Heartland Courtship (20 page)

Mrs. Cat had—for the first time—leaped up onto her lap and sat huddled there. Rachel was grateful for the cat’s company. She stroked the soft fur and murmured comforting words that soothed the cat and herself. Her pulse raced with the wind.

She prayed silently. She imagined everyone at worship in the town school and went through the rows, naming those she knew and praying for those she didn’t by description. But the faces of Brennan and Jacque lay like a transparent photograph over all the other faces. The thought of them out in this... She blanched and prayed more fervently.
Save them, God—even if I never see them again. Save them.

Something large slammed the side of the cabin. She cried out and the cat jumped and raced under the bed. Rachel sat, shaking, hearing something like a locomotive outside. She reached under the bed, grabbed the cat by her scruff and was down in the root cellar within moments.

She clung to the cat who yodeled with fear. Her heart pounded. “Oh, Lord, do not forget thy servant here! And keep Jacque and Brennan safe and oh, Lord, bring them back—alive!”

* * *

“Rachel! Rachel!”

She roused in her bed and rolled out and blinked in the sunshine seeping in around the shuttered windows. She had not undressed the night before, fearing her cabin might break under the wind’s assault and she would be forced to flee. Early in the morning when the wind had finally ebbed, she’d crawled out of the cramped, hard-dirt root cellar and fallen into bed.

“Rachel!”

For a moment her mind tried to transform it into Brennan’s voice. But it was Noah’s.

She ran to the door and unbolted it. “Cousin!” She ran and threw her arms around him, gratitude flooding her.

He held her close. “Thank God. You’re safe. I couldn’t come until the wind died and the sun came out.”

Then Sunny ran over, carrying their little son. “Rachel! Oh, thank God!”

The three of them drew together with little Dawn squeezing in their midst, clinging to their knees. The embrace released Rachel’s tears. She couldn’t hold back her fear. “I’m so worried about Brennan and Jacque.”

Noah and Sunny stepped back. “We are, too.” Noah claimed her hand. “But there is no way of knowing where they are.”

“We’ll just have to trust God,” Sunny said, jiggling her son on her hip, but looking somber.

Dear Sunny. Dear Noah.
Rachel gazed at them, knowing there was no other recourse. Then she scanned her familiar clearing. Leaves, pinecones and downed branches littered her yard. Part of a tree had slammed her west wall. “What was it? A tornado?”

“We never got any rain,” Noah said. “It was some terrible cyclone is all I can figure.”

“Did you look outside last night?” Sunny asked.

“No, why?”

“The sky to the far east was red,” Noah said grimly.

“Fire?” she whispered.

Noah nodded, looking sickened. “I’m afraid so. The forest was so dry...”

To the east—the direction Brennan and Jacque had gone. Fire vast enough to turn the sky red. Her throat constricted. She turned to look east, but saw only the fresh dawn.

“I’m driving around, checking on my flock,” Noah said. “So far no one has been seriously hurt. But many will need repairs to their roofs.”

“Rachel, if you’re up to it,” Sunny said, “Posey wanted you to come to town. Her grandmother passed away last night.”

Rachel felt a twinge of sadness, then gratitude that God had provided Levi for Posey. But where was Brennan? Would she ever hear from him? Know what had happened to him? To Jacque?
Please.

“Has thee had breakfast?” Rachel asked.

The cow bellowed from the barn, reminding her she’d not been milked last night. The sound prompted her stomach to growl with hunger.

“Yes, we’ve eaten and we need to get going. We have many more settlers up this road to check on,” Noah said, shepherding his wife and daughter toward the wagon. “When we’re done, we’ll stop at the Ashfords’ before we go home.”

“I’ll do my chores and go there as soon as I can,” Rachel said, yet remained outside and waving to them until they disappeared around the bend.

Mrs. Cat sat at her feet, licking her paws. Then she mewed plaintively as if saying breakfast was an excellent idea.

A robin warbled from above.

Rachel looked up with joy. “Her” robin had made it through the storm. She answered the bird who then flew away to find her breakfast also.

Rachel’s mind brought up the words from Matthew:
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Brennan and Jacque were precious not only to her but also to God. Tears trembled from her eyes. “I will trust thee, Father.”

