“I hope you will listen to your wife and take things slowly for a few days, Mr. Clarke,” Rick said in a bid to change the focus of the conversation.
“David, please. Every time anyone calls me mister, I look for my father.” David smiled. “As for your question, I believe you know that it is better for one’s health to listen to the Thompson sisters when they give orders.”
“Hey, that’s enough of that. Anyone would think I was bossy,” Eva exclaimed but the twinkle in her eyes showed relief her husband was on the mend.
Eva insisted David rest again after they returned to camp. As soon as she was finished helping Johanna, she returned to find him napping in their wagon. She lay down beside him as quietly as possible but his eyes opened.
“You need to sleep and get your strength back.”
“Come here and give me a kiss. That will help more than any amount of sleep.”
Eva kissed him before losing control of her emotions. She sobbed as he held her close.
“I am so sorry but the last few days have been horrible. I was sure I was going to lose you,” Eva said, sniffing back more tears.
“Darling, I didn’t wait for you all those years so I could leave you now. We are going to have a wonderful life in Oregon. Just you see.”
“I hope you are right.” Eva looked at him, her eyes checking his skin for signs of illness, his eyes for fever.
“Eva, I am better. Stop fretting or you will make yourself ill. Thanks to you and your sisters, I am almost back to full strength.”
“Johanna has been amazing, hasn’t she? And to think Granny thought she would be the one least suitable to traveling the trail. I hate to think what would have happened to Ma, Pa, and you if she had stayed in Virgil.”
“All the Thompson women are incredible. But I have a firm favorite. Now are you going to talk all day?”
Eva saw the glint in his eyes. Smiling widely, she kissed him gently. “Are you sure you are well enough?”
“I will let you be the judge of that,” he whispered as he nuzzled the side of her neck. All thoughts of conversation fled.
Chapter 25
Becky stood admiring the view. The mountains were all around her, to her back and sides. They looked like magnificent cakes capped with white icing. She didn’t feel menaced by their size. She believed one hundred percent in Captain Jones’ ability to get them over their slopes and on into Oregon.
She took a couple of steps relishing the freedom of wearing pants rather than her calico dress. If only Ma would let her dress like this all the time. It made doing chores so much easier. She had been lucky in her shots this morning having killed a couple of small animals. Hopefully, the sick patients back at camp would appreciate the addition of fresh meat to their diet.
“I could shoot you myself.”
Becky whirled around to find herself looking at Captain Jones. He was furious. She took a step back from him.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“Obviously. I could have been anyone. What would you have done if I had been a tribe of Indians?”
Flustered, Becky didn’t know what to say. She walked a little away from him trying to think of an answer.
“Well, you aren’t so it’s pointless discussing that,” she said hoping her tone didn’t show how his nearness was affecting her.
He took two strides and she was in his arms.
“I don’t know whether to kiss you or kill you.” He gathered her to him in the fiercest of kisses. His mouth found hers but not in a gentle caress. He pulled her closer still as she wound her hands around his neck, giving herself up to his embrace. All too soon, he pushed her away from him.
“Miss Thompson, I apologize. That was unforgivable.”
“Why? You like me and I like you. What’s wrong with that?”
“Everything. I am a grown man while you are still a…”
“Don’t you dare call me a child. Not after kissing me like that. I am a woman and I know my own mind.” She picked up the animal carcasses before she stormed off, her temper carrying her across to her horse.
He watched her go, her body shape clearly outlined in the pants and shirt she was wearing. She was beautiful, not just physically. Her independence and willingness to fling aside society conventions only made her more attractive. She didn’t seem to be afraid of anything. He thought he had seen everything when she broke David out of his jail but this was yet another side to her. How many young ladies would set out into the unknown to hunt for much needed food for sick people? None.
But much as he admired her and found her attractive, he shouldn’t have kissed her. For all her bravado, she was an innocent. She deserved to be courted by a man from her own kind. Not an orphan who’d been brought up by a combination of mountain men and Indians. What would she say if she knew he had been married before? Maybe she wouldn’t care but her pa would. He was not the type of man any decent father wanted as a husband for their daughter.
Becky knew he was following her, but she refused to wait for him. He had almost called her a child. After the way he had kissed her, she had finally thought he saw her as the woman she was. But no, he still insisted she was a child. She had behaved like one, letting her temper get the better of her by walking out on him but if she had stayed, she may have hit him. He intrigued her, and not just because he hadn’t fallen at her feet like all the other men she’d known. Becky wasn’t big headed but she knew she was very attractive to the opposite sex. She’d had a string of admirers back in Virgil. No doubt Scott Jones would call them children as well. But it wasn’t just the boys she had seen giving her the look. Their fathers were also not immune to her charms. In fact, Scott Jones was the first man who hadn’t given her the usual look and if she was honest, that is what had attracted her to him at first. He was a challenge, one she was determined to crack. But that initial attraction had soon subsided. Her feelings for him had become very real. She admired his strength and his honesty. He stood up for what he believed in and wasn’t afraid to show it. She knew he was brave. You didn’t cross the country a number of times without having courage. But it was more than that. He had stuck by David regardless of the so-called evidence against him. He had seen Harold for the spiteful, nasty individual he was from the start. If she was really being honest, he had accused her of being a child quite correctly. In the first few weeks of their journey, she had behaved like a spoiled child with all her talk about having a big adventure. She hadn’t understood just how difficult this crossing would be. How many people they would lose along the way. She knew she would never be the shallow, self-absorbed person she had been back in Virgil. But how could she prove to the man she loved she had put all that behind her?
