The Journey Home

Charlotte flashed the man a defiant look. “That’s my business, isn’t it?”

“Mighty important business, too.” The man snorted and returned inside.

Lother rocked back on his heels. “You’re a strong young woman. ’Spect you could produce a whole lot of sons. Man needs sons to help on the farm. That brother of yours might be willing to sell me his land real cheap. Or I could wait a bit and get it for back taxes. With sons to help I could expand.”

Kody wondered how soon he expected his sons to be big enough to help. Ma had taken in several babies while Kody lived at home, and he seemed to remember they were nothing but work for a couple of years and then they only ran around getting into mischief. Not much help, in his estimation. But this man had other plans for his babies. Plans including Charlotte as a broodmare. Kody twisted the reins until his hands hurt.

Lother touched Charlotte’s cheek. “You’ll do just fine,” he said, his voice was as oily as the matted hair poking out from under the blackened edges of his hat. Kody could never understand a man who didn’t wash up and comb his hair occasionally.

Charlotte twitched away from the man’s touch, her eyes wide, dark with fear and something more, something Kody could only guess was loathing. It was plain she didn’t much like this man.

Kody didn’t like him at all.

Lother shoved Charlotte’s belongings aside and sat very close, pushing his thigh against hers.

The man went too far. Kody leaned forward, preparing to spring to Charlotte’s defense.

But Charlotte leaped to her feet. “Excuse me, I have to get to the train station.” She grabbed her belongings and hurried down the street.

Lother called after her, “You best be changing your mind soon and stop playing Miss High-and-Mighty. Ain’t like you got other beaux.” The man turned, saw Kody watching him. “What are you staring at, Injun? Move along.”

Kody didn’t need the man’s permission, nor did he swing Sam into the street because he’d been ordered to. He had to see what Charlotte had up her sleeve. She’d said her brother had told her to wait. Did she have somewhere to go? Someplace safe from this Lother man?

He rode slowly to the end of the block and circled around by a back street to the train station. He dismounted and shuffled slowly to the platform, acting as if he had no reason in the world to be there other than aimless boredom. He didn’t want to attract attention, nor have anyone suspect he had any interest in Charlotte.

She sat on a bench in the shade, slumped over her knees as if in pain.

He controlled the urge to hurry to her side and, instead, sauntered along the platform to stand near the edge, facing the tracks. His back to her, he said, “You figure out a place to go?”

She sniffed, a dry, determined sound that brought a slight smile to his lips. He’d expected tears, not this attitude of defiance. “I have no money. No family apart from Harry. No one here has room or ability to keep me. But I’m not stuck, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m not alone. God is with me. He’s promised to provide all I need. I’m sitting here praying.”

“Waiting for a miracle?” Far as he could see, God had not smiled any more favorably on this woman than on himself. For his part, he’d given up waiting for miracles or, for that matter, evidence of God’s love.

“I guess you don’t believe in miracles or God’s provision.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down the empty tracks. “Can’t say one way or the other. Might be God sends them both your way.”

“I’m counting on it.”

There seemed nothing more to say after that. He could, having done his duty, ride away and leave her to God’s care. Yet he didn’t move. How often had he heard Ma say, “Son, what kind of people are we if we see a soul in need and turn our backs? Whatever the color of your skin, that uncaring attitude is savage.” He wished he could shut off her voice, but it spoke softly in the back of his mind. She practiced what she preached, always helping those in need often without so much as a word of thanks. “I don’t do it for the praise of men,” she’d say. “I do it for God. He sees and knows my heart.”

Kody had not one doubt what his mother would do in this situation. And what she would expect him to do. But she saw it in terms of black and white. He saw it in shades of red. He smiled, knowing Ma would appreciate the irony of his thoughts.

He uncurled his arms and let his fists hang at his sides. He could not walk away from his training. Again, he smiled, seeing the incongruity of his reasoning—unable to walk away from his training, yet determinedly riding away from his parents who had provided the training. His smile flattened. Best for those back home that he headed north, far, far from them all.

