“Believe me, I know she’s eighteen.” Flo sighed. “Hannah teases her constantly, calling her an old maid. An old maid at eighteen?”
“So tell us, Flo, what’s wrong with this young man in unit one?” Lavinia inquired.
Flo scowled. “I don’t like to pass judgment on anyone. But there is something about this man that bothers me.”
“How so?” Elizabeth pressed.
“Well, my first impression was that he has shifty eyes. But it’s more than just that.” Flo held up a finger. “For one thing, he is traveling alone.”
“What difference does that make?” Elizabeth asked.
She held up a second finger. “And two, he is traveling very light.”
“Oh…” Lavinia got a knowing expression. “Do you think he’s running from the law?”
Flo had a grim expression. “And three, he just acts plain sneaky.”
“What kind of sneaky?” Elizabeth asked.
“Instead of coming around to visit Mahala in the light of day and politely acquainting himself with her family, he sneaks around. He meets up with her behind our backs. The man reminds me of a slippery snake. I wouldn’t be surprised if he plans to run off with Mahala and marry her on the sly.” She shuddered. “If he even intends to marry her!”
“Oh, dear.” Elizabeth felt very concerned now. “What does Bert say about all this?”
“Bert is so durned busy in his spare time. Oh, I shouldn’t complain, because all this blacksmithing work is going to feather our nest once we settle. But all the same, I just hate to trouble him with this. After all, I might be all wrong.” Flo let out a loud sigh. “And one thing I forgot to mention about the young man…”
“What’s that?”
“He’s devilishly handsome. Dark curly hair, dark eyes.”
“Oh…” Elizabeth and Lavinia exchanged glances.
“Will you tell me this young man’s name?” Lavinia asked. “I certainly don’t want to see him trailing around any of our young ladies.”
“He goes by Jack Smith.” Lavinia scowled. “But I wonder if that’s his given name.”
“Jack Smith in unit one,” Elizabeth said slowly. “I’ll let my father and brother know to be on the lookout for him.”
“And I’ll tell Hugh and Will and our boys too,” Lavinia said.
“With all these fellows watching out for Mahala, she should be safe.”
“’Ceptin’ that she seems to like the attention…and, as I said, he is devilishly handsome.”
“Have you tried just talking with her?” Elizabeth asked.
Flo laughed. “Until your Ruth gets a few more years on her, I reckon you have no idea what it’s like to talk to a daughter Mahala’s age.” She turned to Lavinia. “Do you understand my meaning?”
Lavinia chuckled. “My Evelyn’s only sixteen, but she thinks she’s all grown up. She likes to tell me what to do.”
“Mahala thinks I don’t know what I’m talking about half of the time.”
“Even my sweet nieces, Belinda and Amelia…they do give me a bit more respect than Evelyn, but they don’t heed my advice the way they used to.”
“I suppose I should be thankful that Ruthie is still young.”
“Count your blessings,” Flo told her.
“Well, I probably shouldn’t say this…” Lavinia spoke cautiously.
“Say what?” Flo asked eagerly.
“Can I trust you not to repeat it?” Lavinia eyed them both.
“Certainly.” Flo nodded. “You have my word.”
“Well…I happen to know that your Mahala caught the eye of my Julius months ago, back when we first started out on this journey.”
“Truly?” Flo looked hopeful.
“However, besides being partners for an occasional dance, I don’t know that Mahala has given my poor boy any encouragement. And poor Julius…well, he’s a little shy around the ladies. Especially the ones he’s fond of.”
“Julius is a very nice young man,” Elizabeth intervened. “Both he and Jeremiah are well spoken and polite.”
Lavinia nodded. “I’d be the first to agree with you on that.”
“How old is your Julius?” Flo asked.
“He’ll be twenty in November.”
Flo looked hopeful. “I sure do wish that Mahala would look his direction instead of batting her eyelashes at that slimy Jack Smith.”
“But what if you’re wrong about Jack?” Elizabeth tried. “It’s so easy to misjudge people. Remember when everyone thought Jess was a man?”
