A Dream for Tomorrow (21 page)

“Well, I’m sorry I only just met you, Jack, especially seeing how you’re traveling alone,” she told him. “But this is a big wagon train and it’s hard to get to know everyone.”

“It certainly is.”

Although Elizabeth hated playing coy, she felt she’d been presented an opportunity to get this man to show his true colors—and in front of Mahala. “California certainly sounds like a pretty place,” she told him. “I hear that you can grow almost anything down there. My children and I are headed to southern Oregon to start a farm there.”

“You and your children?” His dark brows arched with interest. “What about your husband?”

“Sadly, I’m a widow.”

“I’m sorry.” Unless she was mistaken, his eyes lit up at this news.

“I sold my farm in Kentucky so we could set out for a new life,” she continued. “Some think it was foolish for a young widow to come on a trip like this, but the lure of new land and new fortunes…” She smiled. “Who could resist?”

“So you’re an adventuress.” He looked at her in a way that made her skin crawl, almost as if she’d come upon a snake on the trail. Perhaps she had.

“I suppose I am.” She patted Molly’s neck. “Well, I guess I should be on my way. I promised my mare a good ride this morning.”

“That is one fine-looking horse. Very fine.” He glanced past her and she watched him carefully eyeing her horse, taking in the fine English saddle and silver-trimmed bridle. She felt sure she had this man figured out. No doubt he was a fortune hunter, which left only one explanation for why he was toying with Mahala’s affections.

“Thank you.” She smoothed Molly’s mane, determined to pour it on thick. She wanted him to think she was wealthy…and silly. “My family was known for raising some of the best and fastest horses in Kentucky. My father used to race them too. Anyway, I hope to continue the tradition in Oregon. And I brought some of my finest livestock with me.”

As she removed her riding gloves, tucking them into her belt, she could feel Mahala’s eyes on her—and her fury. Not that Elizabeth cared so much. If she could spare this girl from a future of pain, what did it matter? Jack planned to part ways at South Pass, which was less than two days away. What if Mahala was considering going with him?

“Hearing you speaking of Oregon…I wonder if I have made a mistake,” he told Elizabeth.

“A mistake?” Elizabeth tipped her head to one side. “What do you mean?”

“I mean—well, it seems as if the prettiest women in the wagon train are headed for Oregon. Why on earth am I going to California?”

Mahala spoke suddenly. “But Jack, I asked you about coming to Oregon with us and you said you couldn’t—”

“I reckon a fellow can change his mind if he wants to, Mahala.” His tone just now was much sharper than the honey-coated one he’d been using with Elizabeth.

“Does that mean you
will
come to Oregon?” Mahala looked up hopefully.

He looked past her, smiling directly at Elizabeth as if Mahala had disappeared. “I’m sure I could be enticed to change my plans.”

Elizabeth nudged Mahala. “What do you think, should we entice him or not?”

Mahala’s cheeks were flushed pink, and she looked flustered and confused, as if she were playing a game where someone had changed all the rules. “I…uh, I’m not sure.”

“Perhaps we should invite Jack to come visit our unit tonight,” Elizabeth told her. “He could meet our fathers and—”

“
Fathers?
” It was Jack who looked uneasy now. “I thought you were traveling alone, Elizabeth. Alone…with your children, I mean.”

She made an innocent smile. “Oh, didn’t I mention my father and mother are traveling with us as well? Naturally they have their own wagon. As do I. My father is councilman of our unit. And my brother and his new bride are traveling with us as well. And Mahala has both her parents and lots of brothers and sisters with her.” She laughed. “If you are tired of being alone, you would certainly enjoy all the family and entertainment we can provide for you in our unit.” She grinned at Mahala. “Isn’t that right?”

Mahala appeared to be speechless.

“So please, Jack, do feel free to visit us this evening.” She gave him a coquettish smile. “Can we expect you for supper?”

“I…uh…I’m not sure.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll give it some thought.”

“All right. You know we’re in unit five.” Elizabeth turned back to Mahala. “Do you want to walk with me for a spell?”

Mahala didn’t answer. She just looked from Elizabeth to Jack and back to Elizabeth again. Then without saying a word to Jack she turned away from him and, to Elizabeth’s delight, she continued to walk with her. Elizabeth slowly edged them away from the trail, watching as Jack’s wagon, moving just a bit faster than they were, moved on ahead.

“What were you doing just now?” Mahala hissed at her.

“I was visiting with you and Jack,” she told her.

“No…you were up to something. I could tell. What was it? And why?”

“Just being neighborly.”

“
Elizabeth
.” Mahala stopped walking, locking eyes with Elizabeth.

“All right.” Elizabeth put her hand on Mahala’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I was concerned for you when I saw you visiting with Jack.”

“
Why?
”

Elizabeth shrugged. “You seemed in intimate conversation, Mahala. But something about it did not feel right to me. I care about you, and as your friend, I wanted to be sure you were all right.”

