A Home at Trail's End

by Melody A. Carlson

  “Ever since that hunting trip, everything in Will’s life seems to have improved,” Malinda told her. “Truly, your father, brother, and husband were like a tonic for Will.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” This was the first time they’d been able to catch up since the surprise wedding on Christmas Eve. “I’m sure Will told you how he saved my brother’s life.”

  Malinda waved her hand. “Oh, to hear Will talk, it was nothing special at all. But Jess took me aside after church a few weeks ago and thanked me. She told me what happened—in detail.” She smiled proudly. “I felt as if I had married a real hero.”

  “You did.”

  “Well, he never would have had a chance to be a hero if the men in your family hadn’t taken him in like they did. I am so thankful.”

  “So your marriage agrees with you?”

  Malinda nodded. “Oh, there’s some adjusting, I’ll admit that. Will and I both have strong personalities. And as you know, I can be a bit stubborn at times. But I believe we are making progress.” She seemed to be studying Elizabeth now. “How about you? How are things with you and Eli?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I have no complaints.”

  Malinda frowned. “And you are feeling well?”

  Elizabeth looked down at her teacup.

  “Elizabeth?”

  She looked up and shrugged. “I’ve been a little under the weather. I blamed it on the weather. Wasn’t it ghastly? Although Eli is using the fallen trees for our—”

  “Don’t change the subject, Elizabeth.” Malinda peered at her. “You look pale and drawn to me. Are you sure that you are not unwell?”

  Elizabeth took in a deep breath. “If you must know…and only if I can trust you.”

  “You can trust me, Elizabeth. I may be a bit willful and outspoken at times, but I am loyal to my best friend.”

  “All right.” Elizabeth sighed. “I haven’t said anything to Eli yet. And Mother doesn’t even know. But I suspect I am with child.”

  “Oh, Elizabeth!” Malinda reached for her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

  She made a weak smile. “Thank you. But I don’t remember feeling so ill with JT or Ruth. My stomach seems to be upset every morning. In fact, that is what made me first suspect I was pregnant.”

  “I wasn’t sick with my first three children, but oh, my, I couldn’t keep anything down for the first three months with Susannah. John got quite worried.”

  “But you got better.”

  “Yes. By my fourth month I was hungry as a horse.”

  They visited for a while longer, and when Elizabeth left, she felt encouraged. Walking home in the sunshine, she tried to imagine what it would be like to have a baby in her arms next fall. She wondered what Eli would think. Or her children. Ruth would be thrilled. And Jess would be happy to find out that her baby would have a cousin close to the same age. Still, she was determined not to tell anyone until she’d reached her third month. If Malinda hadn’t pressed her so, she never would have told her. As it was, she felt she could trust her.

  On Saturday, everyone gathered at the church to celebrate the marriage of Mahala Flanders to Jeremiah Bramford. Elizabeth couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of this match. She remembered when she’d first met the Bostonians and how she’d felt they were stuffy and superior. And when she’d met the Flanders, she’d felt they were a bit loud and rough. Who would have guessed back then that the oldest Bramford son would wed the oldest Flanders girl? Yet here the two young people were, pledging their vows before God and their families and friends.

  Afterward a lively potluck celebration was held at Will and Malinda’s barn, and it seemed that everyone within a fifteen-mile radius was in attendance. Elizabeth danced with her husband and children and father, finally sitting out as the evening was drawing to an end. “How are you feeling?” Malinda asked with some concern. “You look a little pale.”

  “To be honest, my stomach is feeling a little sour,” Elizabeth admitted. “Usually I get over this by midday.”

  “Just rest and take it easy,” Malinda said. “I’ll go get you some tea. That might soothe your belly.”

  Unfortunately, the tea didn’t help. And by the time Eli was driving their wagon home, Elizabeth was feeling quite ill. To her dismay, Ruth seemed to be sick too. “Do you think you girls ate something bad?” Eli asked as he helped her into the house. JT was helping Ruth.