She walked to the barn, allowing tears of sorrow and thanksgiving to fall freely. She milked the cow then let it and the chickens out and then went in to make herself and Mrs. Cat breakfast.

She would take time to bake a cake for the Ashfords. People would be coming and a cake would be welcome. She would not give in to despair. God’s eye was on Brennan and Jacque. But how she wanted to see them for herself.

Chapter Fifteen

F
our days had passed since the storm. Each day added another millstone around Rachel’s neck. Images of Brennan and Jacque in a fiery forest streamed through her mind—memories by day and dreams at night, horrible dreams that burned with bright orange flames.

She moved through her days trying to appear normal. She was failing, of course. Even Mrs. Ashford spoke in a gentler voice to her. Did everyone guess that she walked around feeling half dead? And why?

In spite of her unrelenting anguish, Rachel had baked all morning. The town was holding two memorial services today. Almeria and Old Saul had expired hunkered down during the terrible storm, perhaps their hearts could not survive the stress, no one knew for sure. Noah had asked everyone to attend to honor and bid farewell to the dead and to give thanks that no one nearby had been injured or killed by the terrible storm that had raged over them. After the funeral would be a meal to spend time together, sharing memories and comforting the mourning.

Boats had brought the news of a terrible fire in Chicago that had killed thousands and destroyed much of that city. And then came the news yesterday that in eastern Wisconsin near Green Bay two villages, Peshtigo and Sugar Bush, had been destroyed—literally. The combination of the forest fires and the cyclonic winds had whipped many small wildfires into a deadly maelstrom. Over a thousand had died and vast acres of forest had been reduced to ash.

Rachel felt sick every time she thought of it. She’d turned away when the boatmen began sharing tales of whole families being caught by the flames in their cabins and dying. She’d been taught as a child that she lived in a fallen, cursed world but she had never felt anything this disastrous so close to her, not even the war.

Feeling as if she were a windup toy, now she loaded her wagon with the cakes she’d baked. Before leaving she returned to her cabin to make sure everything was as it should be and checked on her animals to make sure she hadn’t forgotten their care. Yesterday she’d burned rolls. Only their smoke roused her to the fact that she had been lost in thought, sitting on the bench, awake but in a daze.

Her robin called to her and she looked up, but she couldn’t reply to it. Her voice had become rusty. She smiled feebly and then gripped the handles of her cart and started for town, leaving Mrs. Cat sleeping in the shade of the barn.

Father, I need to know. Please let me know whether they are alive or dead.
The word
dead
shook her to her core. Despair wrapped itself around her lungs, but she pressed on.

She was glad of the people milling about the schoolhouse. Posey hurried up to her and hugged her. Posey tried to speak but her tears clogged her throat. Rachel hugged her close.

Levi stood behind his bride, his hat in his hand. Rachel read his concern for Brennan and the boy. When he looked at her, his expression of general sadness deepened. She held out her hand and he gripped it. “Miss Rachel,” he murmured.

He then nudged her from the cart and rolled it toward the tables of food under the shade trees. He returned. “Let me escort you both into the schoolhouse.” He offered her and Posey each an arm.

Rachel was touched by the tender and gallant gesture of kindness. She tried to smile at him but her lips trembled too much. “Thank thee,” she whispered.

Inside the church, Levi led her to Sunny and then he and Posey moved to sit with the Ashfords. Sunny kissed Rachel’s cheek and held her hand. Their little boy slept on Sunny’s lap and Dawn sat beside her. Noah already stood at the front of the schoolhouse. A few more people entered.

And then Noah cleared his throat. “Heavenly Father, our small village has suffered little compared to many. We thank you for your protection and ask you to comfort those who mourn and those who have suffered this week.”

Noah’s words were honey to her heart, but the deep ache remained.

“This week we lost one who was our shepherd...” Noah audibly struggled with his own grief. “And we lost a dear sister in Christ whom we had just started to know. We know they are with you, Father. In Christ’s name. Amen.”

Everyone looked up.

Then Noah’s expression startled Rachel. He looked as if he were staring at a ghost.

She swung around to find out what had shocked him so.

At the rear a disheveled and grimy man and boy stood in the open doorway. Rachel cried out, “Brennan! Jacque!” She leaped up and raced to them, heedless of everyone else.

When she reached him, Brennan stopped her from embracing him by grabbing both her hands together. “Rachel,” he said in a raspy voice. “You’re safe.”

