Westward Hearts (32 page)

“That’s right,” Clara told her. “Your grandpa said that some days there are as many as a thousand travelers stopping here in Fort Kearney.”

“There’s Tillie!” Ruth pointed to a group walking ahead of them, and she called out to her friend. Flo Flanders and her children stopped and waited, and soon Ruth and Tillie were walking hand in hand while Ruth told her all about the moccasins.

“Did you hear the news?” Flo asked them.

“About Evangeline?” Clara said quietly.

“Yes.” Flo nodded eagerly. “I heard she…” Flo glanced around to see her teenage daughters listening attentively.

Clara cleared her throat. “I heard that Evangeline has decided to, well, she plans to marry a soldier. An army officer. Anyway, that’s what Ruby told me.”

“She’s going to marry an officer?” Elizabeth couldn’t believe her ears. “How did this happen so quickly?”

Mahala giggled. “It hasn’t happened. Not yet. She just thinks it’s going to happen. You should have seen her all gussied up and—”

“Hush now.” Flo glanced at Ruth and Tillie, just out of earshot ahead of them and then at her middle daughter, Hannah, who was only thirteen but all ears.

“Anyway, it seems that Evangeline has decided not to continue with the wagon train,” Clara filled in.

Elizabeth was stunned. “Just like that?”

“I heard that she told Ruby to set her trunk out beside the wagon when we leave in the morning,” Mahala confided, “and that she’ll get her man friend to help her pick it up.”

“For the wedding,” Flo said a bit loudly.

Elizabeth studied her friend’s face. “So there will really be a wedding?”

“Oh, Ma!” Mahala laughed. “We all know that there’s not going to be any—”

“I think it’s a fine idea for Evangeline to marry an officer in the army,” Clara declared. “It will be a new beginning for her. Imagine her in a brand-new life out here on the frontier. Perhaps she’ll raise asparagus and chickens.” Clara pointed to the market basket hooked over Elizabeth’s arm and began telling everyone about her good finds in the marketplace. And soon the conversation shifted from Evangeline’s strange decision to depart from the wagon train, to food and supplies and what everyone was fixing for supper.

As they walked back to their nearby camp, Elizabeth felt a small wave of relief. Of all the members of the Morris party, Evangeline had been the one of most concern. Not just because she was the prettiest of the bunch—well, not counting Jessica—but also because Evangeline had continued to experience bouts of “sickness” that Asa had decided might simply be the result of “too much moonshine.” Plus, according to some, including grumpy Gertie, Evangeline was reputed to being “overly friendly” with the menfolk. Perhaps they would all be much better off if Evangeline did remain in Fort Kearney to “marry” an officer. One could only hope…and pray. And that’s what Elizabeth decided she would do.

I
t only took a couple of days for tongues to stop wagging about Evangeline’s absence, and unless it was Elizabeth’s imagination, it seemed to have quieted Gertie down as well. And now the train seemed to fall into a somewhat predictable routine, soundly moving forward at a good pace of fifteen to twenty miles a day. Everyone, including the livestock, seemed to understand their roles now. Occasional breakdowns kept Bert Flanders busy and provided food for his family because he usually traded his blacksmithing for supplies. But aside from these, everything seemed to be working fairly smoothly and efficiently. Even the weather was congenial.

“We’ve enjoyed some good days of travel this week,” Asa said on their fourth morning out of Fort Kearney. They had just finished breakfast and were loaded and ready to go. “But today will come with its own challenges. Let’s bow our heads and ask God to bless and protect us as we cross the river.”

Elizabeth squeezed both of her children’s hands as her father said amen. She was somewhat reassured knowing that both JT and Ruth were able to swim. Worried that they could fall in the creek behind their farm, James had insisted on teaching them when they were still small. But even a good swimmer could drown in such a cold, fast-moving river. Elizabeth wanted to take no chances today.

