Elizabeth nodded. “What are Mrs. Levine’s feelings toward Charles now? Is their relationship broken beyond repair?”
“Oh, no, not at all. Martha loves Charles. Truth be told, I believe he was her favorite son. She calls him her prodigal, and I suspect if he asked to come home, she would welcome him with open arms.”
“And his wife and child too?”
Mrs. Holmes put her hand over her lips.
“I take it that his wife and child would not be welcome in her home?”
“Oh, dear. I’m not sure what Martha would do. As a good Christian woman, she might wish to take in the woman and child, but she would be putting herself and her family in harm’s way if she did.”
“What would happen to her?”
“Goodness, I’m not altogether certain.” Mrs. Holmes looked distressed.
“Are there people in our settlement who would make trouble for her?”
Mrs. Holmes simply nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
“Would their actions be legal?”
“Legal?” She sighed. “In the frontier, there are laws…and then there are other laws, if you get my meaning.”
“I think I do.”
Mrs. Holmes peered curiously at her now. “Why are you asking these questions, dear? Why are you so interested in the Levines?”
Elizabeth had prepared an honest answer for this. “Being a newcomer here, I want a better understanding of my community,” she explained. “I know that the Indians have been removed from these parts. And I’d heard bits and pieces about Charles Levine. I was simply curious as to the local sentiments.”
“The local sentiments are divided. There are a few settlers who felt that removing the Indians was unfair and unkind, but they are not a majority. They believed that the Indians, for the most part, were peaceful—just like we believe that the settlers, for the most part, are peaceful. However, it only takes a handful of angry men to stir things up. And that is what happened.”
“Would you and the reverend be in the minority of folks who hold no ill feelings toward the Indians?”
“We do believe that the Indians, like us, were created by God—in his image. Certainly, they are different from us. But they are not savages like some people claim.”
“I’m relieved to know that, Mrs. Holmes.”
“But be assured, this is not something that you will hear the reverend mention from the pulpit,” she said firmly. “Don’t expect him to.”
“Why not?”
“He tried to voice his concerns. He’d seen and heard some things that were disturbing—some of it was related to Charles and his Indian woman. Roland preached on the subject shortly after our arrival here.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, his sermon led to some severe disagreements, and the church nearly came to an end.”
“I see.”
“It has been a source of frustration for him.”
“I can imagine.”
“I hope that you will keep my confidence in these matters.” Mrs. Holmes’ brow creased. “I don’t usually speak so freely about such things. And Roland might not approve.”
“You can trust me to not say a word.” She eyed the older woman. “I feel certain I can trust you too.”
She nodded. “If you would like to become better acquainted with Mrs. Levine, I would be happy to arrange for us to meet. Perhaps you could come for tea.”
“Or perhaps you and Mrs. Levine would like to come to my house for tea.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, my. That would be delightful.”
And so they set a date. The two women would come for tea on Tuesday morning at ten. “Unless it is raining,” Elizabeth said. “In that case, I will understand.”
“Then I shall pray that Tuesday breaks with no rain.”
“And if it does rain on Tuesday, why don’t we plan on Wednesday, whichever day is fair?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Holmes smiled. “I like that plan.”
“And speaking of rain, I see that the sun is out. I think I’ll make a run for it and gather up my mother and daughter and hurry on home.”
As Elizabeth went back to the mercantile, she wondered what she was getting herself into. Did she really intend to let Mrs. Levine know that her granddaughter was living nearby? No, Elizabeth decided, she could not betray Mara like that. First she would have to become thoroughly acquainted with Mrs. Levine. She would have to find out the woman’s true character. Then she would try to do whatever was best for Mara and Rose.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The ladies were unable to come for tea until Wednesday. But thankfully, the day broke sunny and clear, and at just a bit past ten, Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Levine showed up at her door.
“Welcome,” Elizabeth said warmly. “Isn’t it a fine day we’re having?”
“It most certainly is,” Mrs. Holmes said as she removed her bonnet.
