Woman of Courage (Four Full length Historical Christian Romances in One Volume): Woman of Courage Series

by Cynthia Hickey

  “Hmmm.” Delly glanced at the fire. Buffalo chips, or Meadow Muffins as some called them, surprised her with their lack of smoke or scent. If only she didn’t have to think of where they came from. Her stomach flipped. Or touch them. Thankfully, the younger girls weren’t as squeamish at picking up the things.

  Zeke strolled by and tipped his hat. “Morning, Mrs. Williams. Sadie.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Williams.” The dreaded flush crept up Delly’s neck, and she buried her face in her mug. Only a blind and deaf person would miss the intimacy of them sharing a last name, especially when he said hers with a husky growl.

  Silly fool. If he saw her blush, he’d know he affected her more than she wanted to let on.

  Moments later, the signal whistle blew, and they scrambled to get everything packed back into the wagon bed. Sadie tossed Delly a pair of gloves, and she shoved her sore hands into them.

  They’d begun traveling on the north side of the Platte, eating dust and watching the wind blow. Dust pelted her skin as they traveled, and Delly pulled her face rag as close to her eyes as possible. She’d relented earlier and let the children ride in the wagon. Now, they squabbled over being confined to tight quarters, and complained about dust drifting inside. Feeling and thought ceased to exist as Delly kept the wagon moving forward. Even Sadie sat hunched and silent.

  Mercifully, Zeke called a halt earlier than normal. Sadie climbed from the wagon seat and shaded her eyes with her hand as she glanced at the trail behind them. Worry lines furrowed her brow.

  “Who are you looking for?” Delly joined her. Seemed every time they stopped, Sadie’s attention was glued to the trail behind them. “Are you afraid a bounty hunter’s going to come? Zeke won’t let them take you.”

  “No, no one.” Sadie blinked rapidly then turned to begin unhitching the oxen.

  Delly shrugged. Her friend would tell what sorrowed her when the time was right.

  “The wind today is the worst yet!” She blinked against the stinging dust as the wind whipped her skirt and tangled it around her legs. “How am I supposed to get a fire started?”

  “I guess we’ll be eating a cold dinner,” Sadie replied. “Won’t be the last time.”

  Delly shoved her shoulder against the nearest animal which balked against the stinging particles of dirt. “Move, you miserable beast!”

  Drenching, bone-chilling rain soon joined the wind. Delly gladly turned the animals over to her son, and she and Sadie escaped to the dry inside of the wagon. Dorcas handed them each a couple of hard biscuits and a slice of jerky. “Thanks.” Delly perched on top of the stack of flour sacks.

  Zeke stuck his head over the wagon bed. “You ladies, all right?”

  Delly jerked and dropped her food into her lap. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry. Have to yell above the wind.”

  “We’re fine.” She tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. “You should get to shelter. It’s raining something fierce.”

  “I will once I’ve checked on everyone. Wanted to make sure you were settled first.” He clapped his hand over his hat and the let the flap close.

  “Best get those stars out of your eyes, Miss Delly.” Sadie lowered the flame on the lantern as the wind buffeted against the wagon’s bonnet. “Ain’t hard to see you’ve got feelings for our wagon master.”

  Dorcas lifted her head from her pillow. “What’s that mean?”

  Sadie laughed. “Miss Delly knows.”

  “Stop. I do not have ‘feelings’ for Mr. Williams.” Delly smiled and wrapped a quilt around her. “What about you? Got a beau somewhere? How old are you?”

  “I’m sixteen, and I do have a fellow meeting me out west.” Sadie ducked her head. “Out where we’ll be free. It’d be mighty nice if he catches up with us. He’d be real handy on this trip. He’s been trained as a farrier and is a right good blacksmith too.”

  “So, that’s who you keep looking for.” How romantic. A lover traipsing all the way across country to follow his sweetheart. What would that be like?

  Ezra had courted with flowers once in a while, but both of them knew they married out of necessity more than love. He needed a ma for his kids, and Delly needed a man to provide a living for her. Well, not anymore. She’d remain the young’uns’s ma, but she’d be self-sufficient now with the land.

