Page 75 of The Hardest Part

“Told you what?”

“That there’s going to be a wedding.” His gaze shifted away from the water. “For Lucy, Fallon, and you.”

Damn you, Walker.

“It’s all right, brother.” Elijah cupped his shoulder. “He figured you’d have a helluva time comin’ up with the words, so he spared you. Had a sit-down with me and your sisters. Explained the ways of his late wife’s people.”

“You must think I’m mad.”

“Back home I probably would have, but that’s not our home anymore.” With a half-shrug, he rubbed his lips together. “Oddly enough, the things he said made sense. Our lives here will be different. Harder in some ways, but simple in many others, so no, I don’t think that. Besides, if the Mormons can have twenty, why can’t you have two?”

Elijah’s lips slowly curved into a smile, and they shared a chuckle.

“And my sisters?”

“Shocked, as you might expect, but not abhorrently so.” And he patted him on the back. “Given some time, I’m certain they’ll come around. They like Lucy and Fallon, but more than that, they dearly loveyou.”

Levi turned his gaze back to the river. “I hope you’re right.”

“Lucky bastard.” He could hear the smirk in Eli’s voice. “Two women warming your bed at night. However will you manage?”

“Honestly?” Levi turned to look at him. “I don’t know.”

“C’mon.” Eli rose, pulling him up from the log. “We have to go and wish Dalton farewell.”

“Farewell?”

He nodded. “He and some of the others are setting off this morning.”

Levi counted twelve wagons.That’s half of us. Lined up, their oxen hitched, the bedraggled travelers took up positionsalongside them. He surveyed the scene, his hands on his hips, and with a shake of his head, walked over to the first in the line.

“George?” His back to him, the man lashed a barrel of water to the wagon’s side. “Dalton?”

“Levi.”

“Are you sure about this, George?”

“I am.” Nodding, he wiped the sweat from his hands on his britches. “No offense to you, Gantry, but I’ve thought on it. I’m taking my family to California.”

He glanced at his wife, their young child strapped to her back. The man was a couple of years older than Levi, at most.

“But—”

“I know you don’t think we can make it, but I believe in my gut that we will.” His hands slipped inside his pockets. “Winteriscoming, though. You’re right about that. So, I’m not about to waste another day sittin’ here.”

“And the others?” Had Dalton convinced them all to follow him into what could very well be their deaths?

“St. John and the rest of ‘em decided for themselves.” He glanced at the wagons down the line. “It was a simple choice to make. See, you don’t even know where you’re going and nobody wants to stay here until spring. It’s not safe for the womenfolk.”

There was nothing left for Levi to say. “This is farewell, then.”

“It is.” George grasped his hand, his shake strong. “Good luck to you, my friend. I’ve been privileged to travel this far with you, and I hope your journey takes you to whatever riches you seek.”

A place to call home.

That’s all he wanted.

“I wish you well, Dalton.” Levi let go of the man’s hand and hugged him. “Godspeed. Perhaps someday our paths shall cross again.”

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