Her Believing Heart (The Surveyor's Daughters Book 1)

by Vicki Hunt Budge

  Evan turned to take a different way down from the rise. He had run into a lava rock outcropping on his way up, and had startled a rattlesnake. Fortunately, he had heard the movement of the snake as it coiled for a strike. He had changed his course, causing him to shove his way through a bunch of thistle bushes, and he was more careful where he placed his boots after that. Evan was especially careful where he placed his hands. His hands were still sore from all the thistles and thorns that had worked through the holes in his gloves. He didn’t want a snake bite to add to his misery.

  Once Evan headed downhill through thick trees and bushes a strange feeling came over him. He felt impressed that someone or something was watching him. He stopped and glanced around, and when he did, his stomach clenched. The muscles in his legs tightened, ready to spring ahead, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. The menacing greenish yellow eyes of a mountain lion leered at him from high in a nearby tree. If the big cat sprang, it would be on him in seconds.

  Evan slowly raised one leg and slipped his knife from his boot. All he could think about was how much his family needed him. With his other hand, he raised the red and white rod, holding it straight out in front of him. The cat’s eyes never wavered. The methodic swaying of his tail caused a brief hypnotic feeling in Evan, but a low snarl snapped his mind into action.

  Facing the big cat, and standing as tall as possible, Evan began to sing. The first song that came to his mind was Grandfather’s Clock, a song his mother had taught him when he was a little boy, and one that he had sung to his sisters when they were little. Evan sang soothingly to the cat. He took a few steps backward as he sang, all the while holding out the rod and watching for movement. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he stepped backward, trying not to snag his boot, or lose his balance as he crept downhill. He knew that if he fell, he might never make it back to camp.

  After slowly taking a few more steps backward, and elevating his singing volume to robust, he reached the chorus of Grandfather’s Clock. He sang the ticking of the clock even louder than the verse. The rhythm of tick tock, tick tock gave him courage, and it seemed to mollify the big cat.

  Evan continued to step backward, being extremely careful of his footing. He was just starting to feel like the mountain lion wasn’t interested in him, when the big cat sprang from the tree. Evan’s first impulse was to run, but he clutched the rod and his knife tighter, and stood his ground. His heart pounded and the heavy, musky smell of the cougar made him feel sick. The cat didn’t charge, but stood defiantly in front of Evan, breathing heavily. Evan stepped backward again and started singing a different song. He’d learned this one in church as a boy, and it was a song he loved to sing with his family. Onward, Christian Soldiers burst forth, and when the big cat seemed puzzled, Evan stepped backward again.

  Walking downhill through bush and over rocks proved difficult and time consuming. Sweat poured off Evan’s forehead. His stomach growled, his feet hurt, and the repulsive odor in the air threatened to make him throw up. But the cougar slowly placed one paw in front of the other, and Evan sang louder than he had before.

  He had just started on the first verse again, when he heard the roar of Mr. Gardner’s rifle.

  Nellie was checking her corn bread when she heard Evan singing. She straightened and looked toward him on the rise in the distance. He was so far away, she wasn’t sure what he was singing at first, but she smiled as his beautiful tenor voice reached her. When his voice grew louder with the tick, tock, tick, tock, she giggled.

  “Is that Evan singing?” Alice asked.

  Nellie laughed. “Oh, it’s him all right. He’s sure in a good mood for the end of a long hot day.”

  “Guess he’s happy that the survey’s almost over.”

  “Me too,” Nellie said. “I’m ready for a real bath with warm water and some of Ma’s good cooking.”

  Charlie walked up beside them and studied the scene before them. “Evan’s sure happy tonight,” he said. “Must be looking forward to a warm meal prepared by his favorite cook.”

  Nellie pushed at his arm. “Don’t be silly,” she said.

  “I’m not blind, you know. You two are getting to look like lovesick puppies when you’re around each other.”