“You
care
about me?” Mahala turned to stare at her. “It looked to me like you cared more about Jack than me.”

“I’m truly sorry about my little charade.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I was just curious, Mahala. I wanted to see what Jack was made of.”

“What did you
think
he was made of?”

“Unfortunately, I could feel the way he was looking at me. The way he took inventory of my horse and reacted to my words gave me the impression that he thought he could snare a wealthy widow on her way to the West—that he would take full advantage of the situation. Couldn’t you see that?”

“You don’t even know him, Elizabeth.” Mahala sounded angry now.

“I think you’re wrong. I do know him. Rather, I know what sort of a man he is. You saw how warm he was toward me…and how he changed when he heard I had family to back me. His interest in me completely vanished. The idea of my father and brother scared him off. Didn’t you see that?”

Mahala bit her lip.

“Why would my father—one of the sweetest men around—scare off a man like Jack?”

“I…uh, I don’t know.”

“Did Jack ever offer to come around and meet your parents, Mahala?” Elizabeth looked directly into her eyes.

There was a long pause. “No…”

“Do you honestly think Jack was courting you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did he ever mention marriage to you?”

Another long pause. “No…”

“Did he ask you to go to California with him?”

Mahala said nothing, but Elizabeth saw silent tears building in her dark brown eyes. She saw her chin beginning to quiver.

“Oh, Mahala.” Elizabeth reached over and hugged the girl, holding her tightly as she spoke. “Don’t you know you are worth so much more than that? You are smart and kind and beautiful. And yet Jack would only take advantage of you…for his own selfish purposes. I can assure you that Jack Smith has some deep dark secrets. I know you are a good and decent girl. Jack Smith is looking out for himself above everyone else—including you. Trust me, you would be making the biggest mistake of your life if you went to California with him. He would use you and then discard you as soon as his next opportunity came along.”

Elizabeth released her, but now the tears were pouring down Mahala’s cheeks. “I was such a fool,” she said. “But I wanted to believe him.”

“I know you did. But I just don’t know
why
you did.”

“Because…because…” She let out a loud sigh. “It’s just that I…well, I don’t want to be an old maid.”

Elizabeth threw back her head and laughed.

“That’s what Hannah keeps saying I am, Elizabeth. An old maid. She tells me that all the time. And it’s true. Hannah will probably find a husband before I do.”

“That’s nonsense. Listen to me, Mahala. We are headed to country where men outnumber women by a great deal. Believe me, no one as smart and pretty as you has the slightest chance of being an old maid.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Elizabeth pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. “Not only that, but there are nice young men right here on this very wagon train—and not Jack Smith, thank your lucky stars. But there are decent young men like, say, Julius Prescott…young men who would be over the moon to be able to court a girl like you.”

“Oh, go on.” She waved her hand. “Why would a wealthy Boston boy notice a girl like me?”

“Can you keep a secret?” Elizabeth knew she might be stepping over a line, but it seemed the right thing to do at the moment.

“What?” Mahala wiped her wet cheeks and then gave the handkerchief back.

Elizabeth held up her hand like an oath. “Promise you won’t tell anyone if I tell you this?”

Mahala held up her hand. “I promise.”

“All right. The secret is that you, Mahala Flanders, caught Julius Prescott’s eye the very first day he met you.”

“No!” Mahala looked truly stunned. “Are you teasing me?”

Elizabth shook her head. “Not at all. I heard it from a very reliable source. The trouble is that Julius is very shy around girls. Especially if he likes them.”

“Oh…?” She slowly nodded. “My brother Ezra is like that too.”

“So, you understand what I’m saying?”

“I think I do.”

Now they both walked along in silence for a while, and Elizabeth could tell that Mahala was deep in thought. Perhaps she was even planning her wedding with Julius. Elizabeth didn’t even care. She was just relieved that Mahala was not going to be trapped by the likes of Jack Smith…if that was his real name. Flo had been right. The man was a snake.

“Elizabeth?” Mahala’s voice sounded worried.

“Yes?”

“Please, don’t tell my mother about any of this.”

Elizabeth chuckled. “I won’t tell if you don’t tell.”

Mahala stopped walking and stuck out her hand. “It’s a deal.”

As they shook on this, Elizabeth was greatly relieved to know that this morning’s strange conversation with Jack Smith would remain their secret. Despite the happy results, Elizabeth wasn’t the least bit proud of the role she’d played in order to reveal that man’s slimy character. She was just as glad to bury it.

Chapter Fourteen

I
don’t know how it happened or when it happened, but you’ll hear no complaints from me,” Flo quietly told Elizabeth the next afternoon. They had met on their way to fetch water for the evening meal, and Flo was all lit up.

“What are you talking about?” Elizabeth hooked one of the full buckets on the end of the yoke, balancing it while she put the other one in place.

“
Mahala
,” Flo whispered.

“Oh?” Elizabeth decided to act oblivious. “How is Mahala?”