Except if he was to do what Ma expected, that might change. “I know someplace where you can stay safely until you get word from your brother.”

“You do?”

“With my mother and father.” It totally fouled his plans, but he could not leave Charlotte here.

He heard her huff. Knew she would refuse.

“You got a better idea?”

“Yes. I’ll wait back at the farm.”

He spun around to face her. “You can’t mean that. You have no water. No food.”

Her stubborn look didn’t change.

“And what about your friend Lother?”

“He’s not my friend.” She looked down the street as if fearing the man would follow her. Slowly, she brought her gaze back to Kody and stared at him for a full thirty seconds. “Seems I don’t have a whole lot of choices.”

He could hardly describe her reaction as grateful. “Maybe it’s the miracle you’ve prayed for.” He knew from the scowl on her lips that she didn’t believe it any more than he did. “I need to get a few things. Why don’t you go back to the store and arrange to have any messages forwarded care of Reverend Douglas in Favor, South Dakota?”

She nodded, reluctantly, he figured, and he left her to take care of that detail while he headed toward the livery barn. He patted his pocket, knowing his purse would be much lighter before he left town.

This decision of his meant he would be heading south, instead of north, heading back to the very place he’d vowed to leave behind forever.

Chapter Four

It took all Charlotte’s self-control to keep from wailing with frustration and fear. A miracle? An answer to prayer? It certainly wasn’t either in her estimation. She’d prayed for rescue, someone to offer her a home. The only person to do so was a half-breed. And Lother. She shuddered. She’d as soon sit on the step of Harry’s empty house and wait to die of thirst as marry that man. Of the two, Kody seemed slightly less undesirable. At least he only wanted to escort her to his parents’. Or so he said. God, I know You can’t plan for me to ride out with this man. Please send someone else before he returns.

Why couldn’t some young mother needing help come along and see her? She’d willingly care for babies in exchange for a safe place to live. Or why couldn’t an older couple shuffle by, the woman all crippled up and in pain and needing someone to run and fetch for her? Charlotte would put up with any amount of crankiness if it meant a roof over her head. Hadn’t she been doing so for years, catering to Nellie’s demands? And for what? To be thrown out or left behind at the slightest whim? God was in control. She knew that, but sometimes she found it hard to see how things could work out for good. But wasn’t that when trust came in? When she couldn’t comprehend circumstances?

Wait on the Lord. Wait and see His deliverance. She wished she could read the Bible and find appropriate words of comfort, but Harry had taken it with him.

She sat, waiting expectantly, until her skin began to twitch.

But the platform remained empty. So she trudged back to the store and made arrangements for the mail. Every step carried a prayer for God to intervene. No miracle occurred on her way to the store or her way back, and she resumed her position on the bench, pleading with God to do something. Surely there were people who would welcome her help in exchange for a warm corner to sleep in.

“Psst.” The soft noise pulled her attention to the far end of the station, to a small cluster of trees where Kody waited. “Let’s get out of here.”

She didn’t want to get out; she wanted to stay. She held her breath, praying for God to provide in the next two seconds something—someone—posing less risk than the man waiting for her.

Nothing.

Seems God had narrowed her choice down to this one option. Perhaps she’d displeased God, too, and He chose to ignore her. She pushed to her feet, taking her time about gathering her things, waiting for God to bestow better, praying with every breath. God, help me. I trust You, even though things don’t look good right now.

Slowly she crossed the platform, her shoes thudding hollowly on the worn wood, the dusty air catching at her throat. She paused to glance in the window, saw Mr. Sears at the wicket. He looked up, saw her and turned away dismissively.

“Hurry,” Kody whispered.

The way he glanced about him sent warning skitters along the surface of her skin. “Why?” She spoke the word aloud, albeit softly.

“You’re a white woman, I’m a half-breed. Need I say more?”