Vow Unbroken

by Caryl McAdoo

  “You awake?”

  She looked to the other wagon, which sat too close. Henry stretched out, resting his head on one hand. He smiled.

  She rose up and put her forearm under her head. “Yes, sir, I am.”

  “When we were racing the wagons ahead of the storm, you drove that rig like you’d been mule skinning your whole life.”

  She nodded. What a left-handed compliment. But at least it was a compliment. “Thank you.”

  “And you were right about your cake, too.”

  “I was? How’s that?”

  “It was by far the best I’ve ever eaten, exactly like you said.”

  She smiled, but only a small, quick one. “Proud you liked it.”

  “No, ma’am. I loved it. I’ll remember that cake forever; far better than good.”

  “Well, now you’re exaggerating, but still, thank you, Henry. That’s kind of you to say.”

  “You’re welcome.” He lay down, then raised right back up again. “I also want to thank you for being sensible. I mean, not insisting that we leave this afternoon.”

  Another left-handed compliment, but again, an accolade. He’d called her sensible. Sensible! Why all the flattery? Maybe he’d picked up on her depression, how she felt unappreciated, alone, rejected, and unloved. “Well, you’re welcome, but the three of you forced my hand.”

  He nodded. “I admit it, you’re right. We sort of did, but you are the boss, and if you’d said go, we would have gone, mud or no mud.”

  “Is that so?” The many times she’d told him that she paid his wages so she was boss came to mind, and here he was, admitting to that very fact. But she’d gone against him at the creek and got the wagon stuck. “And how much grief would I have caught if something bad had happened?”

  “None from me. I learned a long time ago not to second-guess authority.” He smiled, then lay back down.

  Would this man ever stop amazing her? Out of his own mouth, he’d confessed she was the boss. He’d testified that he’d do whatever she decided. She liked that. Maybe things were looking up, at least enough to put an end to her morose mood for another day.

  Oh, how she wished that she could trust God more and let Him lead her. She identified with Paul in the respect that she did what she didn’t want to do and didn’t do what she knew she should. Chief of sinners, the apostle called himself. But he hadn’t known her.

  CHAPTER

  SIXTEEN

  WETNESS ON HIS FINGERS. Henry awoke instantly; Blue Dog licking his hand was not a good sign. Something his dog didn’t like was afoot. He lay there and listened, hearing nothing. The hound whined ever so softly and then looked east. Henry grabbed his pistol, stuck it in his belt, and shook the boy awake.

  Levi threw an arm, and Henry dodged. “What?”

  He put his finger to his mouth, pointed to Levi’s rifle, then quietly crawled to the other wagon. Blue silently padded along beside him. He laid three fingers on Sue’s arm and patted softly until her eyes opened. Then he immediately removed his hand.

  “Henry? What are you doing?”

  If she had been a man, he would have covered her loud mouth with his hand, but instead he crossed his lips with a finger. He nodded toward the dog, then half mouthed half whispered, “Blue says someone or something is out there.”

  She looked from him to the dog. Then realization appeared in her eyes. “What should I do?” She’d lowered her voice to match his volume.

  “Your gun at the ready?”

  “Yes.” She sat up. “Where do you want us?”

  He leaned in close to her near ear. “You and Rebecca stay behind me.”

  She nodded, and he joined Blue, who faced east, searching the dark and darker shadows. Levi eased up next to him, pointed to where the dog stared, and then scrunched his shoulders. Henry shook his head. Then, as if the intruders wanted him to know, a long howl sounded soulfully. Two shorter, mournful howls cut through the night and landed square in Henry’s gut.

  Wolves. He hated wolves. And they were close.

  He nudged the boy, no longer keeping his voice quiet. “Get the fire going, if you can.” He turned around. Sue, with the still sleeping Rebecca clutched to her bosom, sat between the two wagons right behind him. Her pistol lay at her side within easy reach. He shook his head. “There’s at least three of them. Hopefully, it isn’t a full pack.”

  “You think they’re after the mules?”

  “Could be. If it’s a full pack. But I don’t think three could cut one of them out and take it down.”

