Oregon Dreams

by Rachel Wesson

  Oregon Dreams

  Trail of Hearts Book 2

  Rachel Wesson

  Contents

  Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Oregon Destiny

  Historical Note

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rachel Wesson

  Characters

  The following are a list of the main characters in this book, the majority of whom you met in Oregon Bound - book 1.

  Thomspon family:

  Pa - Paddy Thompson

  Ma - Della Thompson

  Eva - now Mrs. David Clarke

  Rebecca and Johanna Thompson - the twins

  Stephen Thompson

  Other characters

  Captain Scott Jones - Wagon Train Leader

  David Clarke - now married to Eva Thompson

  Rick Hughes and his nieces, Sarah and Carrie

  Mrs. Long and her three daughters.

  Freeman family - Pa, Ma, Sheila and her brother Joey

  Bradley family - Pa and his daughter Gracie

  Stan and his pregnant wife, Milly.

  Mr Price and his son Almanzo

  Mr. and Mrs. Newland

  Chapter 1

  Oregon Trail 1852

  Rick Hughes answered Captain Jones’ call to a meeting. As he walked toward the meeting point, he spotted Johanna Thompson up ahead. She was with her parents.

  Even in a crowd of people, she stood out like a beacon. His gaze fell on her lips. He wondered what it would be like to kiss her. He shook off the thought as soon as it came into his head but there was no denying he had thought about it. Sadie wasn’t dead a month and he had made her a promise to get the girls to Oregon where their father might be waiting for his family. He didn’t have time to court a woman. Not any woman. Johanna was different. Her family had been helping him from the moment he had lost Sadie and the boys. One or another of the girls always sent over food to their fireside. Johanna often helped Sarah build up their fire and showed her how to prepare simple meals.

  She was a wonderful cook and the children felt better now that they were eating proper food rather than the beans he had been preparing. He occasionally had time to cook meat but not often as driving the wagon, making repairs and taking his turn on guard duty meant he had little time left over. If only he was in a position to ask her father to court her. But how could he? With his future prospects thrown into confusion by Sadie’s death, he had nothing concrete to offer anyone let alone someone as special as Johanna Thompson. Captain Jones’ voice intruded on his thoughts.

  “I called you all together to discuss the events of the last few days.” Captain Jones reviewed the group of travelers sternly. “I asked Mr. and Mrs. Clarke to take a walk and leave us alone. I do not believe they need to hear what I have to say.”

  Johanna looked at her pa. He looked uncomfortable but he wasn’t the only one.

  “I have never come across such shameful behavior as we recently witnessed. If it wasn’t for Mrs. Long, Mrs. Thompson, and her brave daughter, Johanna, David Clarke could very well be dead and buried.” Captain Jones looked at each member of the assembled group. Few returned his gaze. “Killed by a group of fellow travelers who didn’t engage the brains they were born with.”

  Johanna glanced around the group and found a lot of expressions of shame. It looked like Captain Jones’ words had hit home.

  “Should anything happen to me, I would put David Clarke in charge of this group. He has shown himself to be brave, daring, resourceful and kind,” Captain Jones continued, before one of the men spoke.

  “Now see here, Jones. We didn’t know he wasn’t guilty. We are not responsible.”

  “Yes, you are, Mr. Price. You didn’t know the facts, yet you were prepared to hang an innocent man for a murder he didn’t commit. If I had my way, I would leave each and every one of you to fend for yourselves.” As the group murmured in response, Captain Jones continued. “I promised to get as many of you to Oregon as safely as I could. I will keep that promise but if anyone ever behaves like this again, they are out. Do I make myself clear?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “Any questions?” Captain Jones barked.

  Johanna waited to see who was brave enough to risk asking a question.

  “Captain Jones, do you know what happened to Chapman’s other friend? I think his name was Bill?” Mr. Freeman asked.

  “He snuck off in the night. Hopefully, we will never see him again. He is a wanted man. Captain Wilson said he is believed to be responsible for a number of crimes from bank robbery to kidnapping,” Captain Jones replied.

  “Good riddance. Can’t have people like that around decent folks,” Pa commented. “Has Captain Wilson taken Harold and Simon back to Fort Laramie? What was he doing so far away from his fort anyway. I mean it was lucky he was, but how on earth did Becky find him?”

  “It was sheer luck. Captain Wilson was out on a long patrol. There have been reports of an Indian war between two of the tribes. So far, the caravans have been lucky. They haven’t been dragged into the war but with two groups on the war path it is only a matter of time. Captain Wilson will take Chapman and his friend back to Fort Laramie where they will wait for a Justice of the Peace to come. That’s if they make it there. The Captain will have no problem shooting them if they make life difficult for his men.”

