Threads of Love (3 page)

Neither of them said anything, but as they grew closer to the wagon-train camp, Jonathan sensed an uneasiness come over Delphinia. She was moving restlessly on the wooden seat, and her hands began pressing the gathers in her skirt as he had seen her do on several earlier occasions.

In an attempt to make her feel more comfortable, he said, “You’ll not be staying in my wagon at night. Mrs. Clauson has agreed you can stay with her.” Delphinia did not respond, but he noticed she was not fidgeting quite so much. This pleased him, though he was not sure why.

Slowing the team, he maneuvered the buckboard beside one of the covered wagons that had formed a circle for the night.

“Thought maybe you wasn’t gonna make it back before supper,” a voice called out.

“I’d have gotten word to you if we weren’t coming back this evening,” Jonathan replied as he jumped down from the wagon and held his arms up to assist Delphinia.

As she was making her descent from the wagon, Jonathan matter-of-factly said, “Mr. and Mrs. Clauson, I’d like you to meet Phiney…Phiney Hughes. It was
Hughes
, wasn’t it?”

He watched her eyes once again take on that fiery look as she very formally stated, “Mr. and Mrs. Clauson, my name is Delphinia Elizabeth Hughes. Mr. Wilshire seems to find it a difficult name. I, however, prefer to be called
Delphinia
…not Phiney.” Smiling sweetly at the Clausons, she added, “Pleased to meet you both.”

Turning, she gave Jonathan a look meant to put him in his place. He grinned back at her but soon found himself trying to control a fit of laughter when Mr. Clauson replied, “We’re real pleased to meet you, too, Phiney.”

Not wanting to give him further cause for laughter and certain that a woman would better understand the proper use of her name, Delphinia decided she would discuss the matter of her name privately with Mrs. Clauson.

Jonathan and Mr. Clauson began unloading the wagon, and the older woman, while placing her arm around Delphinia’s shoulder, said, “Come on over here with me, Phiney. I’m just finishing up supper, and we can visit while the menfolk finish unloading.”

So much for another woman’s understanding, Delphinia decided, moving over toward the fire. Perhaps she should just let the issue of her name drop with the Clausons. After all, once they arrived in Kansas, she would probably never see them again. Mr. Wilshire, though, was another matter!

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Delphinia inquired.

“No, no. Just set a spell and tell me about yourself. You sure are a pretty thing, with all that blond hair and those big brown eyes. Jonathan figured you probably weren’t a looker since your pa was willin’ to let you go West with a stranger. Thought maybe you couldn’t get a husband.”

Noting the look of dismay that came over Delphinia’s face and the effect her words had on the young woman, Mrs. Clauson hurried to add, “He didn’t mean nothin’ bad by that. It’s just that most folks wouldn’t let their daughter take off with a complete stranger, let alone be advertisin’ in a paper to… Oh, I’m just jumblin’ this all up and hurtin’ you more. Mr. Clauson says I need to think ‘fore I open my mouth. I’m real sorry if I upset you, Phiney.”

Lifting her rounded chin a little higher, Delphinia straightened her back and said, “There’s no need for you to feel concern over what you’ve said. After all, I’m sure you’ve spoken the truth of the matter.”

N
either Delphinia nor Mrs. Clauson spoke for a time, each lost in her thoughts. Delphinia was not sure how long she had been reflecting on the older woman’s words when she noticed that Mrs. Clauson was about to serve the evening meal.

“It looks like you’ve about got dinner ready. Shall I ladle up the stew?”

Mrs. Clauson turned toward the large pot hanging over a slow-burning fire and shook her head. “No, no, I’ll do it. You just tell the menfolk we’re ready. They should be about done unloading the buckboard and can finish up after supper.”

Delphinia rose and, after locating the men and announcing dinner, slowly continued walking toward Jonathan’s wagon. Jonathan pulled off his wide-brimmed hat, wiped his brow with a large, dark blue kerchief, and watched Delphinia as she continued toward his wagon. Her head lowered, her shoulders slumped, she was a picture of total dejection.

“Where are you going? You just told us dinner was ready.”

