Katie turned back to Davy to hide her face from her brother. “I don’t know why you’re telling me what Jason’s doing. I was just thinking about taking Davy for a walk before bedtime. He’s wide awake now.”
“Fine, I’ve got some studying to do.” Tommy looked around. “Where’s Suzy?”
Katie grinned. “Oh, it is quieter than usual around here, isn’t it?”
Tommy lifted his eyebrows. “What did you do, put her to bed early?”
“Oh course not.” Katie tried to act offended. “It just so happens she’s visiting the Morgans. Rachel’s mother came to get her because they found a turtle for her to play with. Can you imagine? She said she’d bring her back before bedtime.”
“Okay.” Tommy shrugged. “I’ll be here. I want to do some studying before Bible study tomorrow night.”
Katie watched her brother get his Bible from the wagon and marveled at the change in him. When he settled in the rocking chair, she stepped closer. “Tommy, is God calling you to preach?”
His eyes widened as they connected with hers. When he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Actually, I think He may be. Why’d you ask?”
“Because that’s exactly what you have been doing. You’ve had some wonderful successes, too. Look at Clay not to mention the others. How about the Parkers? Did they accept Christ? I never heard.”
He smiled. “Yes, both of them did that night.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I know. I’m grateful God is using me this way. And you. I think it was your testimony that got to them.”
Katie shook her head. God could have used her testimony, but it was Tommy who drew the people with his commentary on the scriptures and his easy way with people. “You know, Tommy, you’re going to need a wife. I thought you and Rachel made a wonderful team the other night when you prayed together for that first couple.”
Tommy frowned. “I need to make that decision on my own, don’t you think?”
Katie felt the rebuke. “I suppose. Along with Rachel.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “Or someone else.”
“Tommy!” Katie raised her voice. “There isn’t anyone else, is there?”
Tommy gave her a piercing look. “No, there isn’t. But it’s still my decision.”
“All right.” Katie decided she needed to mind her own business even though she believed he was making a mistake. A tiny cry sounded from the cradle. “I’ll be back later. Davy probably needs a diaper change then we’re going for a walk.”
“Suit yourself.” Tommy opened his Bible.
Katie changed Davy then lifted him, tucking the blanket securely around his flailing arms and legs. He seemed to know they were going to do something special as his mouth spread wide in a big grin.
She didn’t even make it away from their camp when Clay stepped out of the shadows. “Katie, I’d like to talk to you.”
“All right.” Inwardly, she sighed. Her talk with Jason would have to keep.
He looked at Davy. “I see you’re watching your brother again tonight.”
“Watching my brother?” Katie frowned, trying to understand him. “Why do you call it that? I always watch him because I’m the only mother he has.”
“The only mother?” Now Clay frowned.
“Yes, Clay. My mother died leaving him in my care. You know that. She asked me to raise him as my own son.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let’s go over here.” Katie pulled a wooden box far enough from Tommy to give them privacy and sat down with Davy cuddled close.
When he didn’t speak, she decided she might as well try to find out what he wanted. She didn’t care how forward it might sound. “You asked me to marry you once. You said you would win my heart before we reached Oregon. We’re almost there now. Do you still want to marry me?”
Clay sat on an overturned barrel. He looked at his hands as he twisted them between his knees. The silence seemed to stretch on forever before he looked up and met her gaze. “I didn’t plan on a ready-made family, Katie.”
“I didn’t either, Clay. But I have one now. Suzy may choose to go with me, too. But Davy doesn’t have a choice. He is mine.”
Clay shook his head. “You know, Katie, I don’t think I’ve won your heart, have I?”
Now it was Katie’s turn to look away. She didn’t want him to see the turmoil in her eyes. Finally, she turned back to him. “As a Christian, I can’t lie to you. No, Clay, I’ve lost my heart, but not to you. I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “No, don’t be. I guess I was never really in love with you, anyway. I think more than anything you were a challenge to me. You seemed so wild and free. I wanted to tame you. But the trail did that, didn’t it?”
