Read Online The Wedding Dress by Marian Wells - Free Book Online

Rebecca was looking forward to renewing their friendship. This leg of the journey would be brief, and at Mount Pisgah, twenty-seven miles west of Garden Grove, there would be more harvesting and replanting.
    On the first morning that Cora lost her breakfast, Rebecca had been sympathetic. In the days that they traveled to Mount Pisgah, Cora’s indisposition didn’t improve, and Rebecca began to worry. Cora was wan and listless, but it was Mrs. Wright’s indifference that plagued Rebecca. She was grateful when the journey was completed.
    They settled into life at Mount Pisgah, caught up with the busy harvesttime. One day Cora arrived at the community garden patch while Rebecca was hoeing. She carried a basket, and her sunbonnet was pulled low over her face. “Lucky you,” Rebecca called to her. “You’ll be picking beans while I have the hot work.”
    Cora shoved her bonnet back. “One advantage of being in the family way.” Her smile was strained.
    Rebecca caught her breath as she studied Cora’s face. “I don’t know what to say…” She paused. “You don’t seem upset.”
    â€œWell, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. I was hoping that you’d just accept it without making me do all this explaining. I’m Mr. Wright’s wife.”
    Rebecca sucked in her breath. She was trying desperately not to let it make a difference.
    â€œBecky, I just couldn’t bring myself to put it all in words when I saw that you didn’t catch it at once. You’re…well, you’re so young.”
    â€œHow can I be young when I’m sixteen, the same as you are?”
    She turned away. “Becky, you have a lot to learn. When I’m feeling better, I’ll have a lot of teaching to do. Someone’s got to do it.”
    â€œBessie seems—”
    â€œMrs. Wright isn’t taking it well. After all, they’ve been married fifteen years, and there’s no young’uns.” She shrugged, “I’d not like it either. But, then, it’s his only chance to make it in the next world. Hers too. And me…” Her voice trailed to silence, and with a sigh she headed for the bean patch.

    When it was time for the wagon train to move out, Cora’s cheeks were again round and red with health. As her waistband tightened, her spirit expanded with joy. More often now she rode in the wagon while Rebecca walked alongside, watching Cora use the needle on the pile of white cloth.
    One morning Mr. Wright announced, “There’s a touch of frost in the air. Talk’s for pressing hard to Winter Quarters. Old timers are saying it’s to be a hard winter.”
    â€œWhat’s Winter Quarters?”
    He turned to look at Rebecca. “The camp Brigham set up on the Missouri last year. It’s pretty close to Council Bluffs and the last likely spot for a settlement before heading west.” He paused, “You might say it’s the jumping-off place.”
    â€œDoes that mean we’ll be spending the winter there?”
    â€œI expect so. It’ll be like these other camps. A place to fortify ourselves and help those who’ll be coming after us.”
    Later Rebecca learned that the Winter Quarters had been settled in June of the previous year by the Saints who had left Nauvoo in February 1846. Crippled by the binding mud and inclement weather, that first weary train had been ordered by Brigham Young to settle and plant crops there. Before the first month was out, before Brigham could send out a scouting party west, the United States government had requested a battalion of five hundred men from the group to serve in the war with Mexico. With such a number of their most vigorous young men gone, moving west that summer was impossible. During that summer and fall, a gristmill and a council house had been built. Each family raised their food and constructed shelter for the winter.
    When Rebecca and the