Wilderness Courtship by Valerie Hansen Read Free Book Online Page B

took on a more sinister tone. “Same way the Indians do. I’ll bring Ashton their scalps.”

Chapter Four
    C harity didn’t know what to do. On the one hand she wanted to stay safely at home in San Francisco with her beloved papa. On the other hand, he had as much as told her she was no longer needed or wanted.
    And what about poor little Jacob? He did need her and she did care about him. Why, oh why, did life have to be so complicated?
    Standing in the middle of her sparsely furnished room she pivoted slowly as she took in the accommodations. There was a bed with a feather mattress atop tightly stretched ropes, a dressing table and mirror, a washstand with a pitcher and ewer, a small trunk containing most of her clothing, and pegs on the wall next to it where she could hang her few dresses and petticoats. The place wasn’t lavish by any stretch of the imagination, yet it suited her. She didn’t need much, nor did she deserve luxuries, although she had once thought otherwise.
    Looking back, it was painful to envision how spoiled and selfish she had once been, not to mention the difficulties she’d caused her long-suffering sister, Faith, while they were crossing the prairie together.
    Charity shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Would she never be able to banish those horrible memories?
    In the past, she had clung to them as if their presence was necessary to keep her humble. Now that she was being offered a chance to do something extraordinary for the benefit of an innocent child, perhaps that would be enough to cleanse her soul and give her the peace she had lost.
    Verbal prayer was impossible with her mind whirling and her heart so torn and broken, but her unspoken thoughts reached out to God just the same. Was this what He wanted her to do? Was He giving her the second chance she’d so often prayed for? Or was she about to listen to her own confused feelings and become a victim of emotion and foolishness once again?
    She pressed her fingertips to her lips and sank onto the edge of her bed. The tears she had begun to shed when her father had announced his forthcoming marriage were gone, leaving only a sense of emptiness. Of loss. Everyone she loved had left her; first Mama when the tornado had taken her life, then Faith when she’d married Connell and now Papa. It wasn’t fair. She had given them as much devotion as she could muster, yet they were all gone now. Even Papa.
    Bereft, she tilted her head back, closed her eyes and spoke to her Heavenly Father from the depths of her soul. “Please, tell me what to do? Please?”
    She felt a soft tug on her skirt and opened her eyes. There at her feet stood the little boy whose well-being was at the heart of her concerns. She blinked. Smiled. Opened her arms, leaned forward and embraced him.
    As she lifted Jacob onto her lap she sensed another presence and glanced toward the open door. Thorne was watching, silent and grave, clearly expecting her to speak.
    Charity cleared her throat and smiled slightly before she said, “You really know how to influence me, don’t you?”
    “I hope so. Will you come with us?”
    Sighing, she nodded and did the only thing that seemed right. She capitulated. “Yes.”

    Thorne was astonished that the slightly built young woman had agreed so easily. Now that she had, he was having second thoughts. Was he doing the right thing by including her in their traveling party? He knew having a female companion was best for Naomi and the boy but he wondered how much more trouble it was going to be looking after an extra woman, especially if the journey was as arduous as he feared it might be.
    Then again, anyone who had crossed the great plains in a wagon and was now tolerating the constant earth tremors in San Francisco had to be made of sterner stuff than the average person. He didn’t think he’d ever get used to all the shaking in that city, although its citizens seemed to take it in stride.
    He huffed as he turned and headed back