Katie nodded. “Yes, it did. I’ve suffered a lot of heartache, but you know what that’s like. You’ve been tamed, too, Clay. When we turned our lives over to God, he remade us in His image. Now we need to study His Word and pray so we can conform to that image. I think that’s the true taming, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m sure it is. Katie, a while ago you said you had lost your heart to someone else. It’s Jason Barnett, isn’t it?”
Katie laughed. ”Is it that easy to see through me?”
Clay’s cocky grin settled into place. “Only when you look at him.”
Katie shook her head. “I’m sorry, Clay. Things don’t always turn out the way we plan them, do they?”
“No, but you know I do love you, Katie.”
He grinned at her surprised look. “You’re my sister in Christ now, and I’ll always love you as a brother should. I hope you feel the same way about me.”
Katie smiled. “I do, Clay, and I always will. Thank you for understanding.”
She stood and took a step toward him. He stood, too, and smiled down at her. On impulse, Katie shifted Davy into one arm then reached up and pulled Clay down so she could kiss his cheek. She was surprised when he gave her a hug and squeezed, holding her for just a moment.
He stepped back then. “I’ll see you around, Katie. I wish you the best with Jason. If he’s got half a brain in his head, he won’t let you get away.”
Katie grinned. “I hope he’s got at least half a brain, then.”
Clay laughed and walked away with a wave, Katie saw movement to the side. When she looked, she saw Jason turn and fade into the shadows. Her heart lurched.
Tommy called to her. “What was that all about?”
She swung toward him. “Tommy, was Jason here?”
Her brother’s eyebrows shot up. “No, Clay was. What did he want?”
“Clay and I had a nice talk and from the looks of things I’m going to grow up to be an old maid.” Katie tried to make light of her situation.
Tommy turned and stood as Mr. and Mrs. Parker stepped into their light. Katie pulled Davy close and faced them. Had they heard her? They could say a woman alone had no business raising a baby when he could have a loving mother and father.
Mr. Parker nodded at Tommy. “Good evening.”
“Evening, Mr. Parker.” Tommy offered his hand and the two men shook.
The older man looked from one to the other. “I don’t suppose you’re happy to see us, and I can’t really blame you. We’ve come to apologize for the way we acted before.”
“You mean you don’t want Davy now?” The words left Katie’s mouth before she could stop them.
“Oh, no.” Mrs. Parker spoke. “We’d take him in a minute, if you’d change your minds about giving him up.”
“We haven’t.” This came from Tommy.
“That’s what we figured.” Mr. Parker said. “We’ve watched you, and we can’t find any fault unless it’s that you hold him too much. You can spoil a baby that way, you know.”
“At least he knows we love him.” Katie felt a glimmer of hope at their words. Were they backing away?
Mrs. Parker looked at Katie. “Are you sure it isn’t too much for you? Caring for a baby is a big responsibility, and you already have
a little girl to take care of.”
Katie smiled. How well she knew the responsibility of caring for two small children. “With Rachel and me working together, Davy and Suzy are not too much.”
Mrs. Parker smiled then. “I can see you love him very much. We won’t bother you again. Please, may I hold him for just a minute before we go?”
Katie reluctantly handed the baby to her and watched as she gently pulled the blanket back. Davy’s little hand reached out and touched her face. Mrs. Parker bent and kissed his forehead before handing him back to Katie. Unshed tears stood in her eyes. “If he was mine, I couldn’t give him up either. I don’t blame you.”
She turned to her husband. “Let’s go back to our wagon and leave these kids alone.”
Mr. Parker nodded. “We’ll be at Bible study tomorrow night. I sure appreciate what you kids are doing.”
As soon as they left, Katie turned to Tommy. “Do you think they’ll be back?”
Tommy shook his head. “No, I think we’ve seen the last of them as far as Davy’s concerned. God worked in their lives the other night.”
Katie nodded. “I think you’re right.” She sighed. “I was taking Davy for a walk, but I feel exhausted all of a sudden. I think I’ll turn in instead.”
