Mattie watched the dark clouds roll in, dimming the last rays of the setting sun. A chill wind blew through the camp, catching the women’s skirt hems and acting as a bellows on their cooking fires.
Rebecca started collecting empty plates and mugs. “We better get things packed up and inside the wagons before the rain gets here.”
Mattie moved to help her as lightning flashed across the darkened sky. It was followed closely by the boom of thunder overhead, and she flinched at the loud noise.
The weather could change so fast out here, and there was nowhere to escape from nature’s fury, except the meager protection of the covered wagons. She didn’t miss much about Saint Louis, but she’d never feared thunder and lightning like this while tucked securely inside a solid and sturdy brick building.
Josiah placed a hand on her back. “Summer storms come on quick, but they move on just as swiftly.”
The words, combined with his comforting touch, helped to ease her nerves. She felt safe with him near.
And bereft when he removed his hand and shifted away. “I better go see to my horses. This storm is liable to spook them, and I don’t want any to bolt.”
“You should probably grab a rain slicker if you don’t want to get drenched,” Elias advised.
“Good idea.” Josiah switched direction and made a beeline toward the wagon.
Mattie followed behind him, her concern for the horses equal to his. “I’ll come with you to check on them.”
“I can handle it on my own.” He tempered his refusal with a slight smile as he retrieved his slicker. “There’s no sense in us both getting wet. Wait out the storm in your wagon with Adela, where you’ll stay dry.”
Jumping at a second thunderclap, she nodded her agreement. It was probably just as well he’d declined her offer. Skittish horses needed a calm and reassuring tone, which she doubted she could provide right now.
Josiah guided her back to her own wagon and assisted her up onto the tailgate. As she joined Adela inside, the skies opened, and the first fat drops of rain landed on the parched ground.
Josiah shrugged into his slicker and fastened the buttons. “Will you and Adela be okay on your own?”
Though she didn’t want him to leave, the horses needed him more than she did. “We’ll be fine,” she reassured him. “Besides, Rebecca and Elias are close by.”
He nodded and turned to leave.
“Be careful,” she called after him.
“I will,” he promised.
Pulling the wide brim of his hat down to shield his face, he headed out and quickly disappeared into the gloom and sheets of rain.
Another flash of lightning forked across the sky and brightened the inside of the covered wagon for a split second, then darkness descended once more. Mattie lit a lantern to dispel the shadows, but it did nothing to lessen her anxiety.
The storm was doubtlessly making the horses restive and edgy. Even as experienced and skilled as Josiah was, an accident could still happen. What if he was kicked? Or if an animal reared and trampled him?
Please, Lord, protect him from harm.
The wind gusted and rocked the wagon while raindrops fell faster, hitting the canvas covering above Mattie’s head. And Josiah was out in the inclement weather.
She prayed for the squall to pass quickly.
Unlike Mattie, Adela didn’t seem a bit bothered by the downpour. She occupied herself embroidering an intricate pattern of leaves on the hem of a tiny gown intended for Rebecca and Elias’s baby.
Mattie admired her talent though she couldn’t hope to replicate it. Her sewing skills were passable, but in no way compared to her sister’s deft hand with a needle.
And even stitching a simple seam was beyond Mattie just now. Though she tried, she couldn’t settle to the task. She returned her own unfinished baby garment to the sewing case and drummed her fingers on the wooden top.
Adela shot her a look. “Must you do that?”
Yanking her hand back, she curled her fingers into a fist then tucked the offending appendage into her lap. “Sorry.”
“Why don’t you read from the Bible? It will get your mind off the storm.”
Taking her sister’s suggestion, Mattie lifted the lid on her trunk and retrieved the Bible, which rested atop her folded clothes. The cover was worn around the edges and the cross on the front was faded. But the imperfections were a reminder of the countless hours Daniel Prescott had spent reading the word of God aloud to his daughters.
Running a finger across the gold lettering on the spine, Mattie opened the book and flipped to one of her father’s favorite passages, then began to read.
The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
After a few minutes, the rainfall seemed to taper off and the thunderclaps sounded as if they were moving away from the wagon train.
But she wouldn’t breathe easy until she knew Josiah was safe.
It was a while before the rain and thunder stopped completely.
Shortly after that, Josiah’s whispered voice drifted through the gap in the canvas flaps. “Mattie?”
Setting the Bible aside, she shifted to the end of the wagon and pulled back the material. By the grace of God, Josiah stood there, wet from head to toe, but seeming otherwise unscathed. The knots in her stomach loosened and her heart rate slowed to a more normal pace.
“Your horses are all right?” she checked.
He nodded and water dripped off the brim of his hat.
“You should change into dry clothes.”
“I’m not too damp. The slicker kept the worst of the rain off me. It’s getting late, and I’m going to head for bed now. You should do the same. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night.” Mattie released the canvas flap, allowing it to fall back into place, and moved toward her trunk to collect her nightclothes.