“I hardly needed my shawl,” Mrs. Levine told her.
“I cannot believe it’s December,” Elizabeth said. “It feels more like springtime to me.” The three women made polite small talk as Elizabeth showed them through her home. Both of her visitors were suitably impressed. After Malinda’s moody evaluations the previous week, Elizabeth appreciated her guests’ kind and appreciative comments. Soon they were seated at the table, which was set just as grand as it had been for Malinda, and Elizabeth was pouring tea.
“It’s such a pleasure getting to know you better, Mrs. Levine.” Elizabeth handed her the plate of sugar cookies that she and Ruth had made the other day.
“Please, dear, if I am to keep calling you Elizabeth, you must call me Martha.” She smiled. “After all, this is the frontier. We don’t have to be overly prim and proper out here.”
“And if you’re going to call her Martha, it’s about time you started calling me Georgia,” Mrs. Holmes said.
“Thank you.”
“I told Martha that you were curious about her son Charles,” Georgia said a bit carefully.
“And naturally that aroused my curiosity,” Martha admitted. “But Georgia assured me that you had no ill motives.”
“Not at all,” she told her. “In fact, you and I have some commonalities I believe. First I thought it was because we were widows, but when I learned more about Charles, well, I felt that I could take you into my confidence.” She glanced at Georgia. “And I know I can trust you as well.”
“Certainly.” Georgia nodded.
Elizabeth had told Eli her plan several days ago, and he had given her his blessing to tell his story. “You see, my dear husband has had an experience similar to your son Charles,” she said to Georgia. “And I felt it might comfort you to hear about it.” And now she told them the story of how Eli had rescued the Indian woman and how her people had helped him and how Eli had fallen in love and married the woman.
“My goodness,” Georgia exclaimed. “I had no idea.”
“And they had a child,” she told her spellbound guests. “A son.” She described how happy the young family had been, how much at home Eli had felt with her people. And finally she explained how the mother and child had both died from a white man’s disease. “Eli was brokenhearted over it.”
“Oh, my.” Martha wiped her damp eyes with her handkerchief.
“Such a sad tale.” Georgia sniffed.
“Now I wouldn’t share this story with just anyone,” Elizabeth said to Martha. “But after hearing more about Charles and how much you love him, I felt that you especially needed to hear it.”
Martha nodded. “I do believe I did need to hear it. Although it’s a sad story, it does give this mother’s heart hope. I admire your husband, Elizabeth. If he made a mistake like that but is living such a fine life now, well, it gives me hope for Charles.”
Elizabeth bit her lip. This was not exactly the response she was looking for. “Eli did not consider his first marriage to be a mistake, Martha. He loved his first wife.”
“Oh, well, yes…I suppose he thought he did. But don’t you think his life would have been m
ighty complicated—wouldn’t it have made things more difficult if his wife and child had survived?”
“Certainly, it would be more difficult for me.” Elizabeth frowned. “But that’s not my point. What I’m saying is that Eli is a good man. And I believe your Charles is a good man too.”
“Yes, yes, he most certainly is,” Martha assured her. “He was always a good boy. A little lively at times, but he had a good heart.”
“And marrying an Indian woman doesn’t make him less good, does it?”
“That all depends on who you’re talking to.” Martha shook her head. “Some folks round here would just as soon a man marry his horse rather than an Indian woman.”
“Oh, Martha.” Georgia shook her head with disapproval.
“It’s true and you know it.” Martha frowned. “And some folks have good reason to dislike Indians.” She launched into a horrible story about how the Indians staged a brutal attack in the Rogue River War. “And that was just a couple of years ago.”
“And wasn’t that why the Indians got moved up north?” Elizabeth asked. “Although they didn’t just move the warriors, but innocent women and children as well.”
“That’s true,” Martha confirmed. “But I’m sure the women wanted to be with their men. But for all we know some of those same violent Indian warriors could still be lurking anywhere—even in these parts. I don’t think the trouble with the Indians is over by any means.”
