“It’s the only way to save my brother,” she insisted.
“No, it’s not. Marrying me is the only way.”
“If I marry you, I won’t be able to protect him. My father will make Adam’s life a nightmare.”
“Louisa, it’s you who needs to wake up.”
She gasped. “How dare you.”
“I didn’t mean…” Samuel suspected it would be hard for a man to remain coherent while discussing marriage under normal circumstances, but this situation was downright befuddling. “I’m not good at this.”
“Just for the moment, let’s put Adam’s future aside,” she said. “Why do you want to marry me? Tell me what you’re thinking. Just say what’s on your heart. I need to know how you really feel before I can give you an answer.”
Samuel decided to just say what he was thinking. He took a deep breath and began pacing. “All right. It’s true we face more than minor obstacles. The first problem being your father. He’s been blinded by greed and the prospect of power. The second being Commander Long. He’s blinded by your beauty and his vainglorious belief that you would want to marry him because he may become a powerful man in this province. Neither one is going to give you up easily.”
“Respectfully, Samuel, I know that’s what they want. And I know my own feelings. But I can’t understand yours until you tell me. What is it that you’re after? What is it you feel?”
“You’re right. I should have told you this before now. If I had, you wouldn’t have run off into the woods.” He paused to gather his thoughts. This was important and he had to get it right. “Louisa, love is our best defense. Because love is an unbreakable bond. Together, we are twice as strong as we are separately. They can never take you away if we are married. But that isn’t why I want to marry you. I want us to marry because I love you and I dare to hope that you love me. I realized how much I love you when you were in so much danger. I understood then that I wanted you to be a part of my life.”
Her face softened. “I do love you, Samuel. And not because I want you to get me out of a mess. I would never use you that way. I love you because you are an honest, decent man, who has shown my brother and me nothing but kindness. I love you because you made me realize the world is not quite as dismal and unkind as I thought. The world is a beautiful and caring place because of people like you. My brother and I were alone in the wilderness, but you came and saved us. Not with your rope, but with your heart.”
He nodded, too full of emotion to speak.
“I’ve known loneliness most of my life. A loneliness so complete I even felt that God had deserted us. Then, He sent you to save us. But not just from the quicksand. You saved us from a desperate, miserable existence. Now, I don’t feel alone anymore. You stood up to my father and no one has ever done that. And just now, you helped me to see the truth. You kept me from making a terrible mistake. You are my sword and my shield. You are my hero. You always will be.”
Samuel’s eyes widened. A hero? His heart swelled at the thought of being her hero. He would gladly serve as her hero, and he silently pledged to forever be her sword and shield.
“My Red River hero,” she whispered, as she came close.
Her words were so beautiful he had to glance above them as he blinked away tears. He wouldn’t have been surprised to see the tall trees around them bend their tops to listen in. Or the clouds that passed overhead laughing out joyfully. Even the wildflowers of autumn around them glowed as if they had just turned into beautiful gems.
“Bless your sweet lips,” he said as he turned his gaze back to her.
She grasped both of his arms as her eyes filled with promises and tenderness. “I love you so much. I would love to marry you, Samuel.”
An intense pleasure filled him as pure joy surged through his heart, mind, and soul.
“But I have one condition,” she said, her voice determined. “My brother must stay with me. Whatever it takes, we can’t let my father take him. Ever.”
“I agree. Of course. I swear he will stay with us no matter what your father says or does.”
“But you said, legally and rightfully, Adam is his. How will we prevent him from taking my brother?”
“We may have to fight to keep him. But I doubt your father would dare challenge all the men in my family. If he does, though, are you willing to let me do whatever is necessary to win?”
Louisa hesitated for only a second. “Yes. I never want to let him near Adam. Never again.”
“Till this is over, one of us will watch over Adam at all times until there’s no longer any threat of your father coming for him. I promise to protect Adam as if he were one of my own brothers.”
