Wagon Trail Bride Read online

  Pioneer Series: Book 1

  Wagon

  Trail

  Bride

  Ruth Ann Nordin

  This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and also represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.

  Wagon Trail Bride

  All Rights Reserved.

  Copyright 2016 Ruth Ann Nordin

  V1.0

  Amazon Edition

  Cover Photo background image Dreamstime. www.dreamstime.com. All rights reserved – used with permission.

  Cover Photo image of woman Period Images. http://www.periodimages.com/

  Cover made by Stephannie Beman.

  This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Epilogue

  Coming Next in the Pioneer Series: The Marriage Agreement

  Dedication: Norma Heatherly who has been patiently waiting for Richard and Amanda’s story. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement along the way and for sticking with me through the years. You’re a wonderful lady!

  Chapter One

  Just west of Toledo, Ohio

  July 1864

  Amanda Larson bent over the stream and gathered a handful of water. After she washed her face, she washed the back of her neck the best she could. She knew being on the wagon train heading for Nebraska was going to be tough, but she’d underestimated just how much. The endless days of walking by the wagons beneath the heat of the sun…knowing they had to reach Omaha before the weather turned cold…living off the same staple items or hoping the men would bring back some fresh meat…

  But if she’d known it was going to be this difficult, would it have made any difference? She stared at her reflection in the water. Was she a bad person for agreeing to marry Richard? Should she have said no when he asked?

  “Amanda Larson, you are a mystery.”

  Amanda turned as Laura Rufus knelt beside her, her light blonde hair a stark contrast to Amanda’s dark strands. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Amanda said, “I’m just getting some water to drink.” Then, to demonstrate, she gathered more water in her hands and drank it.

  Laura shook her head. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it. You’re so quiet. You keep to yourself. No one really knows you.”

  On some days, she could tolerate Laura. On others, all she wanted to do was tell the young woman to mind her own business. At least Richard’s parents left her alone. It helped that Richard had five younger siblings his parents had to look after. But Laura… Well, she was an only child and—worse—she wasn’t married yet, so she had nothing better to do than follow Amanda around.

  Amanda gathered the two canteens from the grass and began filling them up.

  “You and Richard don’t act like newlyweds,” Laura continued. “You act more like a brother and sister.”

  Biting her tongue, Amanda willed the water to fill the canteens quicker. Why couldn’t they have found a larger stream? Then she wouldn’t be stuck in this one spot to get her and Richard more water.

  “Whatever the reason, I bet there’s a good story behind it,” Laura said with a chuckle in her voice. “Why don’t we play a game? I’ll guess what your secret is, and you can give me a nod if I’m right.”

  Finally, the canteens were full. Amanda sealed them and stood up. “It’s almost time to walk again. I suggest you fill up your canteen.”

  Then she hurried back to the wagon Richard was driving, glad it was two ahead of the one Laura’s family owned. She lowered her gaze as she passed others on her way to Richard. When she reached him, she waited until he finished taking care of the oxen before giving him his canteen.

  “Thanks,” he said as he set it under his bench. “Do you want to keep walking or take a break and sit for awhile?”

  “Walk.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She slid the strap of the canteen over her head so it hung at her left hip. “Yes. I’d rather walk than sit.”

  For a moment, she thought he was going to say something, but then he offered a hesitant smile and got up into the seat. She released her breath and started walking, making sure she had enough distance between herself and the others so she could be alone with her thoughts. Not that she had deep ones. She never let her mind go there. She kept them on pleasant things. The way the sun cast her shadow along the grass, the different flowers she passed by, and the sound of the animals that accompanied the group. Mere distractions. Things to think about to pass the time.

  With a glance over her shoulder, she was assured Laura was too far behind her to catch up to her. Of all the people who threatened her peace, it was Laura Rufus. Just what was it about her that made Laura keep talking to her? There were other women in the group. Was it because they were both twenty? Or did Laura enjoy watching her squirm?

  Joe Otto, their leader who rode his horse as he passed by, called out it was time to go, and soon the whole party was moving forward, the mix of oxen, mules, and horses going at a steady pace. She pulled the bonnet from her pocket and tied it around her head. If she didn’t, she’d be regretting it that evening. She’d already gotten enough of a sunburn the other day.

  Gathering her skirt, she marched forward. From up ahead, Joe looked back at her. Their eyes met for a moment, and her steps slowed, her heart stopping in her throat. She glanced at Richard, but he was too focused on the oxen he was guiding to notice.

  Lowering her gaze, she avoided further eye contact with Joe. If she’d known he had taken a job to help lead and protect the wagon train, she never would have agreed to come. So far, he hadn’t approached her, and she could only pray he’d leave her alone for the entire trip. But they still had two months to go, and a lot could happen in that time.