As she put Davy in his little cradle, she glanced to where she thought she’d seen Jason. Had he listened to her and Clay? If so, he knew they’d agreed to be only friends. Why hadn’t he stayed? Or had she only imagined she saw him? If only she could confront him as she had Clay. If she did, would the outcome be the same? Her heart sank at the thought. She couldn’t be only friends with Jason.
Chapter 18
Grande Ronde. The name was as beautiful as the valley. Katie looked around the lush, green valley stretching for twenty miles through the Blue Mountains. The early months on the trail seemed forever ago. Would they ever reach Oregon and the end of their journey? Not only did the trail seem to go on forever, but they were running out of food.
The trail through the Blue Mountains had been rougher than any they had traveled before. The weather grew colder almost daily with the nights long and dark. Tommy had butchered all the cows he could spare and now even that meat was practically gone. Jason no longer rode herd on their cows full time since those with cattle had decided to combine the few remaining animals together and take turns driving them. Katie shivered at the thought of what might become of them if they didn’t get more to eat.
She longed to talk to Jason, but he seemed to be avoiding her. He hadn’t spoken to her since the night Clay stopped by and they agreed to be friends. He still came to Tommy’s Bible study, but they only met once a week now. Jason always found a place to sit on the opposite side away from her on those nights. Not even the thought of holding Davy or Susanna enticed him to come near her. Several times Katie had tried to approach him, but he always managed to slip away before she could get his attention. Finally, in desperation, she went to Tommy.
“Do you know what’s wrong with Jason?”
Tommy looked up from the wheel he had been checking. “Nothing that I know of. Why?”
“He won’t come near me anymore.”
Tommy shrugged. “He acts the same to me.”
“Then, why don’t you talk to him? Find out what’s wrong.”
“Katie, no.” Tommy sat back on his heels and shook his head. “If you mean for me to ask him how he feels about you, I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Hopeless frustration drove Katie. “I haven’t done anything to him. If he’s mad at me for any reason, don’t you think he should tell me about it?”
Tommy looked past Katie and shrugged. “Probably. Here he comes now. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Katie twirled around with her heart beating double time. She saw Jason heading their way as if he were on a mission. He stopped a few feet from her and nodded before turning his attention to Tommy.
“How are you folks doing for meat?”
Tommy gave a short laugh. “I’d say we’re about out.”
“So are we. How would you like to go hunting?”
Tommy stood and looked across the valley toward the forest near the foot of the mountains. “Might be a good idea while we have the time.”
Katie glared at Jason. He’d scarcely looked at her when he walked up and now stood with his back half turned toward her as if she were invisible. She had done nothing to deserve this treatment. If Jason wanted nothing to do with her, the least he could do was tell her so to her face. Surely, he wasn’t so dense he didn’t know she cared for him.
“How soon will it take you to get ready to go?” Jason stood with his arms crossed facing Tommy.
If she stomped his foot, maybe he would notice her then. Her toes twitched, daring her to do so. Then she stopped as an idea took root in her mind. A hunting trip? Into the mountains away from everyone else except Jason? What a wonderful idea. If she tagged along, Jason would have to talk to her. Rachel would go, too, if she asked, to keep Tommy occupied while she found out what was wrong with Jason. She was sure of it.
“I want to go along.”
Jason swung around at her voice. Tommy’s eyes widened. Both men stared at her as if she’d sprouted a second head.
Tommy shook his head. “You can’t go, Katie.”
“Yes, I can.” A spark of Katie’s old reckless spirit returned as she challenged Tommy. “Mrs. Morgan has wanted to take care of Suzy ever since she kept her the night Davy was born. When she took her over to see that turtle, she said they had a wonderful time. She offered to watch her again anytime. I know she’d love to watch Davy, too, so Rachel can go with us. It’ll be an outing we all deserve.”
Jason stared at her.