But once she was tucked under the covers, the lantern extinguished, sleep didn’t come.
Though she was warm and dry inside the covered wagon, she couldn’t stop thinking about Josiah—forced to make his bed on the wet ground. And the oilskin he put down as a barrier would do little to keep the chill from seeping into his bones.
Turning onto her side, she folded her hands under her cheek and tried to banish thoughts of his certain discomfort. Her mind refused to give her peace, and she turned over onto her other side.
Adela’s voice reached her. “I can’t sleep with you flip-flopping like a landed fish. The whole wagon shakes every time you turn over.”
Mattie rolled onto her back and turned her head to peer at her sister through the darkness. “Sorry,” she apologized.
But a slight smile tugged up the corners of her mouth at the mental picture Adela’s comment produced. A few months ago, the younger girl wouldn’t have made such a reference, as she’d never seen anyone catch a fish, much less done so herself.
“Why are you still so fidgety when the storm’s long gone?”
Remembering the reason for her restlessness, Mattie’s amusement quickly faded. “I was thinking about Josiah. He must be cold outside in the damp night air.”
“So take him a blanket. Then you can stop worrying about him, and I can get some sleep.” Adela covered a wide yawn with her hand.
Mattie sat up, the covers falling to her lap. “That’s a wonderful idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Is that a rhetorical question? If not, I can’t help you. I haven’t a clue how your brain works. We’re so different that most days it amazes me how we can even be sisters,” she groused.
“All right, grump, go to sleep. I’ll try not to bother you any more tonight.” Sliding fr
om the bed, Mattie dug through one of the trunks for a spare blanket. Then she pulled on her father’s enveloping coat over her nightgown, stuffed her feet into her boots and ducked outside.
After all Josiah had done for her, this was the least she could do in return. Though he wasn’t a lost little boy anymore, he still deserved compassion and caring. She could show him that sort of kindness without involving her emotions.
She wouldn’t let it become anything deeper or more meaningful. Her heart was in no danger.
And once she’d seen to his well-being, she should be able to find rest for both her mind and body.
* * *
Josiah was trying to locate an agreeable position on the hard ground when he heard footsteps, too light to belong to a man. It came as no surprise to see it was Mattie approaching, though he did wonder what she was doing out here. Sitting up, he put the question to her.
“I thought you might need this.” She held out a folded woolen blanket.
His eyebrows rose in astonishment.
Her demeanor had bewildered him since he’d revealed the details of his past. First, when she didn’t display shock, scorn or any of the other reactions he had come to expect from others. She hadn’t treated him as if he would sully her simply by being near.
And now she was braving the chilly night in consideration for his comfort.
But why?
He searched her eyes for answers, but the darkness prevented him from reading her expression.
Accepting the blanket from her, he laid it across his lap, over the top of his bedroll. “Thanks. It is a bit colder out tonight than normal.”
“Will you be warm enough now?”
“That matters to you so much?”
“Well, of course. You’re no good to me if you freeze to death.”
Her tone was teasing, but he couldn’t help thinking there was more than a grain of seriousness in her words. She needed him around until they reached Oregon Country.
Not that he believed she would wish misfortune on him if she had no need of his continued presence. But that didn’t make him exceptional. She wouldn’t wish misfortune on anyone.
She shivered, even bundled up in a large overcoat.
“You should go back to the wagon.”
Nodding, she turned to retrace her steps.
A feeling of warmth spread through him as he watched her disappear. It had less to do with the woolen material covering him than the fact that Mattie had been the one to provide it.
She’d done much more for him than that, however.
Without realizing it, he had allowed memories of his childhood to fester and eat away at him, at his confidence, his sense of self-worth. He’d been convinced that no one would respect him if they knew of his past.
Mattie had proved him wrong. Talking with her hadn’t erased the painful recollections. No one and nothing could do that. But she’d listened without any apparent signs of judgment.
In his experience, that was a very rare thing.
Chapter Fourteen
The days on the trail seemed to run together, each the same as the last. Filled with chores at the beginning and end of every day and hours of monotonous walking in between.
Time passed unnoticed as Mattie trudged along beside the oxen, the glare of the mid-August sun beating down on her and perspiration beading on her skin. But with every turn of the wagon’s wheels, they moved closer to their destination.
“Rebecca, come back here!” Elias commanded.
Mattie glanced over her shoulder and saw the other woman walking at a good clip away from her husband, her enlarged belly leading the way.
Rebecca slowed her pace only when she reached Mattie and fell into step beside her. “I love that man, but he’s driving me mad,” she huffed out in exasperation. “I mentioned that I had a teeny-tiny little backache, and now he thinks I should be riding in the wagon so as to not overexert myself. He acts as if I’m the first woman with child to ever make this journey. But I’m not. I’m not even the only one in our group in a delicate condition.”