  Having lost track of her siblings years ago, she couldn’t help wondering what they’d think of their little sister’s good fortune. She also couldn’t keep her mind off what Zeke’s plans might be once they reached their destination. Would he be looking for a bride then? Would Delly change her mind about another marriage? She spread out on the mattress. Not likely. It would take a rare man indeed to change her feelings on the matter.

  “Yep.” Sadie smiled and ducked her head. “He’s a right fine man.”

  Delly couldn’t help but think that Sadie meant Zeke along with her beau.

  ###

  The previous night’s rain had settled the dust. Sadie took the reins while Delly mended dresses quickly showing signs of wear. When the sun came out, the children ran barefoot along the trail, their laughter mingling with Sarah Johnson’s as they picked wildflowers.

  The heavier wagons bogged down in the mushy trail, slowing progress. Delly climbed from the wagon seat to stretch her legs and sank ankle deep in the mire. Her steps squished, until she removed her mud-encased shoes and sunk her toes into the mud. Her body ached. The slushy mess soothed her toes enough she was almost tempted to bury herself up to the neck.

  As the day wore on, clouds rolled back in, cooling them with a breeze. Delly pulled off her bonnet and raised her hair off her neck. The motion barely refreshed her. The air thickened.

  “Looks like a storm tonight.” Zeke stopped beside her and slid from his horse.

  Delly regretted leaving her shoes behind. He’d think her a country bumpkin. She tilted her head, letting her hair fall. “Moved in fast. This country has the strangest weather. Cold in the mornings, hot during the day, and stormy at night. Humidity to rival Missouri.”

  His gaze flicked to her hair. “I’m taking Junior off guard-duty tonight. You might need him at the wagon.”

  “It’s going to be bad?” A grip of fear clenched her heart.

  “It might. Storms can be unpredictable. It’s best to be safe.” He tipped his hat and swung onto his horse.

  Delly didn’t know what was colder, the rising wind, or Zeke’s manner. They’d walked such a short distance together she wondered why he bothered getting off his horse. She’d seen the admiring look in his eyes before he’d turned as frigid as a block of ice. Sometimes the man seemed as moody as a woman. Did he have regrets about letting them come? They hadn’t caused any extra trouble.

  Why should she care? Wasn’t this what she wanted? For them to keep their distance from each other?

  Before they’d completed their end of the day circling of the wagons and accomplished supper preparations, the wind howled with the ferocity of snarling dogs. Delly grabbed a rain slicker in an attempt to protect her skin from icy drops of rain then helped put away the cook stove and pots. The wind ripped the slicker from her hands and tangled it around a wagon wheel. “Children, get in the wagon!”

  Sadie yelped and leaped out of the way of a tumbleweed. Thunder boomed with the sharpness of a rifle and hail fell from the sky.

  Delly ducked and shrieked as lightening slashed the sky. Her feet slipped on balls of ice. The more she scurried for shelter, the less ground she covered. Wind slashed at the wagon’s bonnet, ripping at the canvas. The front wheels lifted a few inches off the ground.

  The wagon wasn’t safe. She’d sent her children into danger. Her stomach clinched. “Get out of the wagon!” The wind tossed her warning aside.

  The canvas covering lifted like clothes on a clothesline. The wagon rolled, spewing some of its contents into the mud.

  Giving up trying to regain her footing, Delly crawled. Her hands and knees sank into the mud. Her babies. They were
all she had. “Junior, help me!” Baby Sarah’s wails rose above the wind. Delly choked back sobs. She wouldn’t survive without them. Please, God, don’t take the children. Not a one.

  Junior grabbed Delly beneath the arms and helped her struggle to her feet. Sadie reached the overturned wagon first. She tossed more things into the mud in her fury to find the children. A sob caught in Delly’s throat as, one-by-one, Sadie pulled the little ones to safety.

  Delly wrapped them in a hug. Besides a few scratches, they appeared frightened but unharmed. Lord, what was I thinking bringing children on this journey? We should have taken our chances in Missouri. She looked around for Zeke. Why wasn’t he caring for his family?

  ###

  Zeke galloped to Delly’s wagon. Cyclone’s hooves slung mud, caking his legs and splattering his duster. His heart beat in rhythm with his horse’s pounding hooves until he thought it would burst free. “Everyone okay?” His heart skipped a beat when he saw Delly kneeling on the ground, surrounded by the young’uns.

