Xander heard Josephine’s cries. He felt like an intruder as well as the person responsible for her recriminations. She was an incredible woman. Her fortitude, her assistance with her cousin had been invaluable. Even the various items she’d purchased before and during the trip had been helpful not frivolous. Unwilling to interrupt, he made his way back to the wagons and settled down for the night. He heard her slip into the wagon late and could hear whispers coming from within but could not distinguish the words. Perhaps her cousin will be of help to her.
The next two days were uneventful. They stayed in farmhouses along the way on their trek west until they split off from Boone’s Wilderness Road then headed farther south toward Tennessee. After a day and a half journey on the southern route, they’d head west toward Knoxville. He still hadn’t spoken with Josephine, though the tension between them had lessened. He tried not to provoke her. And he couldn’t get over the feeling that she looked like a wounded bird with a broken wing.
Tonight they would make camp out in the wilderness again. Unfortunately it was looking like rain. During dinner, Jo asked, “Where will you sleep if it rains?”
“Under the wagons,” Xander admitted. He wasn’t looking forward to a wet night’s sleep but would be glad to stop at the Smith farm and have a warm bath tomorrow night.
“I have some oilcloth if you think it will help keep you dry.”
“I was wondering about hanging a hammock inside your wagon,” Mike suggested.
“It would work. But it wouldn’t be proper for the ladies to have men sleeping in the same quarters.”
“Ah.” Mike took a fork full of food and nodded. “I’d like to try some of that oilcloth, Miss Jo.”
“Be happy to.” Jo jumped up and ran to Mike’s wagon where she pulled out a carpetbag and a huge amount of oilcloth.
“How much did you purchase?” Xander asked.
“Eight yards,” Jo answered and sat back down with the others.
“We could roll ourselves around two or three times with that much.” Xander chuckled.
Everyone joined the gaiety. Then Jo suggested, “What if we sewed it together and made a lean-to off the side of the other wagon?”
“Or I could rivet it together,” Xander added. “It might be faster, and night is approaching.”
“Do you have large rivets to secure it to the side of the wagon?” Mike asked.
“Sure.” Xander placed his unfinished meal to the side and ran into his wagon. Within minutes he had the rivet pliers and rivets in hand. He found the ladies cutting the cloth in half. “To seam it, fold the ends together and lay them flat on one side of the cloth.”
Slowly, they worked their way down the cloth and had it riveted together in one sheet. Mike had hammered in some nails on the wagon. Xander placed the larger rivets on the top and lined them up with the nails. Within an hour they had an oilcloth lean-to hanging off the side of the wagon. Jo and Sarah tied and pulled a line taught from the wagon to the ground then staked the line into the ground.
Jo stood with her hands on her hips. “What if the wind blows? Did you bring some clothespins, Sarah?”
“Yes. I’ll get them.” Sarah climbed into Mike’s wagon.
Xander slapped Mike on the back. “It appears that we shall not be getting wet this evening.”
“I’m happy about that.” Mike smiled.
“Thank you, ladies.” Xander turned toward Jo. Sarah hadn’t returned yet. “Do we need to give her a hand?”
Jo glanced at the wagon. Xander’s gut cinched. He still hadn’t apologized. He gave her a weak smile. “She’ll find them.” Jo glanced around as if uncomfortable. “I better clean up our dinner.”
“Would you heat up mine? I wasn’t finished.” Xander stuffed his hands in his pockets. “If it isn’t too much trouble.”
“I’d be happy to,” Jo said.
“Mine, too, please?” Mike gave her a cheesy smile.
“Round two for dinner coming right up,” Jo said with a smile and went back to the fire. She took the metal plates and put them on some of the cooler coals and set the pot over the hotter coals.
“She’s remarkable,” he whispered to Mike but not quietly enough.
“You might want to encourage her. She’s seemed pretty low the past few days. What happened between the two of you?” Mike asked.
“Nothing.”
“And if you think I believe that …”
“A difference of opinion,” Xander offered.
“That’s not it,” Sarah said coming up behind them. “She is … never mind. It isn’t my place to say.”
Xander knew all too well what the real problem was and that he in part was the cause of it. “It is none of our concerns. Now let’s finish fixing our lean-to.”
An hour later they were done eating their second course and ready for bed, just as the rain began to fall. It fell all night and throughout the morning. By lunch the sun came out. Everyone took advantage of the dry air and changed their clothing. They stretched out the oilcloth to let it dry then folded it up.
Jo walked away toward the river, and Xander knew he had to apologize. He followed behind her and held his breath as he caught her crying out to God again. The knife in his gut twisted. “Miss Wooley, I’m so sorry.”
Jo turned at Xander’s voice. Humiliated, she turned away. “Please, leave me alone.”
“I’m sorry. I came to apologize. I spoke harshly with you, and you didn’t deserve it.” She couldn’t turn around. She wanted to, but it was too embarrassing.
A twig snapped between them. He grasped her shoulders. The comfort she felt from his hands made her spine crumble. He turned her into his arms and held on to her. He smoothed her hair. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to be hurtful. You are an incredible woman.”
She sniffed and shook her head no, pushing away. “No, I’m not. My strong will and inability to keep my opinions to myself push people away.”
“Perhaps.” Xander released her, leaned against a tree, and crossed his arms. “But isn’t it possible God equipped you with a strong will for a greater purpose? You’re an intelligent woman; you think quick on your feet; you can see problems and come up with solutions faster than anyone I’ve ever known before. Like the lean-to.”
She didn’t want to whine … “I’m sorry for judging you and your business. It is hard to accept a man would be a matchmaker.”
