In Clouds of Fire by Elaine Stienon

Author:Elaine Stienon [Elaine Stienon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781418457389
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Published: 2004-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

17

Rusty thought Nathaniel would break down for sure when they said good-bye to Hannah. She took Nathaniel’s hand in her gracious, gentle way and thanked him for bringing them across. He looked embarrassed and mumbled something about sending for him if she ever needed anything.

“I will.” She turned to Rusty, and they held each other in a long embrace. When he finally released her, both were in tears. Nathaniel stood by, his head bent, his eyes glittering.

“Mind Nathaniel, now,” she said with a little smile. “Stay out of trouble.”

Nathaniel nodded to Rusty and the two of them started their trek eastward. Nathaniel looked back at least four times, but Rusty kept his eyes straight ahead. “The missionaries leave their families all the time, so I reckon it can’t be that difficult.”

Nathaniel said nothing, his lips pressed together. They fell into a brisk, rhythmic walk, keeping to the trails between settlements, following the river east. At first Rusty feared that his friend would mope after Hannah all the way across four states. But Nathaniel did his grieving in secret. They took turns carrying the knapsack. It bulged with provisions from the Snyder brother in Richmond, a farmer they all called ‘Rube.’

The first night they camped in an abandoned shed. Nathaniel squinted at the sky. “Storm before morning.”

They ate bread and bacon from the knapsack. “I hope you’re set for walking,” Nathaniel said. “There’s no money for any stage.”

To Rusty’s chagrin, he was the one who broke down. He kept thinking of Hannah and how they’d never been apart before. In the dark, he thought Nathaniel would have no inkling of his weakness; he let the tears run down his cheeks.

Then Nathaniel spoke. “Here, lad.”

Rusty felt a rumpled handkerchief being pressed into his hand. Embarrassed, he dabbed at his face.

There was a pause before Nathaniel spoke again. “You’ll see her before too long, I reckon. She’s kin.”

Rusty sniffed. “Maybe you will, too.”

“That may be.” The rain began drumming on the roof. “But look at it this way. She and the others—they’re safe and well-sheltered. They won’t be cold any more.”

“That’s good to know, after they gave away those pitiful blankets.”

“They did right. Why, come to think of it, they’re warmer than we are. They have a nice fire, and real beds warmed by a warming pan.”

“And bread set by the fire so the end is all toasted. All the comforts of civilization.”

“That’s the way to look at it. Just put her in God’s hands—that’s all we can do.”

They walked through rain and sleet, and spent the nights wherever they could. If they happened upon a cabin or farmhouse at evening, the owners took them in. They spent one night huddled in the side of a haystack after walking long past sunset.

“Too late to ask for proper shelter,” Nathaniel said.

Before they slept, they sat and looked up at the sky. Nathaniel pointed out the constellations and the brightest stars.

“See? There’s Betelgeuse.”

“Beetle what?” Rusty felt ashamed—his knowledge of astronomy ended with the Big Dipper and Orion.

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