Westward Hearts (42 page)

“And please, dear Lord, don’t let Jessica fall on her face,” Ruth said quietly.

“Amen,” Elizabeth added, trying not to giggle.

Clara and Ruth led the way through the camp, followed by Elizabeth and finally Jessica. With Paddy, JT, Brady, and several others contributing to the music, they all walked between the standing guests. The processional was short and sweet, and no one fell on her face. Soon they were all in place, standing with Jessica and Matthew beneath the arch of wildflowers that Ruth and the other girls had worked hard to assemble. The wedding couple, sweetly holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, listened as Captain Brownlee led them in their short, simple wedding vows. This was followed by Asa reading some appropriate scriptures and finishing with a prayer.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Captain Brownlee said triumphantly. “You may kiss the bride, Matthew Dawson.” The unit let out a cheer as Matthew soundly kissed Jessica, and the musicians began to play with energy and enthusiasm as the happy couple led the way over to the area that had been cleared for dancing.

The audience circled around the happy couple, clapping and stomping to the time as the newlyweds danced. Before long, others were joining in, and the general feeling in the air was of festivity and joy.

Or at least it seemed that way. Elizabeth happened to glance over to where Captain Brownlee and Asa were talking together with serious expressions. Curious as to the topic of their conversation, Elizabeth went to join them.

“Excuse us, ma’am.” Captain Brownlee tipped his hat. “We don’t mean to talk business at such a happy occasion, but it’s essential.”

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

Asa rubbed his chin with a frown. “A Shoshone war party was spotted about a few hours north of here.”

“A war party?” Elizabeth kept her voice low.

The captain nodded grimly. “The Shoshone are not normally aggressive toward emigrants. But it’s possible they’re having trouble with another tribe.”

“But we still have to be ready,” Asa told her.

She glanced back at the merrymakers as they started up another dance. “Does that mean the celebration must end?”

“No,” Captain Brownlee said quickly. “Not at all. It’s just that Asa needs to make sure the men in the unit are all informed and that they have their weapons ready to use in the event of an actual attack.”

“An attack?” Elizabeth tried not to look alarmed.

“It’s highly unlikely,” the captain said. “But we’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“Of course.” Suddenly Elizabeth realized that she hadn’t seen Eli in the crowd. “I assume Eli Kincaid is on guard duty tonight.”

The captain nodded absently. “He’s the one who spotted the war party this morning.”

“Oh…”

“But I don’t want this to put a damper on the celebration,” the captain told Asa. “You folks carry on as usual. If anything goes wrong, just be ready to follow orders.”

As the captain was talking, Elizabeth noticed a strange man walking into their camp. At least he seemed strange at first glance, but peering more closely, she noticed that it was actually Eli. Instead of his usual fringed buckskins, Eli had on dark pants and a charcoal-gray jacket. “There’s Eli now,” she told the men.

The captain waved, and Eli joined them. With his crisp white shirt and cleanly shaved chin, he almost looked like a different man, and although he was strikingly handsome, Elizabeth wasn’t sure whether she liked this look better than when he was attired for the trail. He tipped his hat to her and smiled at all of them. “Evening, Elizabeth, Asa, Captain. I’m sorry to see I missed the wedding.”

“That’s all right,” Asa told him. “Under the circumstances, we understand.”

“The captain was just telling us about the Shoshone,” Elizabeth told him, feeling her heart flutter slightly as she looked into his eyes.

“I don’t think we have much to be concerned about,” he said. “I ran into a Shoshone hunter this evening, and without saying anything definite, he insinuated that their problems are with the Sioux and not the white man. Let’s just hope that’s right.”

“Even so, we’ll be ready,” Asa told him.

“In the meantime, we have a wedding to celebrate,” Elizabeth said.

Eli held out his arm. “And you promised me a dance.”

She smiled as she tucked her hand around his elbow. “That’s right. I did.”

She nodded to the captain and her father, pretending not to notice the glint of amusement in both their eyes as she let Eli lead her back toward the festivities. “You look very handsome tonight,” she said politely.

“Thank you.” He paused, turning to look more closely at her, almost as if really seeing her now. “I cannot even find the words to describe how lovely you look tonight. I know it might sound trite, and I’ve had a long day on the trail. And don’t get me wrong, the trail is beautiful, especially in these parts, but Elizabeth Martin, you truly are a sight for sore eyes. Prettier than a high mountain meadow on a clear June morning.”

She laughed lightly. “Thank you, Eli. That’s high praise indeed.”

Without taking his eyes off of her, he guided her to the edge of the dancing and gently placed his right hand in the small of her back. Clasping her hand in his left, he led her toward the others. And as they danced, gazing directly into each other’s eyes, Elizabeth felt that either she had wings on her feet or they were dancing on clouds. Whatever it was, she wished it would go on forever. And despite the unknown hardships that she knew surely lay ahead, whether grueling mountain crossings, wild impassable rivers, or even frightening Indian attacks, she knew that the second half of their journey held even more promise than the first—and that she would be ready.

1. Elizabeth Martin is in a dark place when the book begins. Aware of how much sharper her grief feels in the middle of the night, she longs for morning. Can you relate to this in any way? Why does the dark of night make problems seem worse?

2. Elizabeth considers living out her deceased husband’s dream by taking her children to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. Did you see her as brave? Foolhardy? Unrealistic? Adventurous? How would you have advised her?

3. Were you relieved when Matthew, her brokenhearted brother, decided to go to Oregon? Describe a time when you took on a big challenge thanks to someone who was willing to go alongside you.

4. Initially, Asa and Clara both solidly oppose Elizabeth and Matthew’s plans to go west. What do you think made them change their minds?

5. Can you imagine restarting your life with only a wagonload full of goods that you need to survive? What items (beyond food and clothes) would you not be able to leave behind?

6. Were you surprised to discover that Ruby used to run a “dance hall”? How did you react to the way that Asa handled this potentially explosive situation?

7. Many things about life, although challenging, seemed simpler back in the 1850s. What one characteristic of that era do you wish you could incorporate into your own life today?

8. Did you suspect that Jess was really a woman? What did you think when you realized she was? Have you or someone you know ever pretended to be something different? Describe.

9. Many lessons have been learned on the Oregon Trail, and many more are coming. What lesson do you think would have the most impact on your life?

10. Both Eli Kincaid and Will Bramford seem to have their eye on Elizabeth. Which one do you think would be the best match? Why?

11. Gertie Muller is a difficult person for many of her fellow travelers. Why do you think she’s so cantankerous? Do you have a difficult person like that in your life?

12. What is your general impression of the Taylors (the missionary couple)? Do you think they’re sincere in their claim to be serving God? Why or why not?