A Home at Trail's End (6 page)

No, no, no, she told herself as she worked on mending the bit of chicken-coop fence that Ruth had mentioned to her this morning. Eli was a good man. She knew it. And yet…where was he? Why would he leave—taking her horses and wagon without saying a word to her? It made no sense. Absolutely none.

Elizabeth kept her concerns to herself as the house grew busy and noisy with the children coming home from school. She remained quiet as she helped Malinda with supper preparations. She feigned intent interest as she listened to her children's stories of school. And she pretended to be absorbed in mending a pair of JT's torn trousers as the children headed off to bed.

Finally, it was just Elizabeth and Malinda sitting by the fireplace, neither of them speaking. Elizabeth was just tying off the last thread on her mending when Malinda cleared her throat. “I know you are fretting about Eli,” she said quietly. “And I fear I may have overstepped my bounds when I spoke of him earlier.”

“I'm convinced it was only because you love me,” Elizabeth said quietly. “And you love my children. You are concerned for our welfare.”

“Yes,” Malinda said eagerly. “That is exactly right. But I realize that you know Eli much better than I do. I feel certain that your instincts about him are correct, Elizabeth. Please, forgive me for casting any shadow of doubt upon him. I'm so sorry.”

Her unexpected apology caught Elizabeth off guard, and she felt tears filling her eyes. “Of course I forgive you,” Elizabeth said in a tear-choked voice. “But perhaps you were right. It's possible I don't know Eli as well as I'd like.” Elizabeth looked up to the open sleeping loft, knowing that it was possible that the older girls could hear her words. But at least Ruth wasn't sleeping up there. She was in Malinda's bedroom with the door closed. Even so, Elizabeth lowered her voice. “I can't imagine he would have taken my wagon and my team,” she whispered. “But I would be so devastated if that was so. Not just for my heart's sake, but because that is such a big part of our livelihood, Malinda. I would feel as if I had robbed my own children.” She looked at her with tear-filled eyes. “Do you understand what I'm saying?”

Malinda nodded solemnly. “Being a widowed mother of children is an enormous responsibility. Especially out here in the wilderness.”

“Do you think I've made a grave mistake?” Elizabeth whispered as she reached into her skirt pocket for her hanky. “In trusting Eli as I have?”

Malinda set her knitting aside. “Oh, Elizabeth, I don't know what to say.” She reached over and grasped her hand. “But whatever happens, you know that you have your family nearby to help you through it. That is so important.”

“Yes…that is true.” Elizabeth wiped her eyes. “If Eli is still missing tomorrow, I will go and speak to my father.”

“That would be wise.” Malinda squeezed her hand. “In the meantime we will both be praying for Eli's welfare…and his safe return.” Malinda released Elizabeth's hand and then pursed her lips. “I know I assured you that all the Indians had been cleared from this area,” she said very quietly. “But it is possible that some of the renegades are still at large.”

Elizabeth considered this. “But Eli is very smart about Indians. He got along quite well with the plains Indians. Besides, I thought the coastal tribes were peaceful. That's what Eli told me.”

“Perhaps that was partly true. But those Rogue warriors were unpredictable. Just two years ago, there was such a bloody battle. Nearly thirty Indians were killed by the gold miners, and the remaining warriors retaliated against settlers with great aggression. We lived in fear of attacks in these parts. It's only been within the past year, since the tribes were removed, that life quieted down. But you never know…you just never know.”

“I understand your fear of the Indians,” Elizabeth said slowly. “But do you ever feel sympathy for them? Do you ever consider that they were living here…relatively peaceably until the white settlers came? Do you ever wonder how you would feel if we were in their place?”

Malinda made a tired sigh. “Sometimes John and I spoke of this very thing. We even had Joel Palmer as a guest in our home. He was the Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs. And John felt Mr. Palmer was a fair man in regard to the Indians. Mr. Palmer opposed the hostility that some of the settlers were demonstrating toward the Indians. But then General Lane came along. Most of the settlers favored General Lane's approach. However, John felt the general's answer to the Indian troubles was extreme and…well, John felt it was unjust.”

“I always admired John,” Elizabeth declared, “but now I admire him more than ever. I'm sure Eli would have liked him too.”

“Yes, that's good and well, but John's views on the Indians were not typical of settlers, Elizabeth. And it did not win him friends. To be honest, he and I often disagreed. But in all fairness, my concerns were for the safety of my family. And the truth is I was greatly relieved when the Indians were removed.”

“Even the women and children?” Elizabeth challenged. “Were you fearful of them too?”

Malinda gave Elizabeth a somewhat exasperated look. “If the women and children remained, the men would want to return. Also, who would hunt and provide for the women and children? Have you considered these things?”

Elizabeth admitted she had not, and then both women agreed they were tired and began to get ready for bed. But once again, Elizabeth found herself unable to sleep.

On Friday morning, Elizabeth hurried to finish her morning chores, saddled up Molly, and once again rode over to her property. She didn't even feel surprised when it looked the same as before. And she knew what she had to do, but it was with heavy heart that she rode over to speak to her father. She knew this news would be nearly as disturbing to him as it was to her. Eli was gone. Her team was gone. Her wagon was gone. In all likelihood, she and the children would need to stay with her parents during the winter—all five of them in the small one-room cabin.

She braced herself as she dismounted from her horse. The men were still on the roof, but it appeared that they were nearly finished with the rafters. Instead of disturbing them, she set off to find her mother. Clara and Jess were at their campsite, preparing the midday meal. “Hello,” Elizabeth called in a falsely cheery voice.

“Welcome,” Clara said as she replaced a lid on the big cast-iron pot.

“You're just in time for dinner,” Jess said warmly.

