Sam dismounted and tied his horse to one wheel of the women’s handcart. He removed his hat and held it tightly in his hand as he walked toward Ruth, standing with Caroline. Both women were watching Sophia and Pauliina take their personal possessions from the cart.
“Ruth, would you walk with me a little?” Sam asked.
Ruth studied Sam’s face for a few seconds. “All right,” she said.
They went off from the camp, neither speaking, feeling an important moment had arisen in their lives.
Sam looked sideways at Ruth’s beautiful face as they walked. His desire for her was a great ache in his heart. “Ruth, Nathan and the other Texans have asked me to go south with them. There’s land aplenty just for the taking in Texas. A man could make a good home for a woman. Will you go with me?”
Ruth halted and turned toward Sam. “I like you, Sam, very much. But there are no Mormons or Mormon churches in Texas. I asked Mathias about that. I could not leave my church.”
“You would have Sophia and Pauliina near you. They are Mormons.”
“I know. But I don’t think their belief in our religion is very strong. And I still want a place to worship the Lord.”
“There are other good religions in Texas.”
“I am a Mormon and I want a Mormon temple to worship in. I want to see the Prophet. These things can only be done in Salt Lake City. I must go there.” She looked steadily into Sam’s eyes. “Why don’t you come to Salt Lake City with us, with me?”
Sam silently considered the proposal. Then he spoke. “I couldn’t live among the Mormons, for I would always be an outcast.”
“Join the Church. Become one of us,” Ruth said hopefully.
“I believe all churches are to some degree false. I know I could never be a faithful Mormon.”
“I’m sure the religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true one. I have enough faith for both of us.”
Sam shook his head. “I can’t go.”
“I shall go on with the others to Utah,” Ruth said firmly.
“Then I wish you well, Ruth. May all good things come your way.”
“God will always look after and protect the Mormons.”
“I don’t care about the Mormons,” Sam said. At that moment he hated the religion. “I hope God, if there is one, takes good care of you.” He turned away.
He did not see the tears in Ruth’s eyes, nor hear her muffled sob.
***
Rowley gave the order for the company to assemble into marching formation. He pulled his wagon to the lead position, then walked back along the line of handcarts to the Texans and the three women preparing to leave.
He looked at Caroline. She was thoughtfully observing Sophia, Pauliina, and Emily sorting out the items they would take to Texas with them. Mathias felt a great joy that Caroline was going on to Salt Lake City with him. He had seen Nathan’s expression when he looked at Caroline, and their walks together had bothered him.
Mathias spoke to Sam and the Texans, who stood holding several horses, some with saddles and others carrying packsaddles. “I’d like to thank all of you for what you have done to help us.”
All the men except Nathan voiced their acceptance of Mathias’s thanks. Nathan only briefly nodded. He did not trust himself to speak. He hated leaving without Caroline. Her words in the night that she would not go with him had left no doubt about her intentions, no room for Nathan to hope. He would not ask her again.
“Are you about ready, handcart woman?” Ash called to Sophia in a lighthearted tone.
“Nearly so, Texas man. But I’m no longer a handcart woman.” She laughed happily. “I’m Texas bound.”
Nathan heard the drum of running horses approaching from the west. He turned. A large band of riders was hurrying toward the Mormons.
Rowley broke away and walked out to meet the newcomers. He raised his hand in greeting. “Grueling, I’m very glad to see you.”
“I’m glad to have found you. Is everybody all right?” Grueling dismounted. His men swung down behind him.
“Everything is fine now that you are here,” Mathias said.
Grueling barely acknowledged Mathias’s reply. He was studying the three pretty women, who were packing what appeared to be their personal possessions, the four men seemingly waiting for them.
“What’s going on there?” Grueling gestured at the Texans. “Who are those strangely dressed fellows?”
“Some Texans who came north to find wives.”
“Are those women making ready to go with the Texans?”
“Yes. They’re about ready to leave. Then we can be on our way.”
“No women are deserting the company,” Grueling said harshly. “Why would you permit it? The Prophet told me to bring every woman to Salt Lake City. That same order applies to you.”
Grueling brushed past Mathias and called out in a strident voice, “Where do you women think you’re going?”
***
Nathan watched Rowley welcome the band of men. The long-expected Mormon guards from Utah had finally arrived. Caroline would now be safe during the remainder of her journey. That thought did little to allay his deep sadness at their parting.
Nathan was surprised at the loud, blunt question of the man called Grueling. He had no right to speak to the women in that tone. Nathan felt his instant anger. Jake, Ash, and Les grew tense, and their faces became bleak.
Grueling jabbed his finger at the three women, one after the other. “I ask again: Where do you think you’re going?”
“To Texas,” Sophia replied, the first of the women to overcome her astonishment at the rough question coming from the stranger. She lifted her head challengingly.
“No Mormon women are going off with apostates,” Grueling said, his voice hard. “There are good husbands waiting in Salt Lake City. You can probably find husbands right among these men who came with me.”
“I don’t know what an apostate is,” Ash said. “But these women are going with us Texans. You go hunt yourself some other women.”
