Wagon Train Baby_Christian historical romance

by Linda Ford

  Buck rode by again. “Folks, let’s go.” He waited as Mr. Clark hugged his daughters goodbye. Warren got up beside Judith. Luke had in mind to check on their freight wagons, even though they had experienced teamsters that they had used in the past, but Buck nodded toward the Clark wagon. “Guess you’ll be driving your wife’s wagon.”

  Luke recognized the words for what they were—an order. “Yup. Come on, Mrs. Russell.” He helped Donna Grace to the hard seat and climbed up beside her. Mary Mae got in the back. Soon enough the women would weary of the constant jolting and swaying and get down to walk, but for now, riding would get them out of the melee of wagons trying to get in line with the resisting oxen and mules who preferred the life of ease here. Warren led the way, Reverend Shepton followed in his wagon and Luke trailed in his dust. Behind them the uproar increased. Inside the wagon, pots and items hanging from the hoops rattled and banged.

  Donna Grace sat back and chuckled. “Some people think this journey is quiet and peaceful. It’s nothing of the sort.”

  He glanced at her. “After a bit you don’t hear the noise.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s music to my ears. It means I am on my way.” She lifted her hands toward the sky and laughed. “Santa Fe, here we come.” She patted her baby bulge. “Baby, we are on our way to our new home.”

  Luke leaned down a bit to speak to the baby. “Just make sure you wait until we get there to put in your appearance.” He lifted his head and met Donna Grace’s dark, sober eyes. Their gazes held even as he straightened. If only he knew her well enough to read the message there.

  She gave a nod. “I will not be any trouble to you. I can drive the wagon and you can look after your own things.”

  “Who said you were going to be any trouble?” Hadn’t she already mention the idea a couple of times? Said her grandfather told her she was too much trouble. Even her father had insinuated taking care of his daughters was an inconvenience.

  She turned her eyes forward and lifted one shoulder.

  “Donna Grace, look at me.” She brought her gaze back to him. “Whatever happens to either you or me we are in this together.”

  “For better or worse. Good times and bad. Just not forever.”

  She repeated that condition a little too often for Luke’s peace of mind. “It’s what we agreed upon, but if you’re wanting to renegotiate the terms of our agreement… ”

  She shot him a look full of so many things—disbelief, protest, followed by defeat, and acceptance. And then she laughed, the sound so unexpected that he looked about to see if he’d missed the antics of a man or animal.

  “Something amuses you?” he asked, when he saw no explanation for her merriment.

  “You do.” She sat back, a smile playing about her mouth and her attention on the road ahead.

  He didn’t ask why. Didn’t care. Because it felt good to be the one to make her laugh.

  They reached the last of the oaks and before them lay the wide-spreading plains. Nothing ahead as far as the eye could see but dry, dusty grass and wind.

  “We are on our way,” she announced, her voice filled with awe and joy.

  Mary Mae moved forward and knelt behind them. “There’s not much to see, is there?” She sounded small and afraid.

  Donna Grace took one of her sister’s hands. “I see a future of hope and love.” Her gaze met Luke’s. “For all of us.” Her words blessed him, even though he had no expectation of love. He’d learned the folly of inviting such pain into his life. Never again.

  The other wagons followed and the slow journey began. After an hour, Judith left their wagon and started walking to the side.

  “I’d like to walk too,” Mary Mae said. Luke let her scramble off.

  “Do you want to join them?” he asked Donna Grace.

  “In a bit. I’m a little tired.”

  “You didn’t sleep well?”

  She slanted him a look. “It was a little awkward.”

  “Not to mention how hard the ground was. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in the wagon.”

  “We’ll see.” The wheels made a few more turns, then she shifted to look at him. “Luke, I meant it when I said I could drive the wagon. Papa taught me on our trip here.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “If you want to go check on your wagons, I can manage just fine.” She reached for the reins.

  He held them firmly. “If I wanted to I could, I suppose.”

  “Well?” she prodded.

  “Well what?” He guessed his lazy tone bothered her, for she let out an impatient gust of air.

  “I don’t recall saying I wanted to,” he added, in a tone that he hoped indicated it was the last thing on his mind.

  She rumbled her lips. “Luke Russell, I think you might be a stubborn, mule-headed man.”

  A grin started deep inside. “Guess the good Lord knew what He was doing when he sent a stubborn man into your life.”

  She scowled at him. “Why would you say that?”

  The grin reached his mouth. “Because you are a stubborn woman.”

  “I am not.” She flounced about. Then with a little toss of her head, added, “I’m just determined to do what needs to be done.”

  He roared with laughter. Judith and Mary Mae came closer to demand to share the joke.

  Donna Grace shifted about to give him nothing but a view of her back. Did her shoulders tremble? Had he offended her? Hurt her feelings?

  “Donna Grace, I am sorry. I meant no—”

  She waved him away and pressed a hand to her mouth to muffle the sound.

  He narrowed his eyes. “Are you laughing?”

  She turned so she could answer him with a nod. Her eyes brimmed with humor and her face lit with it.

  The two other women jammed fists to their hips. “What’s so funny?” Judith asked, sounded as peeved as curious.

