Rose's Pledge (42 page)

Nate had yet to return with water from the pond they’d passed at the bottom of the last rise. What was causing the delay? She tried not to think the worst but couldn’t stop her angst from building.

The marvelous blaze Robert had going dispelled the cold for a radius of several feet, and they all took advantage of the simple, yet vital pleasure. But Rose caught the repeated glances he flicked in the direction his partner had taken. His expression revealed nothing, but Rose sensed his concern over Nate’s absence.

He cleared his throat and stood. “Think I’ll go see what’s keepin’ Nate.” As he retrieved his musket propped against a nearby tree, Rose noticed with a jolt that Nate’s weapon remained there. She watched Robert start down the hill.

Just then Nate came into view coming up the rise. Rose’s knees nearly buckled with relief as he grinned and held up a dead rabbit by its hind legs.

Robert shook his head and joined him.

Meat! Fresh meat! Rose’s mouth watered at the concept of actual food—fresh, hot, and glorious.

The frontiersman looked so comical with her too-small cloak belted around his muscular form, his gear dangling against his long legs as the men strode to the fire, but who could think of laughing at someone who’d part with his own garment out of concern for her? After they all ate, she’d insist they swap back. One blanket Star had brought along had been sacrificed as diapers for the baby, but the other, wrapped around the cloak, provided Rose sufficient protection from winter’s cold.

Nate handed her the pan of water he’d brought from the pond and held the critter aloft. “This li’l fella took one look at me in this pretty cloak an’ was so dumbfounded he stood there, stock still, starin’ for all he’s worth. I figgered it was only kind to put the poor confused fella outta his misery. One swift throw of my knife did it.”

The man was proud of himself …but not half as proud as she was of him. He’d brought the food they’d need to make it through the day.

Shining Star, however, was more interested in getting to the necessities than in hearing about the daring deed. Snatching the creature from Nate’s grasp and the knife from his sheath, she slapped the rabbit down and began skinning it right there.

Rose squelched her amusement by setting the water near some hot coals. Straightening, she changed the subject. “How long should it take us to get back to the Delaware River?”

The men traded glances before Nate answered. “Considerin’ the snowfall an’ the fact we won’t have a cleared trail to walk on, I’d say two weeks. What’s your reckonin’, Bob?”

He cocked his head. “That an’ mebbe a day or two more …unless we can get to usin’ the trail fairly soon.”

Rose looked from one to the other. “But isn’t this the same one we came in on? It took more than a month to get here riding horseback.”

“With a loaded-down pack train and cows,” Nate added. “We had to load an’ unload ‘em every day, plus get all that truck across all them rivers. Then we had horses comin’ up lame, an’—” He paused and stared at her. “Speakin’ of comin’ up lame, there’s some tricky ground ahead. Lots of ups an’ downs. I don’t want you women takin’ no chances. If you need help, holler.”

“I seem to recall doing a bit of hollering while we crossed that slick log yesterday—for all the good it did me.” Rose stifled a teasing smile.

“That does bring back a faint memory.” Nate flashed a grin but quickly sobered. “I got you across that thing just fine. But up ahead there’ll be holes for twistin’ your ankle in an’—” He stopped and glanced into the woods.

Rose followed his gaze, wondering what he might have heard.

“Anyway”—his expression exhibited no new concern as he continued—”I’m gonna hunt you gals some walkin’ sticks while you cook our breakfast. Me an’ Bob’ll have you all fixed up.”

He turned on his heel and started away but swung back after taking only a few steps. “By the by, Miss Rose. You’re lookin’ mighty fine in that fur robe. Yessir. Mighty fine.” A playful grin lit up his hazel eyes. “I’ll make a mountain woman outta you yet.”

For three tension-filled days, the men took turns hiking close to the trail, waiting, hoping, praying for the moment the Indian war party would give up searching for them and turn back. The weather remained bitingly cold, but at least there’d been no more snow after the last storm. The ground retained some drifts in spots, but where weak rays of sunshine managed to melt it away, the earth was frozen too hard to be muddy …or to leave their footprints. Whenever Rose was not within his sight, Nate had to remind himself continuously that the Lord was looking after them.

From time to time, however, discomfiting memories of periods in the distant past ate at him, times when Christians had been martyred for their beliefs or thrown to lions. He could only trust that his party would not meet such a fate.

As the overcast afternoon began to wane, Nate veered off the eastern trail and headed north in search of Bob and the others. Soon it would be time to make camp for another night—another cold night without a fire. Or maybe just a tiny fire, just big enough to roast the beaver he’d come across earlier that day. He’d heard a loud
snap
near a stream and discovered a beaver caught in the claws of a white man’s trap. It seemed the Lord had once again provided supper for them as He’d done for Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. Nate hefted the critter high to admire his catch, imagining the tasty feast it would make.

Perhaps instead of martyrdom, he should concentrate on manna. But try as he might to recall the Twenty-third Psalm, which he’d memorized as a child, he could only resurrect one phrase:
“though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”
That part had really caught his imagination.

Bypassing a moldy reed bog, Nate reminisced on his days as a lad, remembering his pa. The big strapping man had set a fine example for his sons. He’d been a faithful, hardworking disciple of God, but that had not kept him from being taken from his family while they still needed him. And little Jenny’s folks had both been cruelly torn away from her. So many happenings seemed to lack purpose. Unanswered questions kept challenging Nate’s faith, and all the while he was away from Rose and the others, worry was a constant companion.