  “I really don’t know,” she said weakly. “But please see to Ruth. I can take care of myself.” With wobbly legs, she got a pot from the kitchen and went to her bed. If Ruth were not feeling ill, Elizabeth would assume this was related to her pregnancy. But as she continued to be violently ill, and knowing that Ruth was sick as well, she feared it was something more serious. The next hours passed in a painful blur.

  By the time Elizabeth felt able to sit up in bed and sip some broth, it was late in the afternoon of the following day, and her mother was sitting with her. “How is Ruth?” Elizabeth asked in a hoarse voice.

  “Ruth is just fine now. She’s already eating solids,” her mother assured her. “But I believe you both ate something tainted at the wedding potluck.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth let out a weak sigh.

  “Unfortunately for you, it seems to have hit you harder than Ruth. Eli was so worried that he sent JT for me early this morning.” She spooned more broth into her.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  “I sent JT to check on Jess,” Clara continued. “I was worried that in her condition she could be in trouble if she’d eaten something tainted. Thankfully, she is fine.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad to hear that.”

  Clara reached for Elizabeth’s hand now. She had tears in her eyes. “But you, my darling, did not fare so well.”

  “What?” Elizabeth looked curiously into her mother’s face.

  “You lost your baby, Lizzie.”

  Elizabeth took in a jagged breath and then looked down at her lap as tears began to roll down her cheeks. They both just sat there in silence for a while.

  “I’m so sorry, dear. I didn’t even know. Nor did Eli.”

  Elizabeth looked back up. “Did you tell him?”

  “I’m sorry if that was wrong. I just assumed he knew.”

  “No, I hadn’t told him yet.”

  Clara squeezed her hand. “He is sad. But he was so worried about you…well, I think he’s so relieved that you’re all right.” Now she started to cry, and they both just hugged and cried.

  It took a full week before Elizabeth felt like leaving the house. Eli and the children were thoughtful and helpful, but a cloud seemed to hang over her head. Finally on a sunny Monday in March, she forced herself to go and check on Mara and her children. Clara had been checking on them, and Eli had been taking them food, but Elizabeth knew she was long overdue for a visit.

  Mara greeted her warmly, inviting her in to her tiny cabin. She showed her baby Charles, and wrapped in the blanket Elizabeth had knit, he was growing nicely. Rose’s hair was neatly braided. Despite their rather impoverished conditions, this little family seemed fairly content.

  “I am sorry,” Mara said quietly. “Clara told me.”

  Elizabeth just nodded.

  “I have something.” Mara turned now, going over to a corner of the room and then returning with something in her hand. “I make for you.” She held out a pair of deerskin moccasins. “You wear. You get better.”

  Elizabeth hugged Mara. “Thank you. I will wear them. And I will get better.”

  As Elizabeth walked back to her house, she wondered at the strength Mara had to live in that cabin with her two young children, hoping that her husband was going to return to her. But the more Elizabeth considered the missing Charles Sr., the less she felt that he was likely to come back…or that he was even alive. And yet Mara was not giving up.

  She looked at the moccasins Mara had painstakingly made for her. Mara was right—she would wear them, and she would get better. Like Mara, she would become strong
again. And God willing, she and Eli would have another baby…someday. In the meantime, spring was coming on with lush meadow grass and bright green foliage and wildflowers blooming profusely along the river. Elizabeth’s fruit tree seedlings had fared well over the mild winter and would be ready to transplant in the fall. Only about a fourth of them didn’t survive, and that was better than she had expected. The other good news was that Goldie would calve by summer, and Molly would foal in the late fall. Besides that, their chicken flock was increasing regularly. Their farm was growing.

  In mid-April, Jess delivered her first baby, a precious little girl whom they named Maude Ruby. Elizabeth and Ruth went over to visit the next day, taking a baby blanket and a few other things Elizabeth had made for the new addition to their family. Clara welcomed them into the house, holding her finger over her lips. “Jess is sleeping, but the baby is awake.” Soon they were taking turns holding and admiring the newborn.

  “She’s so tiny,” Ruth said as she held her new cousin, examining her fingers.

  “So were you once,” Elizabeth told her.

  “And so was your mother,” Clara said. “We all start out that small.”

  “Her hair is dark like Jess’,” Ruth said.