  Nellie pushed at Charlie’s arm again, harder this time, and then she turned back to checking her corn bread, hoping she wasn’t blushing too much. About that time, Evan disappeared from view, but they could soon hear him belting out Onward Christian Soldiers. After several minutes of that song, Evan’s hat and red shirt appeared again coming out from behind some trees. He was still a long way from camp.

  “Why does Evan look weird?” Alice asked.

  Nellie squinted and studied Evan off in the distance again. “I think he’s walking backward. Why would he be doing that?”

  About that time, Nelson hobbled out of the tent where he and Mr. Gardner had been going over their notes. He watched Evan for a few minutes, and then nudged Charlie. “Get your pa’s rifle,” he said. “Hurry!”

  Charlie ducked into the tent, and emerged with Mr. Gardner just as Evan started singing the first verse of Onward Christian Soldiers again. Mr. Gardner took one look at Evan walking backward and singing loudly. He raised his rifle, causing Nellie and Alice to cover their ears and shot into the air. The roar of the rifle bellowed throughout the valley.

  “What’s happening, Pa?” Nellie asked, but then she saw Evan charging down the hillside. He crashed through bushes and jumped over lava rocks. And he no longer sang.

  “Mountain lion!” Evan called out as he ran into camp. He bent over trying to catch his breath, and then stood. He looked at the bewildered survey crew, threw his head back, and roared. “I never saw an animal move over a hill as fast as that cat when the rifle went off,” he gasped. “Didn’t know I could run so fast either.”

  It was all Nellie could do to keep from throwing herself into Evan’s arms. Instead, she clutched her chin and cheeks with both hands. “Are you all right?” she asked.

  Evan leaned over again, his hands on his upper legs, his breathing still coming in puffs and pants. But he laughed. “I’m fine,” he said, his huge grin putting everyone at ease. “I don’t know who was more frightened, me or that big cat.”

  Nellie pursed her lips, but managed a smile. She felt shaken, almost as if she had faced the mountain lion herself. “I’m so thankful you’re safe,” she said.

  Mr. Gardner leaned his rifle up against the tent and grasped Evan by the shoulder. “You have a mighty fine voice,” he said. “And a great sense of composure. Come and eat. I have it on good information that we’re having peach cobbler for dessert.”

  Evan grinned. “Best thing I’ve heard all day,” he said.

  9

  That evening after supper, everyone sat around the fire’s remaining embers. It was still warm enough that mosquitos hadn’t come out, and the crew seemed satisfied to sit and relax for a while. Nellie had served generous portions of peach cobbler from the Dutch oven while Evan shared his experience facing the mountain lion. As Nellie watched Evan’s facial expressions, her heart nearly burst within her. All she could think about was, what if he had been injured or killed?

  “Years ago, my neighbor, Mr. Jones, told me what to do if I ever encountered a mountain lion,” Evan said. “He told me to face the big cat and stand tall. Back then, when I was a kid, I thought I was invincible, and strong enough to wrestle any animal. I used to hope I would come face to face with a mountain lion. When that actually happened today, I wasn’t so brave.”

  Evan looked at Nellie and heat rushed to her face when he grinned at her. She wanted so much to visit with him down by the creek where they could be alone and talk. She wanted to tell him how thankful she was that he hadn’t been attacked, and that she thought he was extremely brave.

  “I would have screamed and ran,” Alice said.

  “You would have been supper for that cat,” Charlie said.

  “I don’t think we’ll see any more of t
hat mountain lion,” Mr. Gardner said. “He’s long gone over those hills and probably trying to put as many miles as possible between him and us. However, you girls should stay close to camp, and everyone else needs to work in pairs. We’re about ready to wrap up here, and I wouldn’t care for any more excitement.” He stood and thanked Nellie and Alice for the fine supper, and the peach cobbler. “I’d better go finish my reports,” he added.

  “I think I’ll go downstream and fish until dark,” Nelson said. “I’m tired, but not too tired to put in a little fishing.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Charlie said. “Sitting by a cool creek and fishing sounds good to me. Evan and his mountain lion have stirred things up a bit, and I don’t think I’ll settle down and sleep for another hour or so. Want to come Evan?”

