Page 72 of Wagon Train Dreams
She hugged them both. Said she would talk to the missionaries and meet them at the church later.
And so it came to pass that they ate a hurried supper, everyone headed for their wagons to find their best dress or a clean shirt while Joe went to his ma’s to clean up. For the occasion, he chose to wear a white shirt that had been his father’s.
Joe waited at the front of the sanctuary as the Millers and Woods came. Marnie carried Petey. Bertie’s pets had been left with the wagon, and he looked strangely bereft without them.
Hazel came in on Gabe’s arm. Her hair was down in a spray of sunlight. Her blue eyes shone with captured bits of sky. She was beautiful, and she was about to become his bride.
Their vows were spoken, and then they were husband and wife.
He kissed her and whispered in her ear. “God has granted me the desire of my heart.”
“And mine.”
Epilogue
They left the next morning, intent on making it to Fort Taylor. Hazel hugged herself. Married to a noble, strong, kind man. Wouldn’t Carson be surprised? Before they set out, Joe had penned a letter to the man Mose had mentioned.
Hazel had written a letter, too. “I need to tell Carson his friend mustn’t wait for me.”
Joe hugged her. “I’m glad you weren’t set on marrying him.”
She’d laughed. “I’m glad you came into my life.”
As they traveled, she marveled at how little things had changed. Joe still scouted ahead looking for the best travel route. He still brought in fresh meat. She still walked beside the wagon or rode inside. Petey still needed care. Bertie required attention from everyone. And yet everything had changed. The sky was bluer, the grass greener, the water cooler. The time around, the fire was sweeter.
And every night was kissed with joy as Joe held her in his arms.
Tonight, he pulled out a pencil and a little notebook with blank pages and bent over the book. His pencil scratched across the paper.
“What are you writing, my dear husband?”
“How God led me from giving up on my dreams to realizing they were waiting for me all the time. It just took time and patience to find them.”
“What are you going to call this book?”
“I don’t know, but something likeDreams Do Come True.”
She leaned over his shoulder and watched as he began to write.
There was once a Big Warrior, a Little Warrior, and a Mama Warrior. And this is how they became a family.
