Daniel turned to her with a faint smile. “Not now.”
“You’re awfully brave. I would have fainted if a tree fell on me.”
“Ah, it wasn’t that bad.” Color crept up Daniel’s neck.
Katie nudged Rachel. “I think your brother has an admirer.”
Rachel laughed. “I think you’re right. I thought Ellen was just a little girl.”
“She’s fifteen—just about Daniel’s age. A lot of girls begin thinking about marriage at that age.”
“In that case she’d better look elsewhere. I don’t want Daniel getting married before I do.”
Katie stopped and swung toward Rachel. “What do you mean? Aren’t you and Tommy getting married in the spring?”
Warmth climbed to Rachel’s cheeks. “Yes, but I get impatient sometimes.”
Katie’s frown deepened. “He’s still going to work with the Indians. I keep hoping he’ll change his mind.”
Rachel took a breath and let it out before she answered. “It’s okay, Katie. I don’t mind waiting a few months. I understand his ministry comes first.” She gave a quick laugh. “I’m just not happy with being so far from him for so long. I mean, we saw each other every day for the last six months, but now we’re betrothed, I’ll probably never get to see him. It doesn’t seem fair.”
Katie’s eyes brightened. “Maybe you should find someone else to pay attention to. You know, just enough to make Tommy jealous. That ought to shake him up.”
“Katie! That wouldn’t be right.” Rachel’s heart leapt at the thought even as she rejected it. She couldn’t and wouldn’t do such a thing to Tommy. It really wouldn’t be right. Yet even as everything within her protested, her gaze swung to the men notching logs. Neil Douglas lifted his axe and brought it down with a smooth and powerful stroke. The large chip of wood flew out and landed a few feet away. Of course, she could never consider Katie’s outlandish suggestion. Still, if she did, her neighbor would be the perfect man for the job.
Chapter 7
Rachel lifted her hands toward the early morning sky in a stretch as the camp came to life. She stopped mid-yawn when a wagon rolled into the yard and stopped.
A man jumped down and lifted some tools out, leaning them against the wagon. He ran to the other side where a young woman awaited his assistance. A boy, Rachel judged to be near Daniel’s age, swung down from the back, followed by a girl a few years older than Susanna.
“Hey, Spencer. Took you long enough to get here.” Neil’s voice rang out.
Rachel turned toward the sound. He and his children were crossing the open land toward them. His arm raised in welcome.
Mr. Spencer waved. Bushy whiskers separated as he grinned widely. “So, you’re in on this, are you, Douglas? I’d been here sooner if you’d told me.”
Neil laughed and motioned with his hand. “Come on and meet the Morgans.”
Tommy stepped close to Rachel. “Must be another neighbor.”
She nodded. “Looks like it.”
Pa joined Neil as he shook hands with the new man.
“Jed Spencer is an experienced builder, Mr. Morgan.” Neil grinned at his friend. “He can get us building this cabin in no time. If you’re thinking about adding another room later, this might be the best time to do it.”
“We planned to make do with just one room.” Pa looked toward his wife.
She stepped closer. “We appreciate everyone helping so much. We don’t want to take advantage of your kindness.”
Spencer shook his head. “It ain’t no harder to do it all the first time. You might as well have a kitchen and a bedroom, too. You got younguns?”
She nodded and took Rachel’s hand. “Yes, this is our daughter and our son is there.” She pointed toward Daniel, sitting on the wagon seat, his injured leg stretched out.
“Younguns that big need privacy and so do you.” Spencer turned back to Pa. “It’s your decision, but I’d be wantin’ more rooms if it was me. I got a boy about the size of yours and a little girl.” He motioned for his family to step forward.
“Here’s my boy, Wesley, and my baby girl, Angel. Wesley’s sixteen and Angel just turned nine.” He put his arm around the pale young woman standing by his side. “My wife, Clare. We ain’t been married too long.” He grinned at her before turning back to Pa. “My—the kid’s mom died almost two years ago. Douglas here was a real help during that time. He’d just gone through the same thing.”