  Evan looked at Nellie and Alice. “You girls going down to the creek to wash the dishes?” he asked.

  Nellie nodded. She hoped she didn’t look too enamored when he asked about going down to the creek where they had shared their first kiss.

  “I’ll help you,” Evan said. “Still got that mountain lion on my mind, and even though the cat’s probably long gone, I’d feel better if someone is with you girls.”

  “Thank you, Evan,” Mr. Gardner said.

  “If Evan’s helping Nellie, I want to go fishing,” Alice said. “That okay with you Pa?”

  Mr. Gardner looked from Alice to Nellie, and then to Evan. “I think that would be fine,” he said.

  While the fishers got their supplies together, Nellie and Evan gathered the dishes and cooking pots and headed for the creek. Neither of them said anything until they reached the creek bank.

  “You were clever to sing and walk backward when that mountain lion was after you,” Nellie said. She set her dishes in the creek to soak.

  “Oh, that was something Mr. Jones had told me to do back when I was a kid.”

  “I know, but you remembered to do it. I’m sure I would have panicked and forgot his advice.”

  Evan chuckled. “Mr. Jones warned me to stay calm, too, but I didn’t feel calm. I think I kind of froze to the spot for several minutes.”

  Nellie took the pots from him, and her hand brushed against his. She inhaled a breath of air, and lowered the pots into the creek. They spoke at the same time.

  “I—”

  “Nellie—”

  She was in his arms in seconds, and he gently kissed her. “Oh, Nellie,” he said, brushing his lips against hers again. Then holding her to his chest, he groaned. “I’m so in love with you, Nellie Gardner, but it’s killing me. I’m not good enough to ask for your hand.”

  Nellie stepped back, looking into his dark eyes. “You’re the finest man I know,” she said softly.

  He led her to the rocks where they had dangled their feet in the water, and they sat down, taking off their boots and stockings. Once they had their feet relaxing in the cold water, Evan held her hand and rubbed his thumb over her palm. “I come from a poor family,” he said. “My family’s been destitute for years, and your father’s provided a comfortable living for you and your family. I can’t ask you to accept the kind of life I’ve lived.”

  Nellie realized that his concerns were the very ones that had been bothering her for weeks. “But you always work so hard,” she said. “I’ve watched you. I believe you’ll be a hard worker and a success all of your life, just like my pa.”

  “And it doesn’t bother you about the attitude of some of the people in town?”

  “They’ll change their attitudes, and eventually admit they were wrong. I have no doubt about that anymore.”

  Evan brought her hand to his lips.

  “There is one thing that concerns me,” Nellie said, holding her breath. This could make all the difference in their relationship. She looked at him and bit her upper lip, trying to decide whether to ask her question, or not. She reached down and swished her fingers through the cold water. Finally, knowing the answer was important to her, she spoke. “Why don’t you and your family attend church?”

  Evan wrinkled his brow as though surprised at her question. Then he looked off across the creek. It was some time before he spoke. “We don’t attend church because my little sisters have to share shoes,” he finally said. “We haven’t had enough shoes for the girls to go to church or school at the same time. But now, after working for your Pa all these weeks, I plan to order the girls new shoes when I get home. I already promised the girls, and they’re excited.”

  “You don’t worship because your family doesn’t have enough shoes? That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Oh, we worship all right, but we worship in our home. Ma doesn’t want one of the girls to attend church with bare feet, or leave anyone home alone. She wants us to worship together as a family. We sing hymns, study the Bible, and pray together.” He shook his head and looked at Nellie with sorrowful eyes. “But it’s true that we haven’t attended church for quite some time. I guess that looks bad in the eyes of the community.”

  Nellie thought over what he’d said, and it made sense to her that his sisters wouldn’t want to attend church without shoes. But a persistent concern remained. Did the fact that his family worshiped at home and not at church really matter? It shouldn’t make any difference, but for some reason, it still bothered her. And it bothered her more to think that his sisters had to share shoes. She and her sisters shared ribbons and clothing, but only because they wanted to, never because there weren’t enough to go around. They never shared their shoes.

