Home's Promise (Oregon Trail)

by Mildred Colvin

  “I think I’ll lie down for a while with Davy.”

  Jason looked up from his Bible. “It’ll soon be church time.”

  “I have a throbbing headache, Jason. I don’t think I’ll be able to go. Why don’t you take Susanna, and I’ll keep Davy here with me?”

  Concern clouded Jason’s face. He stood and took Davy. “I’ll stay with you if you want.”

  Katie allowed Jason to lead her into the bedroom. “No, you don’t have to. I’ll be fine. I just need some sleep.”

  She crawled into bed while he put Davy in his crib. Jason then sat on the edge of the bed beside her. He stroked her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, Jason. I’ll be fine by morning. I just need to sleep.”

  After Jason and Susanna left, Katie shifted and turned, trying to find a comfortable position. But visions of Mama at the organ invaded her mind. Mama should be the one playing. Katie had no right to take her place. She could never play as well.

  Davy whimpered in his sleep. Katie punched her pillow. How could she take Mama’s place? She wasn’t worthy. Tommy should know that. She tried to clear her mind. Dwelling on it only made her head hurt more, and she needed sleep that wouldn’t come.

  When Jason and Susanna came home, she closed her eyes and lay still, listening to their low voices and movement in the other room. Soon, the bed dipped as Jason slipped in beside her, but she didn’t move until his breath evened out and she knew he slept.

  ~*~

  Rachel’s heart pounded in anticipation. Finally, they were moving to Pa’s claim. Noel Jackson helped Pa and Daniel check the wagon while Hannah helped with their last minute packing.

  Rachel stepped out of the wagon and looked up at the sun-drenched sky above. Where was all the rain she’d heard about? “I thought it rained here all the time.”

  Noel looked up from a wheel he was checking. “Just wait. You’ll be wishing to see these blue skies again.”

  Hannah’s voice sounded inside the wagon. “It’s almost impossible to go anywhere. If you don’t get soaked by the rain, you’re sure to get mired down in the mud. Once the rains get started, you may not see your young man until spring.”

  Rachel’s expression must have showed her dismay, because Hannah added. “Don’t worry. There’s bound to be stretches of good weather sometime during the winter.”

  Noel piped in again. “That’s just some of the problems with a new country. But the rich land and the usually friendly weather more than make up for a little inconvenience.”

  Rachel climbed the rest of the way to the ground and waited for the other two women. Hannah hugged Rachel and then Ma. “I’m going to miss having you here.”

  Ma returned the hug. “We’ll miss you, too. There are no words to express our appreciation for all you’ve done for us. Preparing a welcoming meal and taking us into your home when we were strangers shows your Christian spirit. I’ll always remember the tub of warm, soapy water when we were tired and dusty from the trail.”

  Hannah glanced toward the horizon then met Ma’s gaze. “We came over the trail, too. We’re glad to help. Don’t forget us. When you come to town, please stop and visit.”

  “We will. If you can come out our way. You’ll always be welcome.”

  Rachel climbed into the wagon as Ma sat on the seat with Pa. When Rachel leaned out to wave, Hannah called to her. “I’ve started a quilt for your wedding gift. I hope I can finish it in time.”

  Rachel smiled. “Thank you, Hannah. I’m sure you can.”

  Her smile disappeared as soon as she pulled back. She and Tommy had talked last night after church.

  He held her hand, making her heart pound. He’d stopped beside a tree. “Pastor Blackstone has asked me to go tomorrow with him to an Indian village.” His eyes shone in the moonlight. “It’s a great opportunity to take the Gospel to a people who have heard so little. I believe God is directing me to do this.”

  Rachel looked into his face, searching for his love and eagerness to marry her. “What of us, Tommy?” Hurt crept into her voice. “Do you still want to marry me?”

  Tommy placed his hands on either side of her face. “Rachel, I love you. God has given us something wonderful that will never change except to grow deeper and surer.” He took a ragged breath. “More than anything, I’d like to get married as soon as possible, but I also feel we need this time to let our love grow strong. It’s so new still. And I don’t want you at the Indian villages. Anything could happen there. I don’t want you hurt.”