Neil nodded. “We came out with the same train.”
Spencer grinned. “Neil preached at me until I got religion. Said I needed Someone to help me through the grief. Then I met Clare. She’s the best thing that happened to me next to finding the Lord.”
Wesley rolled his eyes. Angel looked from Wesley to her stepmother and made a face. Clare was tall and thin and obviously expecting a baby. Her step-children didn’t try to hide their dislike. Maybe the coming baby would draw the family together.
Tommy took Rachel’s hand and pulled her away as Pa spoke.
“If you think we can build bigger now, I’m all for it. I’d like to leave the decision to our friends. We can’t do it without their help.”
Mr. Bartlett’s voice carried to Rachel. “Let’s do it.”
She tugged Tommy to a stop and turned back to see the others nodding. Jason said, “We came to work, so why not do it all now?”
Tommy grinned at Rachel. “Looks like you’ll have a room of your own.”
She looked into his eyes. “That isn’t what I want.”
His grin faded. He pulled her around a wagon away from the others and stood with his arms folded. “Don’t think you’re the only one who’s finding it hard to wait.”
She stared at him as his words found their mark. “I’m sorry, Tommy. I’m being selfish.”
“Hey, I’d feel even worse if you didn’t want to marry me.” His grin returned, bringing a light to his blue eyes.
A passing breeze blew a lock of dark hair into his eye. She reached out to move it aside, but he caught her hand and tossed his head.
He brought her fingers to his lips. “I’ll come to see you as often as I can. We’ll be together before you know it.”
Her heart’s beat picked up and she leaned forward. His lips touched hers. The kiss was too short. Rachel opened her mouth to protest.
“I was surprised to discover your neighbor isn’t the old widower with three children that I expected. He doesn’t look old to me. I don’t like the way he looks at you, either.”
Rachel pulled back. “I didn’t say he was old, and I can’t help how he looks at me. It isn’t my fault.”
A muscle worked in Tommy’s jaw. He looked away. “I guess not, but I see red when I think about it.”
“Do you have to take it out on my hand?”
Tommy’s grip relaxed. He brought her fingers to his lips. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”
“I know and you didn’t really.” Rachel whispered as he kissed her fingers again. Katie said she should make Tommy jealous. Temptation to use the weapon he’d handed her allowed her to speak without thinking. “Neil probably won’t look again now he knows about you. Besides, he’ll only be my neighbor until spring if we marry then.”
Tommy frowned. “That isn’t reassuring.”
Rachel shrugged. “I can’t help it. Until we’re married, I’ll live next door to him.”
Tommy’s frown relaxed and a slow grin spread across his face. “What am I worrying about? God brought us together. He’ll watch over you and keep you safe for me.”
His words were like a dash of water in Rachel’s face. She took another step back. “That doesn’t make sense, Tommy. If God will keep me safe from Neil Douglas, He would keep me safe from the Indians you’re ministering to.”
“I love you, Rachel.” Tommy held her gaze. “I would be acting foolish to put you in harm’s way on purpose. It’s true God protects us, but I don’t want to test Him by doing what isn’t necessary. Please, let’s not fight. I
love you.”
She let him pull her forward for another kiss. She wouldn’t fight with him. But did he test God by leaving her here with Neil so close? She wondered.
Tommy held her in the circle of his arms. When he spoke, his breath brushed her cheek. “I won’t be able to stay past tomorrow. I’ll leave at noon on Friday to go with Pastor Blackstone to the Indian village. We just had a short session the other day. This time we may spend the night.”
Disappointment weighed Rachel’s heart. They’d had so little time alone. “When will I see you again?”
“As soon as I can get away. You’ll be so busy moving into your new house, you won’t miss me.” Tommy kissed the end of her nose, bringing the flicker of a smile to Rachel. He grinned. “That’s more like it. Let’s never fight again. All right?”
Rachel nodded and snuggled against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
Tommy tugged on one of her braids. “We’d better go before someone comes looking for us. Breakfast should be over by now.”
