Gone West Read Free Page A

have them join us~”
     
    Walters swung his attention to Maggie. “Ain’t no child of mine studying with no heathen spawn. Keep them in their place is what we need to do!”
     
    Maggie’s cheeks flamed as red as her hair. “And where exactly is their place, pray tell? We’ve stolen their lands. We kill their game. The least we can give them in return is something to fill that gap. Is respect so costly?”
     
    “Maggie~”
     
    But Maggie would not be stopped. “I’ve learned more in the past month from my Indian friends than I’ve learned from the civilized in years. And I intend to keep learning anything that may help my own family to survive once we head West!”
     
    Walters ignored the spate of vehemence to grasp at that last word. “So you’re heading West with the spring, are you?” He clapped his hat back onto his head. “As there’s no talking sense into you, it’ll be good riddance to troublemakers, then.”
     
    Walters shoved the other, silent men, into the dark and the heavy door slammed. Johnny followed them to check the latch. He slowly turned around.
     
    “I think I could use a cup of that coffee, Meg. And where did I set my volume of St. Augustine? I could also do with some righteous pagan baiting about now.”
     
    Christmas passed quietly and snugly with the entire Stuart family tucked into the big bed after Maggie’s Christmas dinner. Johnny had brought the Bible in with them, and Jamie was curled into his shoulder on one side, Maggie on the other with Charlotte in her arms. Every quilt they owned adorned them, keeping them safe from the wintery chill of the cabin, while the soft halo of a lantern spread over them.
     
    Johnny read aloud the early chapters from Matthew and Luke, stopping to let Jamie take over in the shepherd and angel parts:
     
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them . . .
     
    “That’s always been one of my favorite parts, Pa.” Jamie sighed peacefully as he snuggled closer. “Feels kind of like us right here. With the peace and good will and baby Jesus arriving, just like our baby.”
     
    Maggie swiped at her eyes and swallowed a snuffle of happiness. The snow lay heavy outside.
     
    It was Johnny who suggested that Flower Blossom’s family be invited for a New Year’s celebration. Maggie wasn’t sure what would happen, but she asked anyway. Johnny also invited a few of the bachelor men who hung around the printing office and who’d been easy with advice on the coming journey.
     
    The men started arriving after dark~newly scrubbed and in clean shirts~bringing presents like a slab of bacon, a few potatoes, or fiddles to play. The fourth and last, a huge, full-bearded old man, brought a hand-made whistle for Jamie and a jaw-harp for his own use.
     
    Then Flower Blossom’s family arrived. Maggie almost quailed at the first sight of her husband, Black Raven. He came, indeed, in glory. His head was freshly shaven and painted red, his one tuft of remaining hair dangling feathers and rattlesnake tails. There was bright glass in his ears and a collar of bear claws around his neck. Flower Blossom and the two boys, proud of his elegance, respectfully brought up his rear. Everyone else faded into awed insignificance.
     
    Black Raven’s face was fierce, but his arms were full of a deer haunch. Before too long, Charlotte was lodged in his lap, batting at his bear claw necklace. And Maggie was chuckling to herself. The ferocious brave loved babies.
     
    The evening passed with joy, grace and music.
     
    Spring came at last, and with it days spent in the fields around Independence, Charlotte strapped Indian-fashion to Maggie’s back. Flower Blossom and the boys were usually in attendance, everyone hunting for the green sprouts of edible roots. Flower Blossom most often found a new variety. Eyes bright, it would be flourished in an arc of thanks over the awakening prairie.
     
    “The Great Spirit puts good