Elizabeth studied Martha. She didn’t seem to be a hateful woman, but she was apparently overly fearful of Indians. And yet how could she possibly be afraid of anyone as harmless as Mara or Rose? “Your son has a child, doesn’t he?”
Martha made an uncertain nod. “Yes…I heard there was a baby, although I’ve never seen it. To be honest, I’m not sure I would want to see it.”
“Your own grandchild?”
She twisted her handkerchief. “I just don’t see what good could come of it.”
Georgia patted Martha’s hand. “You are caught between a rock and a hard place, my dear.”
“I’m sorry to be so persistent about this,” Elizabeth said as she refilled their teacups. “More than anything, I want you to realize that you are not alone. Eli and I have great compassion for you, Martha. And we want you to know that we are your friends. And if Charles should ever return from—from wherever he has gone—we would treat him as a friend as well.”
Martha smiled. “That is a great comfort to me, Elizabeth. Thank you.”
Feeling a bit guilty for being so intrusive, Elizabeth was determined that the duration of their tea party would remain cheerful and uplifting. They shared funny stories about their children and compared ailments and just laughed like girls together. And by the time the ladies left, Elizabeth felt certain that a strong friendship was being forged. However, she did not feel certain that Martha would welcome an Indian daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
The week before Christmas, the men planned to take off for a few days of hunting. But the night before they left, Eli shot a deer, leaving the best cuts of meat for Elizabeth and the children. “If you don’t mind, I will take the rest of the meat as well as the skin to Mara and Rose.”
“Thank you,” she told him. “That will take a load off my mind.”
The next morning, Eli went over to her parents’ well before daybreak in order to help Asa pack the wagon and hitch up the oxen. Then, according to Clara, while it was still dark, the five hunters—Eli, Asa, Matthew, Brady, and Will—set out.
“I was so surprised when I heard that Will wanted to go hunting with your fellows,” Malinda told Elizabeth. The hunting “widows” had gathered at Malinda’s house to work on a quilt that was meant for Mahala and Julius’ wedding. Thankfully, the young couple had dug in their heels, making it clear to everyone that their wedding was still scheduled for the first Saturday of February.
“Eli said they were grateful to have Will join them,” Elizabeth told Malinda. “Last week, Eli scouted a nice herd of elk, and he hopes they’ll bring home two cows. According to Eli, that’s a lot of meat to pack back to the wagon. Will’s muscles will come in handy.”
“I appreciate that there are some young men along,” Clara said. “Asa thinks he can keep up, but he’s getting older. He needs to slow down.”
“I feel like I’m slowing down,” Jess admitted. “I’ve been so sleepy lately. Sometimes I feel like I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“That’s because of the baby,” Elizabeth told her. “I had the same thing. Not when I was carrying Ruth so much, but with JT. Of course, maybe I had it with Ruth, but I was so busy chasing after JT that I didn’t notice.”
Now they all started comparing pregnancy and birthing stories. Malinda, having birthed four children, seemed to have the best ones. Or perhaps she just was a better storyteller. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a doctor nearby,” Malinda told them. “But I’ve helped with a number of births.”
“Mother is a good midwife,” Elizabeth said.
“And she’s promised to help me when my time comes.” Jess looked at Clara. “Right, Ma?”
Clara grinned. “You can count on it.”
“I’m not as experienced as Mother—unless you’re birthing animals.” Elizabeth laughed. “But I’m happy to help too, Jess.”
“And if by some weird stroke of bad luck they are both unavailable, you tell Matthew to come and fetch me,” Malinda told her. “I’d be happy to deliver your baby.”
Jess smiled. “I feel very well taken care of.”
“Do you think Ruby and Doris will come in time for your birth?” Clara asked.
“I just got a letter from Ruby,” Jess told her. “They don’t expect to make it here until early fall next year. Her plan is to keep the business in Empire City going throughout the summer because so many settlers come through there. But in midsummer she expects to have enough profits to send out a carpenter to begin building an inn right next to the mercantile.”