  He’d been across outside the circle checking on the livestock when he saw the wagon flip and thought the sight would knock him to his knees. Instead, he’d bolted for his horse.

  The wind had died, along with the rain, and the women stood ankle deep in mud, surveying the scattered contents. The canvas sported a couple of rips, but otherwise appeared untouched. Junior stood, hands on hips, clearly at a loss as to what to do next. Zeke bit his lip in an effort not to smile at the typical greenhorn picture the family made. “Get that wagon unloaded, and we’ll soon get it set to rights.”

  His laughter escaped. “I never dreamed I’d see a wagon driven by women overturn because it was too light. It’s usually the other way around.”

  “It’s not funny. And it’s your wagon!”

  “Kept empty for your family. I expected Ezra to arrive with more belongings.” And counted his blessings that the family hadn’t. It was never a good thing to discard treasures along the trail.

  “They were all sold to pay his debts.” Delly handed the baby to Dorcas and turned to face him, blue eyes blazing in a mud-splattered face. “The children were in the wagon when it turned over. Someone could have been killed. Maybe you should’ve weighed it down more.” She covered her face with her hands and began to cry. Her thin shoulders shook.

  Remorse punched him in the stomach. He pulled her close. “I’m sorry. I really am.” He chuckled, doing his best to keep the sound from bursting forth.

  “You’re still laughing.” Her voice muffled against his chest.

  “Y’all make a funny picture. Covered in mud, standing in the stuff to your ankles while Junior stands back and watches.” He rubbed her back. She’d lost weight. He followed her spine with his fingers, and vowed to go hunting for fresh meat at the first opportunity. “Everyone’s fine. Let’s get you situated. There are other wagons that need repairs.”

  He raised her face and placed a kiss on her forehead. No one could’ve said who was more startled by the gesture, him or Delly, who blushed a becoming shade of pink under the mud splatters. He shocked himself with his forwardness. Her cheeks reddened further as he continued to stare, and Zeke braced himself to be slapped. When it didn’t come, he cupped her face and wiped away the mud beside her trembling mouth.

  An almost overwhelming desire to kiss her overtook him, and he pulled back before acting on the thought. He called to some men to help right the wagon, and stepped back to a safe distance.

  By tying ropes to the oxen and pushing from the opposite side, the men were able to set it correct. The soft ground had prevented the wagon bed from breaking, and other than a stained and dirty bonnet and a couple of repairable rips, the wagon looked travel worthy.

  “Thank you.” Delly sloshed toward him, bunching her skirts in one hand.

  Zeke yanked his gaze away from her ankles. “You’re welcome. I’d best be going to check on the others. Hopefully, we didn’t lose too many supplies.”

  She glanced around. “Mainly tin dishes and bedding. Nothing that can’t be washed.”

  They stared at each other for several seconds until Zeke pulled away before he drowned in her gaze. His stomach churned at the emotions whipping through him as strong as the wind only minutes before. “Good night.”

  “Good night.” Her whisper followed him as he turned.

  Mr. Oglesby yelled for assistance, and Zeke increased his pace. He scowled, coming to his senses. There wasn’t time for love. Not on the trail west. He knew that from personal experience.

  Could this really be his last trip? Was he finally ready to settle down? Could he leave behind the adventures of traveling for the day-to-day life of a rancher? Leave behind near misses like they’d just had? He thought so.

  He dreamed at night of waking the next morning to the sight of a bride’s face. He’d try to set romance aside while traveling, but once they reached Oregon, before they had a chance to part ways, he’d think real hard on asking his tiny strong-willed sister-in-law to be his wife.

  ###

  They didn’t fare any better the next night. Another storm dumped rain in torrents, quickly leaving the ground a lake of brown. Delly wouldn’t allow Sadie or the children to seek shelter in the wagon. Instead, they donned slickers and huddled beneath it.

  “This is silly,” Junior stated. “Hiding with the women. I’m going to check on the livestock. That lightening is getting closer. It might scare the cattle. Hear the thunder?” He crawled and disappeared from their sight.