Elizabeth joined them by the fire, feeling again as if she were on the verge of tears. Telling them this bad news was going to be so hard. She prayed God would give her strength not to break down. She needed to be strong.

Now Clara peered curiously at Elizabeth's face. “Is something wrong?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. As a matter of fact—”

“The children?” Clara said urgently. “Are they—”

“Ruth and JT are fine,” she assured her. “At school.”

“Oh.” Clara made a relieved sigh.

“It's Eli,” Elizabeth began slowly, wondering how to say this.

“Oh, no,” Jess exclaimed. “Has he been hurt—”

“He's gone,” Elizabeth said solemnly.

“Gone?” Jess looked confused.

“How long has he been gone?” Clara asked. “Since the last time I saw you?”

“Yes…although it's possible he was gone before that.” She shrugged. “I actually have no idea.”

“Do you think he went hunting?” Jess asked hopefully. “Matthew and Pa have been wishing they could do some serious hunting, but they need to get the roofs on first.”

“No, I doubt he would take my wagon and team to go hunting,” Elizabeth told her. “Along with his own horse.”

Jess' eyes grew wide. “He took your wagon and team?”

Elizabeth simply nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.

“Perhaps he's felling timber,” Clara suggested. “Would he use the wagon to bring it back?”

“What do you think?”

Clara frowned. “Your father and brother didn't use the wagons…”

“And I searched all over my property. He's not there. He's gone.”

“But that makes no sense,” Jess said.

“I know.” Elizabeth sat on one of the chairs by the fire, putting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.

Clara placed a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder but said nothing.

“I just thought you should know,” Elizabeth said quietly. “I'd tell Father, but I don't want to interrupt their work.”

“They'll be quitting soon…for dinner,” Clara told her as she went over to tend the fire.

“There must be some logical explanation for this.” Jess sat next to Elizabeth, putting her arm around her shoulders. “Eli wouldn't just take off like that. He loves you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth turned to look at her. “What makes you so sure?”

“I've seen him looking at you,” Jess said. “Dozens of times. Starting out on the trail. And since he got here. He looks at you the same way Matthew looks at me.”

The lump in her throat seemed to be growing. “Maybe…but he's still gone.”

“I cannot believe he would run off with your wagon and your team,” Clara said a bit sharply. “I just cannot believe it.”

Elizabeth stood now. She knew if she remained she would break into tears. Mother and Jess didn't need that. Neither did the men. “I just wanted you to know,” she said sadly to her mother. “Please tell Father for me. And Matthew and Brady.”

“But don't you want to stay for—”

“No thank you.” Elizabeth adjusted the brim of James' old hat and stood straight. “I need to get back to help Malinda.”

Jess gave her a sympathetic look. “You're all right?”

Elizabeth nodded firmly. “I'm a frontier woman,” she declared. “Just like you two. And we all need to be strong. I'll get past this…in time.” Then she turned on the heel of her boot and marched over to where she'd tethered Molly to a tree. She quickly climbed into the saddle and nudged the horse with her knees, biting back tears and steadying herself in the saddle as Molly broke into an awkward trot.

What she'd just told Clara and Jess was true…or rather, she wanted it to be true. She would make it true. She was a frontier woman, and she would be strong. With God's help, even with her heart breaking, she would remain strong.

Chapter Five

E
lizabeth had just turned onto the road that ran past Malinda's farm when she noticed a wagon in the distance. Few of the settlers had wagons, and that in itself was enough to get her attention. However, it wasn't really the wagon that drew her eye—it was the team of handsome black horses. Beau and Bella!

She kneed Molly to a gallop, hurrying to see who was driving her wagon. But then she pulled back on the reins, slowing the strong horse. What if it was a thief…or a band of renegades? She wasn't armed. She didn't want a confrontation. So she simply walked Molly slowly down the road, narrowing her eyes as she attempted to see who the driver was. But as she drew nearer, she could tell it was Eli. And now her emotions were mixed. On one hand, she was greatly relieved. On the other, she was seriously irked.

“Eli,” she said calmly as he slowed the wagon to a stop and she pulled Molly up alongside him. “What are you doing here?”

His face glowed with a huge smile. “Coming home.” But now his smile faded. “Is something wrong?”

She took in a slow deep breath. “Where have you been?”

His brow creased. “Didn't you get my note?”

“What note?”

“The note I wrote to you on Sunday night. The night before I left. I weighted it down with a stone. It was right inside the doorway of the house, along with a bunch of wildflowers in a tin cup. I thought for sure you would find my note when you came looking for me.”

“Inside the doorway of the house…?” She pressed her lips together. “I didn't even go in the doorway.”

Now he looked slightly alarmed. “So you didn't know where I was? Where I went?”

She shook her head. Now she felt a mixture of shame and curiosity. “I had no idea where you were…it seemed you'd vanished into thin air.”

“I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. I hope you weren't too concerned.”

She blinked and swallowed. Be strong. “To be honest, I was quite worried, Eli. I thought some harm had come to you. I searched all over the property for you. Then I thought perhaps renegade Indians had done something to you…stolen the horses and the wagon.”

He reached over and put a hand on her cheek. “Oh, Elizabeth. I'm sorry you were worried. But as you can see, I'm perfectly fine.” He patted the seat beside him. “Want to ride with me?”

Feeling guilt for doubting him and relief at finding him…as well as many other emotions, she dismounted and hurriedly tethered Molly to the back of the wagon, just as she had often done on the Oregon Trail. Then she came around, and Eli extended a hand, helping her into the wagon seat. Only as she settled into the seat did she think to peek inside the covered wagon, where, to her surprise, she saw a full load of lumber and some other things. “Eli!” she exclaimed, “where did you get all that wood?”