Colin's Quest Read Free Page A

smile from her. “I’ve wondered about you, too.”
    Sarah’s head shot up, her eyes wide as a smile played across her face. “You have?”
    Nodding, he took the few steps to the wagon, leaning against it as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Aye.”
    Taking a few steps forward, she clasped her hands together. “What did you wonder about me?”
    “Well…how old are you?”
    “I’ll be seventeen in a month. How old are you?”
    “Eighteen,” he answered, straightening.
    “Are you going to Oregon?” She held her breath, praying they would be going to the same place.
    “Is that where you’re going?”
    She nodded, waiting.
    He pursed his lips, already thinking of the distance between them. “My family is traveling to California. Da bought land from a family at our church. One of their relatives died, leaving them his ranch in California. They’d visited him once, but had no desire to move west.”
    Sarah moved next to him and leaned a shoulder against the wagon. “Tell me about it.”
    Colin had memorized every detail the family had given them until he could picture the land in his head.
    “The land sits against the Boundary Mountain Range, which separates the Utah Territory from California. Several hundred acres make up Circle M Ranch. That’s what Da and my uncles are calling it.”
    His voice fell into the Scottish brogue of his homeland as he spoke. Sarah relaxed, comforted by the familiar sound.
    “There’s at least one river and many streams. Miles of trees, and pastureland so rich, any animal will thrive and all vegetables will grow. And wildlife so plentiful we’ll have as much meat as we need each winter.”
    “It sounds wonderful, Colin.”
    “Aye, it does.”
    “Colin, you’d best come now. Da and all the other men are returning.” Blaine glanced at Sarah, then back at Colin, making certain his brother caught his meaning.
    “It was good to see you, Colin MacLaren.” Sarah’s beautiful eyes bore into his and he knew she felt the same connection he did.
    “I will see you again, Sarah MacGregor.”
    “We need to leave now, Colin. We can’t wait any longer.” Blaine grabbed his arm, pulling him along. Sarah climbed back into the wagon, glancing over her shoulder before disappearing inside.

    “We’re going through the supplies too quickly, Angus. We’ll never have enough to make it the next four months if we don’t conserve.” Kyla worried her bottom lip. They’d been on the trail almost three months. She’d been as careful as possible, using the least amount of flour, sugar, and lard possible for two adults, three growing boys, and two small girls. The drop in what they started out with scared her.
    The wagons had pulled to a stop, taking a break from the sweltering summer heat. They were almost to Fort Bridger, where Angus and the others planned to replenish their supplies.
    “We shouldn’t be this low.” Kyla swept a strand of hair from her face, then blotted her forehead with a handkerchief. Arguing from several yards away caught her attention. Their twin girls, Chrissy and Alana, had been born a year after they landed in America. At four, they got along better than most sisters, but they did have their moments.
    Angus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “We’ll be fine with what we have, lass.” He glanced at the twins, who now sat on the ground, playing with their dolls and giggling. “If needed, we’ll cut back further until we reach Fort Bridger. You worry too much.”
    Nestling into the comfort of his chest, she let out a deep sigh. “I’m becoming my ma.”
    Angus laughed, pulling back to place a kiss on her forehead. “Nae. It would never be so.” Her mother had turned into a tyrant as she aged, alienating her husband and children. Kyla had sworn she’d never become her.
    They’d settled their differences about the journey, Kyla acknowledging the brothers’ reasons for pulling up roots to go west. All four men had big dreams. She