John didn’t think Ed would be interested. But he’d been surprised to see Ed carry through with the plan to marry Susan. Ed had told him the next day because he didn’t want troubles between them.
What John found interesting was how much Ed was starting to look like Dan. Brothers. John wouldn’t have believed it at first, but now he could see the resemblance in looks and the way he acted.
He glanced at Susan. She was happy. Smiling more than he’d ever seen her. And her step was light. John figured he’d go onto Oregon with them just to make sure things worked out, and then he’d see where things took him.
Who knows, he might make a living selling stories. If Laine liked his story, others would.
For now, he’d stay with Big Red and encourage the beast to keep walking. They’d really become good friends. He glanced at the red ox. “How would you like to be in a story big fella?”
The ox bellowed as if answering.
John laughed but had to wonder if his life’s companion would be an ox. He’d lost Susan, he knew that. Surprisingly, he wasn’t that sad about it. Even to the point that he was happy for her and Ed. What he had to decide is what he wanted out of his life.
He figured it would be too late in the season to move on, and he’d stay in the closest town for the winter. Maybe write some stories. Susan had suggested he try and sell them. And that’s where he found his excitement.
Hope filtered through his mind. The first real hope he’d felt. Even the idea of having Susan for a wife had been a mixed idea of good and hard work that he knew he really didn’t want to do.
He was no farmer and had no interest in digging in the dirt, planting crops, and then working just as hard to pick them. John knew all along that was not him. Ed, now he was a hard-working man that would accomplish whatever he set his mind to.
John thought back to the memory of his mother. That one day in the bright sunshine on her lap when he felt loved. Her words must have been special for him to still remember them. “Find the North Star and the Lord. They are your constants.”
Deep down, John knew the good woman part wouldn’t come until he had the first two. Was it possible? Could he make a living and provide for a woman with his stories?
Again, excitement coursed through him. Was that the constant from the North Star that he needed. To write. Plow words and seed pages with interesting characters. As he thought about it, John knew that was his future.
He may have lost Susan, but he’d found one of his constants. The other one, he looked into the sky. “God, I know you’re real. I need you. Need you to direct my steps. Help me become what you desire me to be.”
John felt better than he had in some time. Perhaps all his life. Almost as if he realized God was the father he’d needed all along. The One who would not abandon him.
After the wagons stopped for the night, John left the group to go and seek his North Star and the Lord. He needed time to himself. As he walked to a high spot beside the trail, he smiled to himself. His journey was just beginning.
***
Susan helped Anna fix the meal. She was surprised to see John take his notebook and walk away. And even more surprised when he asked to borrow her Bible. Yet, as she watched him leave, she got the idea he was going to something for once in his life.
Ed came up behind her. “Where’s he going? Not like John to miss a meal.”
She laughed. “No, it isn’t. But I think he has a plan for what to do with his life.”
Ed nodded. “Lot of that going around.” He spun her around to look at him. “Will you be my wife?”
She blushed. “I already told you, yes.”
He looked troubled.
Susan put a finger to his lips. “We will be fine. Don’t worry.”
“But Dan—”
“Dan was killed tragically. It had nothing to do with you. Things happen. Bad things. Together we will face what we have to. That’s the way marriage works.”
He traced his finger over her lips. “You know, speaking of people changing, I see you smile a lot more than you used to.”
She caught his finger. “Is that so. I think it’s because some man shot his way into my life and changed everything. You know, we haven’t sat and talked about what we’re going to do with the land.”
Ed leaned against the wagon. “Well, we can farm. I don’t know a lot about farming. Or we can raise cattle and horses. Or both. Maybe farm your section and ranch on mine.”
Susan turned to him and put her hands on her hips. “That sounds like a split decision to me. I think we should do one or the other.”
“Is that so. Well, I want to raise horses. There is something else I want to talk to you about.”
She looked into his eyes and saw he was serious. She knew what it was. Or at least thought she did. She grinned. “And what is that?”
“Laine.”
“Oh, well, I already asked if he’d like to stay with us. I thought we could use the help with all that land. Of course, we’ll have to fight over him if he’s going to farm my land or help you with the livestock.”
Ed laughed. “You already talked to him?”
“Yes, this afternoon when he came by for a piece of pie.” Susan went to the back of the wagon for the plates. “He’s turned out to be a very nice young man. However, I have to tell you we will need crops and livestock to feed him.”
Ed grinned. “I think so. When do you want to get married?”
She looked the direction John had taken. “Let’s wait until we reach Oregon. Like we said we would.”
“All right. Whatever makes you happy.” He grabbed a hot biscuit and walked to the edge of the camp to check the animals.
Susan studied him. He’d changed so in a few short months. He’d frightened her at first. Now, she saw past his hard exterior. He was a good man. Always had been, he just hadn’t known it. She did love him. And she’d do everything she could to help him see just what a good man he was. Dan would have been proud of his brother. That she was sure of.