They’d camped along the fork of the North and South Platte Rivers the night before, and everyone knew they would spend most of the day crossing the south river today. It wouldn’t be their first time to cross water, but it was expected to be the most perilous crossing so far. And a lot of the emigrants, including poor Lavinia, were understandably worried. Unfortunately, since unit five was the last unit in the train once again, Lavinia had most of the day to work her fretting into something of a frenzy. By the afternoon, when they were finally taking their place to cross over, Lavinia was quite worked up.

“At least we’re fortunate enough to afford the ferry to get our wagons across,” Elizabeth reminded her as they stood on the east side of the river, watching anxiously as other wagons from their unit were getting prepared to be rope-towed across the water. Everything had to be secured inside the wagons and then, one by one, they would be pulled by a rope across the water—and with any luck, they would stay afloat. Elizabeth wouldn’t admit it, but it all looked rather frightening.

By now, all of the livestock and most of the teams had already been herded across the river and were waiting on the other side. That alone had been a disturbing scene to witness. Elizabeth had almost been afraid to breathe as she’d watched her beloved horses, Beau and Bella and Molly, bravely swimming against the current with the other animals. She and Ruth had cheered and danced when they saw the horses safely emerge on the other side, where JT and a couple of the older boys were waiting to attend to them.

Now they simply had to wait for their turn on the ferry. But the waiting felt nearly as nerve-racking as she imagined the actual crossing would be. She wondered how many rivers they would cross like this before they reached their final destination. And what if the rivers were wider and wilder than this one? That’s when she remembered what Asa had reminded them of the previous night. “Our Lord told us not to be anxious or worried about what tomorrow may bring,” he’d told them. “Each day has enough troubles for itself, so why go borrowing troubles from a day that’s not even here yet?”

But today was here now, and Elizabeth could tell that many of the travelers were worried and anxious. Particularly Lavinia.

“What if their wagons leak?” Lavinia said nervously.

With a concerned expression, Ruth pointed to where the first wagon from their unit was being towed to the edge of the rapidly running water. “What if it does leak, Mama? What if their wagon sinks? Do you think Paddy and Fiona know how to swim?”

“You know that everyone was supposed to waterproof their wagons,” Elizabeth calmly told her. “Just like your uncle did to our wagon. Surely they will float just fine.”

“I hope everyone did as good a job as Matthew did,” Clara said uneasily.

“I don’t know whether I’d rather float my wagon across the river or put it on that rickety-looking ferry down there.” Lavinia frowned over at the ferry landing. “That vessel doesn’t look a bit seaworthy to me.”

“Fortunately, that ferry isn’t crossing the sea,” Clara said wryly.

“But what if the ferry sinks?” Lavinia demanded. “What would we do then?”

“Swim?” Ruth queried.

“It’s not going to sink,” Elizabeth assured her. Of course, even as she said this, she wasn’t completely convinced. The ferry did look a bit worse for wear. Already it had taken dozens of wagons across today—without problems, as far as she knew. It seemed unlikely that it would sink, but what if it broke apart and tipped sideways and the wagons rolled off? Perhaps it would be safer to float their wagons across on the rope tow just as the McIntires were doing right now.

She prayed a silent prayer of protection for the sweet young Irish couple. Paddy was such a cheerful fellow and a talented musician. And just this week, Fiona had confided to Elizabeth and Clara that she was expecting her first baby. The poor young woman hadn’t even realized she was with child when they’d started out on this strenuous journey, and now, worried that her dear husband would fret too much over her welfare, she’d yet to tell Paddy the news.

Elizabeth gasped as the McIntire wagon lurched sideways when the strong, swift current swept into it. But four pairs of sturdy oxen were pulling on the other side. Asa had insisted they needed plenty of power, and Brady and Matthew were driving the oversized team. And as Matthew loudly cracked the whip over the animals’ heads, the team began to tow hard. A rope tied to the rear of the wagon was being held tautly by some of the men on this side, so the wagon slowly straightened itself out and continued across.

All the women watching from the river’s edge let out a collective sigh of relief as the McIntire wagon finally made it to the other side. As it emerged dripping and dark with water, they all let out a happy cheer.

