Wilderness Courtship

by Valerie Hansen

  Now that she’d looked back, however, she could tell that the heavyset man was as winded as she was. Maybe more so. His round face was ruddy and flushed and his breathing was ragged. Staggering, he halted, still brandishing the lethal arrow.

  “It’s not too late to walk away,” Charity managed to say. Her sides were heaving as she bent forward at the waist. The taste of bile filled her throat and she feared she was about to lose all the food she had recently eaten.

  “I’m not going nowhere, lady. I came all this way to do a job and I intend to finish it.”

  “How much did Louis Ashton pay you? We’ll double it.”

  “We? We who? I don’t see nobody else.”

  Charity glimpsed a flash of movement in the woods directly behind him and her heart leaped. She straightened and smiled as she said, “You will. Praise the Lord, you soon will.”

  Thorne hit the other man a solid body blow and knocked him facedown on the ground before he had a chance to turn around and fight back.

  “Watch out for the arrow,” Charity shouted. “It’s poisoned.”

  Forewarned, Thorne grasped the feathered end and whipped the shaft from Satterfield’s fist. The sharp blade passed across the assassin’s palm, slicing into the meaty flesh.

  With a yelp of pain and shock the man grabbed his wrist and rolled onto his back as Thorne jumped away. The portly man ended up lying against the gnarled roots of a tree where he began moaning and thrashing.

  Thorne hesitated only a few seconds, waiting to be certain Cyrus wouldn’t recover and renew his attack, then threw the arrow aside and went quickly to Charity.

  Neither of them spoke. She stepped willingly into Thorne’s strong embrace, slipped her arms around his waist and clung to him as if nothing on heaven or earth would ever separate them again.

  He held her close, his cheek pressed against her silky hair, then guided her away from their now-helpless nemesis.

  “Are you all right?” Thorne asked.

  Charity nodded and looked up at him, unashamed of the fresh tears in her eyes. “I am now. That man said he wanted to kill me. And Jacob. All of us.”

  Tightening his hold on her, Thorne swallowed hard. “What did he have on that arrow?”

  “Some kind of poison. I think he must have gotten it from the Indians.”

  “Dear God,” Thorne said prayerfully. “That could be you lying back there.”

  “Or you. But it isn’t.” She was teetering between the shock of her narrow escape and the joy of being reunited with Thorne. Her knees were wobbly and her vision misty. “Once again, I have you to thank for coming to my rescue.”

  “No. We both have God to thank,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “I never stopped praying for you. All the time I was searching, I never stopped praying.”

  He placed one finger lightly beneath her chin and tilted her face up. “I know what Nancy told you. I was afraid I might never get the chance to say how sorry I was for keeping secrets when I should have spoken up.”

  “Is that all?” She was starting to smile.

  “All? Isn’t that enough?”

  “No,” she said tenderly as a solitary tear slid silently down her cheek. “You haven’t told me you love me.” Seeing his astonishment, she added, “I love you, you know.”

  “You do? Truly?”

  “Truly. I didn’t realize it until I’d nearly been sent to meet my Maker, but I finally figured it out. It doesn’t matter to me what you did or didn’t do in the past. If you’ve asked for the good Lord’s forgiveness, that will be sufficient.”

  “I have. Many times over,” Thorne said.

  “Then I cannot deny you mine.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  Charity was so overcome with happiness she was nearly unable to answer. The stricken look on Thorne’s dear face as a result of her silence was what made her speak quickly and with assurance. “Yes. Oh, yes.”

  “When? Where?”

  “Soon. Perhaps Rev. White will agree to perform the ceremony before we leave for California. I will be delighted to be able to inform my new Indian friends that I will not be tempted to sin.”

  She could tell by the strange way Thorne was looking at her that he was thoroughly confused.

  Reaching up to pat his cheek, she grinned. “I have been instructed in the teachings of holy scripture by some caring Nisqually women. They also said they were praying for me because you and I were going to be traveling together and they were afraid I would be unable to resist your considerable charms.”