She exhaled a long sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Do you have any other worries?” He wanted no more distressing worries, no crippling fear, and no agonizing confusion to come between them and getting married.
“Only that we’ve only known each other such a short time.”
“True, but my attraction to you was immediate,” he said. “And my feelings for you were there from the very beginning. From the start, I wanted to protect you—from your father, from Long, from the whole world. Soon, I wanted you in my life. Not just for a while, but always. What I feel for you is unaffected by time. It is unchanging and enduring. It’s the one thing in our lives that will never change.”
She gave him a tender smile. “For as long as I live, I will give you my heart.”
He cherished her words in his own heart for a moment before he asked, “What else concerns you?”
“Truthfully, I’m a bit uneasy about us living in a place as dangerous as this. But I think I understand now why people want to live here. It’s the lure of land and the promise of a fresh start. But most of all it’s the desire for freedom. I’ve come to realize how important freedom is. When you don’t have it, it’s the most precious thing in the world.”
Samuel agreed. Life here with him would entail a certain amount of risk. She was right to be concerned. She and Adam might be safer in one of the eastern states. The West was no place for the faint-hearted. “Yes, Texas offers all of those things and more. But there’s one thing we must all realize. The connection between freedom and war is as real and powerful as exploding black powder. Freedom isn’t guaranteed here on the edge of the West. We’ll have to fight for it. Whether it’s fighting Indians, Spaniards, or Mexicans, in between times of peace we can expect conflicts. Our rifles will remain an important part of our survival. Are you willing to live with that?”
“I am. Freedom is worth fighting for. So is being able to live here with you. You may have to teach me to be a better shot, but I’m willing to learn what I need to. Especially if I’m fighting to defend my family. And I want Adam to learn to be a strong man, just like you.”
“He’s already strong. He just needs to learn a few more survival skills. But he’ll have four brothers to teach him.”
“And Father Wyllie and Baldy.”
“Louisa, I promise I will strive to make you happy here,” he said. “No one will cause any more heartache in your life. And no one, including me, will control you.”
“Promise?” she asked with the cutest grin he’d ever seen.
“I promise that we will be equals and respect each other’s wisdom and feelings.”
Tears of happiness welled in her eyes. “Can we marry tomorrow? Before my father comes back?”
“Yes!” He tugged her to him and sealed his promises with a kiss.
A kiss that must have made even God smile down on them.
Chapter 16
The next morning, Louisa was still smiling as she gazed out the apothecary windows at the colorful sunrise. Glowing pink and purple clouds dangled against a turquoise blue sky. She would marry Samuel later that afternoon. She could hardly believe her good fortune. She already felt herself growing stronger, blossoming because of Samuel’s love. His kisses caused her to feel sensations she didn’t know were even possible. And his embrace wrapp
ed her in a warmth that she could no longer live without. She sighed, wanting to feel his arms wrapped around her once more.
Until the ceremony, she was trying to stay busy helping Adam in the apothecary. A man soon arrived seeking Dr. Grant’s care. She showed him in, and he introduced himself as Caleb Robbins. He wore no weapons and judging by the soil on his clothing he looked to be a farmer.
“Dr. Grant will be right with you. Please have a seat,” Louisa told him. After sending Adam to fetch the doctor, who was still drinking coffee with Melly, she resumed her work.
While Dr. Grant examined the man who complained of a persistent sore wrist, the two men spoke about what Commander Long had been up to at the settlement.
Adam stood by watching the doctor and ready to help if necessary.
Louisa listened to the men talk with interest as she folded the bandages she’d washed and boiled for the doctor.
“In order to rise in men’s estimation, he’s drinking and treating freely, nearly emptying the settlement of every drop of strong spirits,” Robbins said. “And he promises them everything.”
“That’s because promises cost nothing,” Dr. Grant told him. “Politicians like him are all things to all men.”
