This Courageous Journey

by Misty M. Beller

  And he couldn’t stop now.

  The wind picked up as the afternoon waned, swirling the ever-falling snow around them like a shroud, blocking his vision of anything farther than a few feet in front of the gelding.

  The vise pressing on his chest squeezed tighter, binding him until he could barely draw breath. He’d relied mostly on the sun’s position to know they were headed north, but this world of white blocked the sun completely.

  Except...maybe that faint brightening to his left was the sun’s efforts to penetrate through cloud and snow. That was the direction it should be. He couldn’t lose that light. Not until night fell. And hopefully this blizzard would cease long before then.

  Noelle’s hoarse breathing blocked out all sound except the squeak of leather beneath him. She’d not coughed today in her unconscious state. Was that a good thing? He’d take the coughing any day over the lifeless way she draped against him.

  Being so out of control loosed fear that ran rampant through him. You’re not strong enough. Only God can fix this. Noelle’s words rushed back at him, over and over.

  He raised his face heavenward, snow pelting his skin. “God, if You’re real like Noelle says You are, make her better. Please.” His words seemed to hover around him in the snow-filled air. Had they reached through the blizzard to find the Deity’s ear?

  He had so little knowledge of these things. Mostly because he hadn’t wanted to know about faith in something that could wrench control of his life. Maybe that was another failing of his. Perhaps if he’d sought to know the truth about which Being had actually created the world and whether that God still cared about His people, he’d have somewhere to turn for help now.

  Noelle believed in the Christian God. She was convinced He cared.

  “If it’s true. If You care about her. Me. Any of us.” He screamed into the white swarming around him. “Save this woman. Make her wake up.”

  Saying the words made him feel a tiny bit better. A very tiny bit. As though he no longer shouldered the full weight of Noelle’s care.

  He dropped his gaze to her face. Still pale, her breathing still raspy. Just because he’d demanded it didn’t mean God would act this very second. But He’d need to act soon if He planned to step in. Noelle didn’t have much time left.

  Daniel refocused on his surroundings, squinting through the white to keep the tiny glimmer of sunlight at his left and help Pauper pick his way around obstacles.

  Moving forward in the belly of a blizzard was complete foolishness, but he had no choice.

  A quarter hour later, Pauper stumbled, and Daniel jerked up on the reins to help the horse stay upright. “Easy boy. Careful.”

  He reined the horse in for a rest. They were both breathing heavily. Daniel’s gaze flicked to Noelle’s face, as it had all day.

  Was that a shift under her eyelids?

  “Noelle, can you hear me?” A sliver of hope planted in his chest.

  Her lashes fluttered, then parted. Barely.

  But it was enough to wash away all his exhaustion. “Noelle. Oh, Noelle.” He pulled her closer.

  Her body straightened. Her lips parted. Dry, cracked lips.

  “Here, take a drink.” He raised the canteen to her mouth and dribbled water in. Ice clinked inside the flask, so it must be a cold drink. Maybe that would help bring her fever down.

  Her eyes still hadn’t opened past those slits. And with the high flush on her cheeks and her bright red lips, she looked miserable.

  “Hang on, love. I’m trying to get to help.” His words from a little while ago slipped back to him. “Your God’s helping, too.”

  Her eyelids drifted shut, and her chin dipped in a slight nod. Exhaustion marred every feature.

  “Rest now.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  Then he nudged Pauper forward. God had woken her. But the danger wasn’t over yet.

  AT LEAST AN HOUR PASSED with the blizzard’s fury blowing around them, keeping their movement at a snail’s pace. If he found trees that would provide shelter, he might have been tempted to stop for a rest, at least until he could see better.

  But no trees broke the wind and blinding snow. All he could do was pray to Noelle’s God that He would keep them moving the right direction. Guide Pauper’s steps northward, even when that glimmer of light he was using as a compass seemed to fade into his imagination. God would have to show him when they reached the three mountains marking their turn.

  Finally, the blizzard slowed just enough that he could see a dozen strides ahead. Pauper seemed relieved at the reprieve and increased his stride through the thick snow.

