“Let’s go see who it is,” Matthew said. “They’re traveling late. I’ll bet they’re ready to camp.”
As they moved quickly out toward the wagons, they heard a man’s shout. “Ho, the camp!”
“Yes!” Derek called back. “Derek Ingalls here. Come on in.”
There was a muffled cry of joy and surprise—a woman’s voice—then the man shouted again. “Derek. It’s Joshua and Caroline.”
* * *
Peter Ingalls and young Joshua, Lydia’s oldest son, were in the back of Father Steed’s cabin, digging through the garden, looking for any carrots or potatoes that might have been missed. During the last two days the cold temperatures had softened enough that the ground had thawed. It wasn’t likely they would find something, but there was nothing else to do, and even the small chance that there was something they had missed was worth the effort. It was late afternoon, and the sky was overcast. But it was high and thin and not threatening rain.
Peter stopped and cocked his head. Then young Joshua heard it too. There was the low rumble of voices—many voices—coming from the street that ran in front of their cabin. Sticking their shovels in the ground, they walked around the cabin to where they could see what was going on.
As they came out front, Benjamin and Mary Ann were coming out of the cabin onto the porch. Sister McIntire was right behind them.
“What is it?” Mary Ann called, raising one hand to shade her eyes.
For a moment, Peter wasn’t sure. It was a crowd of people moving toward them from the eastern part of town. He could see the top of a wagon—no, three wagons, as he looked more carefully—and it was that which was creating all the excitement. Even as he looked, he saw people running out from their houses as the crowd reached them. And what was especially strange, he could see that many of the people were pushing around to the back of the wagon, calling and pointing to whatever was inside.
“It must be someone returning from the east,” Peter said.
Benjamin had come down to stand by Peter and young Joshua now. Mary Ann and Sister McIntire were right behind him. Benjamin’s eyes had narrowed to squint at the approaching group. He shook his head. “Those aren’t any of our wagons.” Wagons coming back from the east was a commonplace happening now; people didn’t run out to greet them like returning royalty. And none of the Mormon wagons and teams looked as good as these that were approaching them.
All of a sudden, Mary Ann took three quick steps forward. She wasn’t looking at the horses or the wagons. She was peering at the two men on the wagon seat, driving the lead team. One hand came to her mouth and there was a stifled cry of joy. “Ben, it’s Derek! Oh, look! And Matthew! They’re back!”
Now Benjamin was staring. “But how . . . ?” he started. It had been only thirteen days. The round-trip took closer to twenty. But Mary Ann wasn’t there to answer. She was out the gate and hurrying toward the crowd. Benjamin started after her. Not running. That would set his lungs on fire. But he walked as swiftly as he dared.
And then suddenly young Joshua, who was following his grandmother, started jumping up and down, waving his arms. “It’s Uncle Joshua!” he shouted.
“Glory be!” Sister McIntire breathed. “It
is
Joshua!”
Benjamin increased his step, frantically scanning the crowd. “Where? Where?”
“Driving the second wagon,” Peter shouted over his shoulder. He had run and already caught up with Mary Ann.
Now the distance between the wagons and the crowd and the approaching Steeds had narrowed to about a hundred feet. Matthew had come to his feet and jumped down from the wagon, even as Derek reined in the horses. In moments he was to his mother and crushing her in a great bear hug. Derek was only steps behind him, searching the crowd for Rebecca. When he saw that she wasn’t with her family, his face fell. But he brightened as he saw Peter and went to him swiftly.
The other two wagons had reined up too, and Joshua climbed down awkwardly, steadying himself against the wheel while he reached up for his crutch.
Joshua? But how?
Benjamin’s prolonged illness had slowed his ability to think clearly, and his mind was in a tumble of confusion as he moved as quickly as he could to meet his sons. Why were Derek and Matthew back so soon? And Joshua? Joshua was in St. Louis. How could he be here in Far West?
Before he could sort it out, Sister McIntire took his arm and they moved forward to where Matthew still held his mother and Derek was pummeling Peter on the arm. With a shout of greeting, young Joshua threw himself into his uncle’s arms, nearly knocking the crutch out of his hand. His grandmother was right behind him now, holding out her arms.
“Hello, Mama,” Joshua said, taking her under his free arm.