Robbins nodded. “He’s making long-winded speeches, composed mostly of wind, in front of the tavern, talking of his unselfish devotion to the Province of Texas, railing against Spain, and saying he’ll be the backbone of American citizens in Texas. As though he believes we have no backbone of our own!”
“That man is featherbrained, reckless, and pompous,” Baldy said. “I have no doubt that the time when Texas will be received into the glorious Union is in the not too distant future, but for now, she must grow stronger with more American blood and muscle.”
“Well, Commander Long is encouraging anyone he can find to tell him of their grievances against Spain.”
“If he keeps it up, he’ll have a one-sided war on his hands and drag the settlements into it with him,” Baldy said.
“Other than a surly fellow named John Pate, he hasn’t found any men to follow him yet, but I think there’s a couple sitting on the fence. Both of them young men.”
Baldy let out a disgusted humph. “Unfortunately, men like him, draw idealistic young men and naïve civilians into wars. Poor planning and being unprepared will cause untold hardship, suffering, and anguish. I know because I tended the wounded in two wars.”
“Ouch!” Robbins yelped when Baldy’s probing fingers found the exact sore spot.
“Americans have proven twice already that they are not afraid to fight when necessary,” Baldy declared. “But it seems to me, the time isn’t right.”
“Nope, the time ain’t right just yet to fight,” Robbins agreed. “We have enough trouble with Indians to keep us busy.”
Commander Long was nearly a stranger to her and yet, like the doctor, she’d found the man intolerable from the start. Nevertheless, she’d been willing to marry him for Adam’s sake even though her instincts had told her that a future with the man held only heartache and trouble. Now, thankfully, she no longer had to worry about marrying Long to protect her brother. Later today, her future would be made safe. And so would Adam’s. At 4:00 o’clock she would marry Samuel. And he’d sworn to her that he would keep Adam safe, even fight for him if needed.
Until the wedding, she would have to stay busy or her excitement might make her swoon. Samuel had gone to the settlement for supplies that he said could not wait. And the rest of the family were busy getting everything ready for the wedding. Old Bill had been asked to stay for the ceremony, and he had volunteered to go hunt a fat turkey for the wedding feast.
Melly told her to do nothing except help Baldy in the apothecary, if he needed it, or just rest.
“You have a sprain,” Baldy told Robbins. “Give me a minute to mix up a batch of healing herbs for your wrist.”
While Baldy went to the high pine table where he mixed medicines, Robbins stood and started wandering around the treatment room and apothecary. He snatched up a Bible that rested on Baldy’s desk. “What’s this? A holey Bible?” he asked and chuckled.
Louisa wondered how on earth the man had never seen a Bible before.
Robbins pointed into a hole in the Bible’s hard leather cover. “Lord Almighty, this Bible has a lead ball stuck in its pages!”
“That Bible saved my life soon after we left Kentucky,” Baldy told him. He patted his waistcoat pocket. “When I’m out and about, I make it a habit to carry the Good Book right here.”
The man shook his head. “I’ve never seen anythin’ like it.”
“I’m not the first sinner that book has saved,” Baldy said and gave the man a grin as he made something for Mr. Robbin’s wrist. “If you haven’t, you’d do well to read it for yourself.”
Robbins nodded. “I confess I’ve neglected that lately. Too concerned with trying to keep my family alive and fed.”
“That book is food,” Baldy said. “Food for the soul.”
“I heard that you’re a preacher as well as a doctor,” Robbin’s said.
“A man often needs healing in several ways,” Baldy told him.
Adam cocked his head and glanced up at Baldy. “Who is God? Has anyone ever seen him? If we haven’t seen him, how do we know he’s real?”
Louisa wondered if all eight-year-olds asked so many questions.
“And what does he look like?” Adam added.
Dr. Grant smiled down at Adam. “Well, the answers to those excellent questions could fill a dozen books. But the simple answer is that God is the maker of everything including our souls. And love is how we know He is real. Humans didn’t just imagine love. God gave it to us. As to what God looks like, the Bible says that He made man in His own image, so I guess he looks like a perfect version of us.”
