Colorado Courtship by Carolyn Davidson

Author:Carolyn Davidson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

One wagon overturned, bringing progress to a halt as the contents were salvaged from the creek bottom and spread to dry over bushes on the other side of the crossing. Its owners were thankful for small favors, aware that it might have been a total disaster. For had the wagon broken apart, they’d have been without transport, forced to seek out a settlement and delay their journey. The train must continue, or face snow in the upper regions of the mountains ahead.

That their own journey would end before they reached that point was a comfort to Jessica. Part of the group would turn south to Sante Fe, the rest north to the Oregon Trail. She breathed a sigh of relief that she would not be in their number. Most of the miners were heading for the gold and silver fields nearer to Pike’s Peak, and she feared that there might be a dearth of female companionship once the train broke into three groups. But she would have Finn to look after her. Even though his motivation for marrying her left much to be desired, he was loyal, a responsible man. She would be satisfied with that.

The crossing delayed them for another full day, for the families were not willing to continue on late in the afternoon. A vote was taken and they set up camp for another night just beyond Cottonwood Creek. The ladies stayed close to camp, as if the happenings of the night before had put a damper on their freedom.

Jessica lit a fire, gathering bits of kindling from the surrounding prairie where, at some time, trees had evidently flourished, probably cut down by those who’d gone before and used for firewood. She set her skillet on the coals and ladled lard onto its surface. A brace of rabbits had been brought back to camp by David Bates, and he’d offered one of them to her for their evening meal.

Grateful for the meat, she’d washed it in the creek, David having cleaned it first, keeping the hide for himself. Arlois said he would tan the inside of the skin and use it later for slippers for her. Finn offered to show her how to stitch them together to fit her feet, a skill he’d picked up from the Indians he’d met during the previous years.

Now Jessica floured the assorted pieces and placed them on the skillet, turning them as they browned. Finn sat on the ground behind her, silent as he watched her move back and forth, preparing their supper. She’d tried her hand at the flatbread Arlois was so good at, and to her surprise it had turned out well, crusty on the outside, tender within.

A can of peaches made up the rest of the meal, and Finn reached out for the container as she attempted to open it with a knife. “Let me do that before you cut yourself,” he said gruffly.

“I can do it,” she protested, but he only looked at her steadily, his hand outstretched until she obliged him.

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