Elizabeth continued working and giving orders, and eventually, despite Lavinia’s absence, Elizabeth proclaimed that the meal was done. It wasn’t the caliber that she and her mother had been preparing lately, but it smelled tasty and appeared edible. Much better than the uncooked beans they’d suffered through for dinner. And there was plenty to go around and perhaps even enough for leftovers tomorrow. She hoped they would appreciate it.
She moved the coffeepot away from the flame. “I’ll go tell your other daughter that it’s suppertime over here,” she told Mr. Bramford.
“You might not be able to tear her away from your camp now that she’s seen what real cooking looks like.” Mr. Bramford chuckled and the others laughed.
“Well, I hope your own supper will be somewhat tolerable, Mr. Bramford.”
“Please, you’ve slaved over our fire and cooked our meal. Just call me Will.”
“Fine. But if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave.”
“You could stay here and eat with us, Captain Elizabeth,” Amelia suggested in what seemed a sincere invitation.
Elizabeth smiled at the girl. “Thanks for the offer, but my family is expecting me.”
“I wish they were expecting me too,” Evelyn teased.
As Elizabeth made her exit, several more food-related jokes were made, all at Lavinia’s expense, and it was likely the poor woman heard every one from the not-so-private confines of her wagon. Elizabeth just shook her head and hurried toward her wagon. To think this was only the first day of this trip. She hoped cooking would get easier for the Bostonians before long.
Chapter Nineteen
The next couple of days passed as uneventfully as the first one. The weather remained cool with intermittent showers, which thankfully fell in the evenings, sometimes accompanied by lightning storms that boomed through the prairie. And there continued to be occasional delays in traveling due to various breakdowns. Captain Brownlee assured them this was all quite normal and unfortunately inevitable.
“We hope to get the kinks out early on,” he told Asa when he stopped to check on the status of unit five at the end of the day. “The second week usually goes smoother.”
Elizabeth was helping with her team this afternoon, not because Brady couldn’t handle it but simply because she just wanted to give Beau and Belle a thorough grooming and inspection. She wanted to check their hooves and their hocks and make sure they were in good shape and ready for the upcoming week.
“Some of the wagons in my unit had problems too,” Asa told the captain as he led a pair of oxen over to the grazing area. “The Prescotts just about lost a wagon wheel this morning. That was a close one, but my grandson noticed it was wobbling. And then the McIntires kept having trouble with their team this afternoon. Turned out they put the yoke on wrong.” He chuckled. “But they’re learnin’.”
The captain nodded. “Most of the greenhorns will be old hands come June. Course, that’s when the traveling will get rougher.” He ran a hand over Beau’s back now. “That’s a mighty fine team you got there, Elizabeth. Handsome pair of horses.”
She smiled as she ran the currycomb over his coat. “They’re strong and smart too. Called Percherons, and they came from France.”
“All the way from France?” He shook his head. “Well, it’s reassuring to see you taking good care of ’em. I hope they make it all the way west without trouble.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded, but she just nodded. “Thank you. So do I.”
“Now, being that tomorrow’s Sunday, everybody can enjoy a little reprieve, including the stock.” He turned to Asa. “We don’t pull out until one tomorrow.”
“I nearly forgot it was Saturday.” Asa coiled a lead rope, setting it by the yokes. “And that reminds me. Today is my grandson’s twelfth birthday.”
The captain went over to where JT was picking a rock out of a mule’s hoof. “Congratulations, son. What will you do to celebrate?”
“My grandma’s making a chocolate cake.” JT stood up straight, smiling at the captain. “And I’d be obliged if you and Eli would stop by our camp and share a piece with us.” Now JT glanced at his mother as if to be sure it was all right.
She grinned back at him then turned to the captain. “We would be honored to have you join us. But not just for cake, Captain. Please, come for supper too. We’ve got a roast and all sorts of other good things that we need to cook. Our ice pack is only good for another day or so. So unless our men have luck with hunting or fishing, our menu will soon become much less interesting.”