  ***

  “We’ll stop here for the night,” Joe called out to the group.

  As tired as Amanda was, she wished they could have kept going for another half hour. But he was right. They should stop for the evening. The day had been a long one, and this one seemed especially difficult given the lack of wind as the sun beat down on them. She came to a stop and opened her canteen. There was no more water in it. With a sigh, she put the lid back on and studied her surroundings.

  In New York City, she got used to buildings and lots of people. But out here, it seemed like a desolate wilderness. There was the occasional town along the way, but for the most part, it was open land as far as the eye could see. She couldn’t decide if she liked it or not. Omaha was bound to be much different from what she was used to.

  “You want to eat with my family tonight?”

  She gasped and turned, unaware Richard had come up behind her.
<
br />   He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Relaxing, she returned his smile. “I don’t know where my mind is.”

  “It’s been a long day.” He glanced back at their wagon. “I need to get the animals settled before supper.” He turned his gaze back to her. “Ma asked us if we wanted to eat with them tonight. I told her I’d ask you. I wasn’t sure if you felt up to preparing something or not.” He took his hat off and wiped the sweat from his brow. His hair, which was a light shade of blond, appeared darker in the orange and pink hues of the evening sky. Hat still in hand, he continued, “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I can bring something back for you if you’d rather not talk to anyone. I know Laura was pestering you earlier today.”

  She met Richard’s eyes again, and she smiled. “I’ll be happy to join your family for supper this evening.”

  After everything he’d done for her, it was the least she could do. And as he’d pointed out, Laura had been unusually annoying that day by coming up to her during the break at the stream. Amanda scanned the area where people were getting settled for the evening. Good. Laura was preoccupied with her mother.

  “We’ll go to my family’s wagon in a little bit,” Richard told her, directing her attention back to him.

  She nodded then found a private area where she could relieve her bladder. Of all the conveniences she missed in New York, this was the one she missed most. Outhouses might have stunk, but they offered a better sense of privacy than a group of bushes did. She had to keep worrying someone would happen to find her like this.

  But was it any worse than the condition Richard found her in? And had it not been for him, who knew what would have happened to her?

  Don’t think about it, she admonished herself.

  She left the bushes and returned to her wagon. Richard had already unhitched the oxen for the night and was letting them rest with the other animals. “Do you need any help?” she asked as she pulled the strap holding her canteen over her head.

  “No, I’m done.” He held his hand toward the canteen. “I’ll put that in the wagon and fill it up tomorrow.”

  Saying thanks, she handed it to him. As he jumped up into the wagon, a movement not too far away caught her attention. The last thing she wanted to do was look over and see what it was. Or rather, who it was. She had an unsettling feeling someone was watching her. And if she guessed right, it was Joe. Forcing her hands into her pockets, she kept her eyes on Richard who was setting the canteen next to the bedroll that served as a bed.

  Relieved when he returned, she relaxed. But only slightly. Joe was still watching her. She told herself not to think about it. He was a part of her past. Richard was her future.

  Richard smiled and took her by the arm, gently leading her away from the wagon and, more importantly, away from Joe. She stepped closer to Richard, taking comfort in his silent strength.

  “Ma said my brothers caught a couple rabbits earlier today,” Richard said. “She’s going to cook them then put them in stew with the carrots and potatoes they saved from the last town we were in.”

  “Your ma’s a good cook,” she replied.

  “You are, too.”

  She wanted to argue with him but didn’t. He seemed to see only the best in her. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. How was she supposed to tell him she wasn’t as perfect as he made her out to be? Would he find out soon enough? And at that time, would he realize he made a mistake?

  She forced the questions aside. It’d been a long day. Tomorrow would be just as long. And quite frankly, she was tired. All she wanted to do was eat and go to sleep. The sooner she slept, the sooner she could wake up and walk again.

  ***

  Richard glanced at Amanda, who sat with his mother and sisters, as he ate his stew. She’d always been quiet when they were in school. Being born the same year, they’d grown up together, often playing the same games together. But the day came when he started thinking of her as more than a friend. She’d always been lovely, but she got to be much more so as she got older.

  “I heard we’ll reach a town soon,” Richard’s father told him.

  Reluctant to glance away from Amanda, Richard let his gaze linger on her. She was sitting with the women. In this case, the women were his mother, his seventeen-year-old sister Sally and ten-year-old Jenny. Well, Jenny wasn’t a woman. Not yet. But she would be soon enough.

  Richard should have asked if he could sit with her instead of choosing to sit with his father and brothers.