  Moments later, shouts of stampede rang through the camp. Delly shivered, not able to determine whether she did so from the cold or fear for her son’s safety. Gunshots split the night and the pounding of the livestock’s hooves faded away.

  She sighed with relief when Zeke’s tall form approached their wagon. She jumped out to greet him. “Have you seen Junior? He went out to check the animals. What if he got trampled in the stampede?”

  “He’s fine. A smart boy. He climbed a tree as soon as the animals bolted. He’s out helping round up the ones that got away. Let him be a man, Delly. He’s old enough. Besides, I’m keeping an eye on him.” His gaze moved over her shoulder and his eyes widened. “Did you take shelter under the wagon this time?”

  “Yes.” She glanced to where Sadie sat in several inches of water, her arms wrapped around the young’uns. “I wasn’t taking any more chances of the wagon tipping with someone inside. And the wind was too strong for the tent.” She stiffened and planted her fists on her hips, daring him to laugh.

  “I guess I can see the sense in that. It’s a smart move.” The corner of his mouth twitched. He laughed silently at first, then the sound burst from him like a geyser she’d seen once. He held up a hand in apology and shook his head. He bent over, hands on his knees, and continued to laugh until tears streamed down his face.

  “Go ahead and laugh, you big buffoon!” Delly punched him in the shoulder and whipped around. How could she find herself growing attached to a man who laughed at danger? Found humor in children placed in harm’s way? She sighed. She’d deal with him after she changed into dry clothes. She marched to the wagon and climbed inside, calling for Sadie and the children to do the same.

  She yanked her soaked garments over her head and let them fall in a huddle to wagon’s bed. Her brother-in-law was a cad!

  9

  With everything a sodden mess from last night’s storm, Delly was more than glad for a day to enable them to dry out their belongings and bake bread. After washing laundry in a shallow creek a short ways from the wagon, she hung a shirt over a bush to dry in the day’s sunshine.

  They couldn’t have stopped in a prettier place. Wildflowers, brighter in color because of the recent rain, covered the prairie. She lifted her head to watch an eagle soar and dip above her head. What would it feel like to fly with no worries? She’d most likely never know. Life was burdened with trouble and turmoil. Her mind whirred with Zeke’s ridiculous proposal.

  Maybe she should’ve taken him up on
the offer. Then, she wouldn’t have the sole burden of caring for children under such primitive conditions. Daily, she thanked God for Sadie.

  The aroma of baking bread surrounded her. She breathed deeply. Peaceful days full of tranquility and beauty were so few on the trail, she cherished them when they came. Thank you, God, for today. She removed her bonnet and lifted her face to the sun and the kiss of a breeze.

  “Morning, Mud Dog.” Zeke tilted his head as he meandered by.

  “Stop calling me that.” She snapped a towel over a bush.

  “Can’t.” He chuckled and continued on his way.

  Every time he passed, he’d shake his head, smile, and make a joke about her huddling in the mud, or call her Mud Dog, until Delly wanted to bash him. Then she’d remember the feel of his lips on her skin, and get confused all over again. A kiss on the forehead could’ve meant anything. Maybe a form of endearment he’d give a younger sister. Is that how he saw her? An empty-headed girl landing in one scrape after another?

  She sighed and moved to the wagon. She lifted a strip of canvas cloth, slapped on some caulk, then plastered it over one of the tears in the wagon cover. “You’re the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Hey, Delly. Talking to yourself?” Alice stopped, a basket of clothes propped on her hip.

  “Repairs are endless. Look at this thing.”

  Alice laughed. “Mind if I join you?” She plopped on a fallen log before Delly could answer. “Abby and Seth are driving me out of my mind. Said they’re bored. How anyone could complain of boredom with all the work needing to be done is beyond me. Thought maybe they could play with your young’uns, and I could chat with you and Sadie. Plus, this baby is sitting heavier than my others did. It feels good to get off my feet, if only for a minute.”

  Delly smiled over her shoulder. “Sure. I’ve got one more rip to cover then I’ll join you by the fire.” She thanked God for these dear friends. Without them, she’d have given up a long time ago. She made the last patch and grabbed her mending from the wagon.