Chapter One

CHANGES

FAITH ALLEN LUGGED THE HEAVY crate from the cabin and hoisted it into the back of the wagon. Uncle Jed had helped with the carrying through the morning, but, at lunch, he said his back had started to give him fits, and he hadn’t moved from the rocker since then. Faith put her hand on her back to brace it as she walked back to the cabin for another load. She knew how he felt. Pain shot through her back as if a logger had taken an ax to it, but she knew better than to slow or complain.

“You’re a young’un,” Aunt Mabel would say, “and you’re plenty able to tote and work. Not like us old folks who’re about plumb wore out.”

She glanced up at her uncle rocking on the porch. Since he’d slowed down, he hadn’t remained quite as skinny as he’d been at one time, but he still looked muscular and fit. His hair had turned white, and his skin had a wrinkled leathery look. His expression never changed much. Faith wouldn’t call it a scowl, but she’d rarely seen the man smile. He usually showed very little emotion at all.

“Are we goin’ to git this done today?” Aunt Mabel asked as she poked her head from the cabin. Her dull gray hair almost glowed in the rays of the setting sun. She didn’t have as many wrinkles as her husband, but she had gained weight in recent years, and that seemed to stretch out her skin. “Robust” would describe her better than “fat,” though. Aunt Mabel had a perpetual frown, as if she expected life to be hard, and it had yet to disappoint her. Faith had never seen the woman act loving toward anyone. She didn’t act cruel, but she never showed affection either.

Faith shook her head. What had come over her? She should count her blessings that she had a home at all. Her aunt and uncle had taken her in after her parents died, and she could have had it worse. Life had been hard in the Kentucky mountains, but they’d managed to keep enough to eat most of the time and a roof over their heads. Sometimes Faith wondered what would happen to her after the McCraes died, but she’d tackle that problem when it came. Forgive me, Lord, for unkind thoughts, and put into me a thankful heart, I pray.

“Reckon if we don’t, we’ll just finish up in the morning,” Uncle Jed finally answered. “Don’t guess hit makes a hill of beans difference. Hit’ll still be a mighty long road to Californy.”

“You said we’d have a long layover in Missouri, though, didn’t you?” Aunt Mabel wanted clarification.

“Yeah. I didn’t see no ways around hit and not have to travel through the harsh of winter. We’ll have to wait in Independence ’til the sprang grasses come in, so we’ll winter thar.”

Aunt Mabel gave a nod. “I’m glad our son had that friend whose mama said we could have rooms in her boarding house if Faith would help with the work. That shore will make thangs a whole lot easier.”

Faith wanted to ask when they were supposed to meet up with the other travelers headed for Independence, but she held her tongue. Her aunt and uncle wanted her to be seen and not heard, as they’d told her often enough.

She had mixed feelings about this trip. The McCraes’ son had gone to California when he first heard about the gold found there. He’d written that he had struck it rich and asked his parents to come out and join him. He hadn’t wanted Faith to come along, but when his folks refused to come unless she did, he’d reluctantly agreed.

Faith couldn’t help but be excited about the adventure of it all, but she dreaded leaving the safety of what she knew. It had surprised her that her aunt and uncle had agreed to move, because they’d always been pretty set in their ways.

“Let that be the last load for tonight,” Uncle Jed told her, as he eased up from the rocking chair. “Go ahead and start gettin’ supper on the table. I’m a mite hungry.”

“Yes, sir.”

Faith looked over the stuffed wagon as she set her last load in it. Only the last minute things that they’d need tonight or in the morning remained in the cabin. They’d be able to leave in the morning.

She turned and stared at the little log cabin in order to memorize the image. Her throat clogged up at the thought this would be her last night here. It didn’t look like much, but it and the surrounding garden, field, and woods had been her home since she’d come here at ten years of age, almost a decade ago. She’d done a lot of her growing up in this place.

Well, no time for loitering with work to be done. She’d walked her trails through the forest last Sunday and said most of her good-byes then, but she decided to go to her favorite spot one more time in the morning. She would get up early, before anyone else stirred, take the lantern, and slip away for some quiet time.

How many times had she done that in the past, especially on Sundays? The spot beside the creek had become her favorite church.