Xander chuckled. “You have no idea. It took me several years to admit that I was a matchmaker. Those words, even today, are difficult to say. I simply was in the right place at the right time. God used … uses me to help bring people together.”
Jo sat down on a log.
“Believe it or not, it is a hard job. I pray over every man and woman and pray for the Lord’s guidance. It isn’t easy. There is this one man who I doubt I will find an acceptable spouse for. He’s turned down two brides-to-be so far, and I told him that if this last one doesn’t suit him that I can no longer look for him. I hate that women get hopeful and he turns them down for something minor.”
“No, I imagine it isn’t easy if you are … I mean, because you are so careful. I’ll admit I didn’t believe a man could do this occupation, but I’ve seen how thorough you are and you have a devotion to the Lord that runs deep. Deeper than mine, I daresay.”
He leaned forward and started to reach out his hand but pulled it back. Jo wished for the contact. The few moments in his arms were so calming.
“We all have moments …” His words trailed off.
Jo nodded. Of course she wasn’t the only one to have a crisis of faith. Or was it not really a crisis so much as it was a time of conviction? Either way, she knew she’d pull through this. “I do not wish to be a burden,” she admitted then glanced at the sun. “We need to get going.”
Xander held her gaze for a moment then checked out the sun’s location. “Yes, you are right.” He stood and offered her a hand up.
She placed her hand in his. Warmth spread through her body. She felt … what? It couldn’t be love. More like acceptance. Yeah, that was it. Accepted by Xander Russell. Her mind flickered. Whom would he pair her up with, if she asked?
As the day wore on, a peace filled Jo. Had God made her with a strong personality for a reason? And if so, why? What was she supposed to do?
That evening those questions continued to rattle around in her brain. The next morning she and Sarah worked on breakfast as the men hitched up the wagons. They had developed a pattern, and oddly enough Jo was comfortable with it. She took her place on Xander’s wagon, and after they’d been on the road for an hour he asked, “You look well. Have you forgiven yourself?”
She gave a quirky smile. “Yes. I must say I’m still at a loss for my future, but I’m at peace with who I am.”
“Good. God doesn’t make mistakes.”
She played with the fabric of her dress in her lap. “I was wondering. Do you think you might know someone who would want to marry a woman like me?”
Xander leaned back, unfortunately pulling the reins a bit with him. He released his grip and gave the lead back to the horses. “You want to get married?”
“I think so. But it would have to be a man who understood me. Who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind if it were contrary to mine. As you pointed out, I’m strong-willed, and I believe it would take a man of equal strength of will to help me navigate through the decisions we would need to make together.”
“I suppose so.” Xander paused for a moment. “I’ll have to think on that a bit. There are a lot of strong and bull-headed men, but you would need someone who would be sensitive to you as well. He’d have to cherish you and see the gift you are from the Lord. A rare and precious jewel.”
Heat infused her cheeks. All of a sudden she knew that the man who equaled her in strength and determination, who was patient and would cherish her was sitting inches away. Unfortunately, he wasn’t interested in finding a wife for himself. “Thank you,” she said so quietly he almost missed it.
“Give me time, Josephine, and I’ll find just the right man for you.”
Jo smiled and turned her head away. The question was could he find it in himself?
Xander’s throat thickened from Jo’s request. The strong-willed men he knew were not gentle with their words. Although someone like John Sprouse might be able to keep up with Josephine. She was easy on the eyes. No man, at first sight, would want to turn her down. But he couldn’t put her in a situation where she’d try to bully the guy into doing her will or she’d be verbally beaten into submission—if not worse. She would probably be his hardest client to find a mate for. She could cook, clean, and sew, and she was creative, with an inventive mind. Not to mention how thoroughly she thought through things, he recalled, having prepared for this trip in less than an hour. That kind of quick thinking could put a man into a tailspin. She was incredibly practical. His mind flashed to Don Bishop over in Spencer, Tennessee. He was a pig and tobacco farmer. Xander shook his head. No, he couldn’t see Jo as a pig farmer.
He took in a deep pull of air and released it slowly. How could he find Josephine a husband when he was beginning to have feelings for her himself? “I’ll work on it, Miss Wooley.”
He should have her write the letter of introduction, as he required of all the others. But he’d wait a few days. Perhaps she’ll change her mind.
Xander glimpsed her from the side and marveled at the change in her demeanor. If it were possible, she was even prettier than the first time he’d met her.
For the next five days they continued on without speaking any further about Xander finding a spouse for her. At the same time, he found her more and more engaging. Sarah, on the other hand, was about ready to jump out of her own skin. The closer they got to Knoxville the more she seemed agitated. “How’s your cousin?” he asked Jo as she stepped up to his bench seat.
“She’s really nervous. You’re certain John Sprouse is the right man for her?”
“I was. But I’m not sure how he’ll handle her nerves. He’s been through the mill with his first wife dying. He won’t want to … Let’s just pray.” He took her hand in his and prayed. “Father, calm Sarah and give her a peace about John. He’s a good man and he will love her. Amen.”
Jo rubbed the top of his hand with her fingers. “Father,” she prayed, “we know the strain this long trip has been on Sarah. Please calm her. I’m trusting Mr. Russell has heard from You on this match. We pray for John and Sarah and trust You to give them the future together that has You at the center of it. Amen.”
“Amen.” He squeezed her hand and slipped his own out from her grasp. His heart had warmed to her touch. His pulse quickened. Dear Lord, I don’t think I can help Josephine Wooley find a husband.
“Look inside,” a voice whispered inside his mind.
God?
No response.
Xander got up and went through the contents of his wagon. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what he had in there that God would want him to see with regard to finding Jo a husband.