Adam whistled. “He must be really handsome!”
Louisa, Baldy, and Mr. Robbins all laughed.
“What is our soul? And what is love?” Adam asked the doctor.
Louisa pitied Baldy. She’d learned that answering one of Adam’s questions always led to another question. But she listened carefully, anxious to hear Baldy’s answer.
“Our soul is the innermost part of us that isn’t made up of flesh and blood. Our bodies have a heart, bones, organs, and lots of other messy things inside. But those parts are just organic matter. They don’t contain our soul. Our soul is made of a spirit that only God could put in us. That’s why God’s word says we are born once of a woman and once of the spirit.”
“Is that where love is? In our spirit?”
“Love is a feeling that is guarded by our spirit. There are many forms of love, but they are all the best thing we humans can ever feel.”
Adam nodded, satisfied for the time being. “I love my sister.”
“And I love you, brother,” Louisa told him.
Her brother watched Baldy closely as the doctor worked.
“I’m using rosemary, marjoram, camphor, and menthol,” Baldy told Adam. “I’ll mix those with some oil.”
“What will it make?” Adam asked the doctor.
“A liniment good for sprains and sore muscles.”
Baldy poured the mixture into a jar and walked over to Robbins. Then he rubbed some of the liniment on the man’s wrist and wrapped it with one of the bandages Louisa had just folded. “Rub this liniment onto your wrist three times a day. And a wrap like that will help support it until your wrist has a chance to heal.”
“For how many days?” Robbins asked.
“Until it feels normal and one day past that,” Baldy told him.
Robbins paid Baldy and they bid the man goodbye. On his heels came another man complaining of a severe bite, but he couldn’t remember being bitten.
“That looks like an Asp Caterpillar injury,” Baldy said. “Did you pick any caterpillars off your trees?”
“Why yes, I did. But it was just a caterpillar,” the man said.
“Asp caterpillars are covered in
what appears to be a deceivingly soft coating, but it contains stinging venomous spines,” Baldy explained. “Exposure results in immediate skin irritation in that grid-like pattern.” He pointed to the man’s finger. “I know it’s a severe, radiating pain. But it will only last for several hours.”
“Can’t you do anything for it?” the man asked, his forehead wrinkling with his discomfort.
“Chew some tobacco and put the wad on it. It will help draw out the poison. Next time, use a stick to remove caterpillars. Sorry I can’t be of more help, but some problems just take time to heal,” he said with a grin at Louisa. “No charge today since I couldn’t do a thing for you.”
“Thanks just the same, doctor. I’ll try the tobacco juice,” the man said and left.
“Adam, thank you for your help,” Baldy said after the man left. “Next time we have a patient with a sprain, I’ll let you mix up the liniment while I watch. But today, you are relieved of further duties. Please go check on my animal patients, and be sure they all still have water and their shed is clean. After that, I want you to spend the afternoon playing.”
Complete surprise filled Adam’s face. “Playing? Playing what?”
Louisa grimaced as she realized Adam had spent so little time playing in his life that he didn’t even know how to go about it. Truth be told, their chores prevented both of them from finding time to play. They understood work, but not play.
Baldy rubbed his chin. “Well, just use your imagination. You can pretend to be a knight, a soldier, a doctor, or even an Indian. The point of play is to have fun and be whatever you want. Do whatever you want. Run, jump, explore, see what nature has to teach you.”
Adam appeared thoughtful. “I’ll try.” He went to Louisa and took her hand. “I’m glad you’re goin’ to marry Samuel. I like him a whole lot!”
“Me too!” Louisa said.
“I don’t like him as much as you, of course.” He hugged her and ran out the door.
After Adam left, Louisa picked up the Bible and examined the hole the lead ball left in it for herself. “Truly remarkable.”
Red River Rifles (Wilderness Dawning—the Texas Wyllie Brothers Series Book 1) Page 16