She burst into tears. These were the words she had almost uttered.

Rachel looked more beautiful than Brennan had remembered. And she shone with her special joy and even better—appeared happy to see him.

She looked down. “Jacque, thee is safe.”

Heedless of his grime, Jacque wrapped his arms around her waist. “We come home, Miss Rachel, for good.”

She burst into tears.

The sound wrenched Brennan’s heart and he dropped to one knee. “Yes, we’ve come home, Miss Rachel. If you’ll have us. I was a fool. But now I see it doesn’t matter if I’m not worthy of you. I love you. Will you be my wife?”

Rachel heard “I love you.” And then she heard applause around her. The sound startled her back to herself. She glanced around and mortification seized her. She broke free and ran outside.

Brennan raced after her and caught her just as she entered the cover of the trees. “Rachel, stop!” Then he coughed and couldn’t speak for a moment.

She halted. “What’s wrong? Is thee ill?”

He bent over, gasping, and then managed to say, “I did breathe in some smoke. It makes me cough some.”

She grasped his shoulders. “Thee was in the fire?”

“Not the worst of it, but bad enough. God kept us safe. We’re a little singed and smoky but alive.” His expression turned grim. “Many died.”

“God kept you safe?” she repeated. “When has thee ever spoke of God?”

He claimed her hands. “I don’t want to talk about that now. I just want to know if you’ll marry me or not.”

She gaped at him. “Thee is in earnest? Thee loves me?”

“Miss Rachel, I was a fool, but God opened my eyes. You’re the best thing that ever came into my life. I love you with all of my sorry heart. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”

She couldn’t help it. After all the strain, she laughed, feeling the fear that had bound her release. And then she threw her arms around him. “Of course I will marry thee, Brennan Merriday. Thee is the only man I have ever loved and will ever love.”

And then Brennan did what he’d longed to do for the past five days—and longer if the truth be told—he drew her into a full embrace and bent his head. He claimed her sweet lips and kissed her as if he didn’t, he’d die.

And Rachel kissed him back with all the love she’d saved for one special man, this man, her brave Brennan.

“You two gettin’ married then?” Jacque’s hopeful voice came from behind her. “And I don’t ever got to leave Miss Rachel and Pepin ever again?”

She laughed again and turned, but did not step out of Brennan’s embrace. “Yes, Jacque, we are getting married and thee will be my son and we will stay here together.”

Jacque ran to them and they included him in their embrace, their joy.

Finally, Jacque pulled free. “I’m hungry. There’s food on those tables.”

Again Rachel chuckled with a joy she could not hide. “Come, I have brought two cakes and several dozen cookies. Thee can eat some cookies.”

She recalled then today’s solemn occasion and her joy receded and she became serious then. “We must go into the schoolhouse quietly. Old Saul and Posey’s grandmother have passed. Noah is holding their memorial services.”

Both Brennan and Jacque accepted a handful of cookies to nibble and drank from the school pump, then the three of them entered the school as quietly as they could.

Noah finished his sentence about Posey’s grandmother witnessing the small wedding in Levi’s barely finished cabin and then looked toward the three of them. “Brennan, I take it from your singed clothing that you were in the fire.”

“Not the worst. The boy and me were fortunate to just be on the far edge of it. God protected us.”

Noah waved them forward. “Please come and tell us what you experienced. We’ve heard there was a great conflagration and many died.”

While Rachel and Jacque sat down beside Sunny, Brennan walked forward. Noah shook his hand and sat with his wife, too.

Brennan turned to face the people he thought he’d never live to see again and his heart softened toward them. They weren’t perfect and they had misjudged him, but he’d kept his truth hidden so it wasn’t their fault.

“My son and me walked down the Indian trail to the old military road to go to Green Bay. I could see fires in the forest. It made me wary. Then that wind come up. God provided a creek beside a sort of cave. It was just a ledge of rock and a crevice where the water, when it was higher, had carved out a place. We hid in there and fire broke over us.”

Not a sound was heard inside the schoolhouse.

“I wet a blanket and threw it over us. The fire raged around us, but I kept wetting the blanket. That and the cave preserved our lives.”

A murmuring flew through the congregation.