Acting as though she did not hear, Delphinia continued along the outer edge of the circled wagons.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Jonathan called as he quickened his step to catch up. When he came even with her, she glanced over and said, “I’m not hungry. You go on and eat. Mrs. Clauson’s waiting on you.”

Realizing something was amiss, Jonathan gently took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Phiney, you’ve got to eat. I know it’s hard for you to leave your home, but please come have some dinner.”

When there was no reaction to his use of “Phiney,” he knew she was upset, but she turned and walked back to the campfire with him. She took the steaming plate of food offered by Mrs. Clauson, who, Jonathan noted, seemed somewhat downcast.

Giving him a tentative smile, Mrs. Clauson asked, “Would you be so good as to lead us in prayer before we begin our meal, Jonathan?”

As they bowed their heads, Jonathan gave thanks for the food provided and asked God’s protection over all the folks in the wagon train as they began the journey. Delphinia was surprised, however, when Jonathan proceeded to ask the Lord to give her strength as she left her father and all those she knew to make a new home in Kansas. She was pleased that he cared enough about her feelings to ask God to give her strength. As she looked up at Jonathan after he had pronounced “amen,” he was smiling at her and remarked, “Well, eat up, Phiney.” At that moment, she was not sure if she needed more strength to endure leaving home or to put up with his determination to call her Phiney!

As soon as the meal was over, Delphinia and Mrs. Clauson proceeded to wash the dishes while the men finished loading the covered wagon, and Jonathan returned the buckboard to town. By the time he got back to the campsite, folks were beginning to bed down for the night.

“Why don’t you get the things you’ll be needin’ for tonight and bring them over to our wagon? We best turn in soon,” Mrs. Clauson advised.

Nodding in agreement, Delphinia made her way to the wagon. Climbing in, she spotted the old brown trunk and slowly lifted the heavy lid. Pulling out her nightgown, she caught sight of her beloved quilt. Reaching in, she pulled it out of the trunk and hugged it close.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that Mrs. Clauson’s “Do you need help, Phiney?” caused her to almost jump out of her skin.

“No, I’m coming,” she replied, wrapping the quilt around her and closing the trunk. She made her way down, careful not to trip over the covering that surrounded her.

After preparing for the night, Delphinia and Mrs. Clauson made themselves as comfortable as possible on pallets in the wagon. “Jonathan’s been having some Bible readin’ for us since he came to our rescue, but since he was gone so late tonight, he said we’ll double up on readin’ tomorrow night. The mister and me, well, we don’t know how to read much, so it surely has been a pleasure to have Jonathan read the Scriptures for us,” she whispered almost ashamedly.

“Oh, Mrs. Clauson, I would have read for you tonight, if I had known,” Delphinia replied.

“Why aren’t you just the one. Such a pretty girl and bright, too. That Jonathan surely did luck out,” she exclaimed.

Delphinia could feel her cheeks grow hot at the remark and knew it was meant as a compliment. All the same, she wished Mrs. Clauson would quit making it sound like Jonathan had just secured himself a wife.

Bidding the older woman good night, Delphinia spent a great deal of her prayer time petitioning the Lord to execute His rescue plan for her as soon as possible. She did give thanks for the fact that Jonathan seemed a decent sort and that she would have Mrs. Clauson with her for the journey. Once she had finished her prayers, she reached down and pulled the quilt around her, not that she needed the warmth, for in fact, it was nearly summer. Instead, it was the security that the wonderful quilt gave her, almost like a cocoon surrounding her with her mama’s presence and love.

Many hours of love and laughter had been shared in completing what had seemed to Delphinia an immense project. Now she was somewhat in awe that her mother had given so much time and effort to teaching her how to sew those many blocks and make the tiny, intricate stitches required for the beautiful pattern she had chosen.

When Delphinia had announced she wanted to make a quilt, her mother had explained it would take many hours of tedious work. She was doggedly determined about the idea, however, and her mother had patiently shown her each step of the way, allowing Delphinia to make and repair her own mistakes on the beloved project. How they had laughed over some of those mistakes and, oh, the hours spent ripping out and restitching until it was just right. Mama had always said that anything worth doing was worth doing right. And when that last stitch had been sewn and the quilt was finally completed, Mama had abundantly praised her hard work and perseverance. She had even called for a celebration and, using the good teapot and china plates, served Delphinia some of her special mint tea and thick slices of homemade bread smeared with strawberry preserves.