  Daniel shifted Noelle to a more comfortable position. “The snow is slowing. We can move faster now.”

  She didn’t respond, and he pressed his forehead to hers to gauge her fever. Hot. His own frozen skin made it hard to judge whether her temperature was lowering or not, but she must be miserable from the heat emanating inside her. He opened the blanket around her a little, positioning it so the wind couldn’t blow inside but her own warmth could seep out a little.

  They rode on, their weary band leaning into the wind. Poor Griz stayed in Pauper’s shadow as much as he could, trudging in the horse’s tracks. Daniel had no way of knowing exactly what time it was. The world seemed dim, even with the brightness of the white all around. But with the clouds blocking much of the sun, it was hard to tell whether night was falling or not.

  At last, the snow tapered to a light dusting of tiny flakes. Darkness had taken over in earnest, but at least he could see the landmarks around them. Occasional glimpses of the moon helped him know for sure they were on the right path.

  Something jerked in his arms. “What’s wr—”

  The fur around Noelle convulsed, as though she were striking at it.

  He struggled to loosen the wrapping. She was awake again. Finally.

  But the instant he pulled the fur open, her arm started shaking as if in wild spasms. “Noelle?” A new fear swept through him. “What’s wrong?” Her legs took up the shaking. Convulsing and kicking wildly in the air and against Pauper’s side.

  “Oh, God, stop her. Noelle?” He shifted her so she was more upright, but her head lolled to the side. Had she passed out? What did the convulsions mean? He had to stop them.

  He reached for her flailing arm, but it took a couple tries before he snagged it. He did his best to be gentle as he worked to still the convulsions. The last thing he wanted was to damage her further, more than this fit might already be doing. Her other arm was stuck inside the blanket, pressed between their bodies, but the limb punched him in the gut over and over.

  Then her body relaxed, her arms and legs going limp.

  Fear surged in his throat. “Noelle?” He shook her. “Noelle. Don’t leave me. No.” Oh, God. You can’t let her die. Please.

  He propped her up, letting her head lay back against his arm so he could get a better look at her face in the dim light. “Noelle?” Her eyes were closed, lips parted. He jerked off the strips of fabric wrapping his hands.

  With stinging fingers, he felt at her neck for a pulse. There. He exhaled a long breath, letting his forehead fall to rest on hers. “You’re alive.”

  He inhaled deep drafts, trying to gather his wits. Finally, he raised his head. “You’re alive, Noelle. You have to stay that way.” Then he lifted his face to the heavens. “God, don’t let her die. I’ll give You whatever You want if You’ll keep her alive and bring us to help. I’ll be Your servant forever. Anything.” Whatever he had to do to save Noelle.

  He tucked her into a more comfortable position, her head resting on his shoulder so he could speak into her ear. “We’re going to find help, love. I promise. Whatever it takes.” He let out a long breath. Maybe they both needed a distraction, something to keep them calm and focused. “Have I told you about the time my uncle, Nikataya, wrestled a mountain lion?”

  Telling the stories, one after another, kept his mind busy. Pushed the worry back. Noelle never gave sign that
she heard, even when he asked her questions, which he answered himself.

  Yet she was in there somewhere. God would keep her alive. Daniel had to cling to that. He had to.

  As the sky cleared, a smell drifted across the plain. His muddled mind took a moment to place the source. Smoke?

  His pulse picked up speed. A campfire? Could there be other lonely souls traversing these mountains during the blizzard? Or maybe an Indian winter camp. Either way, he had to find them. Maybe this was the help Noelle needed.

  He strained to find the source—light from a campfire, or maybe a dark pillar above the trees that would signal smoke. Don’t let us miss it. He’d been sending so many of these short prayers heavenward, God above must feel overwhelmed by the sudden deluge.

  Save Noelle. Whatever it takes. That was the only prayer that mattered. However Noelle’s God chose to accomplish the task, it wouldn’t matter.