They all laughed. Just the same, Elizabeth was determined to inform Matthew and Asa to be on the lookout for this notorious Jack Smith. She hoped Flo was wrong about his character. But it wouldn’t hurt to do some quiet investigating. In fact, the next time she saw Eli, she would ask him his opinion on this matter. He seemed a pretty fair judge of people.
Chapter Thirteen
By the end of the next day, the landscape had changed dramatically. They had entered a very wet grassy area that was perfect for grazing the livestock. Even the air was moist and cooler than usual.
“I wish we could camp here for a week,” Clara said as she and Elizabeth set up their outdoor kitchen. Asa had taken the children for a walk. Naturally, their initial reaction to walking at the end of the day was not enthusiastic.
“It’s to see an interesting sight,” he’d told them with a twinkle in his eye. And that was all it took to get them on their feet. Then, like the Pied Piper, Asa stopped by other campsites in their unit, inviting all the other children to join him. Even some of the young people went along as well.
Out of habit, Elizabeth almost called out to remind the children to pick up buffalo chips on their way. But then she remembered they were still well stocked from yesterday. Ruth had been the winner of Asa’s “Easter egg” contest. Elizabeth wasn’t sure if it was due to Ruth’s persistent diligence or if the older girls had helped her when they saw how hard she was working to win. But to Ruth’s delight, the prize was a half dollar to spend as she liked in South Pass City on Saturday. A virtual windfall.
Supper was nearly ready by the time Asa and the children returned to camp. But the way they were giggling and carrying on over something in a bucket made Elizabeth very curious. “Did you children bring home a frog?” she asked.
“No,” JT told her. “Something even better.”
“You both have to guess,” Ruth said.
“Is it a turtle?” Clara asked as she dished out a plate.
“No.”
“Berries?” Elizabeth ventured as she poured Asa a cup of coffee.
“No. But we might want to have some for dessert,” Ruth said.
“What is it?” Elizabeth demanded, coming over to peek in the bucket.
“Ice!” both children said at once.
Sure enough, it did look like a big chunk of ice. Elizabeth touched it. “Where on earth did you find this?” She eyed her father.
“Captain Brownlee told us about Ice Slough a few days ago,” he explained. “That’s what this place is called. And over in the ice caves you can find ice year-round.”
“Oh, my.” Clara came over to see for herself. “What do you know!”
“Can we make shaved ice with sugar for dessert?” Ruth asked hopefully.
“We can do even better than that,” Clara told her. “But first let’s eat our supper before that wonderful ice melts.”
Elizabeth covered it in towels to help keep it cold while they ate supper. Then, while Elizabeth and Clara cleaned up afterward, Asa helped the children to make bowls of shaved ice, topped with sugar and some berry juice that Clara had preserved on the trail. The results were cool and delicious.
Unfortunately, their stay in Ice Slough was brief, and the next day they were moving through dry, hot, barren land again. But at least it was easy traveling. Elizabeth had decided to ride Molly this morning. Feeling surprisingly refreshed from their short stay at Ice Slough, she’d even taken the time to put on her full riding out
fit. As well as her best hat.
“Don’t you look nice,” Clara had told her when she rode past where her mother was walking with Ruth and Jess. Elizabeth thanked her and waved. She also waved at where JT and Brady were driving her wagon. Then she nudged Molly into a trot and then a canter. It was fun feeling the cool morning air in her face. And Molly seemed to enjoy this bit of freedom as well.
Elizabeth continued riding on up, hoping to get ahead of the wagon train, where she could ride without breathing the dust the wheels and hooves stirred up. She was nearly to the front when she observed a young woman walking alongside one of the wagons and talking to the driver. Upon closer inspection, she realized the young woman was Mahala Flanders. And of course, she must have reached unit one by now because they were in front this week.
Slowing her horse, Elizabeth reined Molly closer to Mahala, hoping to get a peek at what she assumed could only be the mysterious Jack Smith. And sure enough, the man had dark curly hair and dark eyes. But he didn’t appear as young as Elizabeth had assumed he would be. In fact, unless she was mistaken, this man was probably in his thirties.
