Woman of Courage (Four Full length Historical Christian Romances in One Volume): Woman of Courage Series

by Cynthia Hickey

  ###

  Zeke jerked upright with the first shout as morning rose over the mountain. The second war cry spurred the others to action. Whoops, screams, and gunfire took the place of sizzling bacon and baking bread. Little Alice wailed from inside the wagon.

  “Zeke?” Delly climbed from the buckboard.

  “Stay inside.” He tossed a rifle to Junior who crouched beside the wheel, and reached for his pistol.

  “But…”

  “Stay in the wagon!” He tried to soften the look he gave her, and judging by the stricken look on her face, failed. “Please. For once in your stubborn life, do as I ask.”

  “But I can shoot.” Delly planted fists on her hips.

  “Then shoot from inside.” He grabbed Junior and pulled him down beside him as Delly darted under cover. “They’re going for the stock.”

  The canvas parted over their heads when Delly poked out the barrel of another gun. Zeke smiled, relieved she’d listened for once. He couldn’t worry about her and the others.

  Men ran, ducked, shot, and were fired upon as war broke out between redskin and white man. The Indians rode past in a blur, making it difficult to get a head count. The dust kicked up by their horses hung in the air and decreased visibility. Zeke and Junior ran low to the ground and took cover behind some boulders.

  “I’ll shoot, you load.” Zeke took the rifle from the boy’s shaking hands. “You all right?”

  Junior nodded, his face pale. “So scared I can’t even spit.”

  “It’s smart to be afraid at a time like this.” As fast as he shot, Junior reloaded. The Indians hung off the side of their mounts, making themselves difficult to hit. Zeke stood, drew them from behind their shields, and fired before ducking again.

  A scream rent the air. He glanced toward the wagon.

  The side of the women’s shelter resembled a pin cushion with arrows sticking from the sides. Please, Lord, let them have taken cover behind the boxes. A shot rang out, and a brave fell from his horse. Good shot, Delly. Continued gunfire coming from that direction let him know she was all right.

  He stood to draw another brave out of hiding. An arrow took him in the shoulder and dropped him to his knees. Pain ripped through him.

  Junior yelled his name, then grabbed the rifle and took his spot. Zeke shuffled closer to the rock and put a hand to his burning shoulder. Delly jumped from the wagon and dashed toward him, ridiculous in her britches and sunbonnet. A brave bore down on her and fear seized Zeke’s heart. “Junior, watch out for your ma!”

  The boy whirled and fired.

  The brave fell at Delly’s feet. Without pausing, she leaped over his body and knelt beside Zeke. “You’re shot.”

  “I told you to stay in the wagon.” He ground the words through his pain.

  “I can help.”

  “Not now.” He shoved her down and turned back to the fight, shooting with his pistol.

  The battle lasted close to an hour. Five Indians lay dead, and Zeke and another wounded. The other braves rode off, whooping, leaving behind their dead comrades. Zeke sagged with relief. His shirt stuck to him with blood and sweat. They’d been lucky.

  “Wait here.” Delly put a hand on his arm and raced back to the wagon, then returned with her medicine box. “This is going to hurt.” She grasped the protruding arrow with both hands, and pulled.

  Zeke gritted his teeth and groaned then fell back against the rock. His shoulder throbbed with a burning ache. “No kidding. You could have given me a minute to get my bearings.”

  She flashed him a shaky grin then poured whiskey over the wound, sending fire through his arm. She bandaged it with clean muslin. “I had to do it before I had a chance to think. Otherwise, I’m not sure I could’ve pulled it out. With a little rest, you’ll be fine.” She raised tear-filled eyes to his. Her chin quivered.

  “What’s wrong? You say it. I’ll be fine. Especially with a pretty little gal like you taking care of me.” Although her face so close to him, yet so unreachable hurt more than the hole in his shoulder.

  “I thought we’d lost you. All I could think of when I saw you fall was getting to your side. We can’t make it to Oregon without you.”

  He laughed. “Is that why you came running like a grizzly bear with a cub in trouble?” He had to be honest with himself. He wanted her to have come running because she loved him, not because he was their ticket to Oregon.

