A Home at Trail's End (16 page)

To help keep their relationship moving smoothly forward, Elizabeth was doing all she could to help in the preparations for Malinda's wedding. Every evening, along with Amelia and Belinda, she helped with the sewing on Malinda's dress. At the rate they were going, it would be finished long before the actual date. She and the girls were also helping Malinda with another large quilt, which she assumed was for what would be Malinda and Will's wedding bed. Elizabeth had even donated some of her own favorite fabric scraps to be used in the log cabin design, and as the days and weeks had rolled by, the quilt was turning out to be quite beautiful.

“Are you making a quilt for you and Eli?” Amelia asked Elizabeth on Monday evening.

Elizabeth paused from threading her needle. “I have a nice quilt packed in my wagon that still has lots of wear left in it.” She pointed to her sewing basket. “I'd rather put my time into getting those curtains finished,” she told her. Certainly it would be lovely to have new things for her new life with Eli, but Elizabeth had no regrets for the way she was going into this marriage. Already she and her children were counting the days until the wedding date.

On Tuesday morning, after finishing with chores, Elizabeth rode Molly over to her mother's house, and from there they walked together to Matthew and Jess' house. “Did you hear about the Thompsons?” Elizabeth asked her mother as they walked.

“The family with the stallion that Asa has spoken of?” Clara said.

“Yes. Their farm is a few miles north of the school,” Elizabeth told her. “According to the children, the Thompsons lost their best calf to wild animals on Sunday night.”

“Oh, dear. That's too bad. But the stallion is all right?”

“As far as I know.”

“I'll tell your father. He may want to bring our stock near the house at night.”

“Yes. That's what Malinda and I are doing. She thinks it's a coyote pack.”

“All the nights we slept in the tent, I never heard coyotes. Not once,” Clara said.

They were on Matthew and Jess' property now. “Oh, look at all they've done,” Elizabeth exclaimed as the small cabin came in sight. Built completely of logs, like her parents', it had a stone-lined path and smoke curling from the chimney. “The last time I was out here, the walls weren't even half up. Now it looks like a home!”

“You're here!” Jess called as she came outside to greet them.

“This place is so sweet,” Elizabeth said as they exchanged hugs. “I can't wait to see your cabin.”

“First I want to show you what I've done outside,” Jess said as she pulled on a gray woolen shawl that had once belonged to Clara. She led them around the property, showing where she'd made a good start on some rail fences for livestock as well as a seedling garden similar to Elizabeth's. “And I just planted garlic yesterday.” She pointed over to a corner of the garden.

“Wonderful,” Clara told her. “It's good for warding off colds.”

“And I put onion sets in over there,” Jess said proudly.

Elizabeth patted her back. “You're a real farmer now, Jess.”

“I can still see you on the trail.” Clara chuckled. “Back when I thought you were a boy. Out there riding your horse with your head in your farming book.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Yes. I remember how shocked I was to discover you were a girl.”

Jess looked slightly embarrassed. “I must have seemed rather pathetic.”

“No.” Elizabeth shook her head. “You seemed very sweet. A girl who wanted to be a farmer. You won my heart right from the start.”

“And Matthew's too,” Clara added.

“I still can't believe this is our very own farm.” Jess waved her hands. “All this beautiful land. Sometimes I want to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.”

“I'm sure it's a world different from life in St. Louis,” Clara said.

“It will be so exciting to see what kinds of plants will thrive here,” Jess said as she led them back to her cabin. “I've read enough to know that this soil might not be as fertile as it looks.”

“Asa keeps telling me that our future will be in dairy farming,” Clara told them. “But I'm not so sure. With this mild climate, I expect we can grow almost anything.”

“It depends on the soil,” Jess explained. “I've read about soil amending. And I suspect this soil will require some work.”

“I'm already saving ash from our campfires,” Clara told them. “Sometimes that's good for soil.”

“And I have JT collecting manure to use for fertilizer,” Elizabeth said. “But it will take some time to age properly.”

“In time, we'll figure it out,” Clara proclaimed.

Jess held the door wide open. “Welcome to our home!”

“It's charming,” Elizabeth said as she removed her riding hat. “And it smells good too.” She recognized one of her mother's rugs over in the sitting area, as well as a rustic pair of chairs that she suspected Matthew and Brady had built. Brady's woodcarving skills were coming in quite handy in the frontier.

“Come see what Jess has done in her kitchen,” Clara told Elizabeth. “You won't believe it.”

Elizabeth went over to the kitchen area and blinked in surprise. “Wallpaper?” She turned to Jess, who was giggling. “Where on earth did you get wallpaper out here?”

“It's fabric,” Jess confessed. “I saw it at the mercantile, and thought it was so pretty, I wanted a way to see it every day. That's when I decided to attach it to the wall. When it gets dirty, I'll just take it down and wash it.”

“Very clever.” Elizabeth went over to touch the bright red-and-yellow calico. “It's so cheerful.”

They visited happily as they ate soup and bread together, and then they sat and sewed on Elizabeth's wedding dress for nearly two hours before Elizabeth knew it was time to go back to Malinda's. “Your house is just perfect,” she told Jess as they hugged goodbye. “Tell Matthew his big sister is proud of him.”

“And we'll see you on Thanksgiving,” Clara reminded her.

There was a chilly breeze blowing as they walked back toward her parents' cabin. “I know we won't have much winter here in Oregon,” Elizabeth said as she turned her collar up, “but it does feel like it's getting cooler.”

“Your father said it's getting to be perfect hunting weather. But he wants to wait to go out with Eli. And Eli wants to finish your house first. Did you know that they finished the little house for Brady?”

“No, I hadn't heard.”