“Well, I got to hand it to you folks, you do make eating a pleasure.” The captain smacked his lips as he clapped JT on the back. “I’d be delighted to come for your birthday, JT. Thank you.”
After Elizabeth finished up with her horses, she left the rest of the stock to Brady and JT to tend and hurried back to her camp to tell her mother about their unexpected supper guests. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said as she washed her hands and reached for her apron. “I think it’ll make JT happy.”
“Don’t mind a bit. I wish we could invite all our neighbors,” Clara said. “Course that might not be too practical. Asa says we have around forty people in our unit. I s’pect that’d be quite a crowd to feed.”
“Maybe we can have a big potluck supper sometime,” Elizabeth suggested. “That might be fun.”
“A chance to eat someone else’s cookin’.” Clara chuckled. “Although I’m not sure I’m ready to sample Lavinia’s just yet.”
Elizabeth frowned. This was the first evening since they’d started on the trail that she and Clara weren’t helping their Boston friends. And none of the Boston girls were having cooking lessons at their camp kitchen. As much as Elizabeth liked the chatty girls, it was nice just having their own family again. “I hope the Bostonians are faring all right,” she said absently as she washed the cabbage.
“Belinda came by and offered to help,” Clara said. “I told her that she might be more useful at her own camp since we planned to do our own cooking tonight.”
“She was disappointed to leave,” Ruth said sadly.
“Oh, well, that’s because she likes working with you, Ruthie.” Elizabeth pushed some hair away from Ruth’s eyes. “But they need Belinda back there. She’s turned out to be the best cook of the bunch.”
“Ruth wants to put the icing on the cake,” Clara told Elizabeth.
“That’s a fine idea. I think she should make the icing too.”
“I don’t know how to make icing, Mama.”
“Then it’s high time you learn.” Elizabeth laughed. “After all, you don’t want to end up like Lavinia now, do you?”
Ruth giggled. That had been their private joke when anyone complained about cooking. They’d say, “You don’t want to end up like Lavinia, do you?” Poor Lavinia, besides being a useless cook or perhaps because of it, she seemed to suffer from a case of nerves that often incapacitated her. Clara had begun to suspect it was simply her way of escaping the kitchen chores.
For supper, they spread the table with a checkered cloth, and although Elizabeth wasn’t sure if both Captain Brownlee and Eli would attend, she asked Ruth to set enough places for them. Ruth was just setting a small bouquet of meadow flowers in the center of the table when Ruby Morris entered their camp. “I don’t mean to intrude,” she quietly told Elizabeth. “I know it’s JT’s birthday today, and he was so kind to help Jess with hitching up the horses these last few mornings.” She pushed a small parcel toward Elizabeth. “Well, we just wanted him to have this.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth wasn’t sure how to react. “But everyone should be helping everyone on this journey. There’s no need to—”
“We want to,” Ruby insisted. “JT is a fine boy, and Jess and I were both grateful for his help.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Some folks are not so charitable. And we know we’re tinhorns, but we truly appreciate JT’s generosity.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Well, then thank you. I’ll see that he gets this.”
As Ruby hurried back to her own camp, Elizabeth was curious as to the content of the small package. She knew as well as anyone that with limited packing space, everything they had brought was considered precious. She checked the pocket in her skirt to be sure that James’ watch, safely wrapped in a handkerchief, was still there. She had decided several days ago that JT was old enough to have his father’s pocket watch.
To JT’s pleasure, both the captain and Eli came to his birthday dinner. And with the surplus of good food and exciting conversation, Elizabeth could tell that they were all having an enjoyable time.
“I can’t remember the last time I had chocolate cake,” the captain said as he stuck his fork into a generous slice.
“This one turned out a bit lopsided,” Clara said apologetically.
“But it should be tasty,” Elizabeth said. “And since we’re almost out of eggs, it might be some time before we see a real cake.”
“Unless our chickens start laying again,” Ruth said hopefully.
Clara laughed. “I doubt that’s going to happen. I don’t think they much like the bumpy trail.”
