“That all?” he asked.
“Except for what we’ll carry with us”—she turned to observe every corner of the room—“it’s all in the crates.”
Edward helped George secure the lids and nailed them shut. Marybeth watched with a sense of finality. It was almost as if they were nailing closed a coffin.
“That just leaves our bags,” Marybeth said, glancing around the room again. This was the last time she would be here—the only home she’d ever known. She gave a heavy sigh. “I should go get Carrie while you two load the wagon.”
“See if that neighbor of yours can come and stand as a second witness for the signing of the papers,” George said as Marybeth pulled on her coat.
Marybeth nodded and hurried next door. She had never been outside of Independence and Evansville in all of her life. Now she was about to leave all she knew for a vast open world that still had Indian wars. What would become of them all?
Father, please don’t let this be a mistake.
Edward and Mrs. Parker witnessed Marybeth signing the papers, then George had him sign a separate set just to cover any legalities with him as Marybeth’s husband. When George was completely satisfied, they headed to the train station in Evansville.
Carrie bounced up and down on Marybeth’s lap as they entered the busiest part of the city. She was excited about all that she saw.
“Lookie. Lookie,” Carrie declared over and over. The night before she’d done that with her new boots.
Marybeth laughed at her sister’s antics, and Edward found himself doing the same. Carrie was good for the soul. She delighted in so many things. Hopefully she would help Edwardand Marybeth keep their sense of wonder and humor during what were certain to be hard days ahead.
A brief wave of guilt washed over him. Was he doing the right thing, taking them west? Their life in Cheyenne was going to be so much harder than what Marybeth had known here in Independence. She’d never even experienced anything outside of her little circle. He’d gone to war and had seen the horrific grief it caused. He had experienced such things that he prayed she’d never know, and yet with the Indians still quite active in the west, wild animals running amok, and other dangers, he might be taking Marybeth and Carrie to their deaths.
He glanced back at the boxes they’d packed. He had to admire Marybeth for her frugal choices. They had talked about the need to choose wisely, and she had. She had given up so much for him. He would find a way to make it up to her. He’d see they built a house as soon as possible. Of course, the money would probably come from the sale of her father’s house, but Edward had a nice nest egg to add to hers. And he would work hard to raise whatever money they needed to see the job done. Even if he took on an extra job or two.
Only momentarily did his thoughts go back to what the pastor had said about them being cursed and living in sin. There was no truth to that. Edward was confident that they had done the right thing. He was certain this was what God wanted for them.
Wasn’t he?
He lowered his head to ward off the wind and whispered a prayer. It just had to be the right thing.
Please, God, don’t let me have just made things worse.
George brought the wagon to a stop near the baggage andfreight platform at the train depot. He jumped down and immediately hailed a couple of men.
Edward looked to Marybeth. “Why don’t you and Carrie wait inside the depot? George and I will get this taken care of.”
She nodded. “Will you bring the bags when you come, or should I try to take them?”
“George and I can bring them. Just get inside and get warm.”
He took Carrie from her arms, then helped her down from the wagon. Carrie was still quite excited about all that was happening. She bobbed up and down trying to see everything at once. The brim of her woolen bonnet knocked against Edward’s left eye.
“You’re wilder than a bag full of cats.” Edward kissed her nose. “I can tell you’re going to love going on the train.”
“Train!” Carrie repeated and clapped her mittened hands. “Go, go, train.”
Edward laughed in spite of his concerns. “Yes, we’re going to go, go, train.”
Marybeth took her sister in hand. “Let’s go inside, Carrie. We’ll get warm and wait for...” She looked at Edward. “We haven’t talked about what she should call you, but I suppose it should be Papa.”
Edward felt a tightening in his chest for just a moment. “We can figure that out later. Go on before you freeze.”
Marybeth met his eyes and nodded. She understood. She was so compassionate, and he felt overwhelming gratitude for that. One way or another, he was going to see that this worked for all of them. He owed her that.
5
By the time they arrived in Omaha, they had changed trains three times and wrestled Carrie for miles on end. As they disembarked from the train, Edward carried the bags, and Marybeth held her sleeping sister. It was just past suppertime, and Marybeth felt famished.
