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Authors: Jennifer Hudson Taylor
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trouble.”
“Nonsense.” Rebecca waved a hand and lifted her skirts to climb the porch steps. “It was no trouble at all.” She paused beside Irene. “And how is thee? Excited about this important mission?”
“I was when I thought we were going by train.” Irene dropped her gaze and stepped to the side to let Rebecca pass through the threshold.
“I see.” Rebecca chuckled as she swept into the house. “Just think about all the tales thee might have to share with thy future husband and children, even thy grandchildren. I'm sure thee will come upon some special adventures thee might not experience on a train.”
“Like what?” Irene followed Rebecca as she found a seat in the first chair she came to and plopped down with a weary sigh.
“Let's see…bobcats, tracking hounds, bounty hunters.”
Irene's eyes widened, and she turned to Flora, the first suspicion of fear flickering in her blue eyes. A blond eyebrow rose in a question as her mouth dropped open without a sound.
“Friend Rebecca, has thee come to scare my sister?” Flora walked over to Irene and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “She's only trying to instill a bit of excitement in thee. Cheer up!”
“But such things are a possibility.” Rebecca lifted a finger in warning.
“Here's thy trunk.” Father hoisted her brown trunk up over his shoulder and set it next to the one Flora had been packing. Relief flooded Flora at the brief interruption. Perhaps now Irene would forget about what Friend Rebecca had said. The trunk thumped against the hardwood floor and something rattled inside. “Hope there aren't any breakables in there.”
“No, not at all,” Rebecca said. “I thank thee, Friend Will.”
“Well, I'm off to the barn.” Father made a quick escape.
“I've brought some tea and biscuits.” Mother had appeared with a tray. Saucers and cups were stacked with a teapot on one side and a plate of homemade biscuits with jam, honey, and a slab of butter on the other side. Flora could almost taste the warm flakes and the sweet buttery flavor.
“How delightful.” Rebecca scooted to the edge of her chair. “I brought a few supplies that will be helpful to Flora on this mission.” She nodded toward the trunk.
“We're most appreciative.” Mother followed her gaze and smiled. “I've been in fervent prayer for the girls and this whole mission ever since I've heard about it.” Mother poured a cup of tea and handed it to Rebecca.
“I imagine thee has.” Rebecca sipped her tea as her gaze lingered in Irene's direction. She swallowed. “Has Irene ever been in a birthing room? Flora may very well need her assistance.”
“No, she hasn't.” Mother dropped her gaze, and for the first time Flora realized how concerned her mother was in letting Irene go. “Irene is only ten and six. It has been so long since I lost my little ones. She doesn't have an interest in midwifery like Flora.”
“No matter. There may come a time when she'll be needed out of necessity. We must prepare her as best as we can.” Rebecca's brown gaze met Flora's. “Of course, I hear that handsome young man Bruce Millikan will be escorting thee. He's very capable. Few know this, but a year ago he patched up a slave with a gunshot wound on a mission. He isn't afraid of blood and will know how best to stop the bleeding if there are complications. Out in the wilderness, thee must forget about protocol. It doesn't matter that he's a man and not a doctor. Ask for his help if thee must. Survival comes first.”
Bruce shoved his fists against his sides and stared at all the trunks Flora and Irene expected to take on the trip. He couldn't stop his jaw from dropping open in acute shock.
“What's wrong?” Flora demanded as she strolled to a stop beside him, her arms folded across her chest in defiance.
“This!” He gestured toward their loaded wagon. “We're not going on a pleasurable trip. We need to take as little as possible.”
“I only packed what
“Nonsense.” Rebecca waved a hand and lifted her skirts to climb the porch steps. “It was no trouble at all.” She paused beside Irene. “And how is thee? Excited about this important mission?”
“I was when I thought we were going by train.” Irene dropped her gaze and stepped to the side to let Rebecca pass through the threshold.
“I see.” Rebecca chuckled as she swept into the house. “Just think about all the tales thee might have to share with thy future husband and children, even thy grandchildren. I'm sure thee will come upon some special adventures thee might not experience on a train.”
“Like what?” Irene followed Rebecca as she found a seat in the first chair she came to and plopped down with a weary sigh.
“Let's see…bobcats, tracking hounds, bounty hunters.”
Irene's eyes widened, and she turned to Flora, the first suspicion of fear flickering in her blue eyes. A blond eyebrow rose in a question as her mouth dropped open without a sound.
“Friend Rebecca, has thee come to scare my sister?” Flora walked over to Irene and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “She's only trying to instill a bit of excitement in thee. Cheer up!”
“But such things are a possibility.” Rebecca lifted a finger in warning.
“Here's thy trunk.” Father hoisted her brown trunk up over his shoulder and set it next to the one Flora had been packing. Relief flooded Flora at the brief interruption. Perhaps now Irene would forget about what Friend Rebecca had said. The trunk thumped against the hardwood floor and something rattled inside. “Hope there aren't any breakables in there.”
“No, not at all,” Rebecca said. “I thank thee, Friend Will.”
“Well, I'm off to the barn.” Father made a quick escape.
“I've brought some tea and biscuits.” Mother had appeared with a tray. Saucers and cups were stacked with a teapot on one side and a plate of homemade biscuits with jam, honey, and a slab of butter on the other side. Flora could almost taste the warm flakes and the sweet buttery flavor.
“How delightful.” Rebecca scooted to the edge of her chair. “I brought a few supplies that will be helpful to Flora on this mission.” She nodded toward the trunk.
“We're most appreciative.” Mother followed her gaze and smiled. “I've been in fervent prayer for the girls and this whole mission ever since I've heard about it.” Mother poured a cup of tea and handed it to Rebecca.
“I imagine thee has.” Rebecca sipped her tea as her gaze lingered in Irene's direction. She swallowed. “Has Irene ever been in a birthing room? Flora may very well need her assistance.”
“No, she hasn't.” Mother dropped her gaze, and for the first time Flora realized how concerned her mother was in letting Irene go. “Irene is only ten and six. It has been so long since I lost my little ones. She doesn't have an interest in midwifery like Flora.”
“No matter. There may come a time when she'll be needed out of necessity. We must prepare her as best as we can.” Rebecca's brown gaze met Flora's. “Of course, I hear that handsome young man Bruce Millikan will be escorting thee. He's very capable. Few know this, but a year ago he patched up a slave with a gunshot wound on a mission. He isn't afraid of blood and will know how best to stop the bleeding if there are complications. Out in the wilderness, thee must forget about protocol. It doesn't matter that he's a man and not a doctor. Ask for his help if thee must. Survival comes first.”
Bruce shoved his fists against his sides and stared at all the trunks Flora and Irene expected to take on the trip. He couldn't stop his jaw from dropping open in acute shock.
“What's wrong?” Flora demanded as she strolled to a stop beside him, her arms folded across her chest in defiance.
“This!” He gestured toward their loaded wagon. “We're not going on a pleasurable trip. We need to take as little as possible.”
“I only packed what
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