  “What of Harold’s wagon? He still has plenty of goods he was going to sell in Oregon. It would be a pity to leave them here,” Mr. Bradley commented.

  “I vote we give them to David Clarke. He deserves recognition of his service to the Long family. We accused and very nearly hanged an innocent man,” Rick Hughes suggested.

  Johanna was pleased to see Rick standing up for David.

  “I played a big role in that,” Pa murmured.

  “Yes, you did and you should be ashamed of yourself.” Ma’s voice shook as she found it difficult to control her emotions. The events of the last forty-eight hours had taken their toll on everyone. Johanna had only realized how much danger she and Becky had been in when Eva explained why she had ignored her attempts to stop the wedding to Chapman.

  “Who will drive the Long wagon now?” Mr. Freeman asked.

  “One of my men has volunteered to do it. Mrs. Long has proved herself capable but the terrain we are coming to in the mountains is by far more difficult than anything we have covered to date. She will need more help and Jessie is one of the best men I know. The lack of men means we will have to double up on some shifts for guard duty. I expect no complaints.”


  There were none and the rest of the group went back to their wagons leaving Captain Jones, Mr. Hughes, Johanna and Becky.

  “Captain Jones, I think everyone has learned their lesson. I don’t expect anyone will cause trouble again,” Becky said obviously not including herself in the same category as the rest of the crowd.

  Johanna groaned at the look on the captain’s face as Jones turned his full attention on Becky.

  “Miss Thompson, you have single handedly caused more problems than the rest of the group put together.”

  “Pardon?” Becky’s indignant response did nothing but fan the flames of Captain Jones’ temper.

  Johanna risked a look at Rick Hughes. He looked as if he was trying not to laugh.

  “Where I come from, young ladies do not go gallivanting off into the night wearing a man’s attire. They stay with their families,” Captain Jones almost roared. Then probably realizing his words were carrying around the camp site, he lowered his tone. “While I understand your motives were pure, by acting in such a foolhardy way, you caused distress to your family and the rest of your companions.”

  “I was wearing a dress when I left,” Becky protested.

  “But your actions meant you lost that dress, did you not? You had to borrow some clothes from a solider after appearing in their midst half dressed. Do you have any idea of the danger you put yourself into? You behaved like a willful, disobedient child. If I was your father, I would put you over my knee and give you the spanking you deserve.”

  “Well, I…” Becky gave up trying to speak.

  Johanna hid a smile although her ears were ringing on her sister’s behalf. It was rare for Becky to be left speechless.

  “Kindly remember, Miss Thompson, while I am not your father, I am in charge of this wagon train. I will not tolerate any more of your impulsive behavior. Please behave more like your sisters and less like a hoyden.”

  Becky didn’t get a chance to answer as Captain Jones marched off. After a couple of seconds, Rick turned away to follow him.

  Chapter 2

  Johanna put her arm around Becky’s shoulders as her sister burst into tears. Her twin had been very brave, but her actions had also been extremely impulsive and foolhardy. She guessed that although Captain Jones had said a lot of things, the one that hurt Becky the most was the fact he’d called her an impulsive child.

  “I suppose you think he was right too?” Becky asked as her sobs subsided.

  “I know why you did what you did. I think you were very brave,”Johanna said and gave her sister a hug “but it was dangerous. Captain Jones is right to have been concerned.”

  “He called me a child.”

  “He was angry.”

  “I know that but still he sees me as a child.” Becky shuddered, one last sob escaping before she squared her shoulders. “He’ll see. I am going to show him how much of a woman I am. That will teach him to speak to me like that.”

  Johanna didn’t say anything but she couldn’t help but pity Captain Jones a little. He really had no idea what he had let himself in for with her sister. It was obvious his anger came from his affection for her. Trust Becky not to spot that. She watched Becky as she walked back toward their parents’ wagon. She didn’t think for a minute the fireworks were over.

  Rick waited for her to finish comforting her sister. He didn’t want to interrupt them but he also had to tell her something. He had waited long enough.