  The smoky smell hung in the air as they traveled around a small patch of woods, then skirted the base of a mountain on their right.

  Pauper plodded through the almost chest-high snow, his movements much slower than when the blizzard first ended. Daniel patted his shoulder. “Hold on, boy. I know it’s hard, but we have a rest coming.”

  As the cliff beside them fell away, a gust of wind swept across, peppering his face with icy pellets. Not more snow.

  He raised his gaze skyward, but a glimmer of light in the distance snagged his focus.

  Light? He strained to see through the darkness. Maybe his imagination had conjured the dark mass with slivers of yellow, which made the thing look as though it glowed.

  He nudged Pauper that direction. The horse perked up, hopeful that a reprieve from this exhausting night was just ahead.

  “God, let them be willing to help. And able.” If nothing else, hopefully whoever it was could at least provide shelter from the elements and a warm fire. He glanced down at Noelle, still propped against his shoulder. “I think we found help, Noelle. Hold on. You’re going to get better.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Could this be the help we seek?

  ~ Noelle

  AS THEY NEARED THE dark form, it took shape, materializing into a cabin. Beams of light slipped through a few of the logs. This seemed like a dream, finding a regular house after traveling so long with nothing but mountains and trees.

  He reined Pauper to a stop about twenty strides away. “Hallo, the cabin.” Every man worth his salt in these parts knew better than to surprise a stranger. But sitting here, so near to possible help for Noelle, made him itch to climb down and pound on the door.

  A thud sounded inside, then the door pulled open and light spilled out on the snow. A man stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the light behind him. He held a lantern that illuminated his arm and coat, but his face remained in shadows.

  “We need help. My woman is real sick. Needs shelter and warmth.” Pauper seemed to sense his nerves and tried to step forward, but he held the horse back.

  “Come in. We’ll help as much as we can.” The man stepped to the side.

  A wave of relief swept through Daniel, and he loosened the reins, nudging Pauper forward so he almost broke into a trot. “We’re here, Noelle. You’re going to be fine.” Let it be true. Please.

  He reined the horses in as close to the door as he could, but when he slid to the ground with Noelle still in his arms, his feet couldn’t seem to find purchase in the deep snow. He landed on his rear, but the snow held him upright in almost a sitting position.

  “Let me take her.” The stranger was beside him, his arms outstretched toward Noelle.

  But Daniel pulled her closer before he could even think about his actions. “Just help me up.” He couldn’t release her to the care of a man he didn’t know. Not any man.

  The fellow didn’t argue, just grabbed Daniel’s arm and helped him stand.

  “My dog.” Poor Griz needed shelter from this thick snow, too.

  “We’ll bring him inside.”

  Good. Daniel’s body worked like a plow through snow that rose to the tops of his legs. But within seconds, he was mounting the stairs, stumbling inside.

  “Lay her on this bed.” A woman’s voice drew him toward the corner, where an elaborate quilt stretched across a real mattress. Exactly what Noelle needed.

  He eased her onto the fabric, slipping down to his knees now that he didn’t have her weight to support. His limbs seemed to lose all their strength as he pulled his arms out from under her. “She’s burning with fever. Had convulsions a few hours ago, but none since then.” There was a chance these people would turn them out if they thought Noelle had something catching. But he had to take that chance.

  “May I check her?” The woman stood beside him, edging closer.

  He looked up at her. She was young. A pretty thing with dark eyes and delicate features. Not the type he’d expect to find in a cabin planted in the Canadian mountain wilderness.

  She didn’t look to be a danger. And maybe she would know how to nurse Noelle far better than he did.

  He gathered his strength and pushed to his feet, then stepped back, allowing the woman to take his place. He moved around so he could still stand beside the bed. “Her foot got wet a couple days ago. The skin started turning dark and the fever came on about that time.” He touched Noelle’s damaged toe. “I haven’t looked at it since yesterday. Was just trying to get her to help—her brother’s place if we could find it. Was awful glad to smell the smoke from your chimney.”