She brushed at the tears with the back of her hand. “Joshua, I can’t believe it! What are you doing here?”
Joshua started to answer, but then he saw his father. He was shocked even as he stepped forward, with his hand outstretched. His father had lost fifteen or twenty pounds. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his eyes were not as bright as they had been when he had last seen him. “Hello, Pa,” Joshua said, grasping Benjamin’s hand. But Benjamin wasn’t satisfied with a handshake. He pulled Joshua to him and pounded his back. “I can’t believe it, Joshua. What are you doing here?”
Joshua laughed and looked at his mother. “That’s just what Mama was asking me. Well, I—” He stopped. Matthew and Derek and Peter were all pressing in around them now, and Joshua saw a familiar and endearing face. “Ah, Mrs. McIntire.”
“Hello, Joshua Steed.”
“I met Jenny and Kathryn on the trail,” he said. “They told me about your coming to Far West.” He shook his head in mock exasperation. “I tried to warn Matthew not to give you that Book of Mormon.”
She smiled cheerfully. “We’ll be forever grateful that he did. And how are my girls?”
“Doing very well,” he replied. Then he shook his head. “Well, at least Kathryn is.”
A quick look of concern flashed across Sister McIntire’s face. “But not Jenny?”
Joshua winked at her, then gave Matthew a severe look. “It was really hard to tell. Every time I tried to talk to her, all she could do was moon at this youngest brother of mine with those big blue eyes of hers.”
Matthew blushed. “Oh, go on! It wasn’t like that at all.”
Mary Ann reached out and took Joshua’s arm. “Did you find Will?”
The smile on Joshua’s face instantly vanished. He shook his head. “Not yet.” He sighed. “But it hasn’t been that long, we—”
A shout from behind them cut him short. They all looked around. Nathan and Lydia and Rebecca were coming towards them with the children. Nathan had little Nathan in his arms, Lydia was carrying the baby, Rebecca was holding Emily’s hand. Their cabin was another block or so further on from Benjamin’s. They too had heard the noise and come out to see what was happening. As they drew close, Nathan saw Matthew and Joshua and gave a shout. He spoke to Lydia and they both broke into a run.
The others stepped back. Then Rebecca saw Derek and squealed in delight. She released Emily and came flying at him, hair bouncing, skirts swirling. She nearly strangled him as she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him with all her strength.
Nathan came up to Joshua and grasped his hand. “Did you find Will?” were the first words out of his mouth. Joshua shook his head, then smiled. He looked at his mother. “But I did find someone else.”
“Who?” Mary Ann asked.
Joshua turned and pulled his father forward to stand by Mary Ann. “Mama, Papa, we have another surprise for you.”
Matthew leaned forward, grinning. “Hold on, Mama! This is going to be a real shock.”
“What?”
Joshua was ecstatic, enjoying this very much. He swung around, maneuvering his crutch around Nathan. “Come on.” He turned. “You too, Nathan. Lydia. Rebecca. All of you. This is for everyone.”
He brushed aside their questions and queries and moved back toward the wagons. At first, Mary Ann thought he was going to get something for her. But he didn’t stop. They passed the first wagon, then the second. As they came around the second wagon, the third one came into view. A man was sitting on the wagon seat, the reins still in his hand.
Suddenly Mary Ann stopped, stunned into immobility. She was looking up at the driver, who was now smiling self-consciously down on the approaching family. It was a face Mary Ann had not seen for over a year. It was a face she had not expected to see again for years to come, perhaps never.
“Carl!” she cried.
Carl Rogers stood slowly. A quick smile flitted across his face. “Good afternoon, Mother Steed.”
Joshua stood back, laughing and proud, as Carl jumped down and came to Melissa’s parents. Mary Ann was weeping openly now, unable to believe what she was seeing. Benjamin was likewise bewildered. “But how?” he kept asking. “How did you get here?”
“Let’s get out of the cold,” Joshua suggested, “and we’ll tell you the whole story.”
