Read Online A Dream for Tomorrow by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online

want to say the question that was really on her mind—was she going to be stuck with Mrs. Taylor for the duration of the trip?
    “Your father and I discussed this topic this morning. He suggested that the wagons with the least occupants should help out. That would be us, the McIntires, and Ruby and Doris.”
    Elizabeth set the pot down with a clang. “I can just imagine Mrs. Taylor’s response to sharing a wagon with Ruby and Doris.”
    Clara chuckled. “It might prove interesting.”
    “And the sweet McIntires. They barely have enough food as it is. And poor Fiona is still getting over losing her baby. I’d hate to foist Mrs. Taylor on them.”
    “So what are we to do?” Clara wiped her hands on her apron.
    “Just what we’re doing now.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Maybe I just needed to let off some steam.”
    Clara slipped an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders. “I don’t know that it makes any difference, but your father and I are very proud of how you’re handling this, Lizzie. Asa was just saying how this trip has shown him what fine children we have raised. The hardships seem to bring out the very best in both you and Matthew. We couldn’t be prouder.”
    Elizabeth hugged her mother back. “So I guess we’ll just keep doing what the good book says then.”
    “That would be…?”
    “Live one day at a time. Like Jesus said, tomorrow has enough worries to take care of itself. No use fretting over it today.”
    “How true.”
    “Speaking of the future, I wonder when we’ll be able to cross the river.”
    “You must have been tending to Mrs. Taylor…your father announced that Captain Brownlee told the councilmen that if we have two days in a row with no rain, we will probably attempt it.”
    “It didn’t rain yesterday.” Elizabeth peered up at the clear blue sky. “And I don’t see any thunderclouds today.”
    “Perhaps tomorrow.” Clara hung the damp dishtowel on a nail. “I must admit it’s been an unexpected luxury to have this break and to catch up on laundry and things. But already I’m itching to travel.”
    Elizabeth smiled. “It’s funny, isn’t it? How we’ve all gotten so accustomed to being on the road. What will we do when we reach our last stop in Oregon?”
    “Get down on our knees and kiss the ground?”
    Elizabeth threw back her head and laughed at the image of her mother kissing the ground.
    “Sounds like someone is happy.”
    They both turned to see Will Bramford and his two daughters approaching. They greeted them and were surprised to see that the girls wanted to share some wild strawberries with Mrs. Taylor. “We thought it might help to cheer her up,” Belinda said.
    “What a lovely idea,” Clara told her.
    “She’s in my wagon. Go ahead and take them to her,” Elizabeth encouraged them, lowering her voice. “She’s been a bit reclusive, but she might enjoy the company of you sweet young girls.”
    Belinda and Amelia exchanged looks as if they were uncertain.
    “Go on,” their father urged them. “Take your gift to Mrs. Taylor.”
    As the giggling girls approached Elizabeth’s wagon, Clara excused herself to her own wagon, leaving Will and Elizabeth standing there.
    “It must not be easy having Mrs. Taylor in your care,” Will began carefully. “How are you holding up?”
    She untied her apron, hanging it up to dry. “I’m all right.”
    “Have you spoken to your father about the legal issues facing Brady in Oregon?”
    “I mentioned it to him.” She unrolled her sleeves, adjusted her skirt, and pushed the stray hairs from her face. She tried not to imagine her mother, who was probably listening attentively on the other side of the canvas.
    Will gave her a sympathetic smile. “You look weary, Elizabeth.”
    She frowned, unsure of how to respond to that.
    “A pretty sort of weary,” he added cheerfully.
    Now she felt her cheeks blushing, and tried to think of someplace to excuse herself to, but certainly not to her own wagon.
    “I know of a