“Rebecca!” Elias had caught up to them and tried to take his wife’s arm.
She pulled away from him. “I’m fine, dear. Don’t fuss.”
Concern clouded his eyes. “You need to take it easy, sweetheart. You should be resting.”
“I prefer walking to riding on a hard wooden seat, bouncing over every bump in the trail. You go on back to our wagon while I chat with Mattie for a bit.”
He seemed reluctant to leave her side though he would be less than a dozen yards away. He could still keep an eye on her from there.
Giving him a peck on the cheek, Rebecca shooed him on his way, and he finally dropped back in the line.
“The poor man.” She tsked. “As a doctor, he’s aware of all the things that could go wrong. But if I let him have his way now, I’ll be spending the next six weeks confined to the wagon.”
Though she hid it well, Rebecca must share his worries, at least in part.
Mattie couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the other woman, facing the most treacherous part of the journey over steep mountain passes and rafting down the Columbia River while big with child. Fretting over the possibility of delivering early, before they reached Oregon Country. Fearful that something might happen to her or her child.
Rebecca linked arms with Mattie as they walked. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. As I’ve told Elias, there’s no sense borrowing trouble. And besides, there’s something much more interesting I’d rather discuss.”
“What’s that?”
“You and Josiah, of course. It’s been a while since the wedding. How are you two doing?”
“Fine.” She hoped her succinct answer would keep the conversation from veering any further down that particular path.
But the other woman refused to be put off. “Come now, you can do better than that, surely. You’ve had several opportunities to spend time alone together.”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“Oh, there’s no need to thank me,” Rebecca replied airily, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m simply doing my part to help the course of true love run smoothly.”
Mattie had to fight against rolling her eyes. “It’s not a love match.”
“Maybe not yet. But I’m sure you don’t want to end the marriage. And I don’t think Josiah truly does, either.”
That certainly wasn’t the impression he’d given Mattie. So, how had Rebecca arrived at such a conclusion? Was she willfully ignoring the obvious, seeing the situation through a romantic, rosy haze?
Not once had Josiah mentioned anything that even hinted at love or affection for Mattie. He felt an obligation toward her. Nothing more.
And a coerced union was hardly a recipe for future happiness and marital accord.
Rebecca guided Mattie sideways slightly to avoid a rock in their path. “I’ll admit it wasn’t the most auspicious beginning. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good marriage. Or that you shouldn’t try. It will take effort, but the rewards are well worth it. Josiah’s a good man, kind and caring. He’ll be a wonderful husband to you.”
“I’m sure he would.” She kept her lashes lowered, her gaze fixed on the ground, preventing Rebecca from reading anything in her eyes. “But that’s beside the point.”
“I don’t think it is. I believe that God brought you two together for a reason. And not simply to help you get to Oregon County. Every day I pray for you and Josiah to find happiness together.”
“And what if that’s not part of God’s plan for us?”
The other woman’s expression remained serene. “I have faith. There’s still plenty of time before we reach the end of the trail.”
Time for what, exactly? Josiah had stated his intentions plainly�
�to annul their marriage. And he hadn’t said or done anything to indicate he might be reconsidering.
“You could offer him a bit of encouragement.”
Mattie looked askance at Rebecca. “Excuse me?”
“He might be waiting for some sort of sign from you. Did you ever think of that?”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“Well, consider this. Perhaps, he planned for an annulment because he thought it was what you wanted. After all, he knew you weren’t given a choice whether or not to marry him. It’s up to you to show him you want more than a temporary marriage for convenience’s sake. To prove you’re committed to the union, that you wish to be a wife to him. And leave the rest in God’s hands.”
“But I don’t—”
Rebecca placed her hand over Mattie’s. “Love can grow between you if you only give it a chance. I’ve noticed a subtle change in Josiah recently. In you both, actually.”
Mattie ignored that last part in order to mull over the rest of what Rebecca had said.
Could it be true that Josiah was developing feelings for her? She hadn’t sensed a shift in him, but Rebecca did have the advantage of longer acquaintance. Could she see inside his heart to a place Mattie couldn’t?
She swung her gaze toward Josiah, riding on horseback a short distance out in front of the wagon train. He sat tall in the saddle, wearing an olive-green cotton shirt with a tan vest over it, his hat pulled low to shade his eyes from the sun.
He looked as strong and handsome as always. But he was too far away for her to read anything in his expression.
Rebecca might believe she saw signs of deeper emotion in Josiah, but Mattie was left with doubts. If she revealed more of her own feelings in the hope of reaching him and Rebecca turned out to be wrong, then Mattie would be the one left heartbroken. Though the other woman was only trying to help, Mattie couldn’t follow her advice. The risk was too great.
She focused her attention back on her sister-in-law and opened her mouth to say as much. The words remained unspoken when she noticed Rebecca had a hand braced against her lower back, a slight grimace twisting her features.
Wed on the Wagon Train Page 17
