A Dream Unfolding (35 page)

“Don’t you worry, we’ll get your house built soon,” Ben replied.
 
After working side by side for so many years, Ben easily read him.
 
“When that wagon train gets here, maybe we can hire a few folks to help.”

When the army arrived last week, Will and Ben made the trek north, about twenty miles, to meet them.
 
They learned that the governor’s party was expected in a few weeks and with them was a wagon train of some fifty or so settlers, or maybe that was the number of wagons.
 
Either way, there would be a large influx of people soon.
 
Ben was right, he could hire a few men to build the house and pay them in beef, which they would likely be eager to receive after months on the trail.

“Quite a different day than last year, huh?” Will commented.

“Yup,” Ben responded.
 
“Much has changed, but we’ll make a festive day of it.”

“You headed out to relieve the four amigos?” Will asked, referring to the group’s new nickname.

“Yup.
 
Covington, Jed, Hawk, Owens, and me will keep the herd out for a few more hours before we bring ‘
em
in to corral.”

Will nodded his approval, then watched as Ben rode off.
 
Feeling the bite of the cold breeze, Will trotted Jackson back to the stable.
 
When he finished rubbing down the stallion, he made his way back to the bunkhouse.

Snake had somehow enlisted Whitten’s help in preparing the meal.
 
Snake barked out orders, while Whitten jumped to comply.
 
Seeing the two in action, Will wondered how the meal might turn out.
 
Whitten did not impress him as someone skilled in cooking.
 
Hopefully Snake was a good teacher.
 
Either way, it would be tricky pulling off a big meal cooking over the hearth fire.
 
There would be no stove until the ranch house was built.
 
He had ordered it while in Santa Fe and expected it to arrive with the governor’s party.

Grabbing the coffee pot from the hearth, Will poured himself a cup of lukewarm coffee.
 
Not the best, but it would do.
 
In a few minutes, the four amigos filed into the bunkhouse, speaking rapidly in their native tongue, animated eyes dancing with excitement.
 
Snake looked up glaring at the interruption, but the men didn’t seem to notice.
 
Taking seats around the table, they kept up the lively conversation.
 
Will took a seat in one of the chairs he made, pulling a well worn book from under his bed.

A few hours later, as promised, Ben returned with Covington, Owens, Jed, and Hawk following closely behind.
 
Clusters of men formed around activities they enjoyed.
 
Owens and Covington taught Jed and Hawk some new card game.
 
Ben grabbed a book and sat in a corner, far from the noise, with a contented look on his face.

Snake did not stop moving for a second, until he had an amazing spread of food laid out mid-afternoon.
 
There were beef steaks, mashed potatoes instead of the usual fried potatoes, beans, gravy, biscuits, and Will thought he spied some cookies for dessert.
 
The man out did himself.
 
Following grace, the men dug in, passing bowls between dishing out greedy helpings.

After the meal, Will read the Christmas story.
 
While not all of his men shared his beliefs, they listened respectfully.
 
Jed and Hawk both seemed particularly interested in the story.
 
Will wondered if this was the first time they heard it.
 
Pulling his guitar from its hiding place beneath his bunk, Will opened the case and tuned the instrument.
 
He picked out the notes to his favorite Christmas songs and was pleasantly surprised when most of the men joined in the singing.
 
Pedro, Raul, Diego, and Miguel sang in Spanish while the rest sang in English.
 
It gave Will goose bumps to hear the music this way.

The evening wore on and the men began to retire for the night.
 
As Will stretched out in his bunk, he thanked God for a wonderful day and for his many blessings.

Stretching as she rose for Christmas morning, Hannah quickly donned her coat.
 
The chill in the air filtered through the thin canvas walls of their tent.
 
She smiled, relieved to get a break from traveling on this most blessed day.
 
Last night, just before sunset, the wagons set up camp in this rather nondescript unnamed part of the Arizona Territory.

Exiting the tent she walked the short distance to the blazing fire Paul started.
 
Since leaving Fort Wingate, the landscape became flat again and firewood was scarce.
 
In order to conserve wood, she and Drew were sharing fires with the Lancaster’s.

After breakfast was served and consumed, the settlers gathered in the center of camp for a Christmas service.
 
Reverend Read led them in the reading of the Christmas story followed by a rather long oration.
 
Someone had a guitar and led the group in singing carol after carol.
 
It was a lovely way to celebrate in the midst of the wilderness with harmonic music floating across the air.

Following the morning celebration, Hannah and Drew returned to the warmth of their shared fire.
 
Joy filled Hannah.
 
