Threads of Love Read Free Page B

woman,” and he started to make his way into the store.
    “No, please,” she countered. “I’d rather go no further with this. Let’s just go. I’m honestly not hungry.”
    Sensing her discomfort and not wishing to cause her further embarrassment, Jonathan jumped up onto the seat, flicked the reins, and yelled, “Giddyup,” to the team of brown mares.
    Neither of them said anything, but as they grew closer to the wagon-train camp, Jonathan sensed an uneasiness come over Delphinia. She was moving restlessly on the wooden seat, and her hands began pressing the gathers in her skirt as he had seen her do on several earlier occasions.
    In an attempt to make her feel more comfortable, he said, “You’ll not be staying in my wagon at night. Mrs. Clauson has agreed you can stay with her.” Delphinia did not respond, but he noticed she was not fidgeting quite so much. This pleased him, though he was not sure why.
    Slowing the team, he maneuvered the buckboard beside one of the covered wagons that had formed a circle for the night.
    “Thought maybe you wasn’t gonna make it back before supper,” a voice called out.
    “I’d have gotten word to you if we weren’t coming back this evening,” Jonathan replied as he jumped down from the wagon and held his arms up to assist Delphinia.
    As she was making her descent from the wagon, Jonathan matter-of-factly said, “Mr. and Mrs. Clauson, I’d like you to meet Phiney…Phiney Hughes. It was
Hughes
, wasn’t it?”
    He watched her eyes once again take on that fiery look as she very formally stated, “Mr. and Mrs. Clauson, my name is Delphinia Elizabeth Hughes. Mr. Wilshire seems to find it a difficult name. I, however, prefer to be called
Delphinia
…not Phiney.” Smiling sweetly at the Clausons, she added, “Pleased to meet you both.”
    Turning, she gave Jonathan a look meant to put him in his place. He grinned back at her but soon found himself trying to control a fit of laughter when Mr. Clauson replied, “We’re real pleased to meet you, too, Phiney.”
    Not wanting to give him further cause for laughter and certain that a woman would better understand the proper use of her name, Delphinia decided she would discuss the matter of her name privately with Mrs. Clauson.
    Jonathan and Mr. Clauson began unloading the wagon, and the older woman, while placing her arm around Delphinia’s shoulder, said, “Come on over here with me, Phiney. I’m just finishing up supper, and we can visit while the menfolk finish unloading.”
    So much for another woman’s understanding, Delphinia decided, moving over toward the fire. Perhaps she should just let the issue of her name drop with the Clausons. After all, once they arrived in Kansas, she would probably never see them again. Mr. Wilshire, though, was another matter!
    “Is there anything I can do to help?” Delphinia inquired.
    “No, no. Just set a spell and tell me about yourself. You sure are a pretty thing, with all that blond hair and those big brown eyes. Jonathan figured you probably weren’t a looker since your pa was willin’ to let you go West with a stranger. Thought maybe you couldn’t get a husband.”
    Noting the look of dismay that came over Delphinia’s face and the effect her words had on the young woman, Mrs. Clauson hurried to add, “He didn’t mean nothin’ bad by that. It’s just that most folks wouldn’t let their daughter take off with a complete stranger, let alone be advertisin’ in a paper to… Oh, I’m just jumblin’ this all up and hurtin’ you more. Mr. Clauson says I need to think ‘fore I open my mouth. I’m real sorry if I upset you, Phiney.”
    Lifting her rounded chin a little higher, Delphinia straightened her back and said, “There’s no need for you to feel concern over what you’ve said. After all, I’m sure you’ve spoken the truth of the matter.”

Chapter 3
    N either Delphinia nor Mrs. Clauson spoke for a time, each lost in her thoughts. Delphinia was not sure