Westward Hearts by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson [Carlson, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736948722
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2012-11-10T02:24:53+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

At last, at last—they were finally on their way! Elizabeth had felt a mixture of jubilance, high anxiety, and impatience when her wagon started to roll that morning. Unit five was currently occupying the tail end of the train, so they didn’t actually pull out until nearly eight. However, she and JT and Brady had gotten the team hitched and ready to go at the “crack of dawn,” just as her father had instructed. After that, JT noticed that Ruby and Jess, whose wagon was behind them, were struggling to hitch up their own team, and he went over to offer his assistance. Elizabeth couldn’t have been prouder of her boy. Asa went over to supervise but soon returned to assure Elizabeth that JT had gotten it just right. “He’s a smart lad.”

Then, with their wagons hitched and packed and ready to roll, they’d all consumed a standing breakfast of cold cornbread and bacon and hard-boiled eggs—prepared to jump into their wagons at any moment. But the wait, almost two hours, had seemed endless. Naturally, they were all antsy to be on their way. However, Asa made good use of their extra time by reading from the family Bible—he read the scriptures about Abraham and Sarah setting out on the desert—and then he asked God’s blessing on their first day of travel.

To start the journey, Elizabeth had decided to drive her own wagon with her children at her side and the dog in the back. Brady was riding alongside Matthew with the understanding that he’d take her place behind the reins after they stopped for dinner. After that, she and the children would walk or ride horses until they finally stopped to make camp for the night. However, she soon realized that driving the wagon wasn’t nearly as fulfilling as she’d imagined, especially in the rear of the train, where it was exceedingly dusty. Just the same, the children’s spirits were high, and at Ruth’s insistence, they sang some songs. The pace seemed slow, but Elizabeth understood why that was. What she didn’t understand was why they stopped several times. Would it always be like this?

A misty spring rain began to fall by midmorning so that Elizabeth had to pull the tarp awning out over their heads to protect them. Then JT fetched a blanket that they shared over their shoulders. However, the moisture did help to settle the dust some, and Elizabeth knew it would be advantageous to the prairie grass as well. As they continued to roll along, it felt good to be out in the open again. The days spent on the river and then in the wagon camp had felt a bit close and crowded. But looking from the right to the left, from north to south, and seeing nothing but rolling grasslands was refreshing.

All was peaceful and green with a wide stretch of cloudy sky for as far as the eye could see. Bucolic and serene. Even the rain-scented air smelled fresh and clean. And the team seemed energetic and happy to plod steadily along.

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