After dinner, as was their custom, JT was presented with his birthday gifts, starting with a book from his grandparents and two red bandannas from Ruth.
“This is from Ruby and Jess,” Elizabeth said as she handed him the small package. “It’s their way of saying thank you for how you’ve helped with their team.”
He unwrapped the package to reveal a silver belt buckle. “Wow.” His eyes grew wide. “This is really nice.”
“You be sure to thank them,” Elizabeth said and instantly wished she hadn’t. “I know you will.” Now she handed him her own gift. “Happy birthday, JT.”
He peeled the white handkerchief away to reveal the gold pocket watch and then turned to Elizabeth with a shocked expression. “Pa’s watch?”
She nodded. “I know he’d want you to have it.”
JT seemed uneasy.
“You’re proving every day that you’re nearly a grown man, son. I know you will take very good care of it.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll sure try.”
“And if you want to keep it in a safe place during the trip, you let me know,” Asa told him.
Next the captain gave JT a silver dollar, and then Eli presented him with something wrapped in brown paper. To Elizabeth’s horror, it was a large hunting knife. It wasn’t nearly as big as Eli’s or even her father’s or Matthew’s, but it did seem overly large for a boy. It also seemed extravagant. She wasn’t sure she approved.
“Thank you!” JT slowly removed the knife from its sheath to examine it.
“That’s a fine knife,” Asa said with appreciation.
“Looks like a bowie,” Matthew added.
“It looks very sharp,” Elizabeth said with concern.
“My pa told me that twelve is the age of accountability.” Eli glanced at Elizabeth and then back to JT. “That means you are expected to think and act like an adult.” He smiled. “From what I’ve seen, you are already fairly accountable, JT. And, like I told you the other day, a man needs a good knife out in the wilderness.”
“Thank you so much,” JT said again. “I’ll use it with respect and care.”
“I know you will,” Eli assured him.
“I got something for you too,” Brady said a bit shyly. Now he held out a small wooden box with the initials JTM carved on the top.
“Thank you, Brady.” JT opened the lid. “This is really handsome. Did you carve it yourself?”
Brady nodded.
“It’s beautiful,” Elizabeth told Brady.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” JT told everyone, thanking them all again.
“And now I think we should continue the celebration with some music.” Matthew was already pulling out his fiddle, and JT went to get his guitar. But after he tuned it, he handed it to Eli. “Would you play some?”
Eli looked uncertain.
“I’d sure like to hear you play,” JT encouraged.
Soon Eli and Matthew were playing some lively tunes. And JT urged Brady to pull out his harmonica and join them.
“Do you mind if I go over and thank Ruby and Jess for the belt buckle?” JT asked Elizabeth as she was making a fresh pot of coffee.
“Of course not.” She poured the freshly ground grinds into the basket.
“Invite all of them to come over and enjoy the music and some coffee, if you like,” Clara suggested. “Sorry there’s no leftover cake to offer them.”
It wasn’t long before Ruby, Doris, and Jess, led by JT, came over to listen to the music. Jess, as usual, lurked on the sidelines, but Elizabeth could see him tapping his toes. And then, to everyone’s surprised pleasure, Doris enticed the captain as well as Asa and Clara and then JT and Ruth out to the open area to dance.
“We need another couple to form a square,” Doris called as she clapped her hands to the music.
“Come on, Elizabeth.” Ruby grabbed Elizabeth by the hand, and with the square formed, they all began to dance. Elizabeth hadn’t danced in years, but it didn’t take long for her feet to remember the steps. And by the time they finished the first set, a small group of onlookers had gathered along the sidelines.
“Come on,” Doris hailed them. “There’s room for more.”
“Bring some more lanterns so we can see,” Asa called out. “Then ya’ll come out and join us, and we’ll do the Virginia reel.”
With more dancers arriving, including all the Bostonians, Elizabeth was surprised to find that her dancing partner had been replaced by Mr. Bramford. At first she was uncomfortable with this arrangement, but with all the teenagers and her own children having such fun, she decided to set aside her inhibitions and simply enjoy herself.