The next morning, she sat beside the creek before the sun showed its face. Not far from the house, it remained hidden, and she felt secluded. She didn’t give dangers but a passing thought. The fire in the lantern should keep the wildlife away. This felt like home to her.

Thoughts of worry about this trip and the future wanted to push in, but she held the door shut and refused to let them. Only God knew what the future held, and He’d see her through. He always had.

She voiced some of the Bible verses she’d memorized over the years. They always helped her stay positive, even after her parents had died. It’s what they’d taught her to do.

Some would deem her life here with her aunt and uncle hard, but she’d learned to be thankful for it. Even though they weren’t nurturing, neither were they abusive, and they’d kept her from worse situations. If she’d had a meager existence, she’d learned to make do and improvise. If she had to work diligently, then she’d learned to do all the tasks she would need in taking care of her own family someday. She bowed her head, thanked her Lord and asked for His continued care and guidance as she journeyed into the unknown.

 

 

“Well, there you are, Jakey. I’ve been looking for you. I’m afraid you’ve quite caught my fancy.”

Jacob Parker hated the name “Jakey,” but when he looked at the gorgeous woman in front of him, his irritation dissipated into the crisp September air of evening. At the age of twenty, Lucille had everything a man looked for in beauty. She had light strawberry blonde hair, creamy white skin, and eyes as green as grass, which blazed according to her moods. Surprised she had noticed him at all, he stood a little taller.

Jacob had always felt he stayed on the fringes of the high society around Richmond. He’d grown up the youngest son of a wealthy planter, but his older brother, Charles, would inherit the plantation. Occasionally, he’d been invited to some affairs, like this harvest ball, but he’d been away to college and had rarely been home lately.

“I’m flattered, Miss Staten.”

“Lucille. You must call me Lucille. Would you like to stroll in the garden with me?” Her hand came out to rest upon his arm. The gentleness of it sent warmth up his arm like hot molasses. “I know it’s cooling off this evening, but I need a turn of fresh air after all the dancing I’ve done.”

“I would be honored, and afterwards, perhaps you would also save a dance for me.”

“That sounds delightful.”

Lucille looked around the back area of the house. “Where’s that girl of mine? She’s supposed to stay close, but, when I need her, she’s nowhere to be seen. Would you be a dear and fetch my stole? Mother will be furious with me if I go into the night air heated as I am. She’ll declare I’ll catch my death from cooling off too quickly.”

“Of course, where is it?”

“It’s in my room, the closest door to the top of the stairs. It should be lying across my bed. I distinctly recall telling Mavis to put it out in case I should require it.”

“Your bedroom?”

“Yes. I’d go myself, but I am quite spent after the last Virginia reel. Why, I do think I must have danced every dance, and my limbs feel quite wobbly. Oh, pardon my forwardness. I spoke before I thought.”

“Think nothing of it. I’ll be right back. Why don’t you step inside, while you wait?”

“How considerate of you. You’re just the sweetest thing.”

Her batting eyelashes made the entire scene seem too theatrical and a bit overdone, but Jacob felt too stunned to let it bother him. He’d rarely given the female gender any concerted effort, but he’d now finished his studies, and courting had become more feasible. He couldn’t help feeling a sense of pride in Lucille’s sugary attention.

Jacob quickly climbed the steps and entered Lucille’s room without a problem. This all seemed strange to him. Lucille had never noticed him before, and, although he didn’t know all the social graces as well as Charles, he knew he shouldn’t be in a woman’s bedroom.

Thankfully, the wrap lay on the bed right where Lucille had said it would be. He picked it up and turned to leave when she came in and shut the door.

“I got to thinking and didn’t know if Mavis actually pulled the stole from my bureau, but I see she did. Here let me take that now.” She stepped close and reached for the shawl.

The door burst open and Mrs. Staten let out a blood-curdling scream. “What are you doing here with my daughter?” she screeched.

“Jacob just came up here to help me out, Mother,” Lucille answered for him. “We were going down for a stroll in the garden, and I needed my wrap. We haven’t been here long.”

“I know why a man goes to a woman’s bedroom, Lucille. Even if what you said is true, which I doubt, your reputation is quite ruined now.”