Chapter 19
As the miles went past, Ed grew more excited about his new life. They’d left the South Pass behind, and he felt he’d left his past on the other side of the Continental Divide, but there was one more thing he needed to do.
He’d told Susan that he was taking a ride ahead to scout out the trail. Truth was, he was burying his past. Although she was confident that no one from his gunfighting days would show up, he had to make sure that no one was tempted by his gun.
Ed reined his horse to the high point overlooking the Columbia River. He stepped from his horse and unbuckled his holster. Kneeling before the scenic outlook, he bowed his head.
“Lord, I haven’t led a pleasing life, but all that has changed. I love Susan and Laine. I want to be the kind of man Laine would look up to. The kind of man that will protect and provide for Susan. The kind that she will love.
“I’m asking you to help me. Most of my life I’ve been on the run. I’ve stopped running. I know what I want and need. Help me be a better man.” He held up his gun and holster. “I’m throwing this down the ravine. Never to be found. I’ll keep my rifle to hunt and protect my family, but I don’t need the pistol any longer.
“I’m asking you, Lord, to protect us from my past. Forgive me for all that I did in the past and the men I shot. The wild life I led. Amen.”
Ed stood and walked to the edge and tossed his gun and holster over the rim. They crashed into rocks, creating a landslide of loose gravel, falling until they hit the bottom in a burst of dust.
Ed wasn’t sure, but he felt a shift in his heart. Inside, he’d changed. In a week, they’d be at the place in Oregon where the company had arranged for families to farm and build new lives. Ed knew his had started the moment he let go of the gun.
He no longer feared his past. Susan was right. Together they’d face whatever troubles came their way. And he had the Lord to trust in. Ed sat down and looked over the scene. Newness of life. The words kept flowing over him.<
br />
Indeed, Ed felt as if he were a new creation. The old passed away. Before him, a future that was good and filled with love and goodness. With Susan and Laine. And for himself, something to look forward to. No longer would he be looking back to see if anyone was challenging him.
He rose and mounted his horse. Turning around, he saw the long line of wagons snaking around the bend. All the pioneers who had set out to find a new life. All the hope and dreams. And he was a part of it.
Gone were the days when he was alone. Ed belonged to others now and was glad for it. He was a new man. With a look up at the sky, he smiled. Thanked the Lord for giving him a new life and rode toward Susan and Laine.
***
Susan walked alongside Anna. She realized that she no longer walked like the oxen, trudging along as if for duty. But she walked with purpose now. Gone were her days of existing and living to survive.
And then she saw Ed riding toward her. Head high, her man was someone she could be proud of. Strong and sure, he rode to her. Her heart flowed with joy at seeing him. Seeing his eyes on her and a smile on his lips.
He loved her. She knew it with all that was in her. And she loved him. Somehow, God had arranged it for them to fall in love. If Ed hadn’t come when he did, she’d be married to John. Not that he was a bad choice, but John didn’t want to farm.
In fact, he’d told her he was writing stories and going to send them off to see if he couldn’t sell them. But he was no farmer.
She smiled. Her heart was settled and at peace. Never had she felt that way before. Always, she was unsure. Life was one battle to survive after another. Now, the circumstances hadn’t changed, but she wasn’t alone, and she had something and someone to live for.
She was going to live for Ed and Laine. Live to make her farm and ranch a success. The Lord had led her through the dark valleys of death and evil and brought her out in a green pasture full of promise and life.
She’d marry Ed now. The next time he asked, she’d say get the wagon master and let Sam marry them.
She knew they had a lot in front of them, but she was sure that they would work through all that came at them.
Laine came up beside her. “Ed’s coming. He wouldn’t let me go with him. I wonder where he went?”
Susan smiled. “I think it was something important. Something between him and God.”
Laine nodded. “Yeah, I think you’re right. He looks different. I like it.” The boy walked on and patted the big oxen.
Ed rode up to her and held out his hand. “Ride with me?”
She took his hand, and he pulled her up in front of him. “I want to show you something.” He whirled his horse around and rode the direction that he’d come.
Susan snuggled next to him with her head on his shoulder. She heard his heart beat strong and steady, and she felt so secure.
In minutes, he stopped and helped her down. “I thought this was a good spot.”
She looked around. The mountains to the west, a blue river below them. “It’s beautiful.”
He nodded. “Susan, I wanted you to be the first to know, I’ve become a new man. I’ve turned from my past, and the Lord has forgiven me.”
She smiled at him. There was something different in his eyes, his face. And then she saw that he no longer wore a holster and the gun was gone.
“I threw my gun in the river down the ravine back there. That part of my life is over.”
She went to him and took his hands. “From now on, these hands will make new life. I see the change in you, Ed. But I want you to know that I have changed too. No longer is my life invisible and existing. I have things to live for.” She stepped nearer to him. “Someone to live for.”
He bowed his head and kissed her. “Susan, will you marry me?”
She kissed him back and then looked in his eyes. “Yes. Let’s get Sam and have the wedding.”
