Read Online Threads of Change by Jodi Barrows - Free Book Online Page A

see it again. When he couldn’t see Lucas anymore, Thomas looked out at the river until it disappeared as well. His heart lurched a bit for Liz as she said goodbye to everything she knew, including Caleb, putting it all behind her and boldly ran forward into The Great Unknown.

    When they reached the edge of the Mailly property. Liz looked over to Megan, who could hardly stay seated over the wagon bench as her petite gloved hands drove the team of horses.
    Liz smiled at her sister. She had always admired Megan’s love for life. It was in the small things, the day-to-day matters, that she found the oddest satisfaction for living. The special way she held the stem of a flower bulb before placing it carefully into its allotted square hole, or the way she threaded a needle and secured a perfect knot, even the way she cleaned the house.
    “We’re leaving! I can’t believe this,” Megan exclaimed to Liz, trying to talk over the horses. “We’re actually leaving Riverton! Did you ever dream?”
    Liz bit her lip and tried to smile back at her sister. She hadn’t, actually. She’d never once dreamed of leaving Riverton or the timber mill. That lone tear found its way to her chin again, and she quickly looked back as she went around the final bend in the road. She caught sight of her grandfather on the porch with his hand held high, still waving.
    No, she’d never dreamed of leaving it all behind one day.

T he hot sun perched boldly, straight overhead. The group had made surprisingly good distance for the time they had been on the trail, which pleased Thomas.
    Chet rode over the crest of a small hill and slowed his horse to the speed of Thomas’s wagon, and Thomas motioned toward the region to the right side of them. Chet’s head dodged in the direction after it.
    “What’s up? How does it look over there?” Thomas asked.
    “Still like Louisiana,” Chet joked.
    “Go back and make sure the others are doing fine. If we can find water, I’d like to stop for the horses.”
    “I’ll tell them.”
    Chet pushed back and rode back a short way to where Liz and Megan’s wagons were driving.
    “Hello,” Thomas heard him call out, slowing his horse to their speed.
    After Chet had confirmed that each wagon was doing fine, he rode on to relay the news to Thomas.
    “Good,” Thomas said. “Did you tell them that we would stop soon?”
    “Yes, I did. They supposed the sooner the better.”
    “They need to stop?”
    “I reckon everyone would like a break soon.”
    “Very well. See if you can scout a place for water.”
    “We’ve been traveling parallel to a large creek. Almost six feet across I’d say.”
    “Really?”
    “For about three miles.”
    “Can you lead the way?”
    Chet dipped his head and nodded. “It’s only a short way. Follow me!”
    The wagons tracked off to the right side with Chet leading the way. Up ahead, Thomas spotted a thick group of low trees; just beyond them, a rocky area and a flowing creek—almost six feet across, just as Chet had said.
    The wagons came to a halt before reaching the area of thick growth that bordered the creek at a wide perch where the horses could enjoy the shade and drink water. The ladies quickly unloaded and headed upstream a bit to wash and enjoy the fresh water.
    Blue, John, and Lucas walked to the creek, downstream from the women, and filled several buckets from which the horses could drink. Chet and Thomas stayed behind with the wagons and horses.
    “Everything is going well,” Chet said as Thomas took a long drink from his canteen and then pushed the cork lid over the opening.
    “So far,” he said flatly. “It’s not what’s up ahead that concerns me. It’s what is traveling behind us.”
    Chet glanced over his shoulder. “Behind us? What do you mean?”
    “The women,” Thomas said, wiping his mouth.
    Chet looked concerned. “Why? What did Lucas say about the women?”
    “To watch out for them.”
    “We’ve only just gotten