Cora's Courage: A Christian Romance (Romance on the Oregon Trail Book 1) by Kathleen Ball

Author:Kathleen Ball [Ball, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-07T04:00:00+00:00

Cora watched as the scout stopped by each wagon. When he got to the last one, he turned to go back to the head of the line. She heard him slow as he neared her and wanted to groan. He stared at her in a lewd fashion and spoke to her too often. If only Harrison would warn the other man off, but he didn’t. Unlike Eddie, Harrison didn’t care who she talked to.

“You do know that I could give you a ride. I’d put you in front of me with my arms around you. You’d be safe.”

“Safe from what? Besides, I have a husband.”

“Heard tell you changed husbands on this trip. Maybe I could be next?”

She ignored him and tried to walk forward but he zigged zagged his mount in front of her slowing her down.

“Your husband will have guard duty one of these nights. You’ll be in that tent all alone.”

Everything about him made her stomach churn. “Leave me alone.”

“I can be very quiet—”

“Leave me alone!” she shrieked.

Harrison pulled out of line.

“Mr. Walsh has pulled off and is waiting for me.”

This time he let her go around him. She hurried to the wagon, dismayed to find herself shaking by the time she got there.

Harrison went to her side of the wagon to lift her up. “What happened? You’re trembling.”

“Let’s get back in line.”

He nodded and lifted both she and the baby up. Then he rounded the wagon and climbed onto the bench seat. He unwrapped the lines from around the brake and yelled, “Haw!”

The wagon lurched forward, and they rode without speaking for several moments. The tremors began to calm, and only an occasional tremor rippled through her.

“Did you want to tell me what that was all about?” Harrison broke the silence. “You were very loud.”

She stared at him as her heart dropped. He thought she’d done something. “Tom Simps was propositioning me. Nothing new except I was madder than usual and he wouldn’t let me pass him.”

Harrison’s fingers tightened on the reins, but he stared at the wagon in front of him. He didn’t even glance at her. Didn’t offer even a hint of outrage at the other man’s behavior or a murmur of understanding for her predicament of being caught with him.

“We’re going extra-long today,” Harrison said in a terse tone.

Turning her head she ignored him.

“You probably saw all the graves. There must be sickness in the area. I noticed most of the women are staying very close to their wagons.”

“Oh,” she said without turning back.

“Didn’t it seem strange you were walking alone?” he asked with a faint edge of irritation. “Or have people been avoiding you again?”

The pain couldn’t have been worse if he’d struck her. Had she done something wrong? Were people gossiping about her again? The group she walked with a week ago had dwindled down to almost no one. She hadn’t noticed they were staying close to their wagons.

She watched the river as they went by. No matter where she went or what she did, she’d be judged harshly.

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