Brennan decided now was the time to let it all out. “I’ve been mad at God a long time. Too much bad. Too much loss. Too many years. It made me a bitter man.” Brennan shook his head, pausing to cough. “But that was all the war and that was due to men’s wickedness and hate. This fire was bigger, greater than anything man can do.”

He paused to swallow. “I had forgotten how big God is, how powerful.” He looked up. “A lot of people died and I grieve for them. But God’s ways are higher than I can understand. Who am I to judge God? I’m just a mortal and I’ll live my life as best I can, do what I can for others.”

He steadied himself against his fatigue. “That’s all I got to say.” He felt a smile break over his face. “Except that Miss Rachel has accepted my proposal and will be my wife.”

“Oh! Wonderful!” Mrs. Ashford exclaimed, leaping to her feet. “Oh, I’m so happy.”

Brennan laughed. Today even Mrs. Ashford blessed him.

Noah went to the front. “How close did you get to the big fire?”

“Jacque and I walked toward it to see if we could help, but the desolation was so great that we turned back and headed home.” Brennan paused to look at Rachel
. Rachel, you are my home.

“We couldn’t do much,” Brennan went on. “But on the way here, a courier passed us and he said he was spreading the word that our governor’s wife has called for Wisconsin people to send whatever they can to the Peshtigo and Sugar Bush survivors. They are sending boxcars of supplies from Madison—”

“Couldn’t we get a wagonload and drive it to Madison to be sent on?” Levi had risen and now looked embarrassed to have spoken up in the meeting.

Noah nodded. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“I would be glad to drive the wagon,” Brennan offered. “I wanted to do more but the suffering was heavier than I could help. I had nothing but a knapsack.”

Noah requested contributions of charity and within minutes the relief effort had been organized. On the morrow people would bring what they could spare—food, clothing, medicine—and Brennan would drive the wagon down to Madison.

Noah urged Brennan to take his seat. He held up his hands and everyone turned to him. “This has been a momentous day. We have honored Almeria Brown and Old Saul, one a newcomer and the other known well and much beloved by us all. We’ve announced the marriage of Levi and Posey Comstock and witnessed the return of two we thought we might have lost forever. And—” Noah grinned “—saw Brennan get smart enough to propose to my cousin.”

General amusement greeted this statement. “Let us rise and thank God for His mercy. Our village could have been devastated by this fire. We were spared but we will stretch out our hands to those who were not. We cannot understand why this happened.

“As Isaiah the prophet said, ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ We will accept God’s will in this and do what we can.”

Then Noah blessed the food for the meal. And everyone went out into the quiet sunshine.

Brennan held Rachel’s hand and would not let it go. He and Rachel sat with Levi and Posey at one of the tables. No one appeared to fault them for not helping set up the potluck picnic. Indeed everyone smiled and teased them.

Rachel felt as if a great weight had been lifted from everyone. She leaned her head against Brennan’s shoulder. She smelled the smoke in his clothing and shuddered to think of him and Jacque under a wet blanket in a shallow cave, while flames raged around them. Without any self-consciousness she leaned over and kissed him. He kissed her back.

Johann Lang came over. “Can Jacque come and play?”

Rachel beamed at him. “Of course.”

“I’m glad you and Brennan will marry,” Johann said. “It is good to marry.”

Brennan listened to the boy’s words and his own laughter bubbled up. “Remember that when you get older.”

“I will!” Johann shouted and then he and Jacque were running to the other children gathered around the swings.

“I’m so happy,” Posey said, though wiping her tears with her hanky. “I was so afraid you wouldn’t return and Miss Rachel’s heart might never heal.”

“I’ll admit it,” Brennan said ruefully. “I was a fool. Levi was the smart one.” Brennan winked at his friend. “He had enough sense to find a girl and stick to her.”

Mrs. Ashford bustled over. “Ned and I planned on having a party to celebrate Posey’s wedding a week from next Sunday. So why don’t we add your wedding to the party? I talked to Sunny about it, Rachel, and she said you get your dress ready and we’ll do the rest. I love weddings!”

Rachel smiled and nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Ashford.”

The stranger who’d come to town the day of the storm and who’d been staying at the land agent’s office came up behind Mrs. Ashford. “I thought I wouldn’t be seeing you. I was going to leave tomorrow. Remember me? I’m Jake Summers, I sit in the state legislature.”