  What if she did say she loved him? Would it take away his resolve not to care for another woman while traveling? Maybe. He was beginning to think his resolve with pure stupidity. So what if they were hitched? He was just as responsible for her and the children as if they were.

  God, I’ve been a fool . He reached for her, fully intending to steal a kiss.

  “Don’t poke fun.” She shoved against him, but he tightened his grip.

  “You did good today. Shot like a real soldier. Junior too.” He glanced to where the boy sat propped against the wagon wheel. Fatigue showed in every line of his body. “He did the work of a grown man.”

  “No twelve-year-old should have to shoot another man.” Delly sniffed.

  “Nobody should.” Zeke’s heart swelled with pride. Since Delly’s encounter with the bear, the boy had done his best to walk the straight and narrow, only veering once to attend a poker game. The disappointed look on the faces of his sisters had put a stop to that once and for all.

  “I once thought of joining the army,” Junior spoke up. “But not any more. I don’t take to killing. Whether it be it redskin or white.” He struggled to his feet. “I’d best check on the stock. It’s a heavy job with Luke gone. We’ve got the oxen, Zeke’s horse, that scoundrel Bodine’s horses, the goats, dogs, and a milk cow. We’re getting richer by the day and it sure adds more work. Life was a mite easier when we were poor.”

  Thunder rumbled overhead. Rain fell in gentle drops, and Zeke pushed to his feet, chuckling. “Best I check on the others before I rest.”

  Junior’s steps faltered and he turned, excitement making his eyes shine. “What about the Indian ponies? I’ve been hankering for a pony of my own. I was going to ask you for one of Bodine’s, but I’d really like an Indian one.”

  Zeke shrugged. “If you can catch‘em, they’re yours.”

  The boy’s exhaustion seemed to disappear, and Junior bolted past the wagon, lasso in hand, to where five pinto ponies left behind with their dead riders, grazed in a cluster.

  Delly lifted her face to catch the welcome raindrops. A shadow moved beyond the perimeter of camp. Luke or Indians come back to retrieve their dead?

  Zeke grabbed her arm. “Come on. Back to the wagon.” What was taking Junior so long? Chances were good the Indians would be back to retrieve what they’d left, and no one should be out alone. He released the breath he held when Junior ran up, grasping the rope of a tan and white pony.

  29

  The next morning they crossed the Snake River into air so foul, Delly tried to hold her breath against the stench. Dead cattle, mules, and horses lay discarded beside the trail, providing a buffet for the circling buzzards.

  By the time they stopped to camp, her stomach churned, and Sadie had already lost her breakfast. Zeke trotted his horse to their side.

  “The train lost another mule. Ben Johnson lost an ox, so we’ve meat for another day or two. No telling how many more we’ll lose before we’re finished.” A slow grin spread across his face. “Good news is, the scenery’s about to improve—for Sadie that is.” He inclined his head behind them.

  A thinner, haggard, Luke sprinted toward them. Sadie climbed from the wagon and hitched her skirts to run. “Luke!” Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into his arms.

  Delly choked back a sob. “Should he be back?”

  “Oh, I ain’t leaving this woman’s side no more,” Luke stated, carrying his wife in his arms. “Look how fat she’s getting without me. Are you eating all the food?”

  She hugged him. “I’ve saved a bit for you.”
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br />   “I’ve scouted a head. Met up with Hiram and he stayed to see if he could find a better way, but tomorrow’s going to be tough. No way to cross but over a rock ledge. Don’t know how the animals are going to take to it.”

  Zeke removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “What happened to the bridge?”

  “Fallen. The wagons will have to be taken apart and carried across in pieces.”

  Delly’s shoulders sagged. Would the hardship ever end? God, I’m losing hope and strength. Where’s the Promise Land you said we’d receive?

  “I’ve done it before. It’s a hard job, but doable.” Zeke closed his eyes for a minute. “Instead of stopping here, we’ll head on and stop there for the night. Get a head start on dismantling the wagons.”

  “I hid in the bushes during the Indian attack,” Luke admitted hanging his head. “Couldn’t do much more than watch and pray since I didn’t have a gun.”