  “Even hobbled?”

  As though on cue, the mules snorted, and one brayed. The howls had obviously set them on edge.

  “They can still kick.”

  “So you think they’re after us then?” She gasped and pulled Rebecca closer.

  He nodded. “They’d definitely see us as the easier prey.”

  Blue’s growl pulled him around. The dog’s hackles rose, and he stood at the wagon’s end with his teeth bared. Henry joined him. Right where the dog stared, he could make out an extra-dark shadow, maybe one of the wolves, but he didn’t like shooting at shadows.

  Levi held on to his long gun with one hand and, with the other, pulled out the last of the deadfall they’d gathered that afternoon and stored under their wagon. He tossed it on the low-glowing embers from their last meal’s cook fire, then faced Henry. “Should I get more?”

  “No, they’re right out there.”

  “Where do you want me?”

  “Get on the back side of your aunt. Stay low so you can see under both wagons.”

  “Yes, sir.” The boy did as he was told.

  * * *

  SUE’S HEART BEAT WILDLY against her breast. She hated wolves; the vicious creatures didn’t have the fear of man that most wild animals did. She had only encountered them once before, on the trip west with her new husband. They’d come in the night then, too, just after she and Andy went to sleep. Except she and Andy hadn’t had a good watchdog like Blue. By the time she woke, four pairs of glowing eyes stared from the darkness. They vanished once her husband stoked the fire and shot at them, using up half their powder. Nothing in her life to that point had frightened her as much.

  Her nephew, at her back side, comforted her more than the man-child would ever know. She could even breathe some. She swallowed and squinted against the night, searching the shadows. Just then, she spotted the first pair of eyes reflecting the fire’s brightness.

  Blue Dog had saved them all again. She rocked Becky and waited. After an internal debate whether or not to wake her, she decided against it. Her daughter would be up soon enough if the pack attacked, but if a standoff ensued instead, it might last until daylight, and her baby could get a fearless, full night’s sleep.

  Sue eased her daughter down so her hands would be free. She leaned over as close to the ground as she could get. Easing the sleeping girl to lay on her skirts on the left, she settled her without waking the child. She picked up her pistol and cocked it. Henry carried her flintlock since trading his musket. He moved back toward where she sat, stopping short and not turning around. “I think there’s only three. I’m figuring a mother and two near-grown pups.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Depends on how hungry they are.”

  Just then, right in front of the wagons, a scraggly looking gray with bared fangs leapt straight at Henry. Blue flew through the air at the form and knocked it to the ground. Before the attacker could regain balance, Blue landed on top of him, eating fur. A second wolf came in from the side. A shot rang out from behind Sue. She spun.

  Levi shook his head. He immediately worked on reloading his rifle. “I don’t think I hit him.”

  Becky sat up, looked around, then screamed and kept on screaming.

  Henry ran toward the second wolf but couldn’t bring the flintlock around quick enough to shoot. The beast hit him full force, and they both went down. The animal relentlessly assaulted him. His pistol, flying from his hand, lay
almost under the wagon. In seconds, Blue left the one he fought with and jumped onto the one trying to get to Henry’s throat.

  Sue rose to her knees and made herself focus on the first wolf, the one Blue had just abandoned. She pointed her pistol, but before she could fire, from behind her, a shot split the night, followed by a high-pitched yelp. The aggressor fell, staining the ground with its blood.

  Sue immediately turned back to the wolf that had been on Henry. Blue warred in a fang-to-fang battle with the larger animal. Bleeding, Henry retrieved his pistol and the flintlock and turned in circles, searching the camp’s full perimeter. He obviously watched for the third animal. She had to help Blue, but what if she missed? She pointed her pistol toward the two fighting canines.

  “Shoot it, Auntie!”

  Becky jumped up and ran toward the dog. “Don’t shoot Blue, Mama!”

  Sue’s heart stopped. “Becky!”

  The wolf had gotten Blue Dog down and was on top. Becky closed the distance to the snarling battle. Sue scrambled to her feet. She had to do something. The intruder opened his mouth wide. Evil fangs glistened in the firelight.