  “He called me stubborn,” Donna Grace managed in fits and starts.

  “And rightly so,” Mary Mae agreed. “But why is that so funny?”

  “Because—” She lifted her hands in a sign of I-don’t-know. “I guess you had to be there.” When she looked at Luke they both grinned.

  Yup, you had to be there, he silently agreed and decided being married to Donna Grace, even if only for the length of this trip, might prove pleasant enough.

  The two ladies wandered off to the side to avoid the dust and Luke settled down to the rhythm of the wagon. There was little to do but keep the mules following the trail.

  Donna Grace’s head bumped his shoulder. He glanced down at her. Her eyes were closed and her head lolled against him. Poor little mama was tired. He angled his body toward her so she could lean into him.

  How was she going to make this long, tiresome trip?

  He smiled. By sheer stubborn determination and with his help.

  Buck Williams rode by and gave Luke and Donna Grace a hard look. His gaze lingered on Donna Grace as she slept against Luke.

  Luke could almost read the wagon master’s mind. He’d allow no delay for the sake of Donna Grace’s condition. It was up to Luke to see that Donna Grace and her sister made the trip safely and without inconveniencing the traders.

  Inconveniencing. Cause of trouble. Seems they were words Donna Grace heard applied to her more than once in just the few hours he’d known her. How many times throughout her life had she heard them? No wonder she had grown into a determined woman.

  Buck rode to the front wagon and called a halt for the noon meal.

  Luke pulled the mules to a stop.

  Donna Grace jerked awake. “Oh my, did I sleep? I surely didn’t intend to. You shouldn’t have let me. I have to do my—”

  He didn’t let her finish. “I think your share of the chores is to take care of that baby, and that means taking care of yourself.” He jumped down and helped her to the ground. “Move around a bit and get the circulation going good while I tend the animals.” They needed to be unhitched and left to find grass and water.

  “I c
an do it.” She went to the lead pair and reached for the halter. With a groan, she bent over.

  He rushed to her side.

  She waved him away.

  If she told him she could do anything more without help, he would be sorely tempted to make her spend the rest of the trip in the back of the wagon. Even the thought of trying to do so brought a smile to his lips. A smile that was gone as quickly as it came.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Just another Charlie horse.” She straightened slowly and gave a weak smile that did not erase the tension from her face.

  “I’m getting so I don’t much like this Charlie fella and his horse.”

  The smile made its way to her eyes. “I don’t much either. Guess I sat too long.”

  “I’ll take care of the mules. You move about and get those kinks worked out.”

  The fact that she nodded and walked away without one word of argument, made him watch her with more than a little concern.

  Judith joined him. “She’s trying to make everyone believe she’s tough.”

  “I know.” And he’d let her do so as long as possible. But should there come a time—He would never stand back and let ill befall her.

  He’d learned that lesson and wouldn’t repeat it.

  Judith must have read his mind. “You can’t make sure nothing bad happens to everyone in your life.”

  “Not everyone. Just her.”

  “I fear you will be hurt again.”

  “Some hurts are more bearable than others.” He led the animals away. The worst hurt was doing nothing when he should have done something.

  He would not do so again.

  Not even if Donna Grace resented his help.

  Would she understand that it was for her good?

  4

  Please stop. Please stop. Over and over Donna Grace ordered the cramps in her stomach to end. She shouldn’t have stayed sitting on the wagon seat so long. She closed her eyes as heat rushed up her neck and pooled in her cheeks. How had she fallen asleep against Luke? It was the man’s fault she was so tired. She hadn’t been able to sleep with him taking up so much room in the tent. Every time she moved, she bumped into him.

  Buck Williams rode by, checking on the freighters and their wagons.

  They had surely convinced the man that she and Luke were well and truly married.

  She looked the direction Luke had gone with the mules. He strode back, a short dark-haired man at his side. She’d seen the man before and recognized him as one of Luke and Warren’s teamsters. They were in deep conversation, with the driver pointing toward a wagon.

  Luke nodded and accompanied him to the spot. They examined one of the wheels.

  Guilt assailed her and started the cramps again. Because of her, Luke hadn’t been able to check his wagons this morning. She would never forgive herself if she was responsible for him losing some of his goods.

  She’d tell him again that she could drive the wagon. Her back ached, and the thought of riding several more hours on the jostling hard seat wearied her clear through. Determined to make this trip with little fuss, and without causing trouble for anyone, she pushed aside every pain and discomfort, and hurried to help prepare the noon meal.

  They wouldn’t take time to build a fire, but beans were already cooked and ready. There were cold biscuits and bacon from this morning.

  Warren and Luke joined them, ate hurriedly and then left together. Donna Grace watched them as they went from wagon to wagon. She counted five wagons. Knew they could carry up to two thousand pounds each of goods for trade in Bents Fort or Santa Fe. Would he normally be keeping a closer watch on the needs of his wagons, his oxen and his teamsters?

  Judith observed Donna Grace’s interest. “This is the first trip they’ve made with women to accompany them. At least women that were their traveling companions.” She laughed softly. “I don’t think it will take long for them to find it to their liking.”

