Land of My Heart

by Tracie Peterson

  “We have those cows to pick up come June,” Gus added.

  “Right, and it would be good to have Morgan and Zane to help out,” Bram replied. “How about you, Cole? Would you consider hiring on?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m hesitant to commit because I may well be joining up with another wagon train. I’m to talk to Daniel Keefer next week.”

  Bram took a draw on the cigar. “I wish you’d consider signing on with me. I intend to build this place into a first-rate operation. I could use a man like you.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Cole replied, but he wondered if he could ever take on a position that would put him around Dianne on a daily basis. Then again, maybe he’d be much too busy with the job to concern himself with the boss’s niece.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Faith declared as Dianne entered their small shack.

  “I can’t believe I finally found you! I’ve looked for you everywhere. I figured because the day was so nice, I’d do whatever it took to find you,” Dianne said as she studied Faith’s thin face. “Why didn’t you come see me?”

  “Malachi was so sick for a long time. I couldn’t leave him. Then when he started making a turn for the better, there was just so much we had to tend to.” Faith pressed a worn red handkerchief against her face. She looked sickly and worn out.

  “I brought a few things, just on the hope that I would find you,” Dianne said, taking up the flour sack. “I had a lot of scrap material and thought you might be able to use it for rag rugs. Also I have a fresh loaf of bread, some sugar, and a pound of coffee. I remembered how you said Malachi enjoyed a cup in the morning.”

  “We haven’t had coffee in so long, I don’t know what Malachi will think,” Faith said, sitting on a small crate.

  Dianne looked around the room and found very little of any kind of furniture. There was a sleeping pallet against one wall, a couple of crates, and the tiniest of woodstoves. She returned her gaze to Faith, who only shrugged.

  “I guess we have it pretty bad,” Faith began, “but at least we’re free. Malachi says he’d rather live on top of a dung pile in Montana than go back to the way things were before Mr. Lincoln set us free.”

  Dianne felt bad because she knew she and her brothers had it so much better. “I’m sorry, Faith. I really wanted this to be a new start for you.”

  “I know. But God has a plan and I trust Him for it.”

  Dianne noticed that Faith brought the handkerchief once again to her face. “Are you sick, Faith?”

  “I’m gonna have a baby.” She smiled, but there was no joy in her words.

  Dianne returned the smile. “That’s wonderful news. I know Malachi must be pleased.”

  “Yes, he is, but he’s also worried. He’s out right now trying to find a better place to live. Most folks don’t want to rent to people of color, so it’s hard to get something.”

  “A great many people cleared out when the gold strike at Last Chance was announced. There ought to be something better,” Dianne said, shaking her head.

  Just then the door flew open and Malachi entered. “I swear there be no justice in this—” He paused in midsentence when he spied Dianne. “Why, howdy, Miz Dianne. How you be?” He offered her a broad smile.

  An idea came quickly to Dianne. “I’m doing fine, Malachi. But I could do better.” Both Malachi and Faith looked at her oddly, but before they could question her Dianne hurried on. “I live in a cabin, most of the time by myself. I get really lonely, but not only that—I need help with the animals and such.”

  “What happened to your brothers and ma?” Faith asked.

  “Mama died around Christmastime. Zane and Morgan are working with one of the freight companies and they’re gone more than they’re here. I have a small cabin, just two rooms and a mud porch, but you could have the bedroom and I’d sleep in the front room.”

  “Miz Dianne, folks would talk iffen we was to live under one roof. They wouldn’t take kindly to white and black folks livin’ together,” Malachi told her.

  Dianne squared her shoulders, knowing she’d probably have a fight on her hands. “I’ve never cared what folks thought. You’re my friends, and I’d like you to move in.”

  “We can’t be takin’ charity, Miz Dianne.”

