Frontier Bride

Eliza’s eyes had misted over. “Perhaps. I’ll do my best to make this work for Seth.”

“From what Captain Reed says, we’ll all have to do our best.”

The tone of Hannah’s voice had changed subtly and Eliza looked up sharply. “Captain Reed’s a spell-binder, isn’t he?”

“The children certainly seem fascinated by his stories.” Hannah looked away from her friend.

Eliza cocked her head. “Indeed,” she said dryly.

Hannah picked up the piece of bread Eliza had pushed toward her and jammed it into her mouth. “I have to be on my way,” she said between chews. “I just came to tell you that we’ll all be meeting tomorrow evening at the MacDougalls’ for a farewell party.”

“Good. We’ll bring Herr and Frau Gutmueller.”

Hannah jumped up from her seat and reached out to give Eliza a quick hug. “We’re all going to be just fine, Eliza. You’ll see.”

* * *

Hannah waved to Mr. Baker as she hurried along the east edge of the brickyard to the Crawfords’ tiny house. It was in need of paint and the front stoop had been broken since Hannah had first arrived in town. The boards slanted to one side at an odd angle that forced Hannah to hitch up her skirts and look down to keep from falling. She had wondered about the ability of Amos Crawford to keep up with the hard work of a wilderness farm, but at least he would be another man to serve as protection. There was safety and comfort in numbers, she supposed. Besides, young Benjamin Crawford was Jacob Webster’s best friend, and the two boys had been playing at being frontiersmen for weeks.

It was Benjamin who answered her knock, but as he started to open the door he was pushed out of the way by his seven-year-old brother Thomas. “I said I would get the door, Benjie,” he shouted, giving his older brother a push that sent him sprawling into the cluttered room.

Benjamin leapt up and dove for Thomas’s knees, which put both boys on the floor, pummeling each other.

“Mama, Tom and Benjie’s fightin’ again,” cried little Patience Crawford, while her twin sister, Hope, jumped up and down in excitement.

Martha Crawford appeared in the doorway to the back room. She was a slender woman who had been one of the town beauties a few years back, but who now looked drawn and weary. She clapped her hands together and yelled, “Stop this!”

The words had no effect whatsoever on the commotion, but the woman didn’t appear to care. She made her way around the tumbling boys and gave Hannah a tired smile. “Good morrow, Mistress Forrester.”

Hannah glanced at the floor where both girls had now jumped into the fray, and quickly relayed her message. As she finished, Amos Crawford came out of the back room. Without so much as a glance at the fighting children, he said heartily, “Aye, we’ll be there. We’re chomping at the bit to get started, I can tell you. Out on the trail…out where a man has room to breathe.”

His wife didn’t look his way. “Should I bring something for the party?” she asked Hannah softly.

Hannah shook her head. “The MacDougalls will be fixing the victuals,” she said, her voice raised to carry over the children’s shouts. “Ah…fine, then. We’ll see you tomorrow. Good day to you all.”

Hastily she backed out the door and down the precariously tilted stoop.

Hannah had left the Trask house for last. She was not looking forward to seeing Hugh Trask after his insulting gesture at the inn the other night. She could still feel the man’s sweaty hand pressing painfully into her waist. It was not the first time Trask had made her feel uncomfortable. It seemed that every time he came to the Webster house, he had taken some opportunity to make a sly comment or look at her with a lewd expression. She couldn’t help but be sorry that the Trasks would be accompanying them on this journey. Nancy Trask appeared to be a nice enough woman, though, and their two daughters, Janie and Bridgett, would be good company for Peggy. The poor child needed the diversion.

Hannah was relieved to find Nancy Trask alone at her home. She relayed her message quickly, then hurried away with a sigh of relief. But her relief was shortlived. As she started up the small hill that would lead back to the Websters’ road, she saw that Hugh Trask was coming down the path directly toward her. There was no way to avoid an encounter.

“Halloo, Hannah,” he called. “What were you doing at my house?”