“Mahala.” Elizabeth feigned surprise. “My goodness, what are you doing way up here?”
Mahala looked up with a startled expression. “Oh, hello, Elizabeth.” She made a stiff smile. “I was just out walking this morning. I didn’t notice that I’d gone so far ahead of our unit.”
“I was just enjoying a ride.” Now Elizabeth slid down from the saddle, and holding the rein, she walked next to Mahala. Then looking up at the attractive stranger with what she hoped seemed a natural interest, she smiled brightly. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Elizabeth Martin and a friend of Mahala’s.”
“Pleased to meet you, Elizabeth.” He smiled back at her. “Name’s Jack Smith.”
“Pleased to meet you too. Are you traveling with your family?”
He shook his head. “No, I’m not that fortunate. I’m traveling alone.”
“Oh.” She nodded with sympathy. “And where is your final destination, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“California,” he told her. “Off to find my fortune like everyone else.”
“So you’re one of those who will be parting ways with this train before too long.”
“Yep. I’ll be heading south soon.”
Elizabeth eyed Mahala. “You probably know that Mahala and her family are headed for Oregon.”
“So I’ve heard.” He glanced down at Mahala and then back at Elizabeth with what seemed growing interest. As if he was really looking at her—but in a way that made her truly uncomfortable. Still, she was determined not to show it.
“Well, I’m sorry I only just met you, Jack, especially seeing how you’re traveling alone,” she told him. “But this is a big wagon train and it’s hard to get to know everyone.”
“It certainly is.”
Although Elizabeth hated playing coy, she felt she’d been presented an opportunity to get this man to show his true colors—and in front of Mahala. “California certainly sounds like a pretty place,” she told him. “I hear that you can grow almost anything down there. My children and I are headed to southern Oregon to start a farm there.”
“You and your children?” His dark brows arched with interest. “What about your husband?”
“Sadly, I’m a widow.”
“I’m sorry.” Unless she was mistaken, his eyes lit up at this news.
“I sold my farm in Kentucky so we could set out for a new life,” she continued. “Some think it was foolish for a young widow to come on a trip like this, but the lure of new land and new fortunes…” She smiled. “Who could resist?”
“So you’re an adventuress.” He looked at her in a way that made her skin crawl, almost as if she’d come upon a snake on the trail. Perhaps she had.
“I suppose I am.” She patted Molly’s neck. “Well, I guess I should be on my way. I promised my mare a good ride this morning.”
“That is one fine-looking horse. Very fine.” He glanced past her and she watched him carefully eyeing her horse, taking in the fine English saddle and silver-trimmed bridle. She felt sure she had this man figured out. No doubt he was a fortune hunter, which left only one explanation for why he was toying with Mahala’s affections.
“Thank you.” She smoothed Molly’s mane, determined to pour it on thick. She wanted him to think she was wealthy…and silly. “My family was known for raising some of the best and fastest horses in Kentucky. My father used to race them too. Anyway, I hope to continue the tradition in Oregon. And I brought some of my finest livestock with me.”
As she removed her riding gloves, tucking them into her belt, she could feel Mahala’s eyes on her—and her fury. Not that Elizabeth cared so much. If she could spare this girl from a future of pain, what did it matter? Jack planned to part ways at South Pass, which was less than two days away. What if Mahala was considering going with him?
“Hearing you speaking of Oregon…I wonder if I have made a mistake,” he told Elizabeth.
“A mistake?” Elizabeth tipped her head to one side. “What do you mean?”
“I mean—well, it seems as if the prettiest women in the wagon train are headed for Oregon. Why on earth am I going to California?”
Mahala spoke suddenly. “But Jack, I asked you about coming to Oregon with us and you said you couldn’t—”
“I reckon a fellow can change his mind if he wants to, Mahala.” His tone just now was much sharper than the honey-coated one he’d been using with Elizabeth.
“Does that mean you will come to Oregon?” Mahala looked up hopefully.