Tommy shook his head. “Tramping through the woods looking for animals to kill is not an outing. It’s no job for women. Why don’t you stay here where you belong and take care of the youngsters. You could get hurt out there.”
Katie felt the heat of battle rising. “Where I belong? None of us belong on this treacherous trail, Tommy, but we’re here, anyway. I could get hurt right here at the wagon. Others have. You could get hurt out there in the woods, Tommy Donovan. Jason could get hurt. You can’t stop us. Rachel and I are going if we have to follow you.”
“Where are we going?” Rachel stepped up beside Katie. “I heard my name as I came over.”
Katie swung around to her friend. “We’re going hunting with Tommy and Jason. Do you think your mother would like to watch Susanna and Davy for a while?”
Rachel smiled. “She’d love to.”
“See.” Katie swung back to Tommy. “Rachel wants to go, too.”
Tommy glanced toward Jason as if seeking his support.
Jason shrugged. “I suppose we could take care of them.”
Katie let out a very unladylike snort. As if they needed taken care of like some simpering female from back east. She opened her mouth to object, then shut it. If she wanted to go, she probably shouldn’t challenge his less than complimentary opinion of her and Rachel. She waited to see what Tommy’s decision would be.
He glared at her while her heart tried to pound its way out of her chest. She refused to back down and made sure her gaze didn’t flicker.
He looked away first and took a deep breath before letting it out in a rush. “I guess you can go, but don’t blame me if one of you gets hurt.”
Katie shared a jubilant smile with Rachel.
~*~
Fifteen minutes later, Katie tromped beside Rachel behind Tommy and Jason through waist high grass toward the forest-covered mountains. They entered a dense forest of Douglas fir, pines, cedars, and redwood. As they went farther into the woods, Katie could hear the rustling of small animals scurrying out of their way. She glanced at Rachel who motioned for her to keep quiet.
Katie nodded. They were too close to camp for her to mess up now and get sent back. Tommy was itching to find a reason to do just that. Jason probably was, too.
Tommy’s rifle reste
d on his shoulder. He stopped and held up one hand in warning before he swung the rifle down and took aim.
Katie didn’t see anything. She followed the direction his gun pointed, then she noticed a deer standing motionless no more than thirty yards from them. She held her breath. If he missed, it wouldn’t be her fault.
Tommy’s gun roared. The deer jumped and ran a few feet then fell over.
“Good shot.” Jason complimented him. “Now if we could get another one or two we’d be set for a few days. At least for our families.”
Tommy nodded. “We’re not far from camp. Why don’t I clean it and take it back? Katie can help me since she insisted on coming.”
No! Katie wanted to scream at her brother. He knew she wanted to talk to Jason. Why would he do this? She sent a silent appeal to him with her eyes.
Rachel looked at Katie and stepped forward. “I’ll help you. I’d like to go back, anyway.”
“Why don’t you girls both go with Tommy?” Jason looked everywhere except at Katie as if he was afraid of her. “I can manage on my own.”
“Jason.” Katie waited until he looked at her. Then she spoke in a soft, firm voice. “I’m staying.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Katie.” Jason met her challenge with one of his own.
“I think it is.” She lifted her chin in a stubborn gesture. “I’m tired of being ignored, Jason. I want some answers.”
“In that case, I think Rachel and I should be heading back.” Tommy ran the short distance to his deer as if eager to get away from them.
Rachel gave Katie an encouraging smile before following Tommy.
Jason stood frowning at Tommy for several heartbeats before he turned his frown on Katie and grabbed her elbow. “Fine, then come on.”
He pulled her away from Tommy and Rachel deeper into the woods. She stumbled through the forest floor of dried leaves and twigs until he finally stopped. She could still see Tommy and Rachel, but they would have a hard time overhearing whatever Jason had to say. Katie’s heart raced and her knees wobbled from fear. What had she done? Jason was obviously angry with her. A man who cared wouldn’t act like this. She glanced the direction they’d come into the forest. Why hadn’t she stayed at camp? She’d made such a mess of everything.
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