Page 72 of Wherever My Heart Roams

"We aren't cows, Pa. We're people, we got feelings. You can't make all the girls marry because you and Ma had too many children. You wanted us all, so we could help run this farm. But you forgot you'd have to feed and clothe us too. How could you do this to her Pa?" Beth cried. "Your gambling is not her fault, nor mine. It's time you faced up to that. You can feed all of us, it is hard, yes, but you can do it. You just don't have money to go gamble on. It's money you don't have that's driving you to send your children into marriage. You think you'll have more by getting rid of us."

Her Pa turned on her then, his anger unleashed. "Now you lookie here. I raised her right. We taught her just like we taught you, by the good book. I can't be responsible for her going wild. Who'd have thought it? I'm as ashamed as you are. I can't turn her back. I can't take her back."

Beth shook her head, "You think in terms of animals Pa, not humans. Martina wasn't mature enough. Neither was I, but Wade was gentle and understanding with me. It was Wade that made things good for us. I see that now. I fell in love with him Pa. I aim to keep my vows. But…if you marry another sister of mine off to a man she doesn't want, I might just kill you Pa…" She said and ran out of the barn in tears.

He didn't run after her. He was stunned and he didn't work anymore that day.

Mother Cahill and her mother got along famously and she was glad of that. She realized she was taking all he anger out on her father for what Martina did, and that wasn't fair, but her anger had to spew. It had to.

There were more Indian raids on the other side of the creek that day, they saw the smoke. They knew what it meant.

"Have you notified the authorities of the raids?" Beth asked her father that same evening, knowing he wasn't in the best of moods for her nagging.

"The authorities as you call them are more than ninety miles away, no, I haven't." He frowned at her. "But you can get in that fancy buggy of yours and go tell them if you want, little good it will do you. They got their hands full right where they are. The Masterson's already did that for your information. You can't come home and be here one or two days and know everything that goes on. The Indian raids are something the whole community knows about. Word has been sent, but you see how quickly they are moving up here to do somethin' about it. Don't you?"

Mother Cahill heard him shout and Beth's mother's face flushed with embarrassment. "I’m sorry for this."

"Don't you fret. All families have ruckus every now and then. These are trying times. Between the Indians and the war, it's not a good time for anyone."

"Thank you for understanding."

"They promised to send some troops up here the first chance they got." Her mother explained.

"It's hard to fight two wars at the same time." Mother Cahill remarked.

"The best I can do is keep my barn locked and the shutters in working order." Her Pa told them.

"Are there Indians on your boat?" Joan asked as she came and crawled up in Beth's lap.

"No darling, but there are Yankees and Confederates all over the place with their guns." Beth explained.

"What does a Yankee look like, Beth?" Joan asked.

"The same as a Confederate…" Beth had to laugh.

"If they are the same, why are they fighting."

"Lord only knows…" Beth muttered.

"I like Wade, is he kin to me now?" Joan asked.

"Well, yes, he's your brother-in-law." Beth explained. Joan got down and went to tell Janet.

Mother Cahill laughed. "This reminds me of my family. Kids all over the place, and something going on all the time."

John the black man had left with a message for Wade that Beth would ret

urn in a few weeks.

Somehow she wanted to stay long enough to help Martina. If that were possible.

~*~

The next day she headed over to Martina's house. She hoped she didn't find another man in the house.

She was prepared to wash the dishes, and sweep the floors and make the bed, and hopefully talk some sense into her sister. Her hopes were high, but maybe if Martina realized that not that much had changed, she'd see things differently.

That was her hope. But it failed miserably.

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