  “I’m not asking you to, Malachi. I need the help. I can hardly keep up with splitting wood for the stove. It wears me out something fierce. And then there’s the animals. Most of the time the boys take the oxen, but sometimes they don’t and I’m left mucking out stalls. Not to mention seeing to the feeding. Added to that, I could use Faith’s help with the quilt I’m making. You wouldn’t have to stay long if you didn’t want to, but I really could use the help. Come summer I’m hoping to go live with my uncle, and then I won’t be in this fix.”

  Malachi exchanged a glance with Faith. Dianne could see he didn’t want to say yes, but at the same time he knew it would benefit them both.

  “Please.” She hoped her pleading tone would be his undoing.

  “I guess we could for a spell,” Malachi finally said.

  Dianne smiled and gave Faith a quick nod. “Thank you. How soon can you come?”

  “Guess there’s nothing keeping us here,” Faith declared. “Why not just go with her now?” She looked to her husband for an answer.

  “Sure,” Malachi said, nodding. “Iffen that be all right with you, Miz Dianne.”

  “I think it’s perfect.”

  The next few weeks passed quickly. Zane and Morgan were home only momentarily. They heartily approved of the new arrangement, and while they discussed the news of the war with Malachi, Faith and Dianne prepared dinner. Dianne was glad for Faith’s company. She’d missed having a woman around to talk to.

  “When is the baby due?” Dianne asked as she checked the potatoes.

  “Best I can figure it’ll be the fall,” Faith replied. “I’m glad it won’t be coming in the winter, but a summer baby would have been better. More time for him to grow strong before the winter comes.”

  Dianne had never considered things that way. They’d always had plenty—a warm secure home and food on the table. Babies were born at all times of the year and one never gave consideration to the season. It disturbed Dianne deeply that Faith had to worry about such things.

  On Sunday they went to church together. Dianne had hoped the attitudes of prejudice and condemnation wouldn’t extend to Sunday services, but even in God’s house she found hearts to be hardened. What she hadn’t realized until too late was that a great many of Virginia City’s residents were former citizens of the Confederacy. They had no tolerance for freed Negroes and made this clear by sitting as far away from Dianne, Faith, and Malachi as they possibly could.

  Dianne felt bad for the couple, but neither Faith nor Malachi said a word about the situation. It wasn’t until the next Sunday rolled around and Faith explained that they would not be attending church that Dianne understood how deeply they’d been hurt.

  Leaving church that day, Dianne tried to think of how the problem might be resolved when Griselda Showalter approached her.

  “What are you doing with those colored folks?” she demanded to know.

  Dianne tried to hide her surprise. “Do you mean Faith and Malachi?”

  “You know exactly who I mean. How can you have them in your house? Your mother would never tolerate such a thing. She was a proper Southern lady. She told you not to associate with them.”

  “She’s also no longer with us,” Dianne pointed out as if Griselda had somehow forgotten.

  “You cannot have them living with you.”

  Dianne squared her shoulders. “I can do pretty much as I like. My uncle is the one who has provided the house, and he would not disapprove of the situation.” She leaned toward Griselda, unable to resist adding, “He’s married to an Indian, you know.”

  Griselda looked rather shocked. “You have no sense of decency.”

  Dianne could stand the woman’s company no longer. “No, you are th
e one who has no sense of decency. Faith and Malachi are God’s children just as we are. They were living in squalor and I had need of their help. We have assisted each other, just as good Christian folk should.”

  “Well, I never!” Griselda stomped off, leaving Dianne free to head home.

  Dianne knew Griselda shared the thoughts of most people around town, but she couldn’t understand why such hatred should exist between people. Cole Selby had once commented on how the color of a person’s skin seemed to ignite more problems than anything else.

  “Too bad God didn’t just make us all spotted with a rainbow of colors,” he’d said. Then he lamented that even if this were the case, someone would find a way to distinguish between the spots.

  A gentle breeze tugged at Dianne’s bonnet ties. Thoughts of Cole sent her gaze across the valley to the mountains. Warm, dry winds had melted much of the snow, and she couldn’t help wondering when Cole might return. She thought of the man who’d so often rescued her from danger. Had he made it safely to the ranch? Had Uncle Bram said yes to her proposition?