Chapter Notes
In this chapter and the previous one, the details of the trek eastward from Far West are based on actual incidents from the experiences of the Saints. However, some of the incidents portrayed have been combined from the experiences of different families, and the events happened across a wider span of time than is depicted in the book. Also, in some cases fictional names have been supplied. Nevertheless, the story of the children with bleeding feet; the decision of the Thomas family to send the father back for others; the “queen’s bed”; Brother Wiswager’s offer of his “standing room” accommodations; Mosiah Hancock’s crossing of the river—all are actual incidents. (See Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Jeni Broberg Holzapfel,
Women of Nauvoo
[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1992], pp. 8–13;
American Moses
, pp. 70–71;
Mack Hist.
, pp. 294–97; Gracia N. Jones,
Emma’s Glory and Sacrifice: A Testimony
[Hurricane, Utah: Homestead Publishers and Distributors, 1987], p. 93; and
CHFT,
pp. 212–13.)
Chapter 36
Inside Benjamin’s cabin, the mood was one of exuberant joy. Mary Ann was still weeping unashamedly, not even trying to contain her happiness. She sat on the small sofa next to Carl, holding his hand. “And you brought Melissa?” she said.
“Do you think I could have kept her away?”
“The other children?” Lydia asked. “Are they with her?”
He shook his head. “They’re with their Grandma and Grandpa Rogers. We didn’t bring them this far. Besides, we had a wagonload already.”
“And she’ll be waiting in Quincy for us?” Mary Ann asked. “For sure?”
“Yes.”
“With the baby?”
He laughed heartily, something Carl rarely did around Melissa’s family. “Of course. She’s nursing her and had to bring her. As if she would have missed the chance to let you see her!”
Joshua spoke up now. “Melissa and Caroline started west with us. But when we met Matthew and Derek, we decided it would be best if Caroline and Melissa went back with Jessica and the others. They’ll start looking for somewhere for you to stay.”
“But who are driving the wagons?” Nathan asked. “If you brought Matthew and Derek back with you . . . ?”
“I brought two teamsters with me, so I just sent them back with Caroline. That way we could come straight here and save several days.”
“Melissa was so anxious to see you,” Carl added, “but it was very cold and we have been worried about having the baby out in it. She’s done very well, but we thought this was better.”
“I don’t know if I can wait,” Mary Ann said. “Melissa. I’ll get to see Melissa.”
“Oh, Joshua,” Lydia said, “and I’m so anxious to see Caroline again. Is she all right now?”
“Yes, she’s fine. Except for being concerned about Will, of course. But we’re very optimistic about that too. She is worried about seeing you all again. After that letter she wrote, she’s pretty nervous.”
Being back inside had perked Benjamin up considerably now. He waved a hand to brush Joshua’s comment aside. “You know that doesn’t make a bit of difference to us.” Then he turned to Carl. “And you brought a wagonload of supplies all the way from Kirtland?”
The man who had seen his relationship with his wife’s family grow increasingly strained back in Ohio now colored slightly at the warmth he saw in his father-in-law’s eyes. “When we got your letter, we knew we couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Melissa had been asking me to bring her west to see you in the summer anyway. This just made it a little more challenging.”
Mary Ann squeezed his hand. “You will never know what that means to us, Carl. This is wonderful.”
“Joshua had the same idea,” Carl said, trying to turn the attention away from himself, “about bringing you help. It was a wonderful coincidence we happened to get to Quincy at the same time. But here we are, and with enough food and dry goods not only to get you back to Illinois but to see you through the rest of the winter.”
Joshua pulled a face. “Except we’ve got this little problem. We’re going to have to get some of that stuff out of the wagons, or there won’t be room for anyone to ride.” He laughed. “Maybe we’ll have to just start eating tonight and not stop until we’ve made sufficient space to . . .”
His voice trailed off as a sudden, awkward silence filled the room. He looked around in surprise. “What?”
Nathan cleared his throat and looked at his father. Derek and Rebecca glanced quickly at each other, then turned to Benjamin. Mary Ann looked embarrassed. She too turned to her husband. When Benjamin saw that everyone was going to leave it to him, his shoulders lifted and fell. “You help me, Nathan. I may not explain this very well.”
Now Carl was openly puzzled too. “Explain what?”
Benjamin took a breath, then began, speaking slowly and deliberately. “You have to understand something. Conditions here have been very bad. Many people came here poor. Many more have lost everything to the mobs. Those blessed with more of this world’s goods have mostly gone now. Those of us who are left don’t have much.”
“Yes, we knew that,” Carl said. “That’s why we came.”