  The man and woman had both turned to look at him, staring as though he were an oddity. The woman spoke first. “Who is she? Who are you?” Something about her tone sounded almost excited. Maybe these people knew Noelle’s brother and had heard about her coming.

  “Her name is Noelle Grant. I’m taking her to Simeon Grant’s place. Do you know him?”

  The woman squealed and spun back to lean over Noelle, then she spoke a string of French so fast his weary mind couldn’t keep up.

  The man broke into a full grin. “Simeon married my sister. We’ve been worried about Noelle but figured she chose to wait out the winter farther south.”

  Simeon’s family. By extension, Noelle’s family. Thank You. He sank down onto the bed, his legs no longer able to support him.

  They’d made it.

  Yet as his gaze found Noelle, her ashen face tightened the knot in his gut. The danger was far from over.

  “JOSEPH SHOULD RETURN with Simeon any time now.”

  Daniel looked up from the block of wood he was whittling as Mrs. Malcom approached Noelle’s bed. He’d slept a few hours after settling the horses and getting Noelle as comfortable as possible, but he couldn’t stand to leave her long. She still hadn’t stirred, and now that all his limbs had thawed, the strength of her fever seemed to rage even hotter than seemed possible. Sitting in this chair by her bed made him feel so useless, but he couldn’t think of anything else to do. At least he finally had a moment to work on the toys for little Bo.

  Mrs. Malcom handed him a mug of coffee and perched on the side of the bed with a second cup and a spoon in her hands. “Let’s see if we can drink more tea, oui?” Her French accent gave her words a pretty cadence, and she moved with a grace that proved she’d spent plenty of time in fashionable circles. If this woman could survive here in this mountain wilderness, maybe Noelle could too.

  His gaze drifted down to her face, to those bright red lips, which parted where their hostess dribbled liquid in. They had to get her well first. Then he could worry about whether or not she would stay out here. And honestly, she would be safer in a more civilized place. If that meant he had to move east to be with her, well...

  A moan slipped through the air. He straightened. Had that come from Noelle?

  “There. She’s coming back to us.” Mrs. Malcom glanced at him with a smile.

  He dropped to his knees beside Noelle’s head, craving to be nearer. “Noelle, can you hear me?” He rested a hand on her shoulder, t
hen used his other to brush the damp hair from her forehead.

  Her eyelids flicked, then her face tensed. His own body pulled tight. Was she going into convulsions again? But then she tipped her head to the side and coughed. Her eyes squeezed shut in a grimace.

  “Can you drink more tea? It should help with the fever and cough.” Mrs. Malcom held the spoon toward Noelle. When she tapped on her lips, they parted to receive the liquid.

  Noelle must be conscious now, although she still hadn’t opened her eyes. He ran a soothing hand over her hair. “We made it to your people, Noelle. This is your relative, of sorts. And her husband’s gone to bring your brother, Simeon.”

  Her lips tipped at the corners in the tiniest hint of a smile. “Good.” The word came out as a raspy whisper, but it was the first time she’d spoken in days.

  Thank you, God. He pulled back to allow Mrs. Malcom room to work.

  Noelle stirred, her hand groping along the blanket. “Daniel?”

  He leaned forward again, taking her hand. “I’m here.”

  Her soft fingers closed around his, holding him there.

  Emotion clogged his throat, seeping up to burn the backs of his eyes. “I’m here, love. I’m not leaving.” He touched her hair again, smoothing it down, letting her feel his presence. If Mrs. Malcom weren’t hovering so close, he would have leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. But this was enough for now.

  A baby sounded in the distance, and the woman rose. “You can meet my Amélie. She will cheer you for sure.”

  As the sounds of the woman merged with the cooing of a baby, Daniel settled in beside the bed. The woman could work around him just fine. He wouldn’t be leaving Noelle’s side for any reason.

  VOICES IN THE DISTANCE tugged at Noelle’s consciousness. Daniel’s earnest rumble settled over her, soothing. Another tone sounded, one so familiar she wanted to reach for it. Not Daniel, but someone else she loved.