Vow Unbroken (20 page)

“My, my, my, only a week on the trail, and we've experienced enough adventure to last a lifetime.” She shook her head and got her mixing bowl and biscuit fixins from the larder. “Bless the Lord.”

T
HE DAY DAWNED TOO SOON
for Henry. The lack of sleep was wearing on him. He sure was proud everyone, including Blue Dog, survived the wolf attack. Rebecca had done some mighty impressive stitching. Only thing happened to him seemed to be a couple of rips in one of his favorite shirts. He'd have to get Rebecca to fix it for him. And that pair of his trousers that had a seam coming loose while she was at it.

He flung out the cold dregs in his cup and walked to the fire. “Got more coffee?”

Sue looked up and smiled. Her beauty caught his breath. “I certainly do.” She wrapped a rag around her hand and lifted the pot from the fire. He held his tin cup out, and she filled it. “Breakfast is about ready.” She smiled again.

It made him laugh inside.

Quick as he finished his last biscuit, he stood. “Let's get the mules hitched. The trace is waiting.”

The boy threw back his last bite of biscuit and rose. “Yes, sir, I'm past ready.”

Before the sun barely cleared the horizon, he pulled the second wagon back onto the trail, following Sue. She had
seemed to be glowing all morning. The woman certainly brightened his life, as did the little girl sitting beside him. She insisted on riding by Blue, to keep him comfortable, she'd said.

A sense of well-being settled over Henry's heart; he'd get Sue to Titus Trading Post maybe this afternoon, tomorrow morning for sure. Even if their neighbors were ahead of them, they'd be on the main trace after Pleasant Mound. More than likely, they could find someone to team up with.

The boy had volunteered to take the first walking duty, which today would also include frequently scraping the wagon wheels and picking the mules' hooves. Henry wouldn't let him go too long, but sitting here next to Rebecca sure was nice.

“Mister Daddy?”

“Yes, darling daughter Rebecca?”

She giggled. “I like that! You're so funny. You make me and Mama laugh all the time.” She wrapped her inside arm around his and squeezed. “I just love you so much.”

Oh, wow. Her declaration rendered him speechless. What should he say? He couldn't imagine her loving him like that after such a short time. The little gal obviously needed a father, and if he married Sue, he'd be it. He wiped his face before a tear rolled down and she spotted it. How could he ever go back to his solitary life without them?

He couldn't; even though he'd spent less than a week around the woman and her child, his heart belonged to them. They needed him. Rebecca kept a tight hold on his arm. “Anyway, I was just wondering.”

He waited and waited awhile longer to find out what she wondered about, but she never said another word. He leaned out and glanced down to discover that she lay sound asleep
against his arm. What an angel. And so quiet when asleep. He grinned. Didn't mind that much at all, except . . .

He'd hardly been able to get Sue's embrace off his mind. Sipping coffee, eating breakfast, harnessing the mules, and getting back on the trace, he couldn't shake it. Not that he wanted to. It was and would always be the best hug he'd ever gotten in his life. No matter what happened in the future, he would never forget it. He loved the way she held him close, the way she surrendered the entirety of herself into him, almost melting through his skin and becoming one with him.

It was for certain. He would ask her to marry him when the time was right. He knew she was the one. The one he'd waited so long for. Years ago, when he'd noticed her at the trading post, he'd first thought of making her his own. She'd taken off her hat and shaken her long hair loose, running her fingers through it, letting the brisk wind blow it away from her face. He'd asked around about her several times since, finding out what he could without being too obvious.

It hadn't been too long ago that he thought he'd missed any chance he might have had. Heard tell that a widower with two children over near Jonesboro had proposed. He didn't ever hear exactly what happened, but a marriage never took place. Figured her vow had something to do with it. But no matter, he would not miss this chance. Before he got off this trace, he would ask her to be his forever.

He only hoped her religion wouldn't interfere.

SUE HARDLY REMEMBERED
cooking or eating breakfast. She'd spent the time chiding herself for falling into Henry's arms like a foolish, scared schoolgirl. That angry self battled inside her
head now with other intense emotions that tried to make her believe she was sixteen again and in love for the very first time.

Except she couldn't be.

She was a middle-aged widow for Heaven's sake!

She loved Henry insisting on an early start that morning; certainly he'd done it to please her, and he had. Most everything about the man pleased her. Or made her so angry that she couldn't see straight. How did he do that? Play so with her heart. One thing she knew, she absolutely could not let herself be carried away by emotions.

She might as well get him out of her mind because she could never disobey God by yoking herself unequally with a heathen—no matter how good and kind and handsome he was. Sue Baylor! She had to quit thinking such thoughts. That devil! The father of lies and master of deceit. He was the one who had played his hand too boldly. She saw her infatuation for exactly what it was—an evil device to bring her and her little family to ruin.

But what of her daughter? She already saw Henry Buckmeyer as her hero who could do anything. Perhaps Sue shouldn't let her ride with him, should keep her close and protect her daughter's heart. It couldn't be a good thing to let her get any closer to the man or think any more highly of him than she ought.

Sue recalled the feel of her cheek on his chest, his hands on her back. Butterflies in her belly had her feeling like she might take flight herself. No! She must not think on that. She would concentrate on whatsoever was lovely and pure and worthy of a good report. How shameful would it be for anyone back home to find she was out here on the trail hugging a single man, then daydreaming about the embrace?

Though when he had held her last night, right after he saved her from that wolf, she didn't want anything more than to be in his arms. The safety of his embrace overwhelmed her. But he wasn't even a Christian. She just couldn't let herself get all weak in the knees. Besides, it was ludicrous to expect that he might even consider spending the rest of his life taking care of and supporting a used-up widow and her two children.

