Beloved Hope (Heart of the Frontier Book #2)

by Tracie Peterson

  Hope hurried to Mercy and took the letter from her sister’s hand. Grace saw the look that passed over Hope’s face as she read the note. She was in love with Lance, of that Grace was certain. Her expression betrayed it, but so did her quick response to the letter.

  “Hope, is everything all right?”

  Hope looked up and nodded with the hint of a smile. “Yes, everything is going to be fine.”

  Chapter

  19

  The damp October air did nothing to discourage Hope. It had been a week since Lance went to retrieve Alex, but his letter of apology made her feel certain that things would work out when he returned.

  Grace had arranged for the butcher in Oregon City to buy all the wethers, the male lambs. The agreement was that he would butcher them at the farm and leave the fleeces for them to use. Hope had taken on the duty of washing the hides. It was dirty, smelly work, but it would have been shameful to let them go to waste. Lamb’s leather was some of the softest to be had when prepared properly.

  At noon they paused, and Mercy and Grace served lunch to everyone. Clarence Ford, the butcher’s son, managed to seat himself beside Hope and throughout the meal tried to keep her attention with stories about his life. When he started talking about how busy they were at the butcher shop and how he was making more than enough money to support a wife, Hope excused herself from the table and went back to work.

  They had been at it all day and were finally reaching the end. Hope’s back ached from the work, but she felt satisfied. There would be plenty of leather for gloves and slippers for each of them.

  “Miss Hope, I wonder if you might talk with me for a few minutes.”

  Hope looked up to find Clarence Ford, hat in hand, grinning from ear to ear.

  “We can talk right here, Clarence.”

  He looked around and nodded. “I reckon so. We’ve known each other for a long time, and like I was sayin’ at lunch, I’m making enough money now that it’s time I took a wife.”

  “That’s nice.” Hope knew where this conversation was headed. Clarence was one of those who proposed marriage at the house-raising the month before.

  “Well, you know how I feel about you. I asked you to marry me last month, but there were so many folks around that I figured you didn’t have time to think it through. Now you’ve had some time to get your mind around the idea, so I figured to ask again.”

  Hope turned back to her work. “I’m flattered by your interest, Clarence, but I cannot marry you.”

  “Why not?”

  She shook her head. “There are a lot of reasons, but the biggest is that I don’t love you.”

  He laughed. “Aw, Miss Hope, that ain’t hardly a reason for not marryin’ a fella. Not out here.”

  “Of course it is. My mother told us to settle for nothing less.”

  “Well, my ma says that love comes around in time. She married my pa because her pa told her to. They did all right.”

  Clearly he wouldn’t be easily deterred. “That may be, but not everyone’s loveless marriage turns out that way. My sister married a man she didn’t love because the mission board wouldn’t allow him to come west to preach unless he had a wife. That didn’t end well at all. If he hadn’t died, I’ve no doubt they would have remained loveless.”

  “You can’t know that for sure. Besides, you’ve been around here long enough to know that we got a shortage of womenfolk.”

  “So you only want to marry me because of that shortage?” She smiled and shook her head. “Clarence, I’m honored, but I can’t marry you.”

  He cast his gaze to the ground. “If it’s on account of me being homely . . . well, I can’t help my looks, but—”

  “Clarence, I would never call you homely, and I wouldn’t refuse a man based on his looks . . . if I loved him.”

  He perked up at this. “Well, it shouldn’t be on account of my financial situation either. My pa made me a full partner, and I’ve been putting money aside. I can afford a wife.”

  She shook her head. “Money has nothing to do with it.”

  He smiled. “Then besides your worry about love, there’s no reason for sayin’ no to my proposal.”

  She sighed and straightened. Meeting his hopeful expression, she knew she’d have to resort to desperate measures. “It’s not my only reason, Clarence. I’m interested in someone else.”

  He frowned. “Who is it?”

  “Lance Kenner. You remember him, don’t you? He was here at the house-raising, and he used to be in the army.”