There had to be a way. They had weeks left before they reached Oregon. More than enough time for her to show she was a grown-up. What was he going to do when their journey was over? Was it true he was going to settle down and set up a horse ranch? She should have asked when she had the chance. Ma said one way to get a man to notice you was to ask him questions about his plans and then listen intently to his answers. She wasn’t very good at listening. Another thing she had to change if she was going to get her man.
Chapter 26
The days and nights seemed to merge into each other as she and Becky nursed the sick and the dying. They used the same treatments for everyone. They administered camphor until their supplies ran out. Johanna insisted everyone, whether they were ill or not, drank cooled boiled water. All the patients received sponge baths using mint tea to bring down their temperature. It worked for some but not for everyone. They lost an older lady who had been traveling with her son and daughter-in-law. They also lost a baby and a young boy.
Johanna had been worried about Milly and refused to let her help. She insisted her pregnant friend was more useful minding Stephen, Julia and the other young ones. Julia’s sisters were recovering as was their ma, but they didn’t have the energy to keep up with the young’uns.
Pa and Sheila Freeman see
med to be recovering, although the same couldn’t be said of Gracie.
“She isn’t getting any better, is she?” Becky asked Johanna.
“No. It’s as if she’s decided not to fight. I can’t think of what else to do.”
“Gracie, it’s Becky. You got to get better, darling. Your poor father is beside himself at the thought of losing you.”
Johanna wiped away a tear as she listened to Becky trying to convince Gracie to fight back. She knew her twin felt a little guilty. She had been jealous of Gracie’s interest in Captain Jones even though it hadn’t lasted long. Gracie’s soulmate had been Joey Freeman. Maybe she wanted to be with him.
“I think we should ask Rick to carry her down to the stream. It worked for Sarah. Her fever broke.”
“But isn’t it dangerous?”
“It can’t be any riskier than leaving her here.”
Becky went to find Mr. Bradley to ask his permission. Once she had gone, Gracie’s eyes fluttered open.
“Johanna.”
“Yes, Gracie.” Johanna moved quickly to her side.
“Will you look after my pa?” Gracie’s voice was so weak, Johanna had to lean closer to her to hear her. “He will be all alone now. He should get married. Maybe Mrs. Long.”
“Shush, Gracie, you need to rest easy and conserve your energy.”
“I want to be with Joey. Please don’t stop me.”
Johanna wiped the tears away furiously. “I can’t just watch you die, Gracie.”
“Please, Jo. I don’t have a life without Joey. I…” Gracie’s voice trailed off giving Jo a shock, but her friend had just fallen asleep.
Mr. Bradley gave his permission reluctantly. He wanted to be the one to help Johanna but she insisted he needed to rest. He wasn’t as ill as his daughter but he was older too. Rick carried Gracie to the river but it was Johanna who bathed her, Rick turning his back for the sake of propriety. Gracie didn’t fight back even when Johanna accidentally let her face slip under the water. Crying softly for her friend, Johanna and Eva dried her before wrapping her in a clean dress. Then Rick carried her back to the camp.
They repeated the process with Sheila Freeman. Sheila wasn’t as weak as Gracie and was able to help Johanna a little. Rick carried her back to camp as she was too weak to walk herself. Sheila joked about it being a rather drastic way to get a man’s attention. Everyone laughed. Rick squeezed Johanna’s hand quickly. She glanced up to catch him looking at her softly. She smiled back at him before moving to check on her next patient.
Johanna was giving Sheila another bath with the mint tea. Johanna hummed as she rubbed Sheila down.
“I like that song,” Sheila mumbled.
“Do you want a drink?”
Sheila nodded. Johanna held her up while she drank.
“How is Gracie?”
Johanna looked away. She didn’t want to upset Sheila but she wasn’t about to lie either.
“Tell me.”
“She says she wants to be with Joey. She won’t even try to fight the illness.”
“Poor Gracie. And Joey.” Tears ran out of the corners of Sheila’s eyes.
“Sheila don’t cry, please. You’ll set me off.”
“You are so strong, Johanna, caring for all of us like this. Thank you.”
Sheila fell back asleep. Johanna eased back on her ankles about to stand up when she felt a strong arm at her side.
“You need a break.”
Rick more or less marched Johanna away from the sick tents to a clearing near the river. There he had laid out a blanket with some food and some water.
“You can’t do anyone any good if you get sick. You need to eat something and you need to rest.”
“But what about…”
“Taken care of. Mrs. Freeman, Eva and your ma have it in hand.”
“But Ma is weak.”
