A Home at Trail's End (37 page)

Just then Eli came into the house. “I forgot to tell you that your pa left the cover on their wagon, and he's double teaming just like we did on our hunting trip. He wants us to all ride together over to Malinda's.”

Ruth clapped her hands. “And we will sing all the way!”

Within the hour, she and the children were all bundled into the back of Asa's wagon. Jess and Clara had brought blankets and quilts to keep everyone comfortable. And Matthew, with his leg wrapped in wooden splints and resting on a pillow, seemed in fairly good spirits. “Pa and Brady made me a set of crutches,” he told them.

Up front, Eli was sitting with Asa, and Brady, bless his heart, had insisted on helping as well. The plan was to deliver the family members to the barn, and then Brady would park the wagon around back. After that Brady planned to tend to the teams and stay with the wagon.

“But you could play music with us,” JT told him when it was time to unload.

“Yes,” Ruth insisted. “Please, come to the party, Brady.”

He smiled at them. “Truth be told, I'd druther stay out here and take a nap in the wagon. I'm plum wore out from hunting.”

Asa slapped Brady on the back. “That sounds like a right smart plan. When I bring out your plate of food, I might just take a nap out here myself.”

The barn was well lit and bustling with guests by the time they got inside. A few musicians were just starting to warm up, but the music became much more lively after JT and Eli pulled out their guitars. Then, after Matthew got situated on a chair with his leg resting on a crate and tuned up his fiddle, the music got into full swing.

“I'm so relieved to see the hunters are home,” Malinda said as she joined Elizabeth.

Elizabeth stared at her friend in wonder. Dressed in the pale green gown that had been meant for her wedding, Malinda's dark hair was piled on her head, and her pearl drop earrings glistened in the lamplight. “Oh, Malinda, you look as beautiful as a portrait!”

“Really?” Malinda frowned down at her dress. “Just this morning, Ruth told me that green was not the best color for a wedding dress. She said green meant ‘ashamed to be seen.'”

Elizabeth made an uneasy laugh. “Oh, well, that's a silly old rhyme.”

“Maybe. But I realized that I truly had been ashamed to be seen. As you know, I didn't show my face in church last week. But this morning I thought, not only am I not ashamed to be seen, but I shall wear my wedding dress tonight. And I shall dance to my heart's content!”

“Good for you.” Elizabeth patted her on the back. “And I suppose you've heard about Will's role in the hunting trip by now.”

Malinda's eyebrows arched. “No…I haven't seen Will. Is he all right?”

“Yes. He's fine—”

“Come on, Ma.” Bart grabbed his mother by the hand. “You promised to dance the first dance with me. Let's go.”

Malinda laughed and waved as she and Bart hurried over to join in a circle dance that was just starting. Elizabeth went over to where her mother and Jess were standing on the sidelines, tapping their toes to the music and watching as merrymakers started the dance.

“Malinda hasn't seen Will yet,” Elizabeth told them. “I wonder if he is even coming tonight.”

“Maybe he wasn't invited,” Jess said. “After all, Malinda made plans for this party while the men were out hunting.”

“But wouldn't Jeremiah have told his father?”

Clara shook her head. “I expect we will have to wait to see.”

“We don't have to wait long.” Jess nodded toward the door.

Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder to see Will, dressed in party clothes, entering the barn behind the Holmeses and with Mrs. Taylor by his side. He looked around the barn, and then his eyes stopped as he spotted Malinda dancing with her son. And that was when he smiled. It was such a nice smile that it made Elizabeth giggle. Will still loved Malinda! She knew it.

When the dance ended, Will went over to greet Malinda, and the two of them disappeared. However, as Elizabeth took a turn dancing with Bart, she was not concerned. After a couple more dances, Will and Malinda reappeared in the barn, but now they went their separate ways. Malinda headed for the musicians, and Will, with a serious expression, returned to where the Holmeses and Mrs. Taylor were standing near the door. Was he going to leave and go home?

“Excuse me, folks,” Eli said loudly from where he was standing with the other musicians. “We have an important announcement to make. If you could all gather round and give us your attention for a moment.” Malinda was nowhere to be seen now. Had she gotten upset? Had she decided to put an end to this celebration? Surely not.

The partiers, caught off guard, grew quiet and looked at Eli. Meanwhile, Will was leading Reverend Holmes through the crowd. Once they got up front with the musicians, Will said something to Eli and then turned to face the guests.

“I have an announcement,” Will spoke in a loud and clear voice. “As you all know, we had intended to hold a wedding here just one week ago. But that wedding was postponed. Now, if you would oblige us, we would like to hold that wedding tonight.”

The surprised crowd began murmuring among themselves as Eli started to lead the musicians in playing a song—not one with a lively dancing tempo, but a quieter piece that seemed suitable for a wedding. At least for a barn wedding. And now Malinda, escorted by her older son, Todd, was coming forward and wearing the sweetest smile ever.

