her goodbye.

“Feel free to tell Jess my good news,” Elizabeth said as she went to her horse. “I know she's been looking forward to us setting a date.”

“Two weddings in one month—what a busy social calendar we keep out here in the frontier!” Clara reached for her broom. “That reminds me, dear, your father and I want to have everyone over for dinner on Sunday after church. To celebrate our new home. He'll invite Eli.”

“Wonderful,” Elizabeth called out as she got back onto Molly. “Shall I let Malinda know too?”

“Yes, please do!”

As Elizabeth rode back to Malinda's, she couldn't wait to tell her about the wedding plans. It seemed almost unbelievable that she and Eli could be wed in just a few weeks. But it all made so much sense. And she felt so relieved to know that she and the children would be moved into their own home two weeks before Malinda's wedding. Spending this time with Malinda had been fun, but life would become much simpler for both families after Eli and Elizabeth were married.

Chapter Eight

Y
ou're planning to have your wedding
before
mine?” Malinda looked up from her sewing with a creased brow. “What made you decide to do this?”

As Elizabeth hung her coat on a peg by the door, she regretted bursting in with her good news. She explained that Eli and the men were making amazing progress on the house. “I had no idea it would go so quickly. Having milled lumber has helped immensely.” She described what the house had looked like. “It was so exciting to see it, Malinda.”

Malinda made what seemed a strained smile. “That's wonderful, Elizabeth. I'm so happy for you. But I still don't understand this rush to have your wedding before mine. What about social conventions and wedding etiquette?”

As Elizabeth warmed her hands on the fire, giving the coals a stir and adding another log, she realized she'd been foolish to dismiss her concerns so quickly. As much as she loved her dear friend, she'd known since childhood that Malinda was accustomed to having her way. Growing up as an only child with elderly parents, Malinda had been a bit spoiled. But surely this demanding life on the frontier would have changed some of those old ways. Or perhaps some things never changed. Whatever the situation, Elizabeth was determined to conclude this difficult conversation before the children came home from school even though it was already getting late in the day.

Elizabeth went back over to where Malinda was sitting in the rocker. “Is this going to be a problem for you?” she asked gently.

Malinda frowned. “Well…I realized you and Eli were going to get married eventually, but I didn't realize it would be so close to our wedding date. The same month even. How do you possibly plan to get everything done on time?”

“Everything?”

“Well, your dress and the food for your guests to start with—but besides that, where do you intend to have your wedding?”

“I thought it would be a simple affair. Saturday morning at the church. Perhaps a potluck dinner afterward. And my mother is making my dress.”

“Truly? And she'll have it finished on time? I would think she'd have her hands fairly full housekeeping. Have they moved into their cabin yet?”

Elizabeth filled her in on her parents' news, extending the invitation for Sunday. “But even if Mother doesn't finish that dress for me, I'd be happy to wear my good Sunday dress.”

“Oh, Elizabeth.” Malinda shook her head. “My best friend needs to set her sights a bit higher than that. This may be the frontier, but we are civilized people. Besides, don't you want your wedding to be a memorable occasion?”

Elizabeth bit the inside of her lip. How could she say this without sounding critical of Malinda's values? “Perhaps…because this is my second marriage…perhaps I'm not as interested in the wedding ceremony so much this time. Certainly I want it to be memorable, but I'm content with a small, quiet affair.” She sighed. “To be honest, I think my mother is more excited about the wedding preparations than I am.”

“I hope you appreciate how fortunate you are to have your mother around to help you with these things.”

Elizabeth considered the insinuation. Besides her children, Malinda had no family here in Oregon. But certainly she couldn't fault Elizabeth for that. “I'm here to help you with your wedding, Malinda. And I know my mother and Jess would help too. You must know that. We're your family too. And you also have Will's daughters. Belinda and Amelia are both so excited about the upcoming wedding.”

Malinda made a tolerant smile. “But now you're having your wedding just a short time before mine. It seems rather inconvenient timing and…forgive me for speaking frankly, but…not very considerate.”

Elizabeth tried not to feel offended. “Why do you feel that having our weddings two weeks apart is such a problem, Malinda?”

“It's a very small community, Elizabeth. So small that everyone will expect to be invited to both our weddings. Surely you know that. So obviously we will have the same people as guests. Have you considered how they might feel about attending two weddings within two weeks? Doesn't it seem an imposition? And right before Christmas too.”

“Oh…” Elizabeth thought perhaps she understood now. “Are you worried about gifts? That there will be too much pressure on guests to bring two gifts within such a short period of time? Because I am happy to let everyone know that Eli and I do not expect wedding gifts. I honestly hadn't even thought about that aspect. But I realize this is the frontier. And so many of our friends—the ones we made from the wagon train—are struggling just to get by. I certainly wouldn't want anyone to feel compelled to bring a gift to my wedding. I will insist on no gifts.”