  To her delight, Thorne’s face reddened and he began to give her his trademark, lopsided grin. “My charms?”

  “Yes. In case you haven’t noticed, I find you very appealing, Mr. Blackwell.”

  “Do you?” He arched an eyebrow. “In that case, perhaps we had best marry quickly, while you are still smitten.”

  “I suspect I will always be in love with you, sir.”

  Sobering, Thorne placed a tender kiss on her forehead before he said, “I know you were hurt before. I promise I will never harm you or frighten you. I would rather die than see you sad the way you used to be.”

  “It is a wonderment, but I don’t fear you in the slightest,” Charity said as she gazed into the depths of his dark eyes and saw all the love reflected there. “When we first met, I was not able to tolerate any man’s touch without cringing, not even the innocent pat of my father’s hand on mine.”

  Wrapping her arms around him once again and stepping into his embrace, she couldn’t help smiling. “And now look at me.”

  “I am looking. And I think it would be best if we hurried back to the wedding feast,” Thorne said, continuing to gaze at her with all the love he was feeling. “I made one big mistake in my life and I’m not about to make another.”

  “Did you love Naomi?” Charity felt his muscles tense beneath her touch.

  “No. Never. I was acting the fool and I knew it, but I didn’t have God’s help resisting temptation the way you and I do now.”

  “I am resisting, truly I am. But it is not easy,” she admitted with a blush. “If you will point me in the right direction, I will gladly rejoin the party. I can’t wait to see the look on Nancy’s and William’s faces when we tell them we want to get married.”

  “Do you think they will be as surprised by it as you and I are?”

  “I don’t know about you,” she said, taking his hand and letting him lead her away from the scene of mayhem. “But as Annabelle would say, I’m plum flabbergasted.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  Charity laughed again, positive she would never be happier no matter how long she lived. “It’s a wonderment,” she said. “A pure wonderment.”

  Their return to the wedding-feast grounds might have gone unnoticed if William had not insisted that some of the men from the fort form a search party. It was assembling and preparing to leave when Thorne and Charity stepped out of the woods together.

  Thorne briefly explained what had occurred, then left Charity with the Whites and led a small group of soldiers back to take care of the body of Cyrus Satterfield.

  The beaming smile Thorne saw on Charity’s face when he returned made his heart lurch and his pulse pound. Judging by the expressions of satisfaction from the missionaries, they had been made aware of Charity’s and his decision to marry before they left the territories.

  William grabbed Thorne’s hand before he could say more than hello, and pumped it briskly. “Congratulations, young man. Miss Beal told us everything.”

  “Will you perform the ceremony?”

  “Of course. Would you like to make your nuptials a part of this celebration?”

  Thorne looked to Charity and saw her shake her head. “I think it would be best if we did it back at your place where there’s less distraction, if you don’t mind,” he said. “I want Charity to be comfortable.” He looked over at the child who had again insisted that the future bride carry him. “And I want Jacob to be a part of the wedd
ing. I think we both do.”

  “Yes,” she said.

  As she tenderly kissed the child’s cheek Thorne could tell how badly she wished they didn’t have to part from him. That was the only sorrow in the foreseeable future. Someday, perhaps, they would have a son of their own but that didn’t mean it was going to be easy to leave Jacob behind, even if it was for his own good.

  William cleared his throat and looked to his wife. Nancy nodded assent to his unspoken question and he began to speak.

  “There is much unrest in these parts,” White said. “I know everything looks peaceful right now, while everybody is celebrating, but there’s an undercurrent of impending war with the Indians that can’t be denied. Nancy and I will stay because it is our calling, and we will gladly assume the responsibility of our daughter’s care, but we have decided that we cannot, in good conscience, let the child remain here with us. It’s too dangerous. We are not able to guarantee his safety.”