  “What about you, Tommy?” Rachel’s eyes must have shown her fear because he shook his head.

  “Nothing will happen that God doesn’t allow. We serve Him first, Rachel. You know that.”

  “Then, how long?” Rachel tried to hide her concern for him.

  “Let’s wait through the winter at least. Maybe by spring we’ll be ready.” Tommy smiled and still cupping her face in his hands, kissed her.

  Love for Tommy swept through Rachel’s heart even as keen disappointment weighed down her spirit.

  Already he was working for the church. He couldn’t be there to see her off because he and Pastor Blackstone had left early that morning for a visit to the Indian mission. Rachel tried to get comfortable in the wagon as her father drove away from Oregon City.

  She looked out the back opening of the canvas covering as Hannah and Noel turned toward their cabin. Hannah was a wonderful young woman. So giving and kind. If only she could do something nice for her, but she seemed to have everything she wanted. Everything except a child. Noel and Hannah had been denied that one pleasure of married life. After five years of marriage they remained childless.

  A soft nicker sounded beside Rachel. She looked out at Daniel on Star. He grinned then dropped back to the animals trailing behind. Star, along with Tommy’s oxen and the few remaining milk cows were going with them to the claim. Jason and Katie still had the nanny goat that now belonged to the Bartletts. She stayed in a shed behind their house to provide milk for Davy.

  Rachel settled back for the long ride until finally they passed the Douglas cabin that signaled they were almost home. Neil Douglas, in the yard chopping wood, straightened and waved.

  Pa called out to him. “Hey, neighbor. We’re moving in.”

  His voice drifted to them. “Glad to see it.”

  Rachel shrank behind the protective canvas covering the wagon. He was a lonely man, and he didn’t know she was betrothed. Compassion for him and his children filled her heart. She determined to tell him about Tommy as soon as possible. No need to invite problems with their closest neighbor. No need to stir up Tommy’s jealousy.

  Chapter 5

  The thud of an ax biting into wood woke Rachel earlier than she wanted. She sat up, her eyes opening wide. Pa had already started on the cabin. She hurried to dress and joined her mother outside.

  “I’m sorry I overslept.”

  Ma shook her head. “I just got up myself. I think I rested better last night than I have in a long time. Maybe it’s because we’re, at long last, home.”

  Rachel looked at the country, the trees and the thick grass, and tried to imagine it as their home. She still felt as if she were in a strange place, but maybe in time this would feel like home. Would it if she and Tommy were getting ready to build a house of their own? Her heart warmed to the thought, but as quickly grew cold. By the time they had a home, she’d already be used to living here.

  “Would you gather some sticks for a fire, Rachel?” Ma pulled a slab of bacon from the food box and cut slices from it.

  Twigs were plentiful for kindling. A broken limb served as fuel. Rachel soon had a fire blazing inside the semi-circle of stones her mother had arranged.

  “Do you need water? I could go to the spring.” Rachel stepped back from the heat. “Pa will want some coffee. Besides, I’d like to heel in the rose bush Tommy gave me.”

  “Yes, that’s a good idea.” Ma look
ed up. “Later, you’ll want to plant it by the house.”

  Rachel shoved resentment aside as she walked down the hill. She’d much rather plant her rose bush at her house, but since she didn’t have a house, she couldn’t. She might as well not fret about it. She tilted her head. The sound of water gurgling grew louder with each step. Soon a small pool with water bubbling from the hillside came into view. Rocks lined the pool on either side. An especially large, flat rock rose out of the water near the bank. She dug a hole near the water, and set her rosebush in it. After she tamped the dirt back with her shoe, she turned toward the pool and sank to the rock on her knees with her bucket.

  A reflection in the water caught her attention. The smooth water created a beautiful picture of the green grass and trees against a pure blue sky. She leaned forward and paused with the bucket suspended as her face appeared. She studied her features with a critical eye. What could Tommy see in a plain girl with brown braids hanging in front of either shoulder?

  Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. She’d heard that all her life, but Tommy was a man and outward appearance was probably important to him, too. She sighed and straightened. Tommy loved her. Again, she dipped her bucket toward the water and stopped as a loose pebble rolled into the pool distorting her image. The wavering image of a man appeared, peering over her shoulder. Her heart leapt, and she swung around. Her hand flew out as she teetered toward the water.

  “Careful there.” Strong hands pulled her to her feet. “Are you all right?” Her new neighbor’s light blue eyes twinkled at her. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “Mr. Douglas.” Rachel’s face burned as did her arms where he held them in a warm grip. She twisted away from his grasp. “I’m fine.”

  He picked up her bucket and dipped it into the pool. “This water is clear as glass, isn’t it?”

  Mischievousness sparked from his eyes. “You were so intent on something in the water. I wanted to see what it was. From what I saw, I can’t blame you for looking.”

  Rachel grabbed the bucket from him, splashing a few drops on her skirt. Was he flirting with her or making fun of her? “I need to get the water to Ma.”

  “She invited me for breakfast.” His lips tilted upward.

  Rachel stared at him.

  He laughed. “Don’t worry. I turned her down. We’ve already eaten.”

  She looked around. “Where are your children, Mr. Douglas?”

  “Please, call me Neil.” His smile seemed friendly enough. “Your ma insisted on watching them. She sent me to fetch your pa and brother. I’m afraid I got sidetracked when I saw you. I’m helping with your cabin. I hope you like children since I couldn’t very well leave them home alone.”

  Mr. Douglas’s friendly smile and open expression helped Rachel relax. “Yes, I like children. I’ll be glad to watch them. You’ll be more help to Pa than I ever could be.” She looked at the bucket in her hand. He stood in front of her and hadn’t offered to move. How would she get around him? “You could at least have some coffee, couldn’t you, Mr. Douglas?”

  “Coffee sounds great, but Mr. Douglas doesn’t. Why don’t you call me Neil?”

  “Mr. Douglas, I was raised in the South. I was not taught to be so familiar with strangers.”

  He dropped to the rock, blocking her exit. “If you’re going to call me a stranger, I’ll sit here until you change your mind.” He looked up at her and grinned. “Now, who’s going to help your pa?”

  He looked so young and ornery, Rachel couldn’t stop the laughter. “Oh all right, Neil. But you’ll have to explain if my mother hears me.”

  He jumped up, grabbed the bucket from her, and started off. “That’s better, Rachel. Let’s take this to your ma, and I’ll explain now.”

  Rachel crossed her arms and didn’t budge. “I thought you were supposed to find my pa and Daniel.”

  Neil’s grin flashed wide. “So I was.” He set the bucket down and walked backward a few steps. “I take my coffee black. And hot.”

  Rachel shook her head as he loped off toward the woods. Neil Douglas would be a hard man to dislike. Maybe if Tommy met him, he’d like him, too.

  ~*~

  Neil accepted the cup of coffee from Rachel and emptied it before Pa and Daniel finished their breakfast. He stood, placing the cup on an overturned wooden box. “I’ll head on down to the timber and get started if it’s all right with you.”

  Pa’s eyebrows rose. “That’s fine, but are you sure you don’t want to wait for us?”

  Neil grinned and picked up his axe. “You already got a head start on me. I’ll have to hustle now to catch up.”

  He turned to the three small children sitting on the ground eating their second breakfast that morning. “Nancy, you and Norman do whatever Mrs. Morgan and Rachel tell you. Be good and help keep an eye on Tasha. I’ll be right over there in those trees. You listen, and you’ll hear my axe.”

  He stooped to kiss each child before shouldering his axe and striding off in the direction of the trees. It wasn’t long before the steady thud of his axe came to their ears.

  Pa set his plate down and stood. “I can’t let our neighbor outwork me. Daniel, come when you’re ready.”

  Daniel set his plate on his father’s. “I’m ready now.”

  Rachel picked up the discarded dishes. “I’ll wash dishes, Ma.”

  “Thank you. I need to straighten the wagon.” Ma watched Pa and Daniel walk away. “Maybe it won’t take them long to get a cabin up and then we can spread out.”

  “How long will it take?”