“Wonderful!” Malinda said happily. “Our town is growing by leaps and bounds.”
Elizabeth was relieved to see Malinda in such good spirits today. She had been worried that her friend would be fretting over the wedding that never happened last Saturday. That was the very reason she’d suggested that they gather like this while the men were gone.
“I’ll bet you all have plans for Christmas,” Malinda said. “But I’ve been daydreaming about a little get-together I’d love to have here.”
Elizabeth exchanged glances with her mother. Their plan was to have their family at Elizabeth and Eli’s house. They hadn’t invited Malinda because they weren’t sure about the Bramfords and Prescotts, and Elizabeth knew her house wasn’t big enough to contain all those people for that long.
“What sort of get-together?” Clara asked Malinda.
“I thought it would be lovely to have everyone here on Christmas Eve. I imagined a big bonfire, and we could have music and dancing in the barn. I suppose it’s because I’d been dreaming of our December wedding,” she confessed.
“I think that sounds like fun,” Elizabeth said. Fortunately, their plan was to gather on Christmas Day. “I know the children would love it.”
“So would Matthew,” Jess told them. “He had been so looking forward to the…well…” She grimaced.
“The wedding,” Malinda finished for her. “It’s all right. You can say it. I’m resolved to my fate by now. You know what they say, the best laid plans of mice and men—and I suppose we could add overbearing brides to the list.”
They all laughed.
“I’ll promise you all this,” Malinda continued. “If it turns out that Will and I do decide to get married—which is probably not going to happen, but if it does—I will try to follow Elizabeth and Eli’s example.”
“What example?” Elizabeth asked.
“Being more concerned about the marriage than the wedding.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth chuckled. “Well, a wedding is one day. A marriage, hopefully, is forever.”
“Do you think the men will encounter any wild cats or wolves or bears where they are hunting?” Jess asked.
“If they do, you probably don’t need to be worried,” Elizabeth assured her. “Besides, I know Eli wouldn’t mind bringing some skins or furs home. He’s almost got that cougar skin ready to become a rug.” Of course, as soon as she said this, she regretted it. The rug was meant to be a Christmas present for her parents, to go in their bedroom, to help cover their hard-packed dirt floor. So now she quickly changed the subject. “What can we bring to your Christmas Eve party?” she asked Malinda. And suddenly they were making plans for what was sure to be a fun evening for all.
Elizabeth tried not to feel worried when Eli didn’t come home on the day she expected him. She assured JT and Ruth that it was probably something as mundane as a broken wagon wheel. “Or perhaps they were having such a good time, they decided to stay an extra day.” And she couldn’t blame them because the past two days had been exceptionally good weather. But when she finally blew out the lantern and went to bed, she felt a little concerned. And as usual, she prayed for the safety of all of the hunters.
“What if they don’t get home in time for the Christmas party tomorrow?” JT asked as he picked up his guitar case the next morning.
“I’m sure they’ll be home by today,” she told him.
“In time to come to our Christmas program at school?” Ruth asked hopefully.
“I’m not sure about that.” She tweaked a braid, adjusting the red bow that Ruth had insisted was necessary because they were doing their program. “But I am sure that Grandma, Aunt Jess, Aunt Malinda, and I will all be there. And I’m also sure that if you don’t get going, you will be late for school.”
After the children left and after she finished with chores as well as delivering some food to Mara and Rose, Elizabeth focused her attention on finishing some Christmas presents for the children and Eli. For Ruth, she had sewn a school dress from some of the green calico she’d brought from Kentucky. And then she’d made a matching dress for Ruth’s doll. For Eli and JT she had sewn matching chambray shirts in a nice shade of blue. Just as she finished the last buttonhole on JT’s shirt, it was time to go hitch up the team. She had promised to give her mother and Jess and Malinda a ride to school. She hoped that perhaps the men would be arriving at her parents’ house by now, but to her dismay, there was no sign of them.
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