He planted himself in front of her in such a way that she couldn’t continue on up the path without pushing against him, so she stopped. “I just came to tell you that we’ll all be meeting tomorrow night. Mistress Trask has the message.” She kept her eyes down.

“You needn’t run away so fast. My wife could use some company these days with another brat growing inside her.”

Hannah had suspected that Nancy Trask was with child, but the quiet woman kept so to herself that it seemed no one in town knew for sure. Now that it was confirmed, Hannah was appalled. How could Hugh Trask bring his wife on the dangerous journey ahead of them in such a state? If she weren’t an indentured servant, she would give the man a piece of her mind. As it was, she just wanted to make her escape. “I… I’m sorry,” she said, trying to edge around him up the hill. “I have a lot to attend to yet…the packing…”

Trask grabbed her elbow. “You don’t think you’re too good to set awhile at my house, do you, missy?”

Hannah tried to pull away, but his hold on her was firm. She could feel the warmth of his pungent breath. “Of course not, Mr. Trask. But we have only two more days to get ready. I’m sure you and your wife have much to do, as well.”

Trask pulled her a step closer and moved his leg so that his thigh touched hers. “I’m never too busy for the right kind of company,” he said with a chuckle that gurgled in his throat.

Hannah felt sick. She swallowed hard and said, “Please let me by, Mr. Trask.”

He leaned his face nearer and she closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I want to do that….”

Suddenly Trask’s hand was jerked from her arm. He went stumbling several steps down the path. Hannah opened her eyes and found herself looking up at the handsome, angry features of Ethan Reed.

“What’s going on here, Trask?” he asked.

Trask rubbed his shoulder where Reed had wrenched it. “Nothing’s going on. What the hell’re you shoving me for?”

Ethan turned to Hannah. “Was this man bothering you, Mistress Forrester?”

Hannah looked from Reed to a sullen Trask. She wanted to say yes, but a servant had no right to complain about a man taking her arm. She’d heard tales of many who’d suffered much worse than that. “I’m fine, Captain Reed,” she said finally. “Thank you for your concern.”

Trask glowered at Reed. “Why don’t you mind your own business, Reed? We’re paying you good money to guide us on the trail, not to interfere in our lives.”

Reed took a step toward Trask. “Once we get on that trail, Trask, your life and the lives of everyone in your party will be in my hands. You play by my rules. And my rules say that you’d better mind your manners.”

Trask looked as if he were about to make another retort, but in the end he just turned and stalked away down the path to his house.

Ethan watched him go, then smiled at Hannah. “Now, tell me the truth. Are you all right?”

She nodded and made an attempt to return the smile.

He reached out to take her hand. “You’re shaking,” he said with a frown.

“No…it’s just…” She couldn’t come up with the right words.

Ethan slipped an comforting arm around her shoulders for just a moment, then stepped back. “If that man bothers you, I want you to let me know.”

“Yes, sir,” Hannah said, her voice shaky.

“Do you want me to see you home?”

“No, thank you. That won’t be necessary.”

He tipped his hat. “Until this evening, then,” he said, and started off down the road.

Hannah turned toward home with a bemused expression. It was ironic. She’d never looked to a man for protection in her entire life. Now she had Ethan Reed offering her protection from Trask and Randolph Webster offering her protection from Reed. But as her mother used to say, Hannah could do just fine on her own. She didn’t intend to take either gentleman up on his offer.

Chapter Three (#ulink_7cbe12e7-69f5-59d7-a587-b7e048f27033)

Peggy Webster carried the basket of fritters into the public room, the proud tilt of her head showing that she felt grown-up serving as hostess along with her grandmother and Hannah. Janie and Bridgett Trask were watching her closely. They all attended the same school over on Mulberry Lane, but the Trask sisters rarely played with the other children, and Peggy had never gotten to know them well. The two sisters sat demurely on a low bench alongside their mother, Nancy, none of them saying a word. No one except Peggy seemed to even notice that they were there. Hugh Trask, as usual, was noticed by everyone. He’d already had several pints of Ian MacDougall’s corn ale. Peggy wished the Trask family was not going west with them.