  She was still pondering these things when she entered the cabin. All thoughts fled her mind, however, as she found Faith and Malachi packed and ready to leave.

  “Where are you going?”

  Faith came to Dianne as Malachi made his way outside. “Malachi heard about a gold strike up north. A place called Ophir Gulch. We’re heading up that way.”

  “But what about your condition—the baby?”

  Faith smiled. “When my time comes, God will provide the help I need. He always has. Just look at how He sent you into our lives. Just when we needed help the most, there you were. Now both of us have regained our health and we’ve had nothing but a good bed to sleep on and nourishing food for the last two weeks. We have our strength to move on.”

  “But I wish you didn’t have to go so far away,” Dianne said, tears in her eyes. “I don’t even know where Ophir Gulch is.”

  Faith hugged her. “I know. But it’s for the best. We aren’t wanted around here and folks are talking bad about you. We can’t let that go on.”

  “I don’t care what people think,” Dianne said, pulling away. “If you think you have to go because of that …”

  “We’re heading north because Malachi says we’re heading north,” Faith replied with a grin. “And you know my husband. When he gets a thought into his head, that’s all there is. Whither he goest, I go.”

  Dianne wiped her tears with the edge of her coat sleeve. “I shall miss you. You will try to come see me sometime, won’t you? I’ll be with my uncle. His name is Bram Vandyke and his ranch is somewhere on the Madison River.”

  “I can’t say, Dianne. Only God knows if we’ll meet again.”

  The warmth of her expression caused Dianne’s tears to fall anew. The women embraced once more, then Faith moved to the door. Dianne followed and waved to Malachi, who stood at the end of the walk.

  “Good-bye, Malachi. Thank you for helping me. I wish you could stay on for a time.”

  “Bye now, Miz Dianne. Ya take care.”

  Dianne watched the couple move off down the road. She had no idea how they would ever make it to Ophir Gulch. She didn’t know how far away that place might be or what they’d find when they got there. She only knew that her heart was broken for the loss.

  CHAPTER 25

  ZANE SENT WORD ON FRIDAY TO LET DIANNE KNOW THAT HE AND Morgan would be home for supper. Dianne rejoiced at the news. They’d been gone for so long, it seemed. She wanted to tell them about Faith and Malachi and hear the news they might have picked up on their routes. Her only disappointment was that Cole hadn’t yet returned. But that disappointment was short-lived when she opened the front door to find Cole just about to knock.

  She laughed at the coincidence. “I was just going to sweep the path.” She held the broom up as if to offer proof to her statement.

  “Doesn’t appear to need it,” Cole said, taking off his hat.

  “I’m so glad you made it back. Did you have any trouble? Did you see my uncle? Did he say yes?” The questions spilled out like water rippling over stones in a brook.

  Cole laughed. “I can see you’re not at all anxious to know the details of my trip.”

  Dianne grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the cabin. “My brothers will be here within the hour. You can have supper with us and tell us everything, but for now, just tell me what you can.”

  Again Cole chuckled. “Well, I suppose to sum it up, he said you could come.”

  Dianne looked at him for a moment. “He said yes?” She sighed, not waiting for Cole’s response. “I prayed he would. I wasn’t at all sure what I’d do if he didn’t take pity on us. Zane and Morgan figured I should go back to Missouri. They even checked into steamboat tickets from Fort Benton so that I wouldn’t have to travel in a wagon or stage. They want me to settle in the East, marry, and be a proper lady.” She smiled. “But I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  Cole’s abrupt question caught Dianne off guard. She seemed to remember her manners and reached out for his hat. “Give me your coat as well. You must stay for supper.” Cole did as she instructed.

  Dianne hung the articles on a peg beside the front door. “As I’ve told you before, I don’t intend to make that long journey back to Missouri. It’s not my home anymore.”

  “But Montana is hard country. There’s little out here to interest women.”

  “There’s the land,” Dianne said, meeting his intense gaze. “My uncle’s desire to start a ranch fascinates me. I’d like to be a part of that.”