  He compared the girls as he waited. He had heard all about Becky’s exploits–her helping to break David Clarke out and the subsequent events that lead to Becky returning dressed as a solider. He could understand why Captain Jones was annoyed, but he also thought it was a bit unfair to give her such a dressing down. The girl had guts. He wondered if there was something more personal between her and Jones, although he had yet to see any evidence of them courting. But Jones had behaved like he cared. Becky’s reaction to his tirade suggested she returned his feelings. But what was he doing examining their relationship? His interest lay with her sister. While Becky was impetuous and impulsive, Johanna was steadier. Becky may be the more physically striking of the twins, but Rick was attracted to Johanna’s inner spirit. Her quiet beauty struck a chord deep inside him.

  He guessed her hair was lighter than it used to be, the continuous exposure to the sun turning it almost silver in some lights. The slight tanned glow on her face made her blue eyes look even bigger, but his gaze was attracted to her light pink lips. He ached to touch them with his own. To hold her in his arms, to tell her how he felt. But how did he feel? He was very attracted to her physically but it was more than that. He admired her courage, how she stood up to the people on the train like Price over the Indian issue. She was brave and while not fearless, as that would imply stupidity given the conditions they were traveling under, she kept her fears under control. She didn’t whine either like some of the other women. Mrs. Newland would win the annual prize for whining.

  She was patient with his nieces but firm when they needed to be disciplined. She expected them to behave and amazingly they did. Most of the children behaved better for Jo—as they called her—than they did for their own parents. Yet he hadn’t heard her ever threaten them with a whipping or a slap. If they did something she disapproved of, she excluded them from their next activity. Children hated being ignored so her system, although simple, worked. He wondered how well it would work in the classroom. Back East, parents expected their children to be disciplined and therefore encouraged corporal punishment. How would Miss Thompson fare if she did become a school teacher and the board of the school insisted on corporal punishment? He had a feeling she was more likely to turn a whip on them than to touch a child.

  She was as stubborn as she was brave which could prove a handicap in a wife. If he was to become a school teacher and made Johanna his wife, she would have a certain position to maintain in their local community. She couldn’t be as forward in her opinions as she had been on the train. Why not? Isn’t that what he admired? It was one thing for him to admire it, and it was another if her actions impeded his career. He wasn’t looking to take her back East to earn the frowns of Boston society. Out West things were changing. He and Johanna could make those changes happen, together.

  He had been so caught up in his thoughts, he didn’t realize he was staring at Johanna. She was alone and looking at him with a quizzical expression on her face.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to interrupt your moment with your sister, but I was hoping to speak with you.”

  “Yes?” Johanna’s soft voice set his heart racing. Was he wrong to hope his interest in her was reflected in her eyes?

  “I just wanted you to know I am sorry I didn’t come to Clarke’s aid earlier. I was on guard duty that evening and missed everything.”

  “That’s quite all right.”

  “I don’t know Clarke well but he seems like a fine chap.” Seriously, could he sound any more condescending? But his brain refused to engage, her smile chasing away all his thoughts but the wish to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. He shuffled uncomfortably. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hughes,” Johanna said, smiling but with a curious expression in her eyes. As if she was waiting for something. Maybe he could ask if he could speak to her father. Before he got a chance to speak, her younger brother appeared calling her name.

  “Johanna, Ma wants to know if you have forgotten the dishes.”

  “I am so sorry, Mr. Hughes. I best get back.”

  And then she was gone.

  Chapter 3

  “We will make camp here tonight. Tomorrow we cross the river,” Captain Jones said as he surveyed the group. “There is no ferry so we will drive across. The current isn’t strong nor is it too deep. You will all need to raise the wagons to prevent their contents getting wet.”

  Johanna watched the men working. They had cut some willow saplings and used them to raise the wagon beds about six inches, hoping it would be high
enough to stop the water from ruining their supplies. Ma had them wrapping everything in extra covers just in case. She was thankful this would be their last time crossing the Sweetwater River.

  She listened to the evening sounds around the camp. The men pounded the tent pegs into the ground while the women scraped the dinner dishes clean. Someone was playing the fiddle while the children laughed and ran around the various campfires. They had made so many friends among the other families traveling with them. It would be hard to split from them when they finally arrived in Oregon.

  Later that evening, her parents sat around their campfire for longer than usual. Becky was working on her sewing so Johanna took out the small quilting piece she was completing for Carrie. The little girl wanted a blanket for her doll.

  “I was speaking to Gracie for quite a while today. She has some grand plans for Oregon,” Ma commented without looking up from her work.

  “What does she want to do?” Becky asked.

  “She and Joey plan on claiming six hundred and forty acres of land once they marry. They are going to have the best farm in the area. She is going to have the prettiest house and garden.”

  “You sound like you disapprove, Ma?” Johanna knew it wasn’t in her ma’s nature to put someone else’s dreams down.