Emma's Journey (Oregon Trail 1)

“Darlin’, if you don’t sit still, you’re gonna bounce right off that seat and spend Christmas laid up in bed.”

“It’s just been so long since I’ve had a home of my own. In fact, because our house in Indiana had belonged to Peter’s grandmother, this is truly my first very own house.”

She gave a huge contented sigh and took in her surroundings. It had been a long while since she’d been out here, and had forgotten how pretty the scenery was. Large magnificent birds swooped overhead in search of small prey, their eagle eyes constantly moving. She could see squirrels scurrying around, loading up for winter, and further back in the woods, deer stood like stone statues as they watched their loaded wagon with fearful curiosity.

About two hours after leaving Oregon City, the wagon climbed over a rise, and below them sat the land they had picked out when they’d first arrived. Emma focused solely on the tidy farmhouse sitting up on a small hill.

“Oh, Davis, there it is. Hurry.” She put her hand protectively over her ever-expanding stomach and in her mind told their child they were finally home. Just the thought of four walls and a roof for her baby brought tears to her eyes. She turned to Davis with a brilliant smile.

He had done this for her. He had worked all day and into the night to have it ready for Christmas because she’d asked him. Warm feelings flooded through her, not the same as when he looked at her with that lazy grin, but different warm feelings. Could she actually have fallen in love with this man? This man she’d been forced to marry?

“Well, here we are, darlin’.” Davis dug into his pocket to hand her a handkerchief after pulling up on the horses.

“I’m sorry,” Emma sniffed, wiping her nose, “but I’m just so happy.”

He patted her hand. “I know.” He jumped down, secured the horses, and rounding the wagon, held his arms up. Even with her bulky waist, he still managed to get his hands around her middle and carefully lift her down. Giving her his arm, she latched onto him and they proceeded up the stairs.

The outside of the house shone brilliantly with the recent coat of white paint. Shutters on either side of all the widows sported a pale green. The porch was wide enough to accommodate rocking chairs and baskets of flowers, what Emma had envisioned. Davis turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open. Before she could take a step, he lifted her and carried her into the house.

“What are you doing? I can walk, put me down.”

“It’s good luck to carry the bride over the threshold of her new home,” Davis said, grinning.

“Have you looked at me?” Emma patted her stomach. “I’m no bride.”

“Yes, you are, darlin’, you’re my bride and this is our home.” Then he kissed her gently and set her on her feet. “But,” he added with laughter in his eyes, “you’re a mite heavier than you were when we said those vows on the wagon train.” He ducked as she swatted at him.

Davis proudly gave her the tour. Emma breathed deeply of the fresh scent of new wood. The front door led into a small entrance, with the room on the right a parlor, and the one on the left the dining room. She discovered the back wall of the dining room held a large double door that led to the kitchen.

Davis had already added a cast iron stove, a worktable built along one wall with storage shelves under it, and a sink with a large reservoir. Over the sink, a window brought i

n the sunshine, and a view of crystal blue sky and rolling hills. There was also a back door from the kitchen that led to a yard, that Emma imagined would hold a substantial garden.

They ventured upstairs to where four good-sized bedrooms were located. Each room had a large window, and Emma immediately decided that their room would be the one where the window faced the morning sun.

“Oh, Davis,” Emma started as she looked around the room. Then she burst into tears.

“Uh, oh,” Davis said as he moved toward her. “I thought you would be pleased, sweetheart.”

“I am,” she choked out. “I’m just so happy. It’s beautiful.” With that she threw her arms around him and sobbed into his neck. He patted her back and murmured appropriate words that one murmurs to a pregnant wife who’d turned into a faucet.

With an abruptness that had him shaking his head, Emma moved out of his arms, then wiped her face of tears. “Well, it’s time we got started, let’s go.” She moved quickly out of the room, leaving him standing there staring at her receding back.

Davis had arranged for Caleb and Joshua to meet them to help with unloading and carrying furniture into the house. Emma kept them all busy moving things from room to room, and then back again. This wall, no, maybe that wall instead. She felt like a child with a new toy. One of her favorite pastimes as a little girl was playing with her doll house, and now she could do it for real.

Shortly after noon, Emma brought out meat, bread and cheese for their meal. Mae had packed it for her that morning, and with them all starving from their efforts, they dove into the food until there wasn’t a crumb left.

“Emma, we put the bed together in our bedroom. I think you should lie down for a while. You’re looking tired, honey.” Davis stretched and rotated his neck.

“No, I’m fine,” Emma said, and then yawned, belying her statement.

“Come on.” He reached for her hand. “Just lie down for a little bit.”

“All right, I will, as soon as I clean up.”

He bent and scooped her into his arms, taking the stairs two at a time, ignoring her protests.

Davis, Caleb and Joshua worked all afternoon, laying rugs, unpacking dishes and pots and pans. After a short nap, Emma was up again, directing where things should and should not go. She put together a light supper of soup and bread that Mae had also sent along, and after saying goodbye to the Campbell brothers, she and Davis collapsed on the sofa in the parlor.