“It's very small. Even smaller than the parsonage. But Brady seemed pleased with it. And he's been building some furnishings for it. I gave him a few things, but with his earnings from the trip, I told him he could probably find a few things at the mercantile to make his place more comfortable.” She sighed. “Except I don't think he cares to go into town too much. He's worried that some folks might not be too friendly, if you know what I mean.”

“I don't see why Brady should be concerned. He proved himself on the trail. Everyone from the wagon train seemed to be fairly accepting of him by the end of the trip.”

“It's the other settlers that concern him.” Clara frowned. “No matter how far you go, you can never seem to get away from hatred. Well, that is, until you get to heaven. Brady ought to feel right at home up there.”

“I asked him about coming to church a while back, but he told me he holds his own worship services under the trees and the sky.”

Clara laughed. “That'd be highly preferable to some of the sermons Reverend Holmes has subjected the rest of us to.”

“Well, if you see Brady, tell him that I'm happy to go to the mercantile and do his shopping for him,” Elizabeth declared.

“He might be around here,” Clara said as they walked toward her cabin. “He's been awfully helpful with Asa lately.” She lowered her voice. “And don't tell anyone, but Asa's been teaching Brady to read.”

“That's wonderful. But why is it a secret?”

“At first it was because Brady was worried that he was breaking the law. But then he said he just wants to surprise everyone. He hopes that he'll be able to read from the Bible at Christmas.”

“I won't tell a soul.” Elizabeth spied her father carrying a load of firewood toward the cabin. She greeted him and inquired about Brady.

“I reckon he's working on his own little house today,” Asa told her. “Or else he's helping Eli. I'm on my way over there as soon as I fill up the wood box. I promised Eli I'd help him with a door.”

“A door,” Elizabeth said dreamily. “Just imagine.”

“Don't you go imagining too much,” Asa warned her. “Might spoil the surprise.”

“I'm so anxious to see the house,” Elizabeth admitted. “I'm tempted to ride Molly over there right now and sneak a peek.”

“Don't you dare!” Asa scolded.

“That's right.” Clara shook her finger at her. “Your young man is working as fast as he can. Don't you go and ruin his surprise.”

“Yes, yes…I know. Don't worry, I won't break my promise.” Elizabeth untied Molly's rein from the hitching post her father had set up in front of their cabin.

“Eli is working so hard.” Asa laid his load of firewood in the wood box and then stood straight and looked at her. “I don't know when I've ever seen a man so motivated, Elizabeth.”

She smiled. “He's a good man, isn't he, Father?”

“Yep.” Now he tipped his hat to them. “And if you'll excuse me, ladies, I will be on my way. I'm sure they're wondering if I'm ever coming back.”

“Tell Brady that if he makes a list of things he needs from the mercantile, I'd be happy to shop for him. Also, I have some things I want to give him for his little cabin.”

“I will let him know.” Asa untied his mare and eased himself up into the saddle.

“And give Eli my best,” Elizabeth told him.

“I'll do that.” Asa nudged Penny, and as they headed off toward Elizabeth's property, she stood and watched longingly.

“Less than two weeks now,” Clara assured Elizabeth.

“Ten more days to be precise.” Elizabeth swung into the saddle. “Every morning Ruth reminds me.” She laughed. “Almost as if she were counting the days until Christmas.”

“I'm sure it'll feel like Christmas for both JT and Ruth—for all of you once you get into your own home.”

“Yes. Ruth tries not to complain, but I know she's getting weary of sleeping with Malinda and me. However, JT will probably miss sleeping in the barn with his cousins. He's gotten quite close to Todd and Bart.”

“At least they'll be nearby. Speaking of JT and Ruth, that reminds me…” Clara peered up at her. “Would the children like to stay with us for a few days after the wedding?”

“Oh, I don't know.” She pulled on her riding gloves. “They'll be so excited about the new house.”

“Elizabeth,” her mother said firmly. “You and Eli might like some alone time after your wedding. I know you love your children, but you and Eli might be more comfortable if you don't have them with you on your wedding night.”

Elizabeth giggled as she pulled her felt hat down more tightly on her forehead. “Yes, Mother, perhaps you're right. I'll ask JT and Ruth if they'd like to visit you after the wedding.”

“Or maybe they'd prefer to remain with Malinda and their cousins.”

“I'm sure we'll figure it out. See you on Thanksgiving, Mother.” Now she kneed Molly, and waving, she was on her way. She really did want to go over and check on Eli and see her house. She was also curious to see where Brady was living and get a list from him. She could think of many excuses to wander on over to her own property. However, she knew she had to keep her word. And so, trying not to feel left out, she turned Molly back toward Malinda's.

As she came to the brushy place where she'd seen the Indian woman before, she decided to slow down. Would she possibly see her again? This spot was close enough to hear the creek bubbling along. And so she slowed Molly to a complete stop and just listened for a spell. She listened to the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the sound of the creek tumbling along toward the river. She was almost ready to leave when she thought she heard something besides the wind and the water. Or perhaps it was just her imagination.

She held her breath as she strained her ears to listen. Peering into the brushy area where it seemed the rustling sound had come from, she tried to see through the shadows. Perhaps it was simply an animal—a deer or raccoon or rabbit. Or was someone back in there? She was tempted to dismount from her horse, but she worried that she would make a sound and frighten whoever or whatever was there. And so she just waited, quietly stroking Molly's neck lest she make a noise.

Then, just as she was about to give up, the rustling sound grew closer. And suddenly an Indian woman emerged from the shadows. Elizabeth knew it was the same woman, but this time she could see her more clearly. Her long black hair hung limply, and her dark eyes were a mixture of sadness and fear. She wore a dirty threadbare dress, little more than a rag. But it was the small shadow behind the woman that caught Elizabeth's eye. A child perhaps? The Indian woman looked as if she was afraid to move as their eyes locked.