“No one needs to know.” Lucille smiled.

“I’m afraid that’s not true,” Mr. Staten said, as he entered the room. “Look.” He indicated a group of people standing at the bottom of the stairs and staring up through the door Mrs. Staten had left open. “They all heard my wife scream. I think I’d better have a word with you in my office, young man.”

“The only recourse I see here is for you to wed my daughter. I hope you can see that.”

Jacob sat silently. Marry Lucille? Jacob had never thought such a thing to be possible. Why, Lucille had become the most favored woman in Virginia and probably in the entire country. Men from as far away as Maine had courted her.

“I’ve made plans to leave for Oregon before spring, sir. I’m the youngest son, and this seems the best way to obtain a place of my own.”

“I thought you’d just graduated college.”

“I have, because that’s what my parents wanted, but I like farming, and would like to start a place to hand down to my children someday.”

“I think that might actually work out for the best. To be honest with you, I’m afraid we’ve spoiled Lucy terribly. We had her late in life, fifteen years after her brother had been born, and we’ve catered to her every whim. I think she still needs to learn responsibility and do some growing up. Pioneering may be just the thing for her. Marrying her is the only honorable thing for you to do under the circumstance, and the sooner, the better. Rumors are going to be flying after today.”

Jacob felt hooked and pulled in like a bass. He didn’t know if he was ready for marriage, didn’t want to be caught like this, but he seemed to have little choice in the matter now and still be an honorable man. Perhaps marrying Lucille wouldn’t be such a bad idea. He’d need a wife when he got to Oregon, and he’d heard women were in short supply in the West.

“Of course, I’ll finance your trip as the biggest part of Lucy’s dowry. I even have a friend in St. Louis who’s helped outfit some emigrants. I’ll wire him to start purchasing the things you’ll need.”

“That’s very generous, sir.”

“Good. It’s all settled then. We’ll plan for the wedding in about a month, and you and Lucy can spend the holidays here and then have a delayed honeymoon in St. Louis. I’ll take care of all the details. Welcome to the family, son.”

Jacob took the hand extended to him. He felt conflicting emotions of elation and dread. What was he doing? Well, he might be forced into matrimony, but it would be to the prettiest woman he’d ever seen.

 

 

“Here, let me help you, Miss Faith,” Dexter hurried to take the two pails of water she’d been carrying up from the river. “You work way too hard.”

“Well, that’s just the way it is. There’s a lot of work to be done.” Faith didn’t know why it bothered her for Dexter to call her “Miss Faith” instead of “Miss Allen,” but it did. She’d been trying to hold him at arm’s length, but it didn’t always work.

“You need a man to take care of you.” He gave her a grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. Dexter didn’t look that bad. When he got over his gangly youthfulness, he’d probably be a handsome man, but he seemed so immature and carefree now. However, she’d have to admit she liked his smiles and his cheerfulness, and he did seem to lift her spirits.

“What you doin’ over here again, pup?” Uncle Jed bellowed. “Haven’t we had to shoo you off enough already?”

“I’m just carrying the water buckets up.” To Dexter’s credit, he didn’t cower.

“And what makes you thank Faith ain’t able of carrying her own buckets?”

“I wanted to be a gentleman, Mr. McCrae.”

“Go grow into a man first.”

Dexter set the buckets down, tipped his hat to Faith, and gave her a hidden wink. “I’ll be going, then. Good day to you, Miss Faith, Mr. McCrae.” He nodded to each, turned, and left at a normal pace.

“You don’t need to be encouragin’ that young feller.”

“I try to dissuade him, but he doesn’t seem to pay my attempts any mind.”

“Well, try harder. You’re both too young, especially him. How old is he, anyhow? About fifteen?”

“He says he’s sixteen but will be turning seventeen soon.”

“Humph. Too young to be sniffin’ ‘round here. Maybe I’ll commence to gettin’ up the water myself, and you can get an earlier start on fixin’ our vittles. If he don’t stay out from around this wagon, I’m a gonna take my shotgun after him. You understand me?”

“Yes, sir. Perhaps you should have a talk with his father, too.”

“That’s not a bad idee. I thank I might do just that.”