Henry lived a life full of adventure. He had no one to answer to, and she knew full well he liked it that way. After all, there had to be a reason he was thirty-four years old and never married. He obviously loved living his life loose and free, going where he wanted when he wanted. He didn't even want to obey God, knowing full well the great love story if he'd read the Bible through like he said.

No, being tied down to the responsibility of a ready-made family would be the last thing in the world he'd ever consider, much less choose.

Besides, she didn't want to be, wouldn't be, the one who brought him down. He was fine just the way he was—all free and strong and adventurous and kind and handsome and gentle and sweet. She shook her head. There she went again. He wasn't fine at all. He was lost, and she needed to help him find the Lord.

She looked to the heavens. “Father, help me and give me strength to stand in obedience to You. Help me keep my distance until the journey is done.”

The day went by uneventfully. Henry insisted that only he and Levi take turns walking as the scraping and hoof cleaning turned out to be a dreadfully strenuous chore. Very slow and mostly steady, the teams moved the four tons of cotton over the
muddy terrain. The two men worked so hard on so little sleep they both looked tuckered by early afternoon.

Sue didn't object at all when Henry suggested they set camp well before sunset. As a matter of fact, she couldn't wait to get supper behind her and go lay down. Battling with herself all day, talking herself out of love, had worn her out. Why object? She was too tired to have any fight left. Her internal warring quenched any unction to quarrel with the man.

The sun dipped with unprecedented glory into the western horizon. The brilliant purple and pink and golden hues painted by God's own hand took Sue's breath away. Night fell on the trace with a starless sky. The clouds almost obliterated the moon as well, but it did shine through now and then, though it was darker than usual.

After supper, she and Becky got the dishes washed and put away, then curled up together by the fire both for its light and its warmth. Sue pulled her shawl tighter around herself and her little girl and yawned.

Henry and Levi busied themselves with their normal chores, seeing to the mules, greasing the wagon wheels, and all the other things they took care of without her ever having to ask. She appreciated that. Her nephew came over and sat Indian style next to Becky.

Her little tomboy balled a fist and hit his arm. “Hey, Levi, where's Mister Henry?”

He held up a fist himself. “We trading punches, little girl?”

She squealed, then laughed. “No, no, no! I won't do it again, don't hit me!”

“All right then, keep your word, or you'll be in big trouble, you hear me?”

She nodded, but still made a face at him. “So where is he?”

“You keep making those ugly faces, and one of these days, one of 'em'll freeze up just like that. Then you'll be sorry the rest of your life.” He looked over and grinned. “Mister Henry went to get some more firewood, said he'll be back directly.”

Sue pulled Becky into a head lock and squeezed gently. “You best listen to your cousin.” She laughed, then stood. “I think we should turn in. I'm so tired.”

Levi locked his fingers behind his head and stretched. “Me, too. So, tomorrow we'll be in Pleasant Mound, right? Sure is taking a long time, and we sure have had more than our share of trouble.”

“Yes, indeed.” She pulled Becky up. “Come on, little girl. To bed with you.”

“But I want to stay up and wait for Mister Henry.”

Exactly what Sue wanted to avoid; she wanted no discussions regarding that hug. Better to go to bed and try to catch up on missed sleep. “Rebecca Ruth.”

Becky pouted. “Oh, all right. But I'm not tired, I had a nap today.” She heaved a heavy sigh and stared at Blue. “Come on, boy.” She bent over, kissed the hound, then turned to Sue. “He's feeling much better, but I don't want him away from me, especially while he's still recovering.”

The dog raised his head and stared into the darkness. Silence filled the campsite. Blue Dog stood and took one step toward the woods. A low rumble started deep in his throat.

Sue's heart beat faster. “Levi, go grab your long gun and fetch my flintlock, and my pistol, too. Becky, you stay right by me no matter what. You hear?”

“Yes, Mama.”

The rumbling in the dog's throat increased in volume, and he showed his fangs. It wasn't long before Sue heard the foot
falls that Blue had noticed before. She took a deep breath that lifted her shoulders. What now? Where was Henry?

Her nephew returned and handed her the flintlock, then the pistol. He slipped off into the darkness, leaving only her and Becky by the dwindling fire. She wondered where he went, why he would leave, but she didn't think long on it because a man called from the darkness.

“Hello to the camp.”

Blue Dog growled louder but stepped closer to the visitor. For some reason, the man sounded familiar, but that didn't squelch her uneasiness. “Show yourself, sir. I'm not accustomed to speaking with a man I can't see.”

“Wanted to say something since I saw your boy got your gun and all.”

“Fine, so you've announced yourself. Now come into the light.”

“Yes, ma'am, I am. Don't shoot, Mis'ess Baylor. And I'd appreciate it if you'd call off your dog, too.”

Becky leaned forward and clapped her hands softly. “Blue! Come here, boy.” The hound obediently returned to her side but never took his gaze off the dark woods. She put her hands around his neck and kissed his face. Blue returned the affection with a quick lick to her cheek.

Who could it be that knew Sue's name? Her mind raced, trying to place the voice. She tucked her pistol into her skirt's waistband and stood with the flintlock pointed in the direction of the voice. “Come in.” She waited with bated breath.

“Mister Littlejohn! What in the world! Why are you here?” Indignation trumped astonishment. Her hackles rose. Her daddy always told her that if a man would lie to you, he would steal from you. “State your business, sir.”

He smiled his big old phony smile, the one he'd used when he told her he'd pay three to four cents a pound for her cotton depending on its quality. “Well, now. You've almost made it to Pleasant Mound, haven't you? All alone and almost halfway to Jefferson. I must say, I'm impressed. You are some kind of woman, Susannah Baylor.”