Wild Heart on the Prairie (A Prairie Heritage, Book 2) by Vikki Kestell Read Free Book Online Page B

hours in
the late afternoon sun minding the oxen. Now he took up reins—his far had
said he could drive the empty wagon behind them to the rail yards! In reality, his
wagon’s oxen were still tethered to the wagon in front of his.
    Karl pulled ahead of them in the lumber wagon and set a
sedate pace. Jan followed with the front wagon. Søren waved goodbye to Sauli
and called to his oxen. They moved out smartly behind Jan.
     
    The Thoresens labored for another two hours unloading the
wagons and packing their purchases in the freight cars. They stacked much of it
into the first car atop their other cargo.
    All the lumber went into one end of the second car except
for some lengths Karl kept back. Jan found the crate with the tools and nails
and kept it back, too. Then Karl and Jan set to work building a sturdy fence across
the car separating the lumber from the rest of the car.
    The fence was nose high to the oxen, high enough and strong
enough to keep the lumber on one side and the oxen on the other. The six oxen
would have two-thirds of the car to travel in.
    Finally, they unhitched the oxen and led them into a pen.
Jan paid a man to feed and water the beasts. The freight master assured them
that the oxen and wagons would be safe overnight.
    It was dusk when the three Thoresens dragged themselves back
to the boardinghouse, exhausted and hungry. Even after eating a hearty dinner,
Jan closed his eyes against a bad headache.
    Elli saw him frown and rub his eyes. She stood behind his
chair and gently massaged his temples. “Amalie and I have our list ready,” she whispered,
nuzzling the back of his neck.
    “ Ja , that’s good,” he replied. He leaned his head
back and rested it on her bosom, breathing in her sweet scent. “Don’t fret, my
love. I will be better in the morning. It has just been a long day.”
    ~~**~~

Chapter 5
    The next morning began a little more leisurely. After a
large breakfast, Karl read to them from the family Bible. But when they thought
Karl had finished reading, he turned to Proverbs and read aloud:
    Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct thy paths.
    They all knew that the most challenging times were still
ahead. “Lord, thank you for directing our paths,” Jan prayed. “We trust you and
lean on you.”
    Jan and Karl felt refreshed when they walked back to the
rail yard. They opened the pen and led two of the oxen out. Together they
placed the yoke across the beasts’ muscular necks.
    When the team was hitched to one of their wagons, Jan and
Karl drove it back to the boardinghouse. Karl helped Elli, Amalie, and the
three children into the back, and they set out for the grocer Herr Rehnquist had recommended.
    An hour and a half later the last of the foodstuffs had been
loaded in the wagon: Burlap bags filled with wheat, dried beans, dried peas,
dried corn, onions, potatoes, and cabbages. Crocks of butter, jars of honey,
jugs of vinegar. Cans of lard. Bags of salt, sugar, and coffee beans. Cans of
baking soda, cream of tartar, and yeast cakes. Jars of pickles, peaches, and
tomatoes. Wheels of cheese wrapped in clean cloths. Ropes of sausages and a
great log of bologna. A crate of eggs padded in sawdust.
    Jan and Karl wrestled a heavy barrel into the wagon. Packed
inside it were two hams. Packed above the hams were carefully wrapped slabs of
bacon.
    Back in the store, Jan asked, “What are these?” He had spied
half dozen green sprigs, not even eight inches high, their roots tied up in damp
burlap.
    “ Apfel baum ,” Mr. Koehler replied.
    Apple saplings! Jan stared at them. “Søren?”
    “They are fifty cents, Pappa . Half a dollar each.”
    “So much!” Jan was torn. Their money was dwindling quickly.
    “I tell you what,” Mr. Koehler said, “You are a good
customer. You are buying a lot from me today, ja ? I sell you two of them
for the price of one.”
    Søren wasn’t sure he