“I don’t think so,” Grueling said. He motioned with his hand.
The twenty Mormon men moved quickly to flank Grueling. They stared belligerently at the three Texans.
Sam came up beside Nathan. “What’s happening?” he asked.
“Trouble.” Nathan stepped up and stood beside Ash.
Sam followed on Nathan’s right. “Goddamn Mormons want all the beautiful women,” Sam said.
Mathias saw the coming battle. The Texans would not go without the women. “Grueling, you don’t understand. These men risked their lives this morning by fighting a battle to keep this handcart company safe. Let the women leave with them.”
“Absolutely not. My instructions are to bring every one of the women to Salt Lake City. I intend to do exactly that.”
“I’ve heard of your actions, Grueling,” Mathias said angrily. “This time you’re going too far.”
“Tell that to Prophet when you get back. For now we’ve ridden too far to stand idly by and let those, or any other women, leave.”
Caroline’s voice cut into the conversation like a sharp knife. “Do you mean you’d use force to prevent them from going with the men of their choice?”
Grueling looked at Caroline. “You’re not wanting to go, so why are you getting into this?”
“Because it’s important to me to know how I’ll be treated in your much-bragged-about Zion.”
Mathias felt his alarm at the confrontation between Caroline and Grueling. He spoke quickly. “Caroline, this man is different from other Mormon men,” he said. “We are not dictators or mean to our women.”
“You say that,” Caroline said sharply. “What does he say?” She jabbed her finger at Grueling as he had jabbed his finger at her friends. “And what do all these other men say?”
“My wives do as I say,” Grueling said.
“And how many wives do you have to order around?” Caroline questioned.
“I have five good wives.”
“Five wives. And I bet they’re very obedient wives too,” Caroline said, mocking Grueling. She spun to look at Nathan. “What have you to say about a woman who would be your wife?”
Nathan looked into Caroline’s eyes, sparkling like jewels with her emotion. She was grand. “I’d say she deserved a husband all to herself.”
Caroline smiled at Nathan, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He would give his soul to spend the next hundred years with her.
Caroline’s smile became a happy laugh, as if she could read his mind. With this man she would never be afraid of what the future might bring. In Texas she could claim land fit for a king; better, a queen.
“Will that horse carry both of us?” she asked Nathan.
“Yes. But we have plenty of horses.”
“Give me a minute and I’ll be ready to travel.”
“Stop!” ordered Grueling. He moved in front of Caroline and made to take hold of her.
“Hold there!” Nathan’s voice was like thunder. No man could touch his woman with force. His anger was so cold, it seemed to burn him. He moved with unnatural swiftness upon Grueling.
Mathias was closer. He lunged at Grueling. The Avenging Angel was going too far. “You stupid bastard!” Mathias cried, his voice full of anguish. “You have caused me to lose something very valuable to me.” Mathias struck Grueling a savage blow to the face.
Grueling staggered backward. He lifted his hands in defense.
Mathias charged forward, beating aside Grueling’s guard, striking him powerfully with his fist, left and right.
Grueling’s legs buckled and he fell hard. Mathias bent over him, his fist cocked to strike again. Grueling did not stir.
Mathias straightened, breathing hard. He shot a fierce look at Grueling’s men. “This handcart company is mine. I’ll give the orders. Do all of you understand me?”
A few of the men nodded in the affirmative. Most stared back, obviously unsure of which side to choose. One man spoke. “Orrin can settle that with you when he comes around.” There was respect for Mathias in his voice.
Mathias turned to Caroline. “Don’t go. Come with me.”
“It is too late for that. I’m going with Nathan,” Caroline replied. “I would never fit into your land of Zion. I must have the freedom to breathe, to be myself.”
Mathias’s face became tortured. “Are you very sure?”
“Yes.” Her voice had an unshakable certainty.
“Then go now,” Mathias said sadly. “Go before Grueling becomes conscious and there’s more trouble.
Caroline hastened to the handcart and rolled her scant possessions into her blankets. She returned with the bundle. Nathan added it to the load on the packhorse.
The four Texans helped the women to mount their horses. They took up the lead ropes of the packhorses.
Sam guided his mustang over to Ruth. “Here, take one of these ponies to help you get to Utah.”
“Thank you, Sam,” Ruth said. “I shall never forget you.”
Sam leaned down from the saddle. He brushed Ruth’s cheek with his fingertips, then slowly ran them along the delicate skin and bone of her jaw. That was all he would ever receive from this lovely girl. Soon she would be someone else’s wife. He felt as if a picket pin had been driven through his heart.
“Good-bye,” Ruth said.
“I shall remember and dream of you for as long as I shall live,” Sam said. He reined his horse away. Nathan spoke to the sad man. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to the mountains in the fall to trap.” “Remember that you have friends in Texas. Come to see us there on the Salt Fork of the Red River and maybe stay.”
“I’ll surely do that. So long for now.” Sam lifted his horses in a swift pace to the east. He cast one long look over his shoulder. Then he faced the front again.
Nathan led off. Caroline guided her horse in beside him. After a distance, she glanced back. One lone handcart sat forlorn and abandoned on the empty prairie.