“Your ma has recovered and is worried about you. Let her help. You will ease her mind. And mine.”
Johanna smiled at him gratefully. She wasn’t hungry but her whole body yearned for sleep.
“I know you are tired and you can sleep in a minute but first eat this. It will keep your strength up. You cannot fall ill just as everyone else in getting better.
“Not everyone. Gracie isn’t.”
“Gracie doesn’t want to. You can’t change that.”
“But I can’t just let her die.”
“You are not God, Jo. You have to let Him do what he decides is best. You have done your utmost to help everyone. Now you have to have the strength to accept what comes next.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes, I do.”
“But what about Sarah? She had given up too.”
“Sarah is a child. Gracie is a young woman. It’s different. Sarah has her whole life to live for. Gracie believes hers is over.”
“But she may meet someone else.”
“She might but she could spend the rest of her life missing Joey. Either way it’s not our decision to make. Is there anything you could have done differently for Gracie?”
Johanna shook her head.
“Then that’s what you must remember. No matter what happens, you did your best and that is all you could do. Now eat and then sleep.”
“But…”
“You know I sympathize with your father,” he interrupted her gently. “You are a very stubborn woman.”
She was about to argue when he kissed her fiercely. “Eat. I can’t bear the thought of losing you. Not now. Not ever.”
He held her closely for a moment as if trying to pour his strength into her.
“Eat, please. Just a little. For us.”
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?” She said the words playfully, but her eyes mirrored the love in his.
“I believe I love you, Miss Thompson.”
“I love you too, Mr. Hughes.”
This time she kissed him.
Chapter 27
The next twenty-four hours passed very slowly. Becky went out hunting again but this time David Clarke went with her. Captain Jones had insisted and David was feeling well enough to ride. To Johanna’s amazement, Becky hadn’t argued with Captain Jones’ decision. They didn’t stay out long but brought back some small animals for the pot. Mrs. Newland was in charge of the cooking, so Becky came to see if she could help Johanna.
“What is happening here? How are they?”
“Pa has turned the corner and is improving. Ma is with him. Sheila Freeman’s ma is with her. She is much better as is Sarah.” Johanna took a deep breath before adding, “There is no change in Gracie.”
“That’s good though, isn’t it? I mean if Gracie had really given up, she would be dead by now.”
“Rick, I mean Mr. Hughes, helped me give Sheila and Gracie a bath in the river. The cold water definitely helped bring down their fevers.”
“Thank God nobody else died, I couldn’t bear to have to stand at another graveside. I have had enough of death to last me forever.”
“You and me both,” Johanna agreed vehemently.
After bathing Sarah and checking on Gracie, Johanna sat down. For once the chores could wait. She needed a rest. Her thoughts turned to her granny. The old woman had always said, “If you practice a gratitude ritual, your worries would always be smaller.” Johanna realized she had a lot to be grateful for. Instead of falling sick in one of the barren areas of the trail, their current location was ideal. There was plenty of good water, the meadows were full of grass for their cattle to graze on and the scenery, once you took notice of it, was inspiring. She sat looking at the mountains wondering what it would feel like to be on top of one looking down at the valley.
She must have fallen asleep as she found herself tucked up in bed sometime later with no memory of how she got there. She was still wearing her clothes, only her shoes were missing. Becky was nowhere to be seen but she heard laughter coming from the wagon. She started to walk toward it when the world started spinning. She wou
ld have fallen over if Eva hadn’t reached her in time.
“What are you doing up? You should be in bed.”
“But what about Ma and Pa and the others?”
“Everyone is doing great. Thanks to you and Becky. Becky has gone for a bath and Ma is visiting with Pa.”
“Did Gracie die?” Johanna dreaded asking the question but she had to know. To her relief, Eva smiled.
“No, she didn’t. She is still sick but with some good luck, she will be fine. Seems Sheila had words with her, something about throwing her life away when Joey didn’t have that choice.”
“That was a little harsh, wasn’t it? She was very ill.”
“Harsh or not, it worked. She’s alive.” Eva’s tone suggested she agreed with Sheila’s actions.
Johanna could hardly believe it. She was sure Gracie would die. “How long have I been asleep?”
“About sixteen hours. Mr. Hughes dropped off some fuel for the fire and found you slumped over near the wagon wheel. He picked you up and put you in the tent before coming to fetch me.”
“He put me to bed?”
“He did but all he took off was your shoes so your dignity is still intact.” Eva’s teasing would have made her smile, but her thoughts were consumed by Rick.
“Back to bed with you. I am going to heat up some stew, and I want you to eat up every bit. You’ve lost weight in the last few days. You cannot afford to lose any more.”
“Yes, Ma!”
Eva laughed at the joke as she headed over to the fire to stir the pot of stew cooking there. Johanna realized she was ravenous. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten. She continued sitting not having the energy to walk back to her tent.
“You look peaky,” Pa’s greeting woke Johanna. She had fallen asleep in the sunshine.
“So do you. Are you sure you should be out of bed so soon?” she asked, concerned about the paleness of his face.
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