With Jed Spencer in charge, the six-room cabin began taking shape. By Thursday evening, four outside walls stood straight and solid. Holes for the front and back door had been cut in the thick log walls and window openings in each wall awaited a covering of oiled paper.
Friday would be spent laying the floor and getting lumber ready to build the loft. Saturday, if all went well, the loft would be finished and the roof put in place. Installing the doors and windows would be left for the Morgans.
“It’s almost done.” Rachel turned at the sound of Katie’s voice.
“Yes, it is.”
“You don’t sound very excited.” Katie’s eyebrows lifted. “Every time I see your mother she’s smiling like a child on Christmas morning.”
Rachel laughed. “Yes, she’s very happy about her new home. I guess she thought we’d be living in the wagon forever.”
“Yeah, it starts feeling that way sometimes.”
“Tommy will be preaching tonight then he’ll be gone early in the morning.” Rachel couldn’t stop the tremor in her voice.
“Oh, so that’s what’s wrong.” Katie touched Rachel’s arm. “You’ll see him soon, I’m sure. I don’t think he’ll be able to stay away from here. Especially not with a good-looking neighbor next door.”
Rachel really didn’t feel like joking about Neil. “I won’t do anything to hurt Tommy. Neil needs to find someone else.”
“We’ll make it a matter of prayer. God cares.” Katie turned toward the voices drifting through the air. “Looks like they’re gathering for the service. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Rachel followed Katie but sat on a blanket close to Tommy. As he had done on the trail, Tommy held his mother’s Bible and sat on a wooden barrel.
Tommy’s voice rang clear and vibrant as he read John 3:3. “‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”
He lowered his Bible. “I wonder how many professing Christians have never been born again. Until we’re born into the kingdom of God, we’re blinded to spiritual things—God’s kingdom. Let’s see what God’s word has to say.”
He turned some pages. Susanna crawled close to Rachel, and she welcomed her. She listened to Tommy explain the scriptures and her heart filled with love for him. God surely had called him to preach His word to all men, even the Indians. She hadn’t been fair by placing the burden of her own selfish desires on him. She’d stand beside him rather than in front of him from now on.
Rachel stroked the silky, blond hair back from Susanna’s face while the little girl lay in her lap. She turned her attention to Tommy as he brought his sermon to a close and called for those who wanted prayer to step forward.
Tommy held out his hand. “Come and we’ll pray with you. Jesus is waiting for you.”
Clare Spencer wound her way past the others to stand before Tommy. Her shoulders shook as she wept. Jed joined his wife.
Tommy looked at Rachel. “Will you help, please?”
Rachel slid from under Susanna and stood beside Tommy. Both Tommy and Jed stood with Clare, but Rachel talked to her. “Clare, Jesus is here tonight just for you. He can cleanse your heart.”
The young woman, just seven years older than Rachel, lifted tear-stained eyes. “I want Him to, but I don’t know how. I’ve done so much wrong.”
“We all have. That’s why Jesus had to die on the cross.” Rachel used Scriptures she had memorized as a child to lead Clair to salvation.
Clare, with tears streaming down her cheeks, looked toward the black sky sprinkled with twinkling stars. A brilliant smile lit her face. “Thank you, Jesus.”
Jed grabbed his wife, giving her a hug. They clung together while tears of happiness fell.
Rachel echoed the prayer of thanks then glanced at Tommy. He laid his hand on her shoulder. “I remember this happening before, don’t you?”
She nodded, thinking back to Tommy’s first sermon, preached while they were camped by the trail to Oregon. That night, a couple had come forward. She’d talked to the woman while Tommy prayed with the man. Together they helped the couple find salvation. Rachel’s heart lifted, and she understood why Tommy wanted to use this time to prepare for his ministry. She gave Tommy a smile and leaned into his hug.
As the others gathered to share Clare’s joy, Rachel watched Wesley slip out into the darkness. Angel sat staring straight ahead, her young face expressionless. She breathed a prayer for the two children and for Clare that she could win their love.
