Westward Hearts (25 page)

“She was disappointed to leave,” Ruth said sadly.

“Oh, well, that’s because she likes working with you, Ruthie.” Elizabeth pushed some hair away from Ruth’s eyes. “But they need Belinda back there. She’s turned out to be the best cook of the bunch.”

“Ruth wants to put the icing on the cake,” Clara told Elizabeth.

“That’s a fine idea. I think she should make the icing too.”

“I don’t know how to make icing, Mama.”

“Then it’s high time you learn.” Elizabeth laughed. “After all, you don’t want to end up like Lavinia now, do you?”

Ruth giggled. That had been their private joke when anyone complained about cooking. They’d say, “You don’t want to end up like Lavinia, do you?” Poor Lavinia, besides being a useless cook or perhaps because of it, she seemed to suffer from a case of nerves that often incapacitated her. Clara had begun to suspect it was simply her way of escaping the kitchen chores.

For supper, they spread the table with a checkered cloth, and although Elizabeth wasn’t sure if both Captain Brownlee and Eli would attend, she asked Ruth to set enough places for them. Ruth was just setting a small bouquet of meadow flowers in the center of the table when Ruby Morris entered their camp. “I don’t mean to intrude,” she quietly told Elizabeth. “I know it’s JT’s birthday today, and he was so kind to help Jess with hitching up the horses these last few mornings.” She pushed a small parcel toward Elizabeth. “Well, we just wanted him to have this.”

“Oh!” Elizabeth wasn’t sure how to react. “But everyone should be helping everyone on this journey. There’s no need to—”

“We
want
to,” Ruby insisted. “JT is a fine boy, and Jess and I were both grateful for his help.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Some folks are not so charitable. And we know we’re tinhorns, but we truly appreciate JT’s generosity.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Well, then thank you. I’ll see that he gets this.” As Ruby hurried back to her own camp, Elizabeth was curious as to the content of the small package. She knew as well as anyone that with limited packing space, everything they had brought was considered precious. She checked the pocket in her skirt to be sure that James’ watch, safely wrapped in a handkerchief, was still there. She had decided several days ago that JT was old enough to have his father’s pocket watch.

To JT’s pleasure, both the captain and Eli came to his birthday dinner. And with the surplus of good food and exciting conversation, Elizabeth could tell that they were all having an enjoyable time.

“I can’t remember the last time I had chocolate cake,” the captain said as he stuck his fork into a generous slice.

“This one turned out a bit lopsided,” Clara said apologetically.

“But it should be tasty,” Elizabeth said. “And since we’re almost out of eggs, it might be some time before we see a real cake.”

“Unless our chickens start laying again,” Ruth said hopefully.

Clara laughed. “I doubt that’s going to happen. I don’t think they much like the bumpy trail.”

After dinner, as was their custom, JT was presented with his birthday gifts, starting with a book from his grandparents and two red bandannas from Ruth.

“This is from Ruby and Jess,” Elizabeth said as she handed him the small package. “It’s their way of saying thank you for how you’ve helped with their team.”

He unwrapped the package to reveal a silver belt buckle. “Wow.” His eyes grew wide. “This is really nice.”

“You be sure to thank them,” Elizabeth said and instantly wished she hadn’t. “I know you will.” Now she handed him her own gift. “Happy birthday, JT.”

He peeled the white handkerchief away to reveal the gold pocket watch and then turned to Elizabeth with a shocked expression. “Pa’s watch?”

She nodded. “I know he’d want you to have it.”

JT seemed uneasy.

“You’re proving every day that you’re nearly a grown man, son. I know you will take very good care of it.”

He nodded slowly. “I’ll sure try.”

“And if you want to keep it in a safe place during the trip, you let me know,” Asa told him.

Next the captain gave JT a silver dollar, and then Eli presented him with something wrapped in brown paper. To Elizabeth’s horror, it was a large hunting knife. It wasn’t nearly as big as Eli’s or even her father’s or Matthew’s, but it did seem overly large for a boy. It also seemed extravagant. She wasn’t sure she approved.