  “I recollect him.”

  For a moment he said nothing more, and Hope allowed herself to relax. She hadn’t wanted to bring Lance into it, but given the way she felt about him, she knew she couldn’t give false hope to another. She started back to work on the last of the hides.

  “Well, bein’ interested in somebody ain’t no reason not to get to know me better.” Clarence’s disappointed look was replaced by renewed joy. “A lot of folks take an interest in each other, but that don’t mean somebody else can’t take an interest as well.”

  Hope’s frustration built. “I’m not like that, Clarence. When I take an interest in someone, he’s the only one for me.”

  This seemed to silence him for a moment, but then he shook his head. “You can’t know for sure he’s the one for you unless you give other fellas a chance.”

  “I have given other fellas a chance.”

  “You didn’t give me a chance.”

  Hope drew a deep breath. “That’s not true, Clarence. I’ve known you for two years now. If I’d taken to you in that way, I would have let you know.”

  He still wasn’t deterred. “Well, I don’t reckon unless a gal’s engaged that she can’t still change her mind.”

  “But I am engaged.” The words were out of Hope’s mouth before she could think them through.

  With a crestfallen expression, he nodded. “I didn’t know that.”

  “Yes, well, it was rather sudden.” More sudden than he knew.

  Clarence kicked at the dirt. “That is different. I don’t reckon to come between folks who’ve made a pledge betwixt them. I’m sorry I bothered you, Miss Hope.” He walked away, shoulders drooping.

  Hope felt sorry for him but breathed a sigh of relief. She knew Clarence to be a quiet and reserved young man in crowds, so she prayed he’d keep her so-called engagement to himself. She didn’t want to have to explain to Lance or anyone else what she’d done.

  “I’ll be eighteen next month,” Toby told Mercy. “And with the new land bill, I can apply for land of my own.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Mercy smiled up at him. She had agreed to take the sheep to the farthest pasture while the butchering was going on. Toby had happened to come for a visit, and she’d welcomed his company.

  “I’ve long wanted to be a farmer on my own,” he continued. “My uncle has taught me a lot, and now that I’ve finished my schooling, I figure it’s time to move forward.”

  “It’s a big decision, to be sure, but I know you’ll be up to it.”

  He smiled. “I figure to be. But there’s something I want to discuss about it with you.”

  “Oh, what’s that?” She looked across the field at the sheep. They seemed to be content for the moment, so she gave Toby her full attention and smiled.

  He turned a little red. “Well, I . . . you know how I feel about you, Mercy. I figure we’d make a good team. I . . . ah . . . I want you to marry me.”

  Mercy couldn’t have been more surprised. Her mouth fell open and she could only stare at him as he hurried to say more.

  “I know this might seem kind of sudden, but we’ve been walking out together, and most folks know we’re a couple. Marrying just makes sense. Not only that, but once I have my land, I’m gonna need a wife to help me, so I want us to get married right away.”

  The shock began to wear off, and Mercy found her voice. “Toby, I’m only fifteen and barely that. I haven’t even begun to think about getting married. Maybe in th
ree or four years I’ll be ready, but right now I just want to get through school and learn all I can. I’ve even thought about going to college. Women are doing that now, you know.”

  “But you don’t understand, Mercy. If we’re married, I can get more land.” He took her hand. “Besides, lots of girls get married at your age. Some even younger. Remember last year, when Susanna Wagner up and married and moved off to California? She was only thirteen.”

  Mercy remembered it very well. Susanna married a widower who already had two young children. Her parents had pushed her into it due to the other eight children they had to feed and clothe.

  “I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do, Toby.”

  He frowned. “Don’t you care about me?”

  “Of course I do! This isn’t about how I feel toward you. It’s such a surprise to even think about getting married. I mean . . . I want to marry one day, but—”

  “Just hear me out.” Toby took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I don’t know for sure how the law works, but I know that a man can get three hundred and twenty acres. If he has a wife, then he gets another three hundred and twenty acres. That’s six hundred and forty acres of free land, Mercy. That’s more than I could ever hope to buy.”