Christmas was her favorite day of the year—the day her savior entered the world.
 
Although spending the day in a chilly wind huddled around a camp fire was so different from past years, nothing dampened her spirits today.
 
Drew was at her side.
 
Friends shared the fire.
 
As much as she would rather be in a cozy home sitting in front of the fireplace, she gave up reminiscing about past Christmases long ago.
 
She determined to take each year as it came.
 
There was too much pain in looking back.

“My aren’t you glowing today,” Betty commented as Hannah joined her.

“I’m happy,” Hannah replied, nearly giddy.

“In just a few more weeks, we should arrive in our new home.
 
I can hardly wait.
 
Can you imagine what it will look like?” Betty asked.

“You don’t think it will be flat and endless like here?”

“Oh, no, dear.
 
I know for sure there are mountains and valleys,” Betty replied.
 
“All of the mining is being done in the creeks and rivers in the area.
 
I bet it is just beautiful.”

Hannah thought it would be beautiful simply because they would never have to leave again.
 
“I’ll be happy to have a home and not have to ride in a wagon for hours on end every day.”

“Oh, and to have a place dedicated for washing and cooking.
 
Won’t that just be grand?”

“And some privacy, not that I don’t enjoy good neighbors,” Hannah said laying a hand on Betty’s arm.

“I completely understand, dear.”

The conversation lagged and Hannah gazed into the fire.
 
They were so close.
 
Soon, very soon, they would be in their new home and this difficult journey would come to a close.
 
Drew would be back in his own clinic, and she would eagerly fall into the routine of assisting him.
 
She sighed.
 
She longed to be there already.

As Hannah’s gaze lifted from the fire, Drew motioned for her to join him in the wagon.
 
Saying her goodbyes to Betty, she followed quickly.

“Is something wrong?” concerned filled her voice at his unusual behavior.

Instead of answering he pulled her to him and kissed her passionately, holding her close.
 
She melted into his arms and responded in kind.
 
After a moment, Drew pulled away leaving Hannah breathless.

Confused by his spontaneity, she asked, “What was that for?”

“Because I love you so much, Mrs. Anderson,” he said with a twinkle in his eye and half a smile on his lips.
 
“And I thought you might need some warming up on this cold Christmas Day.”

“Drew!” she feigned shock, swatting him with her hand.

The smile faded from his lips, his face grew serious, and his voice husky.
 
“Hannah, I love you so much.
 
I don’t know what I would do without you.”

The sudden change in his demeanor set her on edge, causing her to wonder, yet again, what was wrong.

Drew held her gaze for the longest time, running his fingers through her hair, knocking the pins loose.
 
He made no further move as she thought he might.
 
Instead, he looked deep into her eyes, almost as if it were the last time he would see her.

“What’s wrong?” she pleaded as her fear returned.
 
He was acting so strangely.

Drew hesitated before answering, “I am not certain.”
 
He glanced away, studying the canvas of the wagon as it protected them from the cold.
 
“I have been rather unsettled the last few days, making me rather protective of you right now.”

Hannah was reminded of her nightmares.
 
Maybe he had a similar dream about her.
 
But it was just a dream, wasn’t it?
 
Nothing more.
 
Fear began choking her heart.
 
Needing reassurance, Hannah pressed her lips to his, kissing him softly.

Drew pulled away again, breaking the sweetness of the moment.

“I could not bear to lose you, Hannah,” he said as he rested his forehead against hers.

Fear overwhelmed her, keeping words from forming.
 
She could not bear to live without him either.
 
She lost so many that were dear to her—and Drew was the dearest of all.

Chapter
19

A few days after Christmas, the governor’s party arrived at the designated watering hole called Navajo Springs.
 
The weather grew unpleasant, with cold blowing snow swirling about them.
 
While Hannah wished they would press on, the government officials decided to stop and hold a brief inauguration ceremony.
 
Huddled in a blanket, she stood close to Drew for warmth.
 
Each breath of chilly air pricked her lungs.

“Just think,” Drew whispered in her ear, “we are here for the inauguration of the first government officials of the territory.
 
Look around.
 
There are only a few of us that will ever know this story first hand.”

His eyes glowed with excitement.
 
She wished she was as excited as he.
 
Instead, she shivered and longed for the shelter of the wagon.

“Memorize every detail, Hannah, so we can tell our children.”

The mention of children reminded her of her bareness again, making it difficult to pay attention to the details of the ceremony.
 
She hoped once they settled in Granite Creek she would finally be able to give Drew the family they both longed for.
 
Realizing the ceremony started, she forced herself to listen.