Journey of Hope: A Novel of Triumph and Heartbreak on the Oregon Trail in 1852 by Victoria Murata Read Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Murata
the distance. The smile left Ernest’s face and he realized that this was going to be a long day.
He was wondering what he could do this time to lighten Emily’s mood when Abel Brown sauntered over.
Abel enjoyed watching the way Ernest handled his wife. He lacked finesse and diplomacy. He realized that Ernest had never been a lady’s man like himself. Ernest had been smitten with Miss Emily from the first time he met her, and he had pursued her until she consented to be his wife. It hadn’t been difficult to convince Emily’s father, since Ernest came from an established and wealthy neighboring family.
Abel knew Emily had consented to be Ernest’s wife because she thought she would always be close to her daddy. He speculated that Emily would most likely never see her daddy again.
Abel’s family wasn’t well connected, and their money was newer, mostly earned through risky and often illegal pursuits. They had made their fortune through horse-trading. Abel had a good eye for horseflesh, and by the young age of twenty-six, he had won a small fortune at the racetrack. He was an accomplished poker player and had funded this trip with money he had won at the tables in many towns east of the Mississippi. He usually had no trouble winning, but he wasn’t averse to cheating if he had to. There were always plenty of rich farmers who thought they were good at cards, and Abel encouraged their vanity until he had gained their confidence, and then he would play his hand and take their money.
He had met Ernest at a poker table in a saloon in Ohio, and when he won the final hand, a very large pot, Ernest had been good-natured about it.
“You’re a good poker player, Mr. Brown. You’re going to have to give me a chance to win my money back.”
Abel had encouraged Ernest’s fondness for poker. He hadn’t been averse to taking advantage of his young friend whenever he had the opportunity. Ernest already owed him quite a lot of money, and he planned to get more I.O.U.s from Ernest and some of the other travelers. He was already making plans to get a game up at the fort where they would camp tonight. Abel knew he would be a wealthy man when they reached Oregon. As he walked over to where Ernest was adjusting a harness, he saw that the Hintons’ wagon had been re-packed and was ready to roll.
“The captain says we’re going to camp at Fort Kearny this evening. It’s just a short ways from here.” He looked over to where Emily and Nellie were climbing down from the wagon.
“Miss Emily, it looks like you made it across safe and sound and are none the worse for wear!” His eyes couldn’t hide his amusement as he noted her scowl.
“Thank you, Mr. Brown. Fortunately, I didn’t drown,” she replied tersely, and gave her husband a dark look. Abel noticed she looked a little pale, but considering her ordeal, she was remarkably controlled.
“There’s a trading post and a post office at the fort if you have any letters you’d like to send home.” He tipped his hat at the women and returned to his wagon.
Emily’s expression brightened. She resolved then and there to write to her daddy and tell him she was coming home!
The Letter
Chapter Five
Fort Kearney
Mile 319
Nellie walked next to the wagon the short distance to Fort Kearny. Emily was inside pouting. Ernest was stonily silent as he concentrated on driving the team. Nellie sighed. Their behavior was typical in this marriage. Put two spoiled young people together as husband and wife and this is what you get! She regretted her choice to accompany Miss Emily.
Emily’s family had come from Virginia and settled in the Military District Lands of Ohio shortly after Emily was born. Ernest himself came from landed gentry, and he and his brother were set to inherit large tracts of rich Ohio farmland. But Ernest had been bitten by the bug and wanted to seek his fortune in the wild and untamed west. Both his father and Emily’s had tried to talk sense into him,
He was wondering what he could do this time to lighten Emily’s mood when Abel Brown sauntered over.
Abel enjoyed watching the way Ernest handled his wife. He lacked finesse and diplomacy. He realized that Ernest had never been a lady’s man like himself. Ernest had been smitten with Miss Emily from the first time he met her, and he had pursued her until she consented to be his wife. It hadn’t been difficult to convince Emily’s father, since Ernest came from an established and wealthy neighboring family.
Abel knew Emily had consented to be Ernest’s wife because she thought she would always be close to her daddy. He speculated that Emily would most likely never see her daddy again.
Abel’s family wasn’t well connected, and their money was newer, mostly earned through risky and often illegal pursuits. They had made their fortune through horse-trading. Abel had a good eye for horseflesh, and by the young age of twenty-six, he had won a small fortune at the racetrack. He was an accomplished poker player and had funded this trip with money he had won at the tables in many towns east of the Mississippi. He usually had no trouble winning, but he wasn’t averse to cheating if he had to. There were always plenty of rich farmers who thought they were good at cards, and Abel encouraged their vanity until he had gained their confidence, and then he would play his hand and take their money.
He had met Ernest at a poker table in a saloon in Ohio, and when he won the final hand, a very large pot, Ernest had been good-natured about it.
“You’re a good poker player, Mr. Brown. You’re going to have to give me a chance to win my money back.”
Abel had encouraged Ernest’s fondness for poker. He hadn’t been averse to taking advantage of his young friend whenever he had the opportunity. Ernest already owed him quite a lot of money, and he planned to get more I.O.U.s from Ernest and some of the other travelers. He was already making plans to get a game up at the fort where they would camp tonight. Abel knew he would be a wealthy man when they reached Oregon. As he walked over to where Ernest was adjusting a harness, he saw that the Hintons’ wagon had been re-packed and was ready to roll.
“The captain says we’re going to camp at Fort Kearny this evening. It’s just a short ways from here.” He looked over to where Emily and Nellie were climbing down from the wagon.
“Miss Emily, it looks like you made it across safe and sound and are none the worse for wear!” His eyes couldn’t hide his amusement as he noted her scowl.
“Thank you, Mr. Brown. Fortunately, I didn’t drown,” she replied tersely, and gave her husband a dark look. Abel noticed she looked a little pale, but considering her ordeal, she was remarkably controlled.
“There’s a trading post and a post office at the fort if you have any letters you’d like to send home.” He tipped his hat at the women and returned to his wagon.
Emily’s expression brightened. She resolved then and there to write to her daddy and tell him she was coming home!
The Letter
Chapter Five
Fort Kearney
Mile 319
Nellie walked next to the wagon the short distance to Fort Kearny. Emily was inside pouting. Ernest was stonily silent as he concentrated on driving the team. Nellie sighed. Their behavior was typical in this marriage. Put two spoiled young people together as husband and wife and this is what you get! She regretted her choice to accompany Miss Emily.
Emily’s family had come from Virginia and settled in the Military District Lands of Ohio shortly after Emily was born. Ernest himself came from landed gentry, and he and his brother were set to inherit large tracts of rich Ohio farmland. But Ernest had been bitten by the bug and wanted to seek his fortune in the wild and untamed west. Both his father and Emily’s had tried to talk sense into him,
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