***
They made their way to the wagon train and found Sam and told him their plans. With a big smile, he nodded. “Let me get my Bible. We’re stopping for the day anyway, and I think we’re far enough ahead to have a celebration.”
Ed rode to the wagon. “You going to change into that dress I saw you in on that first day?”
“Yes, my wedding dress. You ruined that wedding, let’s see if you can let this one finish.”
He laughed and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll go and clean up.”
After a time, Sam Ferguson led them to a scenic outlook. “I like to do these things near something to remind you both of how little you are and how big the Lord is. I implore you both to seek the Almighty. Many a man thought himself too important to fall, and yet, in truth, they were small in what was worthy.”
Ed knew exactly what the man was saying. That had been him until recently. Now, he’d placed himself under the Almighty and couldn’t be happier.
Sam put them together in front of him. “Anna, Nick, come and be a witness to this here wedding.”
The two came to stand behind Ed and Susan.
“Now that we have witnesses, we’ll start.” He looked at Ed. “Ed Mitchum, do you take this woman to be your wife? To love her and take care of her? For it’s a man’s duty to provide for his family. I charge you with this in the sight of God if you so choose.”
“Yes, sir. I do. I’ll love her all the days of my life.”
Sam nodded and turned to Susan. “Susan Flannery, do you take this man to be your husband? To honor and respect him? For it is a wife’s duty to treat her husband with respect not out of duty but love. I charge you with this in the sight of God if you so choose.”
Susan looked into Ed’s blue eyes and said, “I do. All the days of my life.”
“I pronounce you +n as husband and wife. Ed, you may kiss your bride.”
Ed took her in his arms and kissed her.
She felt his love for her and caressed his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
The crowd cheered. Laine stood awkwardly to the side of them as if he wasn’t sure of his future.
Ed went to him and grabbed his shoulder. “Laine, we’d like it if you would live with us. I know we can use the help.”
The boy blushed. “Are you sure?”
Susan took his hand. “Yes, we’re sure. We have to build a cabin, and it won’t be hard to add another room.”
Laine nodded. “I was thinking about John. He’ll need a place to stay too. What if we built a bunkhouse?”
Ed nodded. “Perfect idea. We should be at our place in a week. I’m glad you’ll be staying on with us, Laine.”
Soon a big campfire was in the middle of the wagons, and food was brought out. The fiddlers started up, and Ed and Susan danced the first dance alone.
Ed held her in his arms. His heart so full and his future bright. Never had he thought his life could be this good. “I can’t believe you’re my wife. I’ve never been happier.”
She nodded. “I can’t wait until we get our place. Dan left us enough money to get a good start. He even purchased plows and seeds in Oregon. It should be in the town waiting for us.”
“My brother took care of us. The best thing is that I know I’ll see him again when it’s my time for the Lord to take me.”
Susan leaned her head against his chest. “That won’t be for a long time. That’s what your heart is telling me.”
He chuckled. “Yep, that’s what it’s telling me too.”
He looked into the heavens and smiled.
Epilogue
The first winter had been hard, but with John and Laine to help Ed, they soon had a nice cabin big enough for all of them to stay warm in. And with an extra room, Susan patted her swollen belly, there was already room for the coming little one.
The men had already built the bunkhouse this spring, and John and Laine were moving out tonight. She sighed as she watched her men work. Ed, his shirt off, strained with a big board as he carried it to the building.
She loved him so. He was so happy about the
son or daughter she was having. As for Laine and John, they were doing well too. John had changed and was a big help. Working hard by day and writing by night. He’d already sold several stories and had received an advance to write more.
Laine was growing into a fine young man and had three hundred and twenty acres of his own land behind theirs. Not to mention he had his eye on Sally Ferguson. The wagon master’s niece.
John hadn’t talked about a woman, but he’d been seen with Dorothy McBride. She was a widow and loved to read books.
All in all, things had worked out. Susan could barely remember herself as the shy, invisible woman who had come into Independence, Missouri, scared of her own shadow and afraid to make a decision.
Ed was strong and sure of himself. Looked up to by the men in the community.
John was growing as a writer, and soon he’d be quitting to become a full-time writer in town. He’d rented a room, and at times, he left to stay in town to write.
Susan rubbed her belly. “Easy little one. Your time is coming, and you’re going to have a wonderful life with us.”
~~~~~
Author Note: I hope you enjoyed Susan’s story. I know I enjoyed writing it and really wasn’t sure if she would end up with John or Ed when I started writing it. I love wagon train stories and the idea of traveling across the continent to begin a new life.
There are 7 stores in the Prairie Rose Collection and I am sure you will enjoy them all.
The Three new ones for 2020 are:
Lilah By Caryl McAdoo
Susan By Patricia PacJac Carroll
Kate By Donna Schlachter
I have several other wagon train stories you might like:
Golden Dreams
Oregon Dreams
Sandra’s Journey
Cassie’s Surprise
Sadie
Susan
Here’s a sneak peak of the first chapter of Caryl McAdoo book Lilah.
Susan Page 11