Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry

Author:Kristen McKendry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure;Romance;LDS;British;Columbia;Canada;Gold;Rush;Quest;civil;war;1860s;19th century;travel;journey;love;family;clean;frontier
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2015-08-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Monday morning they all gathered in the yard to see the men off. Their saddlebags were filled with foodstuff Ed had pressed on them, and Karl had put a new leather strap on Matthew’s horse’s bridle to replace a worn one. Peter held the horses’ heads, rubbing their noses speculatively.

“You won’t get far on these mounts. They’re worn out and stringy. They need more meat on them.”

“They’ve got enough in them yet,” Matthew replied.

“You’re pushing your luck wearing the blue,” Ed said. “Someone down your path will surely recognize those trousers for what they are, as we did, and they may not be as sympathetic. Karl has three pair of good broadcloth. Why don’t you trade him, and you’ll be safer?”

The three men looked at each other and then at Karl, who nodded.

“You’d do that for us?” There was a new respect in Matthew’s voice.

“It isn’t much, but it might make your journey easier,” Ed said.

“What do you say, boys?” Matthew looked at Jake and Sam.

“I can’t get out of these fast enough,” Sam said bluntly. “But they’re worn thin. It isn’t a fair trade.”

“It’s all right,” Karl said.

Jake hesitated. “I don’t know. I think I want to hang on to mine. Maybe I could buy yours off you and keep mine rolled up in my pack where no one will see them.”

“All right.”

The women waited on the porch while the others trooped inside to make the exchange. They reemerged with the legs of their trousers rolled up in cuffs because Karl was so much taller than they. Rachel kept her smile under control as the three men mounted again and touched their greasy hat brims to Joanna and Ed.

“You’re good folks,” Matthew said. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”

Ed patted Matthew’s mare on the neck. “You’re good folks too. God bless.”

Matthew tossed his head, his eyes narrow below his hat. “God lost track of us months ago.”

Ed considered. “Don’t be so sure,” he said and reached up to shake hands.

The three horses moved away down the road. Matthew rode in front, his back straight, his eyes staring ahead. Jake gave a brief glance backward at Rachel, tipped his hat, then didn’t look behind him again. But Sam grinned and waved and called his farewells and thanks until they were out of view.

Karl stood with his hands on his hips in his acquired blue trousers, which were too short and straining at the seams. There was a pause, and then Joanna sniffed. “Waste of good broadcloth. I suppose I’ll have to make you more trousers now.” She sniffed again, then went inside. But Rachel caught sight of the woman’s red-rimmed eyes as she went.

* * *

Rachel woke the next morning in the loft, filled with the pleasantness of having had good dreams, though she couldn’t remember them. She lay with her eyes half-closed, the sunlight filtering through chinks in the barn wall, turning the hay to gold. She supposed it was silly, but she’d missed the loft while they’d stayed in the Hunsakers’ attic.

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