  Zeke clapped him on the shoulder. “You were there if we needed you.”

  “Yep, and that wagon train with them bounty hunters is a day or two ahead of us.”

  Delly’s heart lifted. Her family was back together.

  ###

  Delly stepped to the edge of the cliff and stared into a nightmare. A natural stone bridge, wide enough for one person, arced over a swift running creek. Fifteen feet below, water tumbled and roared over rocks, sending water spraying upward and washing over the bridge. More boulders towered around them. To her right, lay pieces of a wooden bridge, fallen and lying in the water. In the center of the creek, a flat rock, large enough to hold several people, jutted from the water. Occasionally, splashes covered the surface, wetting those standing there.

  “Isn’t there another way?” Her heart pounded in her throat.

  “No,” Zeke said. “This is the only way across.”

  Up and down the line others murmured, the sound washed away in the roar of the water. Delly trembled. “How do we get the stock across?”

  “The wagons must be taken apart and carried across the rock island. Then the bottoms are put together, held in place with rope, and you cross to the other side using the wagon bed as a bridge. Lead the stock one at a time. Be glad we don’t have to lower the stock by rope and pulley. We’ll be doing that in a few days. Once we’re across, we’ll camp and reassemble the wagons. It’s hard work. Anything you don’t want to carry gets left here.”

  Zeke smiled and turned to the others. “This is the second time I’ve had to cross this way, folks. That wooden bridge never stands up against the current. Let’s pull together and get across as quick as possible.”

  The women unloaded the wagons before putting together cold suppers for their families while the men did the heavy work of dismantling wagons. The sun began its descent as the last wagon and the larger stock crossed over, then the women began carrying gathering supplies.

  With the sky tinted purple and grey above the mountain, and thunder rumbling in the distance, Delly took a deep shuddering breath and watched as the first woman shuffled her way across. When she reached the larger rock, she turned, grinned, and thrust her fist in the air.

  Delly smiled and tied Alice across her chest. “Children, hold on to the back of my shirt. We’ll make a chain.” She felt her daughter’s fist grip as they slid their feet across the wet rock. Her heart pounded in her ears.

  Inch-by-inch she scooted one foot in front of the other. One of the children whimpered behind her. “We can do this,” Delly said. “Keep your eyes on the opposite bank and pray. Look, others are waiting for us.”

  She followed her own advice, keeping her gaze glued to a stand of trees, and almost cried with relief upon reaching the other side. She untied the baby and handed her to Dorcas. “I’m going back for supplies. Have a seat by that tree and keep Alice on your lap.”

  The return trip was easier without the worry of a baby and children. Delly hopped onto the bank then loaded her arms as full as she could manage. “Sadie, balance the medicine box on top, would you?”

  “Girl, you’ve piled too high. You can’t see where to put your feet.” Sadie set the box on the top quilt.

  “All I have to do is put one foot in front of the other. Just point me in the right direction.” Her moccasins rasped across the rock as she slid her feet.

  Water cascaded over the bridge. She slipped and choked back a scream. Having lost her momentum, she didn’t know where to step next. She froze, legs shaking, and tried to calm her rapid breathing. She glanced at the water rushing below her. The roar threatened to drown out all sound. People yelled for her to move forward. Adrenaline pricked her skin and stole her breath.

  She shook her head. I can’t. I’ll fall. Her foolish pride had landed her in another predicament. Why hadn’t she listened instead of piling her arms too high? Was she that lazy to cut her trips across? Waves of nausea pulsated through her abdomen and into her back. She closed her eyes against her dizziness and jerked when Zeke came up behind her and placed his good hand on her shoulders.

  “Come on. I’m right behind you. Let me guide you.” He pushed against her back, using his unwrapped arm to balance her.

  “No. Stop it.” She stiffened.

  “You’re holding everything up. You need to move.” His breath tickled her ear. “It’s raining upstream. The water will continue to rise until this rock is submerged.”

  “I can’t.” She forced the words through a tortured throat.

  “If you don’t, you’ll have to toss everything you’re carrying into the water, and I’ll lift you in my arms.”