He looked past her, smiling directly at Elizabeth as if Mahala had disappeared. “I’m sure I could be enticed to change my plans.”
Elizabeth nudged Mahala. “What do you think, should we entice him or not?”
Mahala’s cheeks were flushed pink, and she looked flustered and confused, as if she were playing a game where someone had changed all the rules. “I…uh, I’m not sure.”
“Perhaps we should invite Jack to come visit our unit tonight,” Elizabeth told her. “He could meet our fathers and—”
“Fathers?” It was Jack who looked uneasy now. “I thought you were traveling alone, Elizabeth. Alone…with your children, I mean.”
She made an innocent smile. “Oh, didn’t I mention my father and mother are traveling with us as well? Naturally they have their own wagon. As do I. My father is councilman of our unit. And my brother and his new bride are traveling with us as well. And Mahala has both her parents and lots of brothers and sisters with her.” She laughed. “If you are tired of being alone, you would certainly enjoy all the family and entertainment we can provide for you in our unit.” She grinned at Mahala. “Isn’t that right?”
Mahala appeared to be speechless.
“So please, Jack, do feel free to visit us this evening.” She gave him a coquettish smile. “Can we expect you for supper?”
“I…uh…I’m not sure.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
“All right. You know we’re in unit five.” Elizabeth turned back to Mahala. “Do you want to walk with me for a spell?”
Mahala didn’t answer. She just looked from Elizabeth to Jack and back to Elizabeth again. Then without saying a word to Jack she turned away from him and, to Elizabeth’s delight, she continued to walk with her. Elizabeth slowly edged them away from the trail, watching as Jack’s wagon, moving just a bit faster than they were, moved on ahead.
“What were you doing just now?” Mahala hissed at her.
“I was visiting with you and Jack,” she told her.
“No…you were up to something. I could tell. What was it? And why?”
“Just being neighborly.”
“Elizabeth.” Mahala stopped walking, locking eyes with Elizabeth.
“All right.” Elizabeth put her hand on Mahala’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I was concerned for you when I saw you visiting wit
h Jack.”
“Why?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “You seemed in intimate conversation, Mahala. But something about it did not feel right to me. I care about you, and as your friend, I wanted to be sure you were all right.”
“You care about me?” Mahala turned to stare at her. “It looked to me like you cared more about Jack than me.”
“I’m truly sorry about my little charade.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I was just curious, Mahala. I wanted to see what Jack was made of.”
“What did you think he was made of?”
“Unfortunately, I could feel the way he was looking at me. The way he took inventory of my horse and reacted to my words gave me the impression that he thought he could snare a wealthy widow on her way to the West—that he would take full advantage of the situation. Couldn’t you see that?”
“You don’t even know him, Elizabeth.” Mahala sounded angry now.
“I think you’re wrong. I do know him. Rather, I know what sort of a man he is. You saw how warm he was toward me…and how he changed when he heard I had family to back me. His interest in me completely vanished. The idea of my father and brother scared him off. Didn’t you see that?”
Mahala bit her lip.
“Why would my father—one of the sweetest men around—scare off a man like Jack?”
“I…uh, I don’t know.”
“Did Jack ever offer to come around and meet your parents, Mahala?” Elizabeth looked directly into her eyes.
There was a long pause. “No…”
“Do you honestly think Jack was courting you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he ever mention marriage to you?”
Another long pause. “No…”
“Did he ask you to go to California with him?”
Mahala said nothing, but Elizabeth saw silent tears building in her dark brown eyes. She saw her chin beginning to quiver.
“Oh, Mahala.” Elizabeth reached over and hugged the girl, holding her tightly as she spoke. “Don’t you know you are worth so much more than that? You are smart and kind and beautiful. And yet Jack would only take advantage of you…for his own selfish purposes. I can assure you that Jack Smith has some deep dark secrets. I know you are a good and decent girl. Jack Smith is looking out for himself above everyone else—including you. Trust me, you would be making the biggest mistake of your life if you went to California with him. He would use you and then discard you as soon as his next opportunity came along.”
A Dream for Tomorrow Page 13