  “How is Jess?” Elizabeth asked her mother.

  “Just fine. She did very well.”

  “How is Matthew?” she asked.

  Clara chuckled. “I think he’s recovering. He was mighty thankful to get outside this morning.”

  “What’s wrong with Uncle Matthew?” Ruth asked.

  “It’s not easy being a father for the first time,” Elizabeth explained. “But he’ll get used to it.”

  “Will you have a baby, Mama?”

  “God willing.” Elizabeth nodded. “In his time.” And as Elizabeth rocked her tiny niece, she did not feel in any hurry to have another baby. Really, there was so much to do with spring coming on. She would much prefer to put her energy into improving their farm.

  On Sunday, they went to church as usual. But after the service, as they were visiting out in the sunshine, Elizabeth overheard some of the men talking. She could only hear bits of their conversation, but she was certain they were speaking about Indians. Excusing herself from the women she was chatting with, she went over to where Eli was talking with Asa.

  “Excuse me,” she said. “But the men over there, the ones gathered around Mr. Walters, seem to be talking about Indians. I couldn’t catch all of it, but Mr. Walters seems to believe there are Indians nearby. And the way he was talking, it almost sounded like he wanted to round them up.”

  Eli’s brow creased. “Mr. Walters always seems to be looking for a fight.”

  “Do you think he may have seen Mara? I know she takes the children out for sunshine now and then. She used to be afraid to go out in daylight, but she’s gotten more comfortable lately.”

  “I suppose it’s possible she’s been seen,” Eli conceded. “The Walters’ farm is out past ours, and they go by our property on their way to town. But the way the cabin is placed, Walters would have to be well on our land in order to see Mara—unless she’s wandered out a ways.”

  “I doubt she goes too far from the cabin,” Elizabeth said. “And I’ll warn her to be more careful.”

  “In the meantime, why don’t we see if we can find out what Walters is talking about,” Asa told Eli. “Maybe we can put a lid on it before it starts to smoke.”

  Elizabeth thanked them and casually walked over to where the older ladies were visiting. “Good day, Georgia and Martha,” she said politely. “What do you women think of this glorious spring weather?”

  “We were just saying how lovely it’s been,” Georgia told her. “I have daffodils and tulips blooming.”

  “Daffodils and tulips?” Elizabeth was surprised. “Where did you get bulbs?”

  “I brought a few when we came out here. They have multiplied over the years. I’ll be happy to share some bulbs with you in the fall.”

  “Oh, that would be delightful.”

  Elizabeth looked at Martha. “Have you had word from Charles?”

  Martha sadly shook her head.

  “I’m sure you must miss him. I want you to know that he’s been in my prayers.”

  “Thank you,” Martha told her. “I appreciate that more than you know.”

  “You are fortunate to be blessed with three fine sons,” Georgia told her.

  Martha brightened. “I s’pect you’ve heard that my Jacob and Belinda Bramford have set their wedding date for June,” she said to Elizabeth.

  “Yes, Malinda told me. That’s wonderful news.”

  “June is such a nice time for a wedding,” Georgia said.

  “And now my youngest boy, Joseph, appears to be setting his cap for Belinda’s younger sister, Amelia. So perhaps it won’t be long until we have another wedding in the family.”

  “I still remember the day you ladies came to tea at my house,” Elizabeth told them. “I hope you will come out again sometime.”

  “You just name the time and day, and I will be happy to come,” Georgia said.

  Martha nodded. “I would like that too.” She lowered her voice. “Not everyone understands my…my suffering.”

  Elizabeth thought about Baby Charlie, as she’d taken to calling the infant. Such a sweet baby, contented and happy and getting cuter by the day. What would Martha think if she knew what she was missing out on?

  “I just got to thinking, Elizabeth,” Georgia said suddenly. “If you like flowers, you might want to come take a start from my violas.”

  “You have violas?”

  “Oh, my, do I have violas!” She glanced at Martha.

  “Yes, she certainly does. They grow in profusion behind the parsonage.”

  “They like the shade,” Georgia explained.

  “I would love to get some violas,” Elizabeth told her.

