Emma's Journey Read Free Page B

carried mending with her as she settled next to Sarah. Her short and plump mother-in-law, her stature the very opposite of Elizabeth’s, always brought a smile to Emma. Abigail had a manner about her that put people at ease with her sharp brown eyes and rosy-cheeked smile.
    “Emma, you’re looking a bit tired tonight.” Elizabeth searched her mending bag, finally pulling out the right color of thread to mend one of Jeb’s socks.
    “You could say I’m a bit worn out.” Emma chewed on her lip. “Doesn’t all this ever get to you?” She waved her hand around the area.
    “Oh, it does, at times,” Elizabeth said. “But Jeb is determined to spread the Word of the Lord in Oregon country and Mama Preston,” she smiled warmly at the older woman, “is such a help with my two girls. Once you get accustomed to the daily routine, it won’t be so bad, you’ll see.”
    “How long does it take to be accustomed to the daily routine? It’s been three weeks, and I feel like we’ve been traveling for months.”
    “My Jeb can offer you some counsel, if you want, Emma.” Elizabeth attacked the sock with needle and thread. “He’ll find just the right passage to calm your heart.” She reached out a slender hand with a gold band reflecting the firelight, and squeezed Emma’s fingers. “The Lord will always help, you know.”
    Emma nodded, her shoulders slumped. A bible toting friendly man, Jeb Preston had already become the person most sought after by the travelers. Leafing through his well-worn Bible, he would read comforting words. Tall and reed thin, Jeb had startling black eyes that softened when speaking in his slow, quiet way. His wagon soon became the most visited one among the emigrants.
    “Ladies,” Elizabeth began, looking around the circle of women, “did any of you hear Ezra had to get one of his scouts to break up a brawl last night?”
    “No, I didn’t.” Sarah stared wide-eyed at her, smoothing back the curls falling over Stephen’s forehead. “We haven’t had any of those kinds of problems so far.”
    When the two other women shook their heads also, Elizabeth continued. “From what Jeb told me, a few of the men got into a card game, and were drinking, and one of them called another one a cheat, and before you knew it, fists were flying.”
    “Oh my goodness.” Sarah shook her head, lips pursed. “I wish Ezra had not allowed drinking on this trip, with all the children present.” She stabbed her finger with the needle she used to sew on a button. “Ow.” She stuck her finger in her mouth.
    “According to Jeb.” Elizabeth leaned forward and lowered her voice. “After things quieted down, Ezra threatened to put off the wagon train anyone he found drunk.”
    “Well, I’m certainly glad to hear that,” Emma said, “the last thing I want to worry about is traveling with a bunch of drunks.”
    All of the women nodded their agreement.
    “Who was the scout brave enough to step into the middle of drunken brawlers?” Emma wanted to know.
    “That tall, rather good looking one.” Elizabeth tossed the mended sock into her bag. “He always seems to be at the head of the wagon train. You know, curly dark hair, always looks like he needs a shave? Let me see, Davis, I think Jeb told me his name is.”
    After another hour or so of conversation, Emma took her leave of Sarah’s wagon. Abigail and Elizabeth joined in her departure, all of them promising to gather again the next evening.
    The campfire burned low, and aside from the chirping of insects, silence greeted Emma as she arrived back at her wagon area. Placing her hands on her hips, she frowned and looked around the area for Peter. So much for him hurrying back so they could go for a walk. Shrugging, she grabbed a shawl from the wagon, and headed toward the animal pen to see if she could find him.
    Most of the wagons had settled in for the night. She headed toward the outside of the wagon circle, listening to the sound of babies crying as