Tears began to slide down Delphinia’s cheeks as she thought of those wonderful memories. Had it been only three years since she had enjoyed that special celebration? It seemed an eternity. In fact, it seemed like Mama had been gone forever, yet she knew it wasn’t even six months since she had died. Sometimes she had trouble remembering just what her mother looked like, and yet other times it seemed that Mama would walk in the door any minute and call her for supper or ask for help hanging a curtain. How she missed her and the stability she had brought to their home! It seemed to Delphinia that her life had been in constant change and turmoil since the day Mama died.

Delphinia closed her eyes, hoping that sleep would soon overtake her. Her mind wandered back to stories her mother had related of how she had come west to Illinois after she and Pa had married. Mama had tried to convince him it would be a better life for them back East, but he was bound and determined to see new lands. It had been a difficult trip for Mama. She had lived a life of relative ease. Having been born the only daughter in a family of six boys had been cause for much jubilation, and when she later contracted rheumatic fever as a child, it had made her family all the more determined to protect her. Delphinia remembered Mama talking about all those uncles and the grandparents she had never known. Mama had made certain that Delphinia knew that her grandfather had been a preacher and that he had held great stock in everyone’s learning how to read—not just the boys. He had made sure that Delphinia’s mama was taught the same lessons as the boys. In fact, she had gone to school longer than any of the boys so that she could receive a teaching certificate, just in case she did not get married. Her pa wanted to be sure she would have a respectable profession. But she did get married six months later. Less than two months after the ceremony, they made their trip west to Illinois.

They had settled in a small house a few miles from Cherryvale. Pa had gone to work for the blacksmith who owned the livery stable. Delphinia knew her mama had been lonely. They did not get to town often, and she had longed for the company of other people. Papa would give in and take them to church about once a month to keep Mama in better spirits, but he was usually anxious to get home afterward. Mama always loved it when there would be a picnic dinner after services in the summer, and everyone would gather under the big elms, spread out some lunch, and visit; or when the preacher would hold Bible study in the afternoon. Papa had always seemed uncomfortable and would stay to himself while Mama fluttered from person to person, savoring each moment. Papa was not much of a churchgoer and had never studied the Bible. His folks had not seen any reason for his learning to read or write. They felt children were needed to help with the chores and plow the fields. Delphinia remembered Mama telling her how much she wanted to teach Papa to read, but he had put her off saying he was too old to learn. Sometimes, when Mama would be teaching Delphinia, Papa would become almost angry and storm out of the house. Mama always said it was nothing to worry about, that Papa just needed a breath of fresh air.
Maybe
, Delphinia thought,
Papa was angry at himself because he hadn’t let Mama teach him, and now his little girl knew how to read, and he didn’t
. Strange she hadn’t thought of that before tonight.

She reflected on the time shortly before Mama’s death, when she had overheard their hushed talk about not having money. That must have been when Papa borrowed against the house and how they managed to make ends meet until Mama died. When she once questioned about money, her mother had told her there was time enough for that worry when she became an adult and that she should not concern herself. Her parents had never included her in any family business or, for that matter, anything of an unpleasant nature. She had always been protected…until now.

Burrowing farther under the quilt, Mrs. Clauson’s remark about Pa advertising to send her West was the last thought that lingered in her mind as she drifted into a restless sleep.

D
elphinia bounced along on the hard wooden seat, the blistering sun causing rivulets of perspiration to trickle down the sides of her face. She could feel her hair turning damp under the bonnet she was forced to wear in order to keep the sun from scorching her face. It seemed she had been traveling forever, and yet in spite of the heat and dust, she found joy in the beauty of the wildflowers and rolling plains.

Except for the short period of training that Jonathan had given her on how to handle the wagon and team, or those times when it was necessary to cross high waters and climb steep terrain, Jonathan rode his chestnut mare and few words passed between them. She was somewhat surprised when today he had tied his horse to the back of the wagon and climbed up beside her. Taking the reins from her hands, he urged the team into motion, and with a slight jolt, they moved forward in the slow procession taking them farther West.