Later, as the families built their campsites, Tommy took Rachel’s hand. “You haven’t planted the rosebush, have you?”
Rachel shook her head. “No, it’s heeled in down by the creek.”
“Great. Let’s get it and plant it now.”
“Tommy, it’s dark. We’d never find our way.”
“We’ll take a torch.”
“We could do it in the morning when it’s light.”
Tommy shook his head. “I’m leaving in the morning, remember.” He grinned. “Besides, I feel good tonight. God just shed His love on us, and we’re together. Please?”
He grabbed her hand and picked up one of the torches they’d used for light. He stuck it into the nearest campfire until it blazed. Rachel held tight to his hand as he led the way down the hill to the spring. She showed him where the bush was, and he stuck the end of the burning torch into the ground then turned to her.
“Before I dig it up, I want to make something clear to you.” Tommy’s expression grew serious.
Rachel’s pulse raced as she watched the light from the torch chase shadows across his face.
“I get the feeling you think I’m putting off our wedding because I don’t love you.”
Rachel looked down.
“I know. I should have fallen in love with you the first time we met, but I was too busy wiping water from my boots.”
Rachel looked up at his grin. She remembered the night she’d thrown water on him.
He took her shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “I love you, Rachel. I think you’re the most wonderful girl in the world, and I know God brought us together.”
Rachel looked into his eyes. “It’s all right, Tommy. After what happened tonight I understand.”
Tommy pulled Rachel against his chest and captured her lips under his. “I love you so much.” He murmured against her lips.
“I love you, Tommy.”
After a far too quick kiss, he pulled away. “Let’s get your rosebush planted so everyone can enjoy it.”
~*~
Rachel watched Tommy ride out early the next morning, holding close his promise to return as soon as possible.
Katie stood by her. “I don’t understand why he’s going to the Indians.”
“He wants to win them to Jesus.”
“There are plenty of white people he could preach to without going to a bunch of savages.”
Rachel stared at Katie. “But Indians are people. They have souls. If someone d
oesn’t tell them, how can they be saved?”
“I always said you’re a saint, Rachel. Sometimes I wonder if Indians are much more than wild animals. They killed my father.” Bitterness laced Katie’s voice.
“The Indians who live here are peaceful now. They didn’t kill your father.”
“I suppose, but they haven’t always been. Oh, I don’t want to talk about Indians.” Katie linked her arm through Rachel’s as they walked back toward the others. “Were you able to talk to Tommy? Is there a chance for an earlier wedding?”
Rachel shook her head. “No. He’s right, Katie. I’ve been selfish wanting my own way. He’s doing what God wants him to, and I shouldn’t interfere.”
Katie huffed. “How can you say that?” Her green eyes flashed. “Didn’t you get anything out of the service last night?”
“Of course.” Rachel stared at her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Rachel, you and Tommy are a team. It’s like it was on the trail. He needs you by his side. You’re important to his ministry.”
Rachel brushed her words aside. “He can do just as well without my help. There are so many things I can’t do. I can’t even help with the music.”
“That reminds me.” Katie smiled and headed toward the wagons. “Come over here. Let’s have our first lesson in note reading.”
Rachel matched her steps with Katie’s, but they had no sooner reached the wagon than Neil stopped them. “Mrs. Barnett, would you mind if I have a word with Rachel in private?”
Chapter 8
Rachel shifted toward Katie as she turned to leave, but she couldn’t hide behind her friend. She had to face Neil alone. If what Ma thought was true, the man was looking for a wife—a mother for his children. His actions hadn’t denied it.
She faced Neil and met his scrutiny. Should she tell him she was not free? She opened her mouth, but he spoke first.
“I’m not good at beating around the bush, Rachel.” His normally mischievous expression was serious now. “I’ve lived here two years alone with my three children. It hasn’t been easy trying to fill the shoes of father and mother and teacher to them.”
Home's Promise (Oregon Trail) Page 6
