“Natasha maybe, but Norman’s a big boy, isn’t he?” Rachel headed toward the back wall where the coats hung. “Ma, you don’t mind if I let Suzy play with Nancy, do you? We won’t stay long.”
Ma’s eyes met Rachel’s over her mending. “I see no harm in it as long as you are only going for that purpose.”
Rachel frowned. “Neil invited Suzy at least a month ago, and I haven’t taken her. I thought it was about time. Of course, that’s why I’m going.”
“All right then.” Ma gave one more searching look before she lowered her head and her needle flashed through Pa’s shirt again.
Heat rose in Rachel’s cheeks, but she hid it in the woolen scarf she wrapped around her throat. After helping Susannah with her wraps, she opened the back door, and they set off toward the forest and the trail that led to Neil’s house.
Rachel stuck her hands in her pockets and matched her steps to Susannah’s shorter ones. What did Ma think? That she wanted to visit with Neil? Of course, she enjoyed Neil’s company. Who wouldn’t? He was fun. Always smiling and joking. He could be serious, too. Why couldn’t Tommy be more like Neil? All Tommy thought about were the Indians and Amorita. After a while both became very disturbing.
Neil sank his ax into the chopping block and lifted his hand as Rachel and Susanna stepped from the woods. His normally pleasant face broke into a grin as they approached. “So you finally decided to come visiting.”
Nancy ran around the corner of the house. “Suzy, did you come to see me?”
Susannah broke away from Rachel and ran toward her. “Yes, I brought my doll Ma made. Do you have one?”
The two girls ran around the log cabin out of sight. Neil laughed and chased after Natasha when she followed Norman who trailed behind the girls. “I wonder if they can get Norm to play dolls with them.”
Rachel held out her hands to the littlest Douglas. Natasha reached and leaned toward her with a sweet smile. “You are such a sweetheart.”
Neil stood back while she settled the little girl in her arms. “They’re growing up without a woman’s influence, Rachel. Do you think I’m harming them by not taking a wife?”
She looked up to meet his gaze. No hint of amusement touched his expression.
He sighed. “My children mean everything to me next to my Lord. They’re young yet, still moldable as clay in the potter’s hands. A mother could help shape their lives for the Lord or she could damage them beyond repair.”
Rachel drew in a breath of air when he stepped close and ran his hand over Natasha’s hair. He was standing so close she felt his warmth in the cool November air. She liked Neil. In fact, she realized now, she’d come partly because he was so easy to talk to. Who else did she have with Tommy gone for two weeks at a time and Katie so far away? But she hadn’t expected to talk about his problems.
He lifted his gaze from his daughter to her. A tilt of his lips softened his intense look. “I could probably marry Blanche, but I won’t take the first lady who looks my way.” His grin widened. “Especially one in pants sitting astride a half-broke horse. You seem to think the preacher is a better choice, so where does that leave me, Rachel?”
Rachel stared at him. Natasha caught a fly-a-way strand of her hair and started to stick the end in her mouth.
Neil laughed. He caught her hand and separated it from the hair. “Let’s not eat the lady’s hair, Tasha. She really might not like us if you do that.”
Rachel took the long strand of hair from Neil’s hand and brushed it over her shoulder with a laugh. “I like the Douglas family just fine.” She gave Natasha a squeeze. “And I like this little gal very much. I told Ma I wouldn’t stay long, and now I’m keeping you from your work.”
Neil stepped back and glanced toward the pile of wood in his back yard. “Just cutting up my winter’s supply of wood. Before you head back, come inside for a warm cup of coffee.”
Rachel hesitated. All at once, she realized the danger she’d walked into. Not physical danger, but emotional. Tommy’s pulling away at times had made her vulnerable to another man’s appeal. And Neil was appealing. He loved the Lord, putting Him first even above his children. He wanted to marry, and would if he could find the right woman. Right now, he wanted to be her friend if nothing else. But maybe he wanted much more than that.