  “With two men and a boy working? Maybe two or three weeks just to get the walls up and a roof on. We’re putting in a floor. That’ll take even longer.”

  “It’ll be worth the extra wait, though.” Rachel felt a tug on her skirt and looked down into large, blue eyes framed by light brown hair.

  “Ma’am, I can help you wash dishes.” The little girl, no bigger than Susanna Donovan looked up at her with a serious expression.

  Rachel smiled at her. “You’re Nancy, aren’t you?”

  The child nodded.

  “Do you know how to dry dishes?”

  Again she nodded.

  Rachel handed her a dish towel and showed her where to put the dishes when she finished with them. Nancy worked as if she’d done the job before. She kept up with Rachel until the dishes were done.

  She carried the heavy iron skillet to the wagon and Ma took it to put away. When the little girl turned around, her face brightened and she clapped her hands. “Here comes my papa.”

  Norman scrambled up and ran toward the two huge oxen dragging a load of logs from the timber.

  “Norman, you come back here.” Nancy called after her brother.

  Rachel stood frozen as Norman ran toward the oxen as fast as his chubby legs could carry him. He called, “Papa, Papa.”

  Natasha scrambled up and toddled after him.

  “You catch Norman, and I’ll get the baby.” Ma’s words spurred Rachel into action.

  She ran toward the little boy, who moved faster than she thought possible. How could anyone with such short legs cover the ground so quickly? Rachel decreased the distance between them and scooped him up just before he reached the oxen.

  Norman squirmed in her arms. “No. Put down. I want papa.”

  “If I put you down, those big oxen will step on you.” She tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t listen.

  He kicked at her, yelling for her to put him down. “Papa, Papa.”

  Rachel fought to hold on to the little boy. As soon as his papa was free he could have him.

  “Norman.” Neil’s stern voice stopped the little boy’s struggles.

  He cried and reached for Neil. “I want you, Papa.”

  Neil took him and held him close. He looked at Rachel. “Thank you. We were all behind the load and didn’t see him. I’d have never reached him in time.”

  Rachel’s heart slowed, and she shrugged. “He gave
me quite a chase. I’m glad I caught him.”

  She walked back toward the campsite where Pa and Daniel had started unloading the logs. Neil knelt on one knee beside Norman and talked to him. Rachel couldn’t hear what he said, but she’d never seen such a serious expression on Neil’s face. What could he say to a three-year-old child to make him understand the danger he’d barely missed?

  When Neil and his son joined them a few minutes later, Norman shuffled to Rachel. He looked at her with large blue eyes. She knelt in front of him and touched his hand.

  “Are you all right, Norman?”

  He nodded. “I sorry, Miss Rachel. I was bad to run ’way.” Large tears filled his eyes.

  Rachel’s heart melted. She pulled the little boy close and kissed his cheek. “What you did was bad because you might have been hurt. You are a good boy, though. And you’re forgiven.”

  Norman stared at her until the hint of a smile broke across his solemn face. He stepped forward and threw his arms around her neck. She hugged him close as she looked over his head to find his father watching with a smile.

  Neil turned to Pa. “Maybe I’d better stay here and notch logs.”

  Pa lifted an eyebrow. “Do you know how?”

  Neil laughed. “I helped my father build several cabins back in Tennessee and Kentucky. If you don’t mind using a V-notch, I think I can handle it.”

  Pa shook his head. “Any kind sounds great to me. I was wondering how I’d get the logs notched right.”

  “Good. Then it’s settled.” Neil picked up his axe and started chopping the end of a log.

  Pa watched him a moment and turned to Daniel. “If we hurry, we should be able to get another load brought in by noon.”

  After the incident with Norman, Rachel found she had a devoted friend. Norman and Nancy both stayed close by her side. She kept them occupied the rest of the morning playing games and going on short walks, looking for wild flowers or unusual pebbles.

  Ma took care of Tasha, laughing and playing with her as if no one else were around. She walked her fingers over the baby’s arms and legs, making her squeal with delight. When Ma picked the little one up and held her close, Rachel smiled at her mother’s obvious enjoyment.