  Nellie brushed at her ear as the buzzing of a mosquito caught her attention. “It’s starting to get dark,” she said. “We’d better get these dishes washed and get back to camp before the mosquitoes feast on us.”

  “I’m going to miss seeing you every day,” Evan said. “You’ve no idea how much these past few weeks have meant to me.”

  “They’ve meant just as much to me,” Nellie said softly, placing her free hand on the hand that held hers.

  Evan stood and pulled Nellie to her feet. “Do you really mean that? Would you really consider spending your life with the poorest man in town?”

  Nellie pulled away from him, and placed her hands on her hips, almost slipping off the rock and into the creek. “I’m going to think on that, Evan Howell,” she said. “I’m going to think on that and pray about it. But I don’t want you to ever call yourself the poorest man in town again. You’re not poor. You are one of the richest people I know in what really matters in life.”

  Evan responded by gently pulling her into his arms. Their kiss filled her with a pounding in her heart, and with joy and hope for the future.

  Two days later, Nellie prepared one of the last meals for the survey crew. She was so happy to have the survey end. She was ready for that warm bath she’d been thinking about and her own bed. She was excited to see the rest of her family. The days had been wonderful out in the open countryside, especially this year with Evan here, but she was tired of dirt, spiders, ants, and the occasional snake in camp.

  Nellie thought back to Evan’s kisses and their last conversation. She still wasn’t sure that Evan’s shoe story was reason enough not to go to church, but she had never gone without shoes in her life. How could she judge? Mrs. Stribling had been resolute that she should marry a man who loved the Lord if she wanted to have true happiness. But if his family worships together at home every Sunday like he said, doesn’t that mean that he loves the Lord?

  Her thoughts confused her, and made her sigh.

  When Nellie and Alice climbed into the wagon that night, they said their prayers as usual. Nellie asked for safety during the night as she had since the first night they camped in the valley. She had prayed about the possibility of marrying Evan for two nights in a row now, but she had not received any type of confirmation that her desire was right for her. She hoped and prayed that Evan was the right man, because the very thought of him filled her soul with a longing that she hadn’t known before.

  After brushin
g their hair and pulling it into loose braids, Nellie and Alice snuggled into bed and pulled up the covers.

  “Did Evan kiss you the other night?” Alice asked.

  “That’s none of your business,” Nellie said, but she smiled into the darkness.

  “It is my business! I’m the one who went fishing so you could be alone with him.”

  “Hush, you silly.”

  Alice giggled. “I know he kissed you,” she said quietly.

  “Goodnight,” Nellie said.

  “I hope Evan kissed you because I like him for you.”

  “Goodnight, you little rattlebrain.” Nellie was almost asleep, thinking about Evan, when Alice shook her arm.

  “Did you hear that?”

  “What?” Nellie asked.

  “That breathing.”

  “What breathing?”

  “Listen.”

  Nellie listened, and squeezed Alice’s hand. Sure enough, there was a raspy breathing sound, almost a guttural growl that came from the tree branches directly overhead. Along with the raspy breathing came a rank odor and the noise of something slowly shifting in the branches above.

  “The mountain lion . . .” Alice’s whispered words were filled with terror, and she dug her fingers into Nellie’s arm.

  Nellie inhaled, wanting to scream, but for one terrible moment, was unable to. The only thing between the big cat and them was a sheet of canvas. She remembered Evan’s words about staying calm, but she felt more paralyzed than calm. With a prayer in her heart, she remembered that the noise of the rifle shot had scared the big cat away. “When I say ‘three,’ scream as loud as you can,” she whispered to Alice.

  “One . . . two . . . three!”

  Both girls screamed in unison, their voices piercing the night air. A distinct ripping of the canvas above them, and then a crash to the ground had them clinging to each other. Evan reached the wagon within seconds, and the rest of the men barreled out of the tent, Mr. Gardner and Charlie each carrying rifles.