  His father patted him on the shoulder, surprising him. “Come,” his father said. “Let’s take a walk.”

  With a nod, Richard finished the rest of his stew then set the bowl down. His father picked up two pails, one for him and one for Richard.

  “We’ll be right back,” his father called out to his mother.

  “Thank you for getting water,” his mother replied.

  Amanda glanced over at Richard, and his heart skipped a beat, just like it always did when she chose to direct her attention to him. She probably had no idea how beautiful she was with her long dark hair and her deep brown eyes. Then there was the rest of her… His face warm, he broke eye contact. Yes, he was married to her. They’d made vows to be together, always and forever. But in so many ways, it was as if they were back in school.

  “Ready?” his father asked him.

  Richard nodded, wanting to see if Amanda was still watching him. But he couldn’t. Because if she was, it’d be awkward. At least for him. Instead, he headed to the stream with his father. The sun was quickly setting, and soon it would be time to go to sleep. Then they would wake up at dawn and do it all over again. One thing was for sure, he was looking forward to getting to Omaha. He’d be able to sleep until six or seven.

  “Joe said you’re keeping watch with him again tonight,” his father told him.

  Richard shrugged. “He asked, and I saw no reason to say no.”

  “Being that you’re still newly married, I would have thought you’d save some nights for your bride,” his father replied. “I can help Joe watch over the animals and make sure we’re safe.”

  Richard let out a long sigh, making sure his father didn’t hear it. If he had any idea this walk to the stream was going to include this particular discussion, he would have gone alone with both pails.

  “I don’t mind,” Richard said. “Besides, I’ve done it enough now where I know exactly what to do. It’s not a problem.” When his father didn’t look convinced, he added, “Really, it’s not.”

  They reached the stream, something he was relieved about since it gave him an excuse to avoid looking at his father as he filled his pail.

  “You should let others do their part to help Joe,” his pa said.

  Why couldn’t his father leave the matter alone? He and Amanda didn’t have that kind of marriage. At least not yet. He hoped they would in the future, but it was going to take time, especially after all she’d been through.

  Once he finished filling his pail, he straightened up and realized his father was watching him. “Joe already asked me to help him keep watch tonight. I’m not going to say no at this point.”

  “You don’t have to feel guilty for saying no, Richard.”

  “I don’t. I like helping Joe keep watch. It’s peaceful to watch a new day span the horizon.”

  Without waiting for his father to reply, Richard headed for his parents’ wagon, glad to end the conversation.

  Chapter Two

  When Richard reached his mother, he set the pail down. Amanda was sitting next to her, wiping the dishes clean. A stray hair wound its way around her neck. Often, when he saw her hair do that, he imagined what it’d be like to brush it away and kiss her where her hair had been.

  Of course, he wouldn’t mind kissing her on the mouth either. She had the most adorable rosy lips that complemented her cheeks. No wonder he’d been drawn to her when he turned twelve. Despite the circumstances that brought them together, he was
glad she was going to share the rest of her life with him.

  “Thanks for the water, Richard,” his mother said and took the pail.

  “You’re welcome, Ma,” he replied, still watching Amanda as she finished with the dishes.

  His mother patted him on the shoulder then told his younger five siblings to get ready for bed. Most days, they were so tired from the long day they didn’t argue, but on this particular evening, Tom and Joel complained they were just about to catch a snake.

  “Enough of that, you two,” she told them. “There will be no sneaking snakes into someone’s blanket like you did last time.”

  “No one’s going to put a snake in someone’s blanket,” Tom replied.

  “Don’t lie to me. You told me that two weeks ago, and poor Jenny got the fright of her life.”

  “She was fine,” Tom argued.

  Richard went over to his fifteen-year-old brother and nudged him in the shoulder. “Stop giving Ma a hard time. Get ready for bed.” He turned to Joel who was chasing something in the grass. “You too,” he called out, using a tone in his voice that usually got Joel to stop what he was doing.

  In this case, both Tom and Joel obeyed, despite their grumbling as they trudged to wash up at the stream.

  “Thank you, Richard,” his mother said.

  He returned her smile then went over to Amanda. Kneeling beside her, he asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  She looked up at him, her dark eyes meeting his. “This is the last one.”

  With a nod, he collected the other dishes and put them in the bin his mother had resting out beside the wagon. When he returned to Amanda, he helped her to her feet. “Are you ready to go?”

  When she indicated she was, he led her to their wagon, passing two others along the way. He caught sight of his father but decided to pretend he needed to check the buttons on his boots to avoid eye contact with him. Up to now, his father hadn’t mentioned anything about Richard’s relationship with Amanda. And now that he had, Richard just felt awkward around him.