  “What?” Frowning, Thorne stepped closer to Charity and put his arm around her shoulders to include both her and Jacob in a protective embrace.

  “We know Jacob is dear to you both and since you are technically his father and Naomi is unable to even care for herself, let alone mind a lively little boy like him, we want you to take him. Make him your son, as he should be.”

  Charity was fighting tears. “But, he’s not my son.”

  “He has already made the change, in his heart,” Nancy said tenderly. “We’ve all seen it. He often calls you his mama, you know.”

  “Yes, but, he’s just lonely and confused.”

  “And he needs a mother. He needs you. Of course, if you don’t want him…”

  “No! We do.” She looked to Thorne. “Don’t we?”

  He could barely speak. “Yes. We do.” More quietly he asked her, “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “I love him as my own. How could I mind? The only concern I have is what will happen to our plans if your brother returns and tries to reclaim him?”

  “Don’t worry. Before Aaron disappeared we had discussed the possibility of my taking custody of Jacob if anything happened to him and Naomi. I’m sure, if we can prove to Louis that the child poses no threat of inheritance, he will gladly forget he was ever born.”

  “And will Aaron?”

  Thorne nodded sadly. “Yes. If I have to confess the truth to him to finish this once and for all, then I will. I would rather have to live with my brother’s lifelong hatred than jeopardize one hair on my son’s head.”

  Looking down at Charity and the child in her arms, he knew he would gladly do whatever it took to guard and protect them for the rest of his life. And by the grace of God, he would succeed.

  Epilogue

  1858

  Charity was glad Thorne had chosen to make San Francisco their permanent home, especially because doing so had brought her closer to her dear father and stepmother.

  Though Thorne did occasionally sail on one of his vessels because he missed the sea, he had also built her a mansion overlooking the bay. When he was away she would often visit the “widow’s walk” atop the roof and watch the harbor while she prayed for his safe return.

  Jacob had matured to look even more like his father in the four years since they had unofficially adopted him. He was darkly handsome and every bit a Blackwell. So was his two-year-old baby sister, Mercy, who had been his shadow ever since she had first learned to toddle after him.

  Charity sat knitting and smiled at her children as they played on the decorative Persian carpet at her feet. As usual, Jacob was acting the part of his sister’s guardian, a role into which he had fallen as naturally as his father had when he had repeatedly saved Charity’s life.

  She was smiling and dreaming of Thorne when he appeared in the arched doorway of the parlor. Judging by the expression on his face he was privy to some news.

  He waved a telegram and smiled. “Nancy White has accepted our invitation. She’s coming to visit.”

  Charity laid aside her knitting and hurried across the room to see for herself. As she read the entire message she sighed. “That’s wonderful. I was hoping she’d come. After all she’s been through I’d wondered if she’d be up to it.”

  “I know. It had to be hard for her to give up her missionary work in the territories, but with William and Naomi both victims of the Puget Sound Indian war I can understand why she’d be ready for a change.”

  Charity slipped an arm around her husband’s slim waist and stepped into the shelter of his embrace. “I was sad to read the news reports of Leschi’s death, too. I had hoped his peacemaking would exempt him from the fighting.”

  “It should have,” Thorne said soberly. “But in the end, I suppose he felt he had to side with his own people. I’m glad the hostilities are over. It’s just too bad the war cost so many lives—on both sides.”

  His gaze went to his son. “Thank God, William was wise enough to send Jacob with us before the trouble started in earnest.”

  “I do thank God. Every day,” Charity said. “And for you, too, husband. Do you think Nancy will agree to remain with us for a while? I’d love to have her here and I know she’ll want to get to know her grandson better.”

  “We certainly have plenty of room,” Thorne said.

  “We do, don’t we? And while we’re on the subject, I think your mother might finally be ready to accept our invitation, too. You should ask her again.”

  Thorne hesitated, obviously mulling over the suggestion. “Really? After Louis died I thought she’d be eager to leave New York, but you know how she kept putting me off. What makes you believe she’d be willing to travel, now?”

