Lord, you are a shield about us. You are our glory and the One who lifts our heads . . . I trust you. I choose to trust you. Peace eased out the tension again. Thank you.
She looked at Lark, who strode along beside the lead ox. The weight she’d seen there Saturday night seemed gone for the moment. All their burdens had lightened some with the church service yesterday morning, especially when their family had been invited to lead the singing with their instruments. Now, head high, shoulders back, Lark looked the epitome of a man embarking on the next stage of an exciting adventure.
Lilac rode beside her, Robbie in front. As usual, he was talking to Lilac, to the horse, and shouting at times to his mother, who at least was starting the day sitting in the back of their wagon, which was in front of the Nielsens’. She waved back to her son. The extra day’s rest had strengthened her considerably.
Del nodded toward the Durhams’ wagon. “That’s thanks to your patient doctoring, you know.”
At the word doctoring, Forsythia thought about the man driving the end wagon, two behind theirs. Dr. Adam Brownsville. The final addition to the train, and the one Mr. Hayes had been waiting for. She’d noticed his eyes first. While he looked tired, his rich brown eyes held a confidence and warmth that inspired trust immediately. What a gift for a doctor. The rumor was that he was late because he had to bury his wife two days before they reached Independence. Which explained the grief also in his eyes. The poor man. What a heartbreaking start to what they must have hoped would be a new adventure together.
The sun climbed as the oxen plodded on. After their nooning rest, the heat rose, as did the dust, blowing into their faces in choking clouds from the wagons ahead.
“I didn’t miss this part when we were on our own.” Del held her handkerchief over her mouth.
Forsythia coughed and nodded. “I’m going to walk awhile. And check on Alice.” She climbed down.
Heading forward to the Durhams’ wagon, she waved at Lilac and Robbie on Starbright. They certainly had become an inseparable pair.
She paused beside Thomas Durham, who walked beside his oxen. “How is Alice?”
He shook his head. “Not so good.”
Alarm gripped her. She climbed into the back of the wagon where Alice lay, eyes closed, one hand resting on her mound of belly. “Alice?” Forsythia stroked her hair. “How are you doing?”
Alice’s eyes fluttered open, and she gave a faint smile. “Fine. A little weak.”
Forsythia breathed a bit easier. Perhaps Mr. Durham was overly worried. But when she felt Alice’s pulse, the thready rhythm concerned her. “Have you eaten?”
“A little gruel.”
“We need to get some more nourishment into you.” Forsythia couldn’t cook anything, not until the wagons stopped for the night. If only they had milk. Perhaps one of the other families who had brought a milk cow might spare some. “I’ll be back.”
Hurrying, she found her way to Lark, who was leading Starbright and visiting with the husband of the family behind them. Del had taken over droving the oxen, while Lilac sat with Robbie on their wagon seat.
“Clark,” Forsythia interrupted when she could, “I’m sorry, but Mrs. Durham has weakened. Do you know of any families with a milk cow?”
“Saw one three wagons ahead,” the man Lark had been talking with said. “They might be glad to share.”
“Thank you.”
Half an hour later, Forsythia climbed back into the Durhams’ wagon with a cup of fresh milk, one of their own eggs stirred into it with a little sugar. “Alice, see if you can drink this. It’ll give you strength.”
“Strength . . . I need.” Alice smiled and tried to lift her head. “Especially when this little one comes along.”
“We’re going to have you strong and well before then.” Forsythia propped her up, but Alice sagged on the pillows. Dear Lord, please. On a second try, they got her settled, and Alice drank half the concoction before turning her head away.
“No more.” She was asleep by the time Forsythia climbed down from the wagon.
“How is she?” Mr. Durham hung back from his oxen.
“I got some nourishment into her.” Forsythia rolled her lips together. “But you’re right—she’s weaker.”
He said nothing, but the misery in his eyes cut to her heart.
Lord, show us what to do. The dysentery seems better, and no one else has gotten sick. So what is wrong?
As night fell, the company circled the wagons and set the animals free to graze within. Ephraim Hayes gathered the heads of households for another meeting, though anyone else was free to join this time. After making sure Alice drank the remainder of the milk, Forsythia went with Lark while Del and Lilac started supper.
“We made a good start today, folks. Covered near twenty miles. We gotta do that every day, at least, if we’re going to make it over those Rockies before winter.”
Murmurs and nods of agreement.
“I want to introduce a new member of our train who, due to unfortunate circumstances, was unable to be present at our first meeting. I know we’re all glad to have a doctor around. Dr. Adam Brownsville is traveling with his nephew, Jesse. Please make these gentlemen welcome.”
Forsythia craned her neck to catch another glimpse of the kind-eyed doctor and the young man with him. Jesse had a gentle face and spoke with a stutter. He looked with adoring trust at his uncle.
Mr. Hayes dismissed the meeting, and the group broke up to visit and drift back to their cookfires.
Forsythia touched Lark’s sleeve. “I’m going to talk to Dr.