“Well, there. Now that wasn’t too bad.” However, Clara sounded a bit breathless.

“Oh, my heavens!” Lavinia put a hand to her forehead. “I feel slightly faint.”

“Why don’t you go and sit in your wagon?” Elizabeth pointed to where the Prescott wagon was in line to be loaded on the ferry. “You might be more comfortable there.”

“Yes, Mother, let’s get you into the wagon. And if you want to keep fretting over every little thing, at least not everyone will be forced to listen.” Evelyn sounded exasperated as she led Lavinia down to where Asa, Will, and Hugh had queued the wagons down by the ferry landing. Sharing Asa’s oxen team, they were just starting to load the first of the Bostonians’ wagons, but it was clearly going to be an arduous affair. And it would surely take a bit of time to get them secured on the ferry and across the river. The small craft could only carry three wagons at a time, one in front and two behind, so it would probably take several hours to get all six of them across. However, with Asa taking the lead in this effort, Elizabeth felt confident they would complete their task successfully. Even the captain had expressed confidence at Asa’s ability to get their unit safely across.

“It’s the Schneiders’ turn to float the river,” Ruth announced.

They all turned to watch the spectacle. Of all the people in their unit, Elizabeth knew the Schneiders the least. Other than attending Sunday services, the family of four seemed to keep mostly to themselves. Perhaps it was their language barrier—the parents spoke little English.

“They’ve got a good sturdy wagon,” Clara said. “I doubt they’ll have any problems. Did you know that Mr. Schneider was a wagon maker when they lived in Germany? And that’s what he worked at in Independence too. That’s what the daughter, Anna, told me. They came over from Germany before the children were born, but it was Mr. Schneider’s goal to get the family out West. He’s been saving for years to make this trip.”

Fortunately the Schneider wagon made it safely across without any trouble. And now it was the Mullers’ turn. They could hear Gertie’s loud, gruff voice yelling directions at everyone around her, insisting that they needed to tighten the slack on the ropes and that the team on the other side needed to pull harder. But eventually the wagon was across, and it was time for the Taylors.

“Do you think they’ll be too heavy?” Ruth asked with concern. “Because of that piano?”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Clara told her.

“Oh, look,” Elizabeth said. “The Bramfords and Prescotts are going across on the ferry now.” They all turned to watch.

“Do you think Mrs. Prescott fainted?” Ruth asked.

“It might make the crossing easier on everyone if she did,” Clara said.

Elizabeth chuckled, but as she watched the ferry going deeper into the water, all humor vanished. The current was strong, and
water was flowing over the top of the ferry’s deck. Was that supposed to happen? What if the ferry was going down? What if Lavinia had been right to be worried? Once again, Elizabeth felt she would rather be floating her own wagon than to be trapped on a sinking ferry. She took a deep breath and, as she watched with wide eyes, she prayed for their safe passage.

“They made it!” Ruth exclaimed as the ferry was tied off on the other side. They all let out another cheer.

“I suppose we should go down and get on our wagons now,” Elizabeth said. “They’ll be loaded next.”

As they walked toward the ferry, they saw that the Flanders’ wagon was just starting to get towed across. Ruth waved to where
Tillie and Hannah were perched in the back of the wagon, peering out the rounded opening in the canvas covering with excited expressions and waving enthusiastically.

“Good luck!” Ruth waved happily at her friends. “See you on the other side!”

They were seated in their own wagon, which was loaded on the ferry, when they saw Ruby’s wagon, the final wagon, getting ready to be rope towed across the river. All three women—Jess, Ruby, and Doris—were sitting in front. Jess waved and smiled, but the others looked a little uneasy. Elizabeth waved to them, and Ruth called out encouragingly. Then their ferry began to move.

“Here we go,” Elizabeth told Ruth. “Hold on.”

Ruth laughed but grabbed her mother’s hand just the same. As they began to float, Elizabeth tried not to think of how heavily packed her parents’ and brother’s wagons were. Surely they wouldn’t
sink the ferry.

“Here come Ruby and Doris and Jess,” Ruth sang out.