A Proposal

Previously:

Sarah Beauchamp and Tom Gordon have met on a wagon train going west. They developed a bond and are ready to take things to the next step.

Chapter 4

They made a handsome couple as they walked along, and could often be seen sneaking away from the train. Never venturing far from the wagons, they walked hand in hand and talked for hours. Before long, rumors of marriage spread through the camp, but this couldn’t happen until they reached Oregon, and joined a proper church.

“Tom, have you considered children?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, I want lots of them. I hear they sell for a lot out west.”

“Stop it. You're terrible. Sometimes, I don't even know why I let you kiss me.”

“You mean like now.”

Tom leaned over and kissed Sarah in a way that always made her go weak. At this point, she would have sold their children herself.

“How do you do that to me?” Sarah asked.

“What, this?” Tom kissed her again, and they tumbled to the ground.

“This trip is going to be perfect,” Sarah said.

“I know. I thought I was going to travel west, and meet a girl out there. It turns out, I started for the west, and met a perfect girl from the east. What were the chances?”

“God has a plan for us, Tom Gordon. You wait and see. The two of us are going to bring civilization to the west, and start a new world. It's all part of His plan.”

“Sarah, Tom, you young people get back to the wagon. We're getting ready to head out. You don't want to be left behind.” Sarah's father knew what was going on and mostly approved of it.

Sarah hurried back to the wagon. “Sarah, if your mother knew the way you two were carrying on, she would put a stop to it.”

“Mama would have liked Tom. He's a fine young man. I could do a lot worse.”

As they traveled west the two lovers became closer and closer. Privacy was hard to come by on a wagon train, but Sarah and Tom managed to find some from time to time. On one such occasion, Tom took Sarah by the hand.

“Sarah, I intend to ask your father for your hand in marriage, but I want to hear your answer first.”

Sarah wrapped her arms around Tom and squealed with delight. She kissed him over and over.

“Oh, Tom, yes, a thousand times yes. I'll marry you a thousand times, and then I will marry you some more. You've made me the happiest girl on earth.”

“I'm the one who's happy,” Tom said. “Now comes the hard part. I have to talk to your father.”

“He's not as mean as he looks. Just tell him. I'm sure he'll be as glad as I am. Well, not as glad as I am, but he'll be happy. Hurry, go ask him.”

Tom was nervous as he went to talk to Maurice. He had to struggle to look him in the eyes. He fidgeted and worried the brim of his hat.

“What is it, young fella?” Maurice asked. “I can see you're all tangled up about something. I've been watching you pace around for an hour.”

“Sir, I've come to ask for Sarah's hand in marriage.”

It didn't help Tom's nervousness that Maurice hesitated before answering. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime to Tom, Maurice spoke. “The two of you just met. What's the hurry?”

“If I waited a lifetime I couldn't love anyone more. Sarah feels the same. We're sure God has brought us together.”

“Young people always think they know what God wants. I think you should wait. If you still feel this way when we get to Oregon, I'll consider it.”

Tom found some backbone. “Sir, that's not good enough. I need an answer right now.”

“In that case,” Maurice said, "the answer is no.”

“How can you say that? Sarah will hate you.”

“Sarah doesn't know how to hate. You'll have to come up with a better answer than that.”

“Then we'll get married without your blessing. We would rather have it, but we love each other and we'll do what is necessary. You would have done the same when you met your wife.”

Maurice stopped and considered what he had just heard. “You're right. Sarah's mother and I would have run away. In fact, we did. Her father hated me for it. The two of us never spoke again. That's no way to start a marriage." Maurice stared into the distance and pondered Tom's words. Now, it was his turn to fidget with his hat. Finally, he gave in to the inevitable. "It took courage for you to say what you did. I've reconsidered. Your answer is yes. You’re a good man. I'm sure you'll be a good husband.”

“Thank you, sir.” Tom let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't realized he had been holding his breath. “I'll be good to Sarah. I'll treat her as well as you have. She won't want for anything.”

“Things don't make a marriage work. It takes love and hard work to keep a good woman happy, and never forget, Sarah's a good woman.”

“Yes, sir, I know. I think she's the finest woman God ever put on earth.”

“I wouldn't go that far, son. I've seen Sarah get downright cantankerous when she gets a bee in her bonnet.”