  Mercy shook her head. “So you just want to marry me to get an additional three hundred and twenty acres of land?”

  “No. You know that isn’t how I feel. We’ve been friends for a long time, and I have feelings for you. I love you, Mercy.”

  “I thought we were just friends.” She looked at him warily. “Now all of a sudden you’re declaring you love me.”

  “Well, it’s not so sudden. I wouldn’t spend so much time with you if I didn’t enjoy your company. Now that I’m a man, I need to think about the future, and this land deal is going to get a lot of attention. Folks are coming here all the time from back east, and I don’t want to miss out on getting as much acreage as possible.”

  She pulled away from him and started walking toward the sheep. She had to clear her mind and keep her heart in check. She did care for Toby, but as for love, she couldn’t say. Besides, he seemed far more concerned about the land than her heart.

  “Look,” Toby said, catching up with her, “we wouldn’t have to get married until next year when you’re sixteen. The law just says it has to happen before December of 1851. Surely that would give you enough time to get yourself ready to be a wife. Won’t you at least think about it? You could give me your answer tomorrow at the church dinner.”

  She sighed and nodded. “I’ll think about it, Toby.”

  He grinned. “Good. You’ll see that it’s a good idea. I know you will.”

  Fort Nez Perce was nothing more than a few collections of buildings along the river. As a Hudson’s Bay fort, its purpose had been taking in furs from the area trappers and selling them supplies. Other than that, its main benefit was offering them a bit of communal diversion and a sense of protection when the tribes along the Columbia decided to kick up a fight.

  However, after ten days on the river with only a brief stopover at the Vancouver fort, Lance found it as appealing as any other place. He didn’t care much for river travel, and having his feet on solid ground again—even for an hour—was welcome.

  The fort factor was more than glad to receive Lance once he heard that Lance had come to take Alex home. His Indian wife had been caring for Alex, and she was needed for other jobs, not the least of which was helping with the furs. He happily directed Lance to the building where Alex was recovering and promised to supply anything they needed for their journey home. Just before parting company, he reminded Lance that the boat would leave in less than an hour.

  Lance made his way to the room where Alex Armistead was recovering and prayed for strength to handle whatever he might face inside. He knocked on the door and opened it. “Alex?”

  “That’s me,” Alex said, struggling to sit up.

  “Don’t get up on my account.” Lance crossed the room to see just how bad the situation was. The factor had told him Alex was in much better shape and had even started using a crutch to get around. “Your wife sent me to bring you home.”

  Despite Lance’s concern, Alex sat up with a moan. “Grace sent you?”

  “Yes. You might remember me from the Cayuse trial. I was a lieutenant in the army posted to guard the defendants. The name is Lance.”

  Alex nodded. “I do remember you. Grace said something about a soldier helping Hope. Was that you?”

  Lance smiled. “Yes. I can tell you all about it later, but for now, we’ve got a boat waiting to take us to Fort Vancouver.”

  “Thank the Lord. I’ve been trying to get them to let me travel at least as far as Fort Vancouver, but they’ve been too afraid I’d die on the way or be too much of a fuss. I’m not sure which.”

  “Well, I know your wife is anxious for your return. It was all I could do to keep her from coming herself. Now, I can collect your things for you if you tell me what’s what.” Lance glanced around the sparsely furnished room.

  “There isn’t much for you to gather.” Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed, grimacing the whole time. “What little I had with me is gone. The boys here arranged these clothes for me. The others were pretty shredded.”

  “So all I need to worry about is getting you on the boat?”

  Alex nodded. “That alone will be tough. I’m not so steady on my feet yet.”

  “Where are your injuries?” In the dim sunlight, he could see that Alex had a healing cut running along his neck, but no other wounds were visible.

  “Mostly my back and legs. The right leg was the worst.”

  “I have a bag of medicinal tonics and salves sent by your wife.”