  Cole shoved his hands into his pockets. “Do you know anything about working with cattle and horses? It’s not easy work.”

  “I care for our milk cow and horses every day,” Dianne replied, feeling as though he were suggesting the task was beyond her. “I’ve learned a lot since we left Missouri. You can’t deny that.”

  “I’m not denying anything, but look at yourself. How old are you?”

  Dianne felt her cheeks grow hot under his scrutiny. “I turned seventeen last November.”

  Cole shook his head. “I have a sister around that age. She spends her time with parties and shopping. You shouldn’t have to be worrying about difficulties like this.”

  “It’s the life I choose,” Dianne said.

  He came forward and gripped the back of a kitchen chair. For a moment it seemed as though he’d done this to keep himself from rushing to her side. Dianne chided herself for her wild imagination.

  “Women don’t fare well out here. You saw how hard it was on the wagon train. You’ve lost three members of your own family—four, if you count the baby your mother carried. It’s a hard country with nothing but hard work.”

  “Missouri was perhaps more comfortable in its luxuries, but there’s something here …” Dianne’s words faded. What was it she wanted to say? How could she explain that this land was gradually winning her over—taking a place in her heart that she’d never intended to give to anyone, much less a location?

  “I feel God’s presence here,” she finally murmured. “I guess you could say that I hear His voice here.”

  “I grew up going to church, and I don’t ever recall that you had to be in a certain place to be with God,” Cole countered.

  “No, I don’t suppose I ever heard that either.” Dianne sighed and moved to check on supper. She opened the oven to find that the biscuits were done. She pulled them out and put them to the side to cool. Then she lifted the lid on the chicken and dumplings she had simmering on the top of the stove.

  “It smells good,” Cole said. He cleared his throat and added, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or make you mad.”

  Dianne looked up, rather surprised. “I’m not hurt or mad. I just can’t think of a way to share how I really feel on this matter. I don’t expect folks to understand. Most of the people around here have come with one purpose in mind: gold. I didn’t come for that. I pressed for this—I pushed my
family to make this move. My mother needed someone stronger than me to help her get through the misery of losing my father. She needed someone to protect her and see to her needs.

  “The boys were old enough to get caught up in the war, and I knew Pa didn’t want that. I knew to lose one of them in battle would have killed my mother, and yet the very thing I thought would save us all has taken the life of so many I love.”

  “But still you want to stay?” Cole questioned. He seemed almost eager for her reply, almost as if he had something important to figure out based on her decision.

  “Yes.” Dianne held his gaze. He was a handsome man. His youth and vigor were evident in his build and stance. But the slight growth of beard and leathered look to his skin made him look careworn, older than his years.

  “How old are you, Mr. Selby?” She wasn’t sure why she asked or why she questioned him so formally.

  “I’m twenty-one. Why?”

  Dianne shrugged. “I just wondered how it was that a man such as yourself wasn’t already married and settled down somewhere.”

  Without pausing, Cole blurted, “I would be married by now if my father hadn’t killed my intended.”

  Dianne felt her breath catch in the back of her throat. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Just then her brothers came bounding through the door, and she knew the conversation would have to wait.

  “Smells mighty fine in here,” Zane announced, then caught sight of Cole. “Hey, good to see you again. What brings you our way?” He and Morgan both moved forward to shake hands with Cole.

  “I figured your sister would have told you.” All three men looked to Dianne.

  “I didn’t want to get their hopes up,” she said, turning away quickly to retrieve dishes for the table. “We can discuss it over dinner.”

  “That sounds ominous,” Zane said rather cautiously.

  “Yeah, when Dianne gets to plotting, we end up moving clean across the country,” Morgan added.

  Dianne mused that Morgan didn’t know how close to the truth he was on the subject. She thought there might be some further protest, but when the men went back to discussing their own interests, Dianne let out the breath she’d been holding. She could only pray that the twins would see this as a good thing. Maybe they’d even agree to go with her and wait a time before moving off on their own.