He took her arm and led her toward his cabin. “The kids need to be warned their time of play is about over, and you need to warm up before you walk back. There’s a bit of dampness in the air.”
Rachel accepted Neil’s offer of coffee. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to find his cabin as clean as Ma’s. Neil was a special person. If she’d met him before she met Tommy, she might have been persuaded to accept his attention. She sipped her coffee and watched the children play. In fact, if not for Tommy, she might even now consider his insinuation that she’d be a good choice to complete the Douglas family.
~*~
Rachel helped Ma clear the noon table as Susanna stuck her head in the front door from outside. “It’s snowing and Tommy’s here.”
At Susanna’s excited shout, Rachel grabbed her shawl and ran outside followed by her mother. Susanna and the men were gathered around a new buggy.
“Well! I didn’t know a preacher made so much.” Ma ran her hand along the deep green leather seats.
Rachel stepped to Tommy’s side as he grinned at her. “How do you like my new buggy?”
“Is it really yours?”
“No.” Tommy laughed. “Your mother’s right. A preacher doesn’t make nearly enough for this. It belongs to Amorita. She insisted I bring it so I could carry the supplies I brought.”
Amorita Preston again! Tommy pulled a bag of flour from the back and handed it to Daniel. Pa pulled another bag out then Tommy filled his arms. He was so handsome. No wonder that girl let him use her buggy. Rachel glared at it. She could never compete with the girl who owned a buggy like this one. With a heavy heart, she turned and followed the others to the cabin.
While Tommy put the buggy and horse in the barn, Rachel helped Ma put the supplies away.
Tommy returned as they finished. He pulled a chair out and straddled it. “You may not need anything brought out from town much longer.”
Pa sat across the table. “Oh, why is that?”
“A man in town named Wilson wants to build a store out this way. When Mr. Preston heard about it, he offered to set him up if he can find a good place to build.”
“There’s no town out here.” Ma rang out a dishcloth to wipe the table.
“No, but there may be soon. If the Wilsons like it here, and think there’s potential for a town, Mr. Preston plans to help them get a start.”
Daniel leaned forward. “Where do you think they’ll build?”
Tommy’s grin settled on Rachel. “The school may be right in the center of town. I told Mr. Wilson about it and the abandoned claim it sits on, and he sounded interested. He especially liked the idea of building near a river. That river does go right by the claim, doesn’t it?”
Rachel nodded. “I think Neil said it was on the north edge.”
Tommy’s brows drew together before he shifted in his chair. “Anyway, with the Prestons backing it, I imagine it won’t take long before we have a town out here.”
“A town will need a church and a minister,” Ma said.
Tommy nodded. “I’ve been thinking and praying about it. As a matter of fact, Mr. Wilson said something about giving a parcel of land for a school and another for a church. We’ve got a good start on both already.”
Rachel stepped closer to the table. “Would you move out and take the church if he does?”
Tommy smiled at her. “If God leads that way. We’d need a building, though, and I think the people should build it so it would be their church. It wouldn’t be right for the Prestons to pay for it.”
Ma pulled several potatoes from a bin by the back door. “We’d better get supper on so we won’t be late for services tonight. I imagine there’ll be a crowd in sp
ite of the snow.”
Rachel pitched in to help her mother while Pa and Daniel visited with Tommy. Susanna sat on his lap most of the time as if she didn’t want him out of her sight. Rachel understood how she felt. Every time Tommy left, she wondered if she’d see him again.
As she set the table, Rachel caught Tommy watching her and hugged his attention close. He pulled the chair next to his out for her and held her hand when Pa prayed over the food.
After supper, they hurried to get ready for the service. Tommy grabbed Rachel’s hand as they headed out the door and walked with her to the buggy. The buggy! She’d forgotten how he had arrived. Amorita Preston. Would she forever stand between them? Maybe Tommy should pick her for his wife instead. He probably spent more time with her since he was in town two weeks at a time, and she could do anything from the sounds of it.
Tommy squeezed her hand and leaned close. “We haven’t had much time this trip, but maybe tomorrow before I leave, if it doesn’t start snowing again, we can go for a walk.”