  “Why don’t you get some today?” Georgia urged her. “No time like the present.”

  “And I should be getting home by now,” Martha said. “Mrs. Taylor and I have invited the Prescotts for Sunday dinner.”

  Elizabeth told Ruth to let Eli know that she’d be right back, and she and Georgia hurried to the parsonage, where she was soon handed a trowel. After she dug up a good start of violas, Georgia gave her an old tin to contain them. “Thank you!” Elizabeth sniffed the fragrant blooms. “I know exactly where I’ll plant these.” Now she studied Georgia carefully. “Can I trust you with something that is extremely confidential?” she asked suddenly.

  “I certainly hope so. I have not broken a confidence yet.” She peered curiously at Elizabeth. “Is something wrong, dear?”

  Elizabeth took a deep breath and said a silent prayer, but somehow she felt this was the right thing to do. “Georgia, I have been hiding Charles’ Indian wife on my property.”

  Georgia blinked as her hand flew up to her mouth. “Oh, my word!”

  “Her name is Mara, and she is a dear girl. She speaks English and was educated at a mission. I can understand why Charles fell in love with her.”

  “Oh, my…oh, my…” Georgia glanced around as if worried someone could be listening, but it was clear they were alone.

  “Mara told me that Charles left to find gold, and then some of the settlers burned down the cabin that she and her daughter, Rose, were staying in. I found them in early December. They were living outside and suffering considerably. Mara had her second child—”

  “She has two children?”

  Elizabeth nodded solemnly. “Rose is about three or four. Baby Charlie will be four months soon. They are dear children. A sweet little family. But I am in constant fear for them.” Now she explained what she’d overheard Mr. Walters saying.

  Georgia scowled. “That man has always been a troublemaker.”

  “The reason I’m speaking to you of this is because I had hoped that I could somehow win Martha over by showing her these darling grandchildren. I thought perhaps she could be of some help to Mara.” Elizabeth
held up her hands. “I really don’t know what else to do. It’s not that Eli and I mind having Mara and the children on our property. But I worry they are not safe. I know Mara worries too. And hearing Mr. Walters just now…” She shook her head.

  “That is certainly a conundrum. To think you’ve had them with you all these months, Elizabeth…and no one knew?”

  “My parents know. And my brother and Jess know. But I haven’t told my children. I feel that’s too dangerous.”

  Georgia nodded.

  “You know Martha much better than I do, Georgia. How do you think she would react if I presented her with her grandchildren?”

  Georgia pursed her lips. “Martha has a good heart. I am certain she would love her grandchildren.”

  “But would she try to take them from Mara?” Elizabeth studied Georgia closely, looking intently into her gray eyes.

  “I do not know for sure. I suspect it would depend…”

  “Depend on what?”

  “Her impressions of Mara. If she felt the girl was a savage or not fit to be a mother—”

  “Mara is a wonderful mother. She loves her children dearly. I am certain she would die for them.”

  “Hopefully she will not have to.”

  “Do you think that if I could present Mara and her children to Martha in a way that would show Martha they are good people…would Martha consider helping them or taking them in? With two of her three grown sons living so nearby, perhaps Mara would be safer. And if they were out in the open, it wouldn’t appear as it might now…as if we are hiding refugees.” Elizabeth hated to think of what men like Walters might do if they were all worked up into an indignant rage—not only to Mara and her children, but to Elizabeth’s family too.

  Georgia grasped Elizabeth’s hand. “I think your plan could work. But I will discuss it with Roland first. Do you mind?”

  “I want to believe he can be trusted with this confidence, but I do not know him as well as I know you.”

  “The reverend can be a bit stern at times, but he is wholly trustworthy, Elizabeth. I promise you.”

  Elizabeth knew she could trust Georgia with this dilemma. But as she returned to rejoin her family, she silently prayed that God would help all of them to find a good solution for Mara and her children. Somehow that little family needed to carve a life for themselves in this hostile frontier—a land that had once belonged to their ancestors. However, Elizabeth knew that the odds were probably against this plan. The Indians had been removed, many were dead or dying, and still people like Mr. Walters continued to brim with hatred. It did not bode well for Mara and her children.