  For only a moment, the wolf turned its head toward her daughter.

  Sue aimed and fired.

  Becky screamed as the wolf fell on top of Blue. Her baby grabbed the wild animal by two handfuls of hair and dragged the carcass off her dog. Blood covered poor Blue. Becky fell across him crying. Another shot rang out. Sue whirled in time to see the third wolf fall from midair right behind her. A faint whisper of smoke wafted from Henry’s pistol.

  She stared at the animals, looking from the one she’d shot back to the dog. The pistol fell from her fingers. She gasped for air, filling her lungs. She couldn’t remember when she’d breathed last. Reality hit her all at once.

  She crumpled back to the ground, her head in her hands. “Oh, dear God, no! I’ve killed Blue.”

  Becky ran to her. “Blue’s all right, Mama. You didn’t shoot him. You saved him.”

  Henry was also instantly beside her. He kneeled and laid his cheek on her head, hugging her with one arm. “Susannah, it’s over. We’re all fine. It’s all right, Sue. Everything’s all right.”

  She gritted her teeth, then slapped her skirts. “Every. Night. It’s something! Drunks! Bears! Storms! Wolves! What else? I can’t stand anything else!”

  Sobs racked her being. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Over!” she screamed. “I want it to be over!” Becky backed away, and Sue turned, flinging her arms around Henry, holding on for her sanity, his strength. He held her, and she cried on his broad chest. A sense of being safe there washed over her. How long had it been? She hugged him tighter. “I want it to be over.”

  He didn’t loosen his hold on her either. “It’s all right; it’s over. Shhhh.”

  Soon enough, her sobs turned to whimpers. Finally, she swallowed and could breathe again. Still, she didn’t withdraw. She rested in Henry’s strong embrace.

  “Oh, Blue, don’t die. Don’t leave me. I love you too much.”

  Sue pushed back and looked at her daughter and Blue. The dog lay perfectly still right where she had last seen him. Was he dead after all? Oh, no! Jesus, Blue Dog can’t be dead. She stepped to him and kneeled beside her daughter. He looked up with sad eyes and whimpered. Several deep cuts covered his face and shoulders with blood.

  Becky turned and took hold of her arm. “Help him, Mama! We’ve got to save him! What can we do?”

  “Let’s get these wounds cleaned to start with. Fetch the coal oil and a rag. Do you know where it is?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Becky stood, took a few steps toward the wagon, then stopped. “But it will sting him so bad.”

  “Maybe not; dogs are different from people. Even if it does, though, it will help him. We need to get his wounds clean as we can.” She couldn’t let Blue Dog die. Not now. Not this night.

  Henry kneeled beside the dog and examined the wounds. “I don’t think it’s as bad as it looks.”

  Sue hoped above hope that would be the case.

  Becky returned with the coal oil and wrapped her arms around the man’s neck. “We’ve got to save him, Mister Henry. I can’t stand it if Blue Dog dies.”

  He hugged her back. “I don’t think he’s going to die, Rebecca. I know it looks bad, but there are only a couple of deep cuts. I can sew those up, and your mother can help me clean all the blood; then he’ll look better. Might take a few days until he’s back to his old self, though.”

  The little girl pushed off his chest. “I can sew. I’m an excellent sewer. Should I do it?” She wiped her tears.

  Henry looked to Sue.

  “She is an excellent seamstress, but do you think—?”

  “Mama! I know I can do it. Let me help Blue Dog!”

  “All right, all right, Becky. Of course, you can do it if that’s what you want. If it’s all right with Mister Henry.” She rose. “I’ll fetch the sewing box.”

  When Sue returned, all Becky’s tears were gone, obviously replaced by a strong resolve to do what she had to do. She gently cleaned the wounds, wiping the blood from the hound’s dappled coat. It made Sue so proud of her little girl. She wasn’t sure she could do as well. She handed the box down to her. “Here you are, Doctor.”

  Becky opened it and peeked inside. “Which thread should I use?”

  Henry peered in and moved some of the spools aside. “I suppose the black or white would do, or would you like pink better?”