  “And vinegar?” Alex asked, chuckling.

  Lance smiled. “Of course.”

  An hour later they were settled on the boat and making their way down the Columbia. It wasn’t a very big vessel, but it served the need, and Lance made Alex as comfortable as possible with a pallet of extra blankets he’d purchased.

  Lance knew that sooner or later he’d have to tell Alex who he was. He felt a remarkable peace about the other man, in spite of their past. In fact, he liked Alex. That in and of itself left Lance little doubt that God had miraculously interceded in his heart. Not so long ago, he had contemplated how to exact revenge on this man, but now he felt nothing but admiration after hearing all that Alex had gone through.

  Once he explained to Alex who he was, Lance felt certain there’d be no more obstacles to offering Hope a proposal of marriage. Unless he counted the woman herself as an obstacle. Which might well be the truth of it. Still, he knew she felt something stronger than friendship for him. He could see it in the way she looked at him—the way she felt at ease with him.

  “So how did you meet Hope?” Alex asked.

  Lance chuckled. “Your sister-in-law is quite a woman. She showed up at the jail on Abernathy Island to—” He sobered. “To kill Tomahas, the man who . . . hurt her during the captivity after the massacre. I walked in to find her pointing that little Colt revolver of hers at his heart.”

  There was no shock on Alex’s face. Instead he nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me at all. Hope is a quiet one, but a great strength runs deep in her.”

  Lance sat down beside Alex’s pallet. “She is strong. Stubborn, too.”

  Smiling, Alex tried to sit up a bit. “That she is. Her sister is the same way. I could tell you stories, but that can wait. Tell me more about what happened. How’d Hope even get into the jail unnoticed?”

  Grabbing a rolled blanket, Lance put it behind Alex to better support him. “She snuck by my guards when they were arguing about something. I was making my rounds and heard them fighting and went to intervene. Once I had them quiet, however, I heard a woman’s voice coming from inside the jail. I walked in and found her confronting Tomahas. He was trying his best to intimidate her. I think he wanted her to pull that trigger. You know how the Cayus
e feel about being hanged. After the sentencing, they begged us to shoot them instead. Anyway, Hope was plenty scared and angry. I told her he wasn’t worth the effort and got her out of there. I’ve little doubt that if I hadn’t shown up, she would have pulled the trigger.”

  “I can’t say I blame her. Tomahas tormented her. It wasn’t just the rape, it was the constant humiliation and threat of harming Mercy.” Alex shook his head. “Hope endured far more than any woman should have to, and I suppose she was afraid he’d go free. That thought, coupled with all she went through bearing his child, probably put her over the edge of reason.”

  Lance couldn’t hide his surprise. “She had a child?”

  Alex grimaced. “Please keep that to yourself. Few people know about it. She gave the baby to a preacher and his wife who are good friends with Grace. It was a real nightmare for her. Grace told me Hope begged her to rid her of the pregnancy. She even contemplated killing herself.”

  The truth came like a blow. How she must have suffered. Lance felt an overwhelming desire to take Hope in his arms and tell her how sorry he was—how he would see to it that nothing ever hurt her again.

  “I can’t imagine the pain and humiliation she endured. She told me once that no decent man would ever want anything to do with her, and I told her she was wrong.” Lance shook his head. “I almost wish she’d pulled the trigger on that beast.”

  “You love her, don’t you?”

  Alex’s question was no less a surprise than the news of Hope’s pregnancy. The truth was, however, undeniable.

  “I do. I think I did from that first moment. I offered her friendship, and she told me it could never be anything more.” He smiled. “She told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t looking for a husband, and I told her I wasn’t looking for a wife. And at that time I wasn’t.”

  “But now?”

  “Now I can’t imagine life without her.”

  One of the crew members approached. “Mr. Kenner, do you have everything you need?”

  Lance had avoided using his last name. He had hoped to have a little more time with Alex before springing the truth on him. “We’re fine. Thank you.”