She looked into his eyes and tried to forget Amorita. “I’d like that.”
Tommy helped her climb in front with him while Ma and Pa got in the back seat.
Susannah scrambled over Rachel and plopped down in the middle. “I’m riding with Tommy.”
Rachel lifted her gaze from the little girl to Tommy’s amused look.
He winked. “Since Daniel’s riding Star, I think we’re all set then.”
As usual, the schoolhouse was packed with worshipers. Rachel held her breath when Tommy stopped Jed Spencer. “Have you heard anything from your son?”
The man seemed to have aged ten years. Lines formed around his mouth as he shook his head. “Not a word.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. We’ll have special prayer for him tonight.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Tommy glanced toward the front and back at Jed. “We’re going to need a song leader. Would you be up to that, do you think?”
Jed gave a short nod. “I can play my Jew’s harp or make a joyful noise. Don’t matter which to me. Oscar Smith and Jacob Cain brought their guitars tonight, so we’ve got music enough, I’d reckon. Never heard better than those two when they get together.”
“Well then, it sounds like we’re in for a treat.” Tommy grinned.
Rachel stepped back as conviction touched her heart. God had filled the gap left from her refusal to try to lead the song service. She’d been afraid, but maybe what she’d been afraid of was trusting God. Now she felt as if an opportunity and a blessing had been yanked from her reach. It was her own fault. Lord, I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I need to learn to trust You more.
Tommy took Rachel’s arm. “Are you ready to find a place to sit? Looks like another full house tonight.”
She nodded and they made their way to the front, speaking to as many as they could. Rachel sat on the floor with Ellen Bartlett again and listened to Blanche Smith’s uncles as they provided some of the best music she’d heard in a long time. Jed’s singing was off-key. Rachel glanced at the congregation and decided his enthusiasm far outweighed the sour notes he continually hit. With so many singing and clapping, surely God only heard the worship and praise lifted up before Him. She stopped listening for mistakes and joined in with an open heart.
During prayer Wesley was mentioned, but after Tommy preached, he called Jed forward. “Would you mind stepping back up here, Mr. Spencer? We’ve prayed for Wesley, but I feel we need to have you stand in for your son tonight while we have special prayer for his safety and return to the Lord. If any feel led, please come and lay hands on our brother and let’s pray.”
Neil stepped out first. Mr. Bartlett and Pa came along with several others. Rachel and the other girls who’d been sitting on the floor had to move to make room. Tommy motioned to Rachel to join him.
She stepped to his side and slipped her hand in his. He touched Jed’s forehead while as many as could reach clasped his shoulder or touched his back. Their voices lifted together as they prayed, but Tommy’s prayer filled Rachel’s mind with hope.
“Lord God, we come before you on behalf of this man’s son who is hurting. So many suffered untold loses as they traveled over the trail that led us to this new land. Wesley lost his mother, but more than that, he blames himself for her death. Yet he knows he isn’t at fault, Lord, and that has him confused. You know the condition of his heart. You know where he is and the dangers he’s facing now. Lead us to him, Father. Show him the way home. We commit Wesley Spencer into Your hands. In Jesus name. Amen.”
Rachel brushed the tears from her eyes as the voices faded. Wesley was in God’s hands now. If he was still alive, surely he would be coming home.
~*~
After dinner, Tommy opened the front door to a flurry of snow. His heart sank. There’d be no leisurely walk with Rachel today. Seemed he’d only arrived and now he needed to head back before it got worse. He turned. “Rachel, I’m sorry—”
The stricken look on her face spoke of her disappointment. She closed her eyes for a second then her lips curved while her eyes remained sad. “You need to go back now, don’t you?”
“I’m afraid so. The weather might clear up, but it looks like we may get more snow. Maybe enough to make the trip dangerous if I wait too long.” Didn’t she know he wanted to stay? They’d had no time alone this trip and he hated that. Why couldn’t they get married? If he could settle this restless feeling inside maybe he could take the church here, and claim land. The church couldn’t support them, but he could farm as well as pastor. He almost laughed out loud. Who was he kidding? Himself? Until he understood why he had such a drive to minister to the Indians, he couldn’t get married.
