“I see.” James nodded before he started walking toward the deceased deer. “And your recent failures are leaving you with some concerns.”
Daniel followed, picking his way across the uneven earth covered in various plants and vines. A largebrown one hung from the tree above him, and he ducked beneath. The Kentucky wilderness reminded him of what he imagined a jungle would have been like with its tall, dense foliage and strange flowers and animals at every turn. “Well, yes,” he confided.
James chuckled. “Oh, son, you might as well lay that concern to rest now.”
Daniel’s brows pulled together as he stared at the man’s back as he dodged a tree branch. “You do not think I should be concerned?” Considering what the man knew of his situation, that seemed unlikely.
James stopped and turned toward him as they reached the deer. Daniel could barely bring himself to look at the animal with its wide, staring eye and tongue hanging from its mouth. Another example of how he was unprepared. He glanced back up at the stationmaster, with his worn leather hat shielding deep blue eyes and black hair peppered with gray. His tan, lined face was a testament to his years and experience. “No man, or woman, is ever truly prepared for marriage. Marriage itself is an adventure, one that must be learned along the way. We are imperfect creatures, Daniel. Always making mistakes. You are not the first man to, and you will not be the last. You cannot allow the fear of failure to cause you to turn from something that could be the best choice you ever make. There is something so precious in marriage and family.”
Daniel’s lips pressed together. It could not be that simple. “But I know nothing of this life.”
James let out another hearty laugh. “Very few of us do when we come west.” He shook his head, a broad grin stretched across his face. “Sure, some are more prepared than others. But when your only options are survival or death, you would be surprised at how quickly a body catches on. Plus, you will not be alone in the matter. You will have Keturah. And having someone to share the journey with always makes it easier.”
Daniel frowned down at the deer’s tawny coat. Would it be easier, or would he be a disappointment? Yet again.
The wind dashed Keturah’s petticoats against her legs and whipped loose curls into her eyes as she watched the tree branches bending toward the east, their leaves turned upside down in invitation to the coming rain. She blinked against the sting. Without a doubt, a storm would be upon them soon. But where were the men?
She scanned the tree line beyond the station, her insides as restless and unsettled as the air around her. Memories of the night her father passed came flooding back to her. The relentless winds that beat rain against the cabin in thick, pounding sheets. The roar of the tornado as it tore through the barn. A shiver ran up her spine.Lord, please dinnae let this be another storm like that one.
Mrs. Skaggs stepped outside, arms wrapped around herself and mouth pulled into a line as she looked up at the darkening sky. “’Tis a’blowin’ in.”
Keturah nodded as her own lips pressed together. The first large droplet of rain plopped onto her shoulder, soaking through her blouse. Still, there was no sign of the men, only trees that swayed and bent. The rustle of the wind through their branches caused her insides to swirl. While it was normal for a hunt to last into the afternoon, should the men not have returned at the first sign of the changing weather?
“The men will be back any moment,” Mrs. Skaggs assured her. The older woman gave her arm a pat as she turned to head back into the cabin. Keturah could barely manage a nod.
She had been sure her father would return any moment as well. After all, she had seen her massive father endure much worse than wind and rain. But the tornado had struck without warning. No one knew what life held from one moment to the next. She had learned that all too well.
Would God take Daniel from her too? The thought came from nowhere and caused her middle to tighten, though she barely knew the man.
Keturah blinked back tears and sucked in a deep breath of the warm air that blew without relenting. It had only been a little over two-and-a-half years since she had lost her mother and brother to the rushing river. And though her father had been cruel with histongue and never believed in her worth, she still felt the sting of his loss. He had been her sole remaining family member. And now, she faced the prospect of losing the farm they had built. It was almost more than one person could bear.
Scamper whined from where he sat beside Keturah and peered up at her with big copper-colored eyes. She reached down and lifted the small pup into her arms, curling him into her chest. “’Twill be all right,” she whispered, as much for herself as the animal.
Spinning, Keturah pushed the wooden door to the cabin open and moved inside. Surely, there was some task to be done that could occupy her mind. After lowering Scamper to the ground, she glanced about the room. Spotting the broom in the corner, she stalked over and took it in hand. Then she started vigorously sweeping the wood-plank floor. The motion kicked up a cloud of dust, making conditions in the already warm cabin nearly unbearable. She coughed and stopped long enough to wave a hand in front of her face. Meanwhile, Mrs. Skaggs hummed merrily as she rocked beside the hearth, mending her husband’s shirt.
A twinge of guilt rippled through Keturah. Here she was causing the woman discomfort in her own home and instead of reprimanding her, Mrs. Skaggs showed an abundance of patience. It gave Keturah pause before she resumed her sweeping with a little less vigor. She simply could not sit still and remain serene like theSkaggs matriarch. Nay, she needed to distract herself from the storm that raged outside.
She ought to be praying instead, but over the past couple of years, it seemed a chasm had opened between her and God. Most of the time, she wondered if He was even still listening. After all, there had been little evidence to the contrary. Instead, it seemed life had handed her disappointment after disappointment. Would it be such a surprise if this ended no differently? Had she somehow lost favor with her Heavenly Father as she had long ago done so with her earthly father?
But even as Keturah thought the words, Scamper’s yipping bark at the door drew her attention, and her heart soared into her throat. She rushed to return the broom to its place, then hurried for the door. Scooping the pup up, she threw the door open. She squinted past the driving rain as Scamper squirmed in an attempt to escape her grip.
In the distance, at the edge of the meadow, the forms of two riders took shape, and a heavy weight lifted from her chest. Despite the fact that she was quickly becoming drenched from head to toe, she stood outside the cabin and awaited their slow approach. As they drew closer, it became clear the riders were indeed Daniel and Mr. Skaggs.
Nearing, Mr. Skaggs split off, the dead form of a deer draped over his saddle as he headed toward the barn. Meanwhile, Daniel continued on in her direction. Her heart picked up its pace, and a smile threatened tobreak her façade as she watched. Something about him riding toward her, as though he was coming home to her, felt so right. And in that moment, she no longer doubted what her answer would be when she gave it.
Her soon-to-be husband rode up to where she stood and slid from the saddle. Water dripped from his dark hair and down over his face, but he smiled at her despite it. “We need to tend to the deer and the horses, but we will speak later.”
Keturah nodded. She could not form words. Part of her was relieved he was back in one piece, but the wind picked up and splattered rain against them, hinting that the storm was still growing. And now Daniel was going to the barn… “Be safe,” she managed to whisper through the rain.
“Worried about me already?” He lifted a brow playfully, bringing a smile to her face.
“Only for Scamper’s sake.” Keturah was surprised at her ability to joke, but it brought a pleasant chuckle from the man before her. The warm sound eased a bit of the tension in her muscles.
Could this really be her future? Had God heard her and Margaret’s prayers and answered them with a man who could bring a smile to her face in such worrisome circumstances? As Daniel led his horse away after Mr. Skaggs, her heart already felt lighter.
Daniel stepped from the stench-filled barn and inhaled deeply of the crisp, cool air that lingered after the storm. However, the sensation did little to quell his unsettled spirit. Pink painted the sky over the darkened tree line before giving way to the vast expanse of purple night overhead, signaling the calm after the storm. At least, Daniel prayed it was so.
Was it the blood and guts of preparing the deer or the anticipation of his conversation with Keturah that had his midsection in knots? While she had seemed pleased at his return, as though she might have even been concerned for his welfare, he could not be sure if she would agree to his ideal of marriage. He had experienced far too much rejection in his life to believe that she would willingly accept the arrangement. In fact, her interest had shocked him to begin with, so much so that he had not understood her implication at first.