After several dances, she was ready for a break. “Thank you, Mr. Bramford,” she told him politely. “That was exhilarating, but I think I should go make some more coffee.”
“Please, call me Will,” he said as he followed her over to the campfire.
She just nodded, pausing to watch as Matthew, Brady, and Eli continued to play a boisterous tune. Matthew’s brow was perspiring, and she wondered if they were in need of respite. Then, seeing that there was still coffee in the pot, she offered some to Will and then filled three more cups, which they carried over to the musicians, holding them up invitingly. They all nodded and, after they finished their song, seemed relieved to have a break.
Although the dancers expressed disappointment when the music stopped, Paddy McIntire offered to go and fetch his own musical instruments as did a couple of others, and before long a complete new ensemble of musicians was playing enthusiastically. Elizabeth watched happily as her children mixed with the others. Sometimes Ruth danced with her friend Tillie Flanders. Sometimes she danced with her brother. And JT seemed to be the most sought-after partner of the girls his age. Even the older Bostonian girls took their turns with him. He seemed to be growing up right before her eyes.
Before the evening ended, Elizabeth had danced with a number of partners as well. And not only her father and brother and son either. But she was most surprised when Eli Kincaid asked to be her partner. As they were dancing a second reel, Elizabeth burst into unexpected giggles. For some reason it struck her as terribly funny when she considered how shocked she would have been just one year ago if she could have imagined herself right at this moment. Elizabeth Martin, dancing out here in the middle of the prairie with a man dressed in fringed buckskins, no less. Imagine being out here, surrounded by people who until recently had been nothing more than strangers to her. How completely unpredictable—and delightful!
Chapter Twenty
They woke to the misty drizzle of rain the next morning. Elizabeth could hear it dripping down the sides of the canvas, steady and dismal. As she and Ruth dressed, everything inside the wagon felt cold and clammy and damp. “We’ll get the fire going,” Elizabeth promised Ruth as she helped her into a cardig
an sweater, “and we’ll dry out and warm up.” But with wet kindling, a fire proved a challenge. Fortunately her parents had their fire going, and the three of them sloshed over to join them.
As the men tended to the livestock, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Clara hovered beneath the awning that extended over the kitchen area, trying to catch some heat from the fire and do some cooking. But by the time breakfast was fixed, the drizzle had turned into a deluge, and small puddles of water were pooling over the same area where there had been lively dancing and merriment the previous evening.
“As you know, I invited everyone in our unit to join us after breakfast today,” Asa said as they were cleaning up. “I thought we could have us a little church service.” He nodded to Matthew. “You think you could accompany some hymns? Something easy to sing, like ‘Amazing Grace’ or ‘Rock of Ages’?”
Elizabeth pointed to a growing puddle. “I wonder if anyone will brave the rain.”
Asa frowned up at the slate-colored sky. “I hadn’t counted on this weather. If this keeps up, I won’t be surprised if no one comes.”
“Well, if anyone comes, I’m willing to play,” Matthew agreed. “But maybe JT and Brady can help out too.”
“How about if we rig up a bigger awning?” Asa suggested.
“I’ve got some extra canvas tarps in my wagon,” Matthew told him.
So as the women cleaned up after breakfast, the men put up an awning, arranging it so that most of the rainwater ran into a water barrel, which would alleviate the need to carry water from the creek in the evening. Having this somewhat protected area actually made their camp feel more habitable, and with the campfire burning nearby, it almost gave an illusion of being dry and warm. Around ten o’clock, Matthew, JT, and Brady began to play music, and it wasn’t long until several families came over to join them, huddling together beneath the awning.
The Flanders were all present and most of the Bostonians, except for Lavinia. Even some of the Mullers attended, including Gertie, who had been noticeably absent last night. And finally the Taylors joined them. Mr. Taylor had on what looked like a freshly brushed black frock, and his wife had on a shiny black satin bonnet that was spotted with rain. Both bore pious expressions and carried Bibles, reminding Elizabeth of how the older couple planned to be missionaries in the West. She sure hoped they didn’t intend to preach to the group today.
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