  “Because, as I told you when I received her last letter, I think she’s finally accepted the fact she’ll never see Aaron again. I know she was clinging to a faint hope he had somehow survived even though Louis was never able to locate any sign of him.”

  “And now she’s let go? I hope you’re right. I’ll send her a telegram today. You’re sure you don’t mind having her and Nancy here at the same time?”

  “Of course not. After all, they’re both Jacob’s grandmothers.” She started to grin at him. “I am, however, beginning to feel as if I’m back in the hotel business.”

  Laughing, Thorne gave her a quick kiss before he said, “I promise you will not have to cook or make beds in this so-called hotel, my dear. We have servants for that, remember?”

  “Yes, and you are spoiling me something awful,” Charity replied. “I sometimes feel a bit useless. Since we’re discussing changes, I suppose I should mention my plans to volunteer for several hours a week in the Orphan Asylum in the city.” She watched his eyebrows arch in surprise but was pleased that he didn’t argue.

  “I worry about all those poor, lonely children,” she went on as she gazed lovingly at her own. “There must be something I can do, besides donating money, to make their lives easier. I want to try.”

  Thorne pulled her closer and kissed her soundly before he said, “I would not expect anything less of you. And if you can manage to get Nancy White and my mother involved, too, I’m positive those motherless children will be blessed beyond imagination.”

  “What a wonderful idea! How did you get so smart?”

  “The smartest thing I ever did was marry you,” he said, smiling.

  Charity returned his grin as she patted his cheek fondly and replied, “You have never been more right.”

  Dear Reader,

  As I read pioneer accounts of the Indian uprising around Puget Sound in the mid-1850s I realized that, as usual, there was more than one side to the story. In the following details they all agree. The Medicine Creek Treaty, Dec. 1854, precipitated a war between the settlers and Indians. Leschi was a friendly, wise, Nisqually elder who tried to negotiate peace between the U.S. government and local tribes. He failed and was eventually tried twice for the same murder, which he denied committing. When he was finally convicted, the Army refused to execute him so he was hanged by c
ivilian authorities in 1858.

  Life does not always seem fair. Yet, as a Christian, I know that God is with me wherever I go or whatever I am called to do for His glory. I pray that you will seek and find the same sense of divine purpose that Charity discovers during her journey.

  I love to hear from readers, by e-mail at VAL@ValerieHansen.com or at P.O. Box 13, Glencoe, AR, 72539. I’ll do my best to answer as soon as I can and www.ValerieHansen.com will take you to my Internet site.

  Blessings,

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Charity Beal has had a rough life before this story opens. Do you think her experiences have ruined her for good, as she first believes? Why or why not?

  Charity makes up her mind that she will remain single for the rest of her life after her bad marriage. Is it sensible to make that final a decision at any age, let alone while still only sixteen years old?

  Thorne was born and raised under trying circumstances. In spite of his efforts, he never felt accepted by his earthly father figure. Do you know anyone like that? Was it harder for them to accept their Heavenly Father’s love?

  Thorne has had an understandable falling-out with his half brother, Aaron. Is it reasonable for him to seek forgiveness? Will it be hard for Aaron to forgive him? What if Aaron is not a believer, too?

  Naomi is reaping the results of her past sin. Is that fair? Even if she repents, shouldn’t she be responsible for the consequences of what she’s done?

  Assuming Naomi has repented, why has her guilt overwhelmed her? Is it possible that although she knows that God has forgiven her sin, she’s unable to forgive herself? Isn’t that pretty normal?

  Some of the Indians are friendly to the settlers. Were they right to finally rebel when their way of life was in jeopardy? Wouldn’t you feel the same way?

  In retrospect, we see that the Nisqually and other tribes were doomed from the start. Was there anything the settlers could have done to help them more? Why was it seen as foolish to do so at that time in history?