“Thank you!” JT slowly removed the knife from its sheath to examine it.

“That’s a fine knife,” Asa said with appreciation.

“Looks like a bowie,” Matthew added.

“It looks very sharp,” Elizabeth said with concern.

“My pa told me that twelve is the age of accountability.” Eli glanced at Elizabeth and then back to JT. “That means you are expected to think and act like an adult.” He smiled. “From what I’ve seen, you are already fairly accountable, JT. And, like I told you the other day, a man needs a good knife out in the wilderness.”

“Thank you so much,” JT said again. “I’ll use it with respect and care.”

“I know you will,” Eli assured him.

“I got something for you too,” Brady said a bit shyly. Now he held out a small wooden box with the initials JTM carved on the top.

“Thank you, Brady.” JT opened the lid. “This is really handsome. Did you carve it yourself?”

Brady nodded.

“It’s beautiful,” Elizabeth told Brady.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“This is the best birthday I’ve ever had,” JT told everyone, thanking them all again.

“And now I think we should continue the celebration with some music.” Matthew was already pulling out his fiddle, and JT went to get his guitar. But after he tuned it, he handed it to Eli. “Would you play some?”

Eli looked uncertain.

“I’d sure like to hear you play,” JT encouraged.

Soon Eli and Matthew were playing some lively tunes. And JT urged Brady to pull out his harmonica and join them.

“Do you mind if I go over and thank Ruby and Jess for the belt buckle?” JT asked Elizabeth as she was making a fresh pot of coffee.

“Of course not.” She poured the freshly ground grinds into the basket.

“Invite all of them to come over and enjoy the music and some coffee, if you like,” Clara suggested. “Sorry there’s no leftover cake to offer them.”

It wasn’t long before Ruby, Doris, and Jess, led by JT, came over to listen to the music. Jess, as usual, lurked on the sidelines, but Elizabeth could see him tapping his toes. And then, to everyone’s surprised pleasure, Doris enticed the captain as well as Asa and Clara and then JT and Ruth out to the open area to dance.

“We need another couple to form a square,” Doris called as she clapped her hands to the music.

“Come on, Elizabeth.” Ruby grabbed Elizabeth by the hand, and with the square formed, they all began to dance. Elizabeth hadn’t danced in years, but it didn’t take long for her feet to remember the steps. And by the time they finished the first set, a small group of onlookers had gathered along the sidelines.

“Come on,” Doris hailed them. “There’s room for more.”

“Bring some more lanterns so we can see,” Asa called out. “Then ya’ll come out and join us, and we’ll do the Virginia reel.”

With more dancers arriving, including all the Bostonians, Elizabeth was surprised to find that her dancing partner had been replaced by Mr. Bramford. At first she was uncomfortable with this arrangement, but with all the teenagers and her own children having such fun, she decided to set aside her inhibitions and simply enjoy herself.

After several dances, she was ready for a break. “Thank you, Mr. Bramford,” she told him politely. “That was exhilarating, but I think I should go make some more coffee.”

“Please, call me Will,” he said as he followed her over to the campfire.

She just nodded, pausing to watch as Matthew, Brady, and Eli continued to play a boisterous tune. Matthew’s brow was perspiring, and she wondered if they were in need of respite. Then, seeing that there was still coffee in the pot, she offered some to Will and then filled three more cups, which they carried over to the musicians, holding them up invitingly. They all nodded and, after they finished their song, seemed relieved to have a break.

Although the dancers expressed disappointment when the music stopped, Paddy McIntire offered to go and fetch his own musical instruments as did a couple of others, and before long a complete new ensemble of musicians was playing enthusiastically. Elizabeth watched happily as her children mixed with the others. Sometimes Ruth danced with her friend Tillie Flanders. Sometimes she danced with her brother. And JT seemed to be the most sought-after partner of the girls his age. Even the older Bostonian girls took their turns with him. He seemed to be growing up right before her eyes.