“I'll keep that in mind, sir.”

“You do that, and you'll be spending a lot fewer nights sleeping outside. Have you decided when the wedding will take place?"

"We want to wait until we reach Oregon, and find a church. We want God's blessing on our marriage.”

“That's a good choice. Now, go tell Sarah that I said yes.”

Tom ran to the river where Sarah was washing clothes. “Sarah! Sarah! He said yes.”

“I knew he would. Everything is wonderful. I knew I was going to like this trip. I just didn't know how much. How could I be so lucky? I’m starting a new life with the man I love.”

“He said all I had to do was come up with ten cows and a couple of sheep, and we could get married.”

“He did no such thing. Why do you tease me so?”

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Sarah was more anxious now than ever to get to Oregon. Complete happiness awaited her there. “Oh, hurry, Papa. Go faster.”

“We're making good time, Sarah. Sit back and take in the view. We might even see some of those Indians you've been looking for.”

“I don't care about any Indians. I just want to get to Oregon and marry Tom.”

“I don't know why you have to get married in Oregon. There are plenty of towns with churches along the way.”

“I want to be a member of the church we get married in. That way, it'll be our church. We can go there every Sunday and raise our kids there.”

“Speaking of church, have you two decided whether you're going to be Protestant or Catholic yet?”

“It's not important. There's only one God, and He takes care of all of us. Religion doesn't matter to God. Only people care about that.”

“You're wise beyond your years, Sarah. You're not a child anymore. You're seventeen. Soon, you'll have children of your own to look after. Have you thought about that?”

“Yes, Tom and I want to have lots of children. We'll need a big family.”

“And why is that?”

“Tom wants to start a farm and open a little store. Maybe a hardware shop.”

“That's a lot to take on.”

“Tom's a hard worker and has big plans.”

“I can see that.”

“And I and the kids will be there to help him. He might even be governor someday when the territory becomes a state. Wouldn't that be something? Tom Gordon, Governor of Oregon.”

“Are these Tom's plans or yours?”

“He'll go along with what I say.”

“I thought as much. He doesn't know what he's getting into. Poor boy.”

“Why do you call him a boy? Tom's a full-grown man.”

“I know. I call him that because I'm tired of being an old man. When I think of all the things that could be done in the west, I wish I were a boy.”

“Oh Papa, you're not old. At least not to me. Do you ever think about getting another wife?”

“No. No one could ever take your Mama's place. I wish she had lived to see all this land.”

Maurice looked out at the endless, grass-covered plain. “She would have loved it.” As they traveled along a single tear formed in Maurice's eye.

“Please, Papa, go faster. Just a little bit wouldn't hurt.”

“It wouldn't help either.”

“I just don't know why we have to go slow just because some people weren't smart enough to spend some more money and buy stronger oxen so they could keep up.”

“What if Tom had slow oxen?”

“He's too smart for that. Besides, if that were the case, he could ride with us.”

“You and Tom may not want to get married after spending four months together in a covered wagon.”

“Don't be silly. I'd marry Tom after spending a year with him in an outhouse.”

Maurice made a face and Sarah laughed.

“That sounds terrible, doesn't it? Please, Papa, go faster.” Sarah rocked back and forth.

Maurice scrunched his face up. “What in tarnation are you doing, girl?”

“I'm trying to make this wagon go faster. I've got to do something.”

“Hahahaha. I swear you're the reincarnation of your mother.” Maurice kept a steady pace. He knew what was best for the oxen. Slowly, the wagons ground on, pushing into a vast, new world.

The first obstacle they came to was the Missouri River. It wasn't as bad as the Platt River and some others. Actually, the smaller rivers presented more of a problem.

The Missouri had ferries to take the settlers across. The shallow rivers would have to be forded. Scouts went ahead to find the best places to cross. The settlers would wax the sides of their wagons to make them waterproof, then they would unload as much as they could and make the crossing.

They would carry as much as they were able, including children, and walk behind their wagons. Sometimes they would need to make several trips to transport all of their belongings across the river.

The trip west was not an easy one. It was full of excitement and danger. It promised adventure and a new beginning, for those brave enough to make the journey, into the great unknown.

To be continued . . .