  “That would be wasteful. Besides, you’re wounded.”

  He laughed. The sound warmed her. “One step at a time. Trust God, and trust me.”

  She nodded and took a step, secure in the fact that his strong hands wouldn’t let her fall. One step led to another, and soon she collapsed on the opposite bank and let the supplies fall to the ground. “I could kiss your feet.”

  He laughed. “Later, if you’re still so inclined. You stay here. Luke, Junior, and I will carry the rest.”

  “No problem.” She fell backward onto the grass.

  Dorcas handed her the baby. “You shouldn’t have tried to carry so much, ma. You aren’t a man, you know. You don’t have to do everything.”

  Sufficiently chastised by a ten-year-old, Delly sat up to watch the others make their journey across. Dorcas was right. Delly didn’t have to do everything herself. There were others, including God, willing to help. All she needed to do was accept. Could she give up a lifetime of habit to let someone else step in and lead the way once in a while? She didn’t know, but knew she’d reached the point where she was willing to try.

  One-by-one, the men carried across folded wagon bonnets, wheels, and tools. The creek continued to rise. Each wave sloshed higher on the rocks, splashing over their heads until the boys were drenched. Rain fell in a steady stream as the sky opened.

  The younger of the two Oglesby boys slipped. Luke shot out a hand to steady the boy, and Delly released the breath she hadn’t been aware she held.

  Delly noticed Zeke sitting against a tree. Worry and pain creased his face. She squatted beside him. “Your shoulder hurts, doesn’t it? You did too much today. It won’t heal if you don’t rest it.”

  He waved away her words. “No help for it today. Every man was needed. Thank God, Luke came back when he did. I’m not sure we could’ve done it without him.”

  30

  Fort Boise consisted of three fairly new buildings owned by the Hudson Bay Company. The only signs of life were a few company officials, some Frenchmen, and a lot of half-naked Indians. Delly didn’t know what she’d expected, but it’d been more than this. Something that resembled civilization.

  She sighed and stopped the wagon next to the small ferry beside a wooden dock. Zeke rode past and approached one of the company officials. He conversed with the man for a few minutes then returned.

  “They do carry a small supply of foodstuffs, and the Indians are friendly
and willing to trade.” He grinned up at Delly. “The cost for the ferry is three dollars. The river is safe enough to swim the stock. We’ll camp here tonight and leave in the morning. There’s a squaw over there with fresh salmon to sell.”

  “Salmon!” She clamored over the side. “Maybe they’ve got vegetables too.”

  “Don’t forget to buy as much dry foods as you can. Make sure it’s enough for several months. We won’t have time to put in a garden. Not before winter sets in.”

  Delly lifted the baby into her arms. “Come on, Sadie. Let’s buy some of that fish before it’s gone. Then we’ll do an inventory of our supplies before we hit the store. Maybe they’ll have some of the salmon smoked.” Her spirits lifted for the first time in days. Amazing what a change in diet could do for a person.

  “And eggs.” Sadie shooed away a clucking chicken.

  She turned as Zeke strode by with cages of chickens. “Are they ours?”

  “Yep. Three hens and a rooster.”

  Delly laughed. “A milk cow and chickens. Why, we’re positively rich.”

  He winked. “Yes, we are. You go on in and get what you need. I’ll be back to settle the account.”

  Delly headed toward the trading post, then stopped. She and Zeke had spoken as if they were husband and wife. What was she thinking? Those were his chickens. Her cow. His oxen. Not theirs. The thought stung her throat. When had she grown so comfortable around him that he fit like a fine leather glove?

  She pushed aside a worn buffalo robe serving as a door and stepped into the dim recesses of a smoke-filled room. Her eyes watered. Despite its less than savory appearance, the store carried any dry goods they might need, including a few bolts of calico.

  She fingered the fabrics, relishing the bit of civilization the fort had to offer. The pink would look lovely on the little girls, and that blue almost made her salivate. Green for the boys. A bolt of brown wool would make pants for the men. She handed over almost the last of their coins, still refusing to use but very little of what Zeke insisted she use.