Before the evening ended, Elizabeth had danced with a number of partners as well. And not only her father and brother and son either. But she was most surprised when Eli Kincaid asked to be her partner. As they were dancing a second reel, Elizabeth burst into unexpected giggles. For some reason it struck her as terribly funny when she considered how shocked she would have been just one year ago if she could have imagined herself right at this moment. Elizabeth Martin, dancing out here in the middle of the prairie with a man dressed in fringed buckskins, no less. Imagine being out here, surrounded by people who until recently had been nothing more than strangers to her. How completely unpredictable—and delightful!

T
hey woke to the misty drizzle of rain the next morning. Elizabeth could hear it dripping down the sides of the canvas, steady and dismal. As she and Ruth dressed, everything inside the wagon felt cold and clammy and damp. “We’ll get the fire going,” Elizabeth promised Ruth as she helped her into a cardigan sweater, “and we’ll dry out and warm up.” But with wet kindling, a fire proved a challenge. Fortunately her parents had their fire going, and the three of them sloshed over to join them.

As the men tended to the livestock, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Clara hovered beneath the awning that extended over the kitchen area, trying to catch some heat from the fire and do some cooking. But by the time breakfast was fixed, the drizzle had turned into a deluge, and small puddles of water were pooling over the same area where there had been lively dancing and merriment the previous evening.

“As you know, I invited everyone in our unit to join us after breakfast today,” Asa said as they were cleaning up. “I thought we could have us a little church service.” He nodded to Matthew. “You think you could accompany some hymns? Something easy to sing, like ‘Amazing Grace’ or ‘Rock of Ages’?”

Elizabeth pointed to a growing puddle. “I wonder if anyone will brave the rain.”

Asa frowned up at the slate-colored sky. “I hadn’t counted on this weather. If this keeps up, I won’t be surprised if no one comes.”

“Well, if anyone comes, I’m willing to play,” Matthew agreed. “But maybe JT and Brady can help out too.”

“How about if we rig up a bigger awning?” Asa suggested.

“I’ve got some extra canvas tarps in my wagon,” Matthew told him.

So as the women cleaned up after breakfast, the men put up an awning, arranging it so that most of the rainwater ran into a water barrel, which would alleviate the need to carry water from the creek in the evening. Having this somewhat protected area actually made their camp feel more habitable, and with the campfire burning nearby, it almost gave an illusion of being dry and warm. Around ten o’clock, Matthew, JT, and Brady began to play music, and it wasn’t long until several families came over to join them, huddling together beneath the awning.

The Flanders were all present and most of the Bostonians, except for Lavinia. Even some of the Mullers attended, including Gertie, who had been noticeably absent last night. And finally the Taylors joined them. Mr. Taylor had on what looked like a freshly brushed black frock, and his wife had on a shiny black satin bonnet that was spotted with rain. Both bore pious expressions and carried Bibles, reminding Elizabeth of how the older couple planned to be missionaries in the West. She sure hoped they didn’t intend to preach to the group today.

Asa warmly welcomed everyone, and several familiar hymns were sung with surprising enthusiasm. Then Asa opened his Bible. “I will be reading from the Gospel of Matthew,” he told them. “Chapter thirteen, verse forty-four.” He cleared his throat.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
” He closed the Bible, and Elizabeth could tell that people were surprised. They had probably expected him to read a lot more. But she was well acquainted with her father’s ways.

“Those words were spoken by our Lord Jesus,” he told the listeners. “But as a farmer I can appreciate their meaning. You see, I understand the worth of land. To me good land is like a valuable treasure. It’s precious. Because I understand this, I was willing to sell all I own. I was willing to leave my worn-out land back in Kentucky. I sold my home and most of my possessions. Just like you good folks, all I have left is what’s packed into a wagon.” He nodded to the covered wagon behind him. “I gave up everything in order to go west—to the promised land. I did this because I felt hopeful that I was going to a land much richer and much more fruitful than the land I’m leaving behind.” He looked at their attentive faces. “I s’pect you folks did the same. You gave up something in order to get something that you hope is better. Am I right?”