  “How so?”

  “They’ll have their meals made and I dare say, far better meals than they would make for themselves. Or even shared with the teamsters, which, I suppose, is what they’ve done in the past. Not to mention, our pleasant company to amuse them.”

  A dog wandered by the men and Luke reached down to rub his head. The animal dropped to its haunches and sat by Luke’s leg.

  For some reason, that little scene brought a sting of tears to Donna Grace’s eyes. How silly. She jerked away and grabbed the only item not yet put away—the cast iron pot that held the cold biscuits. Only a few remained.

  “Seems we’ll be kept busy baking and cooking to feed them,” she murmured, showing Judith the container.

  Judith laughed. “Like I said, they’re going to appreciate having some women with them on this trip.”

  The idea lifted a weight of guilt and worry Donna Grace had carried for almost twenty-four hours. Was it only that long since she and Luke had struck their agreement?

  Up and down the line of wagons, the weary men stretched out on the ground and rested. From the snores nearby, Donna Grace knew many of them slept. A short time later, as if on a given signal, they scrambled to their feet, went to get the oxen and mules and hitched up the wagons again.

  She watched Luke, torn between appreciating his help and wanting to refuse it.

  He turned to her. “Do you want to ride or walk?”

  “I’ll walk with the others.” She joined Judith and Mary Mae.

  Mrs. Shepton called to them. “May I join you?”

  They waited for her, then walked far enough away from the wagons to avoid the dust.

  Donna Grace found the pace suited her and she relaxed and looked about her. “It looks different than when we came with Papa.”

  Mary Mae looked around. “We were young and eager back then.”

  “True. But it was also early summer. The grass was greener and spattered liberally with wild flowers. Now the grass is dull and dusty and there are no flowers.” The fact troubled her.

  They marched onward, mile after mile. Needing to think and plan for the future of herself and her baby, Donna Grace fell behind the others. The wagons rumbled onward, accompanied by the shouts of the teamsters and the crack of whips.

  The absence of flowers made her consider how late in the year it was. October. It would be late November before they arrived. Later, if they ran into problems.

  She couldn’t think of being delayed and pressed her hands to her stomach, the baby kicking against her palm in response. “You stay right there until we get to Santa Fe.”

  The morning had started out cool, but the heat intensified throughout the afternoon. If only she could feel a cool breeze. She waved her hands at her face. So hot. She took huge gasps, seeking relief from the stifling air.

  Her boot caught on a tangle of grass and she went to her knees, struggling for a moment to catch her breath.

  There before her, hidden among the blades of dusty grass, waved a cluster of blue harebells. So cheerful. She sat back on her heels and stared at the blossoms. Even though she hadn’t expected to see flowers at this time of year, she couldn’t help wishing for them, longing for the bright encouragement they would provide. To find this almost-hidden bunch brought a tear to her eyes. What was wrong with her that she cried at the least thing?

  Luke kept half his attention on the women walking—or more correctly, on Donna Grace—and the other half on guiding the mules. Donna Grace moved slowly, her gait that of a woman heavy with child. And yet, there was a grace to her movements. Perhaps inherited, in part, from her Spanish side of the family. But also born of overcoming challenges and using them to fuel her determination.

  She fell behind the others.

  He watched her more carefully. Had she tired herself? But it didn’t appear so. She plodded onward, looking as if her thoughts required solitude.

  He brushed the back of his hand over his brow to wipe away the sweat, and smiled as Donna Grace waved her hands before her face. She was hot, too.

 
; He gasped as she fell, and held his breath waiting for her to get up. She remained on the ground. Had she injured herself?

  With a flick of the reins, he turned the wagon off the trail and set the brake, then leapt to the ground, breaking into a run. He reached her side and knelt beside her.

  “Are you okay? I saw you fall, and when you didn’t get up—” He didn’t finish. He expected her to scold him and remind him she could take care of herself.

  Instead, she lifted her face to him. Tears had left a trail down her dusty face.

  “You’re hurt. I should never have let you walk.”

  She shook her head. “I found these flowers.” She pointed to a bunch of harebells.

  “Flowers?” She wasn’t making any sense.

  “It’s too late in the season for them, but here they are.”

  “Yes?” Still not making sense.

  “Like a gift.”

  “Okay.”

  “To remind me of—” She shrugged.

  He got it. “A gift from God to remind you that He is here with us, each step of the way.”

  She nodded.

  “‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’” Silently, he thanked his parents for the many memory verses they’d had him learn.

  “They are so beautiful. So pure.” She smiled at him, easing his mind of its worry. “What is that song you sang?”

  “Do you want to hear it?”

  “Please.” Her eyes held his in a grasp so firm he couldn’t look away.

  “‘Oh, worship the King, all glorious above. Oh gratefully sing his power and his love.’” He sang the hymn from start to finish. He’d always loved singing, but to do so for Donna Grace caused his voice to tremble. He finished and still they continued to look deeply into each other’s eyes.

  She broke the spell. “Thank you.” She looked around to see their wagon to one side, the others moving away and scrambled to her feet. “You shouldn’t have stopped. I’m fine. There’s no need to worry about me.”