  She giggled. “Oh, Mister Henry, you’re so funny. I’ll use the white then. It may show up best.” Becky bit off a long piece, turned toward the firelight, and threaded her needle. She looked up to Henry. “Now do I sew just like I was sewing a tear in a skirt?”

  “Yes, ma’am, exactly like that. Here, let me hold him for you.”

  “Now, Blue. This is probably going to hurt me more than it hurts you, and I don’t really want to do it either, but it’s because I love you so much.”

  Sue watched her most precious daughter lovingly poke the needle into her friend’s skin and then watched it come out again on the other side of the wound. A wave of queasiness washed over her. She turned away and looked up at the sky. One more time, a horrible danger had been overcome, and all was well.

  Never in a million years would she have imagined so much trouble on the Jefferson Trace. Elaine had been so right when she said Sue could not go alone. She sighed, so grateful—again—that Henry had come along. “Thank You, Lord.”

  Levi busied himself dragging the three carcasses into the woods.

  The sky, no longer black, still twinkled with stars, but the false dawn would soon brighten the new day. She would see to breakfast, totally appreciative of another day with everyone safe and Blue still alive to heal. What day was it anyway? Could it be Monday morning? Had it been only seven days ago that she and the children had headed to Sulphur Fork’s trading post with the cotton?

  “My, my, my, only a week on the trail, and we’ve experienced enough adventure to last a lifetime.” She shook her head and got her mixing bowl and biscuit fixins from the larder. “Bless the Lord.”

  CHAPTER

  SEVENTEEN

  THE DAY DAWNED TOO SOON for Henry. The lack of sleep was wearing on him. He sure was proud everyone, including Blue Dog, survived the wolf attack. Rebecca had done some mighty impressive stitching. Only thing happened to him seemed to be a couple of rips in one of his favorite shirts. He’d have to get Rebecca to fix it for him. And that pair of his trousers that had a seam coming loose while she was at it.

  He flung out the cold dregs in his cup and walked to the fire. “Got more coffee?”

  Sue looked up and smiled. Her beauty caught his breath. “I certainly do.” She wrapped a rag around her hand and lifted the pot from the fire. He held his tin cup out, and she filled it. “Breakfast is about ready.” She smiled again.

  It made him laugh inside.

  Quick as he finished his last biscuit, he stood. “Let’s get the mules hitche
d. The trace is waiting.”

  The boy threw back his last bite of biscuit and rose. “Yes, sir, I’m past ready.”

  Before the sun barely cleared the horizon, he pulled the second wagon back onto the trail, following Sue. She had seemed to be glowing all morning. The woman certainly brightened his life, as did the little girl sitting beside him. She insisted on riding by Blue, to keep him comfortable, she’d said.

  A sense of well-being settled over Henry’s heart; he’d get Sue to Titus Trading Post maybe this afternoon, tomorrow morning for sure. Even if their neighbors were ahead of them, they’d be on the main trace after Pleasant Mound. More than likely, they could find someone to team up with.

  The boy had volunteered to take the first walking duty, which today would also include frequently scraping the wagon wheels and picking the mules’ hooves. Henry wouldn’t let him go too long, but sitting here next to Rebecca sure was nice.

  “Mister Daddy?”

  “Yes, darling daughter Rebecca?”

  She giggled. “I like that! You’re so funny. You make me and Mama laugh all the time.” She wrapped her inside arm around his and squeezed. “I just love you so much.”

  Oh, wow. Her declaration rendered him speechless. What should he say? He couldn’t imagine her loving him like that after such a short time. The little gal obviously needed a father, and if he married Sue, he’d be it. He wiped his face before a tear rolled down and she spotted it. How could he ever go back to his solitary life without them?

  He couldn’t; even though he’d spent less than a week around the woman and her child, his heart belonged to them. They needed him. Rebecca kept a tight hold on his arm. “Anyway, I was just wondering.”

  He waited and waited awhile longer to find out what she wondered about, but she never said another word. He leaned out and glanced down to discover that she lay sound asleep against his arm. What an angel. And so quiet when asleep. He grinned. Didn’t mind that much at all, except . . .