On his way here, he’d crossed a creek with noticeably thin ice. What if it broke open when Rose tried to cross it? He should be there to see her safely to the other side, not way out here where he couldn’t help.

Movement on the edge of his vision interrupted his musings, as a group of people stepped stealthily through a stand of birch trees. They were too close to the trail to be his friends. Lowering the heavy beaver to the ground, Nate slipped behind a thick oak and raised his musket as they came steadily, silently, in his direction.

Had they found the rest of his party and killed or captured them?

Were they now searching for him?

Deftly, he inched forward to peer around the tree.

A huge whoosh of relief left his lungs. Rose …Bob …and Shining Star, toting the baby on her back! They’d made great time in this section.

Clutching the beaver more securely in his grip, he stepped out from the cover of the tree.

Instantly, Bob’s musket swung toward him. Then, emitting a frosty cloud of breath, Bob lowered the weapon and strode to meet him.

Nate’s attention went to Rose, who gave him a weary smile.

A hard lump centered inside his chest. If only they could afford to take a day to rest, but that was one luxury they could ill afford. Someday soon he’d make up to her for all she’d endured since arriving in America …or die trying. “What are you doing so close to the path?” he asked in the same quiet tone they’d used the past four days.

His partner gave a noncommittal shrug. “Couldn’t be helped. The last ridge was too steep that far out an’ covered with ice. How close are we to the trail, anyway?”

“‘Bout a hundred yards, easy.”

Bob’s brown-black eyes clouded as he frowned. “Any sign of the trackers?”

“They’re still on the move.”

“Well, at least we know they’re a ways ahead of us.”

Nate huffed. “Only if they didn’t decide to start backtrackin’ today.”

Concerned as he surveyed the area, Bob turned to him. “Since we’re this close to the trail, let’s cross over to the other side. They could easily figure out what we’re up to and send some of their men down this side, like I’d do if I was leadin’ ‘em.”

Nate kneaded his chin. “If we do go over to the other side, we could keep on goin’ down to where Smith’s partner set up his post on the Little Kanawha. Course, for all we know, the French could’ve sent men there, too. They’ve been pretty busy.”

“Aye.” Bob eyed the tired women. “Best we just keep workin’ our way out where we know it’ll be somewhat safe.”

“Well …” Nate looked up, judging the remaining daylight. “If we’re gonna cross, we better do it now.”

“Aye.” Bob gestured for Rose and Star to join them. “We’re gonna move to the other side of the path.”

“Why?” Rose’s features scrunched up in puzzlement.

Leave it to her to always have to know the reason for everything
. Nate slid an exasperated glance heavenward. “The trackers are less likely to look for us on the south side. That’s why.”

She nodded in chagrin then followed after Bob and Star, who had already started off. She smiled at Nate and pointed to the dead beaver as she walked past him.

He returned her smile and fell into step behind his Rose of Sharon. Just having her near again calmed him. And even if she did insist on knowing all the answers for everything, he knew her trust in him was growing with each passing day. He wondered if his trust in God would ever be that strong.

Lord, I suppose You know how hard it is for me to trust You when
I
don’t know if Your plan for us is to be saved or martyred. An’ You must know I got a powerful hankerin’ to spend a whole lot of time lovin’ that woman
.

Chapter 37

S
now still shrouded the uphill terrain in spots the sickly December sun could not reach. In the week since they’d set out on this arduous journey on foot, Rose knew her legs and ankles had grown much stronger. Even her shoulders had become accustomed to the weight of Jenny’s cradleboard when it was her turn to carry the child.

Little Jenny Ann was having the time of her life on her never-ending piggyback ride. She seemed to sense when everyone’s mood was light, and then she’d coo and giggle during her waking hours. If the mood was tense, she’d clam up and look from one morose face to the next without making a sound. She seemed especially drawn to Nate and would tangle her fingers in the beard he’d acquired along the way. When he nuzzled her, the wiry hair on his chin made her laugh.

The Lord enabled the men to find meat every day now, and Rose began to look on the trek as an amazing adventure.
How do I thank You, dear Father, for allowing us all to witness Your wondrous workings? I pray that both Nate and Star will come to realize that You do care for Your people and are in control
. She emitted a tremulous sigh. If only she could be sure of Nate. He was becoming dearer to her with each passing day, and she knew her life would be empty if he weren’t part of it.

An icy breeze whipped across her face, and she pulled his fur robe tighter around herself. The brawny frontiersman still swapped it for her cloak now and again, though it offered him pitiful protection from the elements. Even the bottoms of his leggings hung in shreds since he’d cut off strips to build the raft. But comical picture or not that he made, she loved her backwoods longhunter with every fiber of her being.

At the front of the group, Robert signaled for her and Shining Star to stop and hide. He raised his musket.

Rose felt only a modicum of concern. The men took this precaution whenever an unexpected sound or sight caught their attention. Detecting the noise herself, she scanned the area for a wild animal.

But it was Nate whose footfalls made the incredible racket as he came sprinting toward them through a stand of dense pines.

Had they been discovered? Her heart pounded hard as she crouched with Star behind a boulder hardly large enough to conceal one of them.