“I understand, Tommy. It’ll soon be Christmas and then the New Year. Spring will be here before we know it.” She said all the right words, but he saw the insecurity in the depths of her eyes. She didn’t want to wait any more than he did.
A movement to the side caught his attention. “I’ll go get your buggy hitched up.”
Tommy turned at Daniel’s words as he brushed past them and went outside. “Thank you, Daniel.” He looked back at Rachel. “Let me say my good-byes then will you walk me out?”
She nodded.
He knelt and hugged Susannah. “I’ll be back to see you as soon as I can, Suzy. You be a good girl. All right?”
“Of course, I will, Tommy.” Susannah squeezed his neck tight. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” His throat choked off his words so he didn’t say anything more, but stood and shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. “How’s the adoption coming?”
“We’re working on it and should know something soon.” Mr. Morgan clasped Tommy hand. “We want this very much, but we want you and Katie satisfied, too.”
Tommy swallowed. “I think we’re in agreement that Suzy picked the best parents she could. Thanks for everything. I’ll be back as soon as I get a chance.”
“You can always spend another night or two if the weather isn’t safe.” Mrs. Morgan smiled at him.
“Thank you, but I’d better get back. Brother Blackstone is planning a trip to a new Indian village this week. I’ll need to get things ready tomorrow for the journey.” He turned toward Rachel. “Are you ready to see if Daniel’s got the buggy hitched yet?”
He took her outstretched hand as they went through the door together. “Rachel.” Her name gave him strength. He stopped in the front yard and faced her. “I love you.”
She blinked. “I love you, too, Tommy. Be careful on the way to town. Eleven miles is a long way to go in the snow.”
“Midnight could make it fine if it weren’t for the buggy. That’ll slow us down, but we’ll be fine. God’s able to take care of us.” Tommy felt as if a dozen eyes surrounded him keeping him from giving Rachel a proper goodbye. He slipped his arm around her waist anyway and pulled her against him. The bulk of her coat and his didn’t stop his heart from pounding at her closeness. Snow melted against his
face, but he scarcely noticed as Rachel looked up at him. He accepted her invitation and lowered his head to claim her lips.
Someone cleared his throat.
Tommy ignored him and took another kiss. Rachel’s lips were soft and warm.
Again the throat clearing. This time accompanied by a chuckle.
Tommy frowned and looked over his shoulder.
Daniel sat in the buggy holding the reins. “I’ve got your horse hitched up. It’s still snowing and starting to stick pretty good, so you might want to get going unless you’ve decided to stay.”
A deep sigh tore from Tommy’s lungs. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Rachel giggled. Her face sported a becoming red color on each cheek.
Tommy grinned and whispered, “I’ll be back for more, I promise.”
The color in her cheeks deepened as she tossed her head. “I hope you do.”
He took one more quick kiss. “I guess that’ll have to last me a while. You’re coming to town for Christmas, aren’t you?”
“We plan to. The Thomases have invited us and the Bartletts to their house for Christmas dinner.”
“There’ll be a program at the church, too. Almost everyone in town’s either involved in it or planning to go. It’s going to be good. Amorita has put a lot of work into it.”
Rachel started to pull away, but Tommy tightened his hold on her. He wasn’t ready to go yet. “Katie has a surprise for you.”
“What is it?”
He chuckled. “She told me I couldn’t tell.”
Rachel’s eyes brightened. “They’ve been married three months. Is she—”
“Nope, it isn’t that. I’ll have to give you a hint.” Tommy kissed her cold nose. “It has something to do with the program. She and Amorita have been working especially hard for some time. I think you’ll like it.”
Rachel pulled away. “I guess I’ll just have to wait to find out, then. You’d better go, hadn’t you?”
Tommy climbed into Amorita’s buggy and waved.
Home's Promise (Oregon Trail) Page 16