Reverend Holmes appeared to be prepared for this unexpected occasion, and opening his Bible, he proceeded to perform a simple ceremony. It wasn't long until the happy couple was repeating their wedding vows, and then the reverend pronounced them man and wife and the whole barn erupted into cheers and clapping.

Toasts were made and congratulations were shared, and the barn grew noisier and happier than ever. Young couples crowded around to dance while the older ones went to the house to fill their plates. All in all it was one of the merriest Christmas Eves that Elizabeth could remember.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

O
n Christmas Day, Elizabeth's family gathered at her house as planned. They opened presents first, and for a while the room was noisy and lively, but it slowly quieted down. And compared to the previous evening it was a calm celebration. Clearly everyone was a little worn out. Especially the men, still recovering from their hunting excursion. But Christmas dinner was tasty, and no one went hungry. Afterward, Ruth and JT performed “O Come, All Ye Faithful” for the family, and then they all sang some familiar Christmas carols together. Finally Asa opened the Bible—but then he handed it to Brady.

The room grew quiet as Brady cleared his throat. Haltingly but clearly, he began to read. “And it came to pass…in those days, that there went out…a decree from…” But he had to stop when he reached the name Caesar Augustus. Smiling shyly, he handed the Bible back to Asa while everyone clapped. And then Asa continued with the beloved story of the first Christmas.

Just a few days after Christmas, Ruth burst joyously into the house. “Mama, Mama, we have four baby chicks,” she declared. “
Four!
”

Elizabeth paused from stirring biscuit batter. “That's wonderful, Ruthie. Do they appear to be in good health?”

“Yes. They are so sweet, Mama. Can I bring them in the house to show you?”

Elizabeth thought. “Perhaps not. But I will go out and see them right after breakfast.”

When Elizabeth went out to survey their increasing flock, she could see that Ruth was right. All the chicks appeared to be sound and healthy. “Hopefully this is just the beginning,” she told Ruth.

Seeing the baby chicks reminded Elizabeth that she needed to check on Mara and Rose. Between Christmas festivities and having the children on break from school, it had been difficult to slip away the last few days. But today JT was out helping Eli build the fence, and Elizabeth knew the perfect excuse to distract Ruth for an hour or so.

“We really have more eggs than we need,” she told her. “And I don't plan on going to the mercantile until Friday. Why don't you take this basket over to share with Grandma and Grandpa? And perhaps you could take half of the eggs to Uncle Matthew and Aunt Jess. And of course, you will have to tell everyone about the new additions to our farm family.”

Naturally Ruth was delighted to run this errand. She was barely out the door when Elizabeth began loading some food staples as well as the remainders of an elk roast into a basket. She hurried over to the cabin, but just as with each other time she'd gone, she felt uncertain as she went. What would happen if some of their Indian-hating neighbors found out? But as always, when she saw Mara's face as she opened the door, her fears evaporated.

“Come in,” Mara insisted.

“Hello.” Elizabeth stepped inside.

“Hello!” Rose declared loudly.

“Don't you look pretty!” She leaned down to stroke the little girl's head. Today her brown hair was smoothed into two tidy braids. Mara had obviously put the comb Elizabeth had given her to good use. She stood and began to unload the basket into Mara's arms and onto the crate that Mara was using as a small table. After the basket was empty, Elizabeth looked at Mara. “How are you?” she asked looking down at Mara's well-rounded tummy. “How is the baby?”

She rubbed her belly. “Good. We are good.”

“Good. I'm glad to hear it.”

Mara smiled faintly. “He is boy child.”

Elizabeth blinked. “How do you know?”

“He kick like warrior.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth laughed. “It was my girl child that kicked most.”

Now Mara laughed.

Elizabeth looked around the crowded space. “Do you need anything?”

Mara pressed her lips together then nodded. “Knife.”

Elizabeth frowned. She had given her a knife already, though not a very good one. “I thought you had a knife.”

“Yes.” Mara nodded firmly. “I want
sharp
knife. Hunting knife.”

Now Elizabeth felt slightly alarmed. Why would Mara need a sharp hunting knife? Surely she didn't plan to hurt anyone.

Now Mara went over to a corner of the room, picking up a skin of some sort. “I want to cut.” She held it up. “To make moccasin for Rose.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth nodded eagerly. Now she understood. “Yes. That's a good idea. I will bring you a sharp knife.”

“Thank you.”

Elizabeth reached for the door. “I'll go get one and bring it right back,” she promised. Mara thanked her again, and Elizabeth hurried back to the house. She wished she could send JT back on this errand, but she knew that was impossible. As it was, she wanted to get the knife to Mara before Ruth returned and got curious.

In the next few days, nine more baby chicks hatched. “Thirteen chicks,” Ruth proclaimed proudly on the last day of December. “That's a baker's dozen.”

“And I suspect that's all we can hope for,” Elizabeth told her. “The other eggs should probably be thrown out by now.”

“But maybe the chicks are still coming,” Ruth said hopefully.