Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,80
a problem. How far out is the army?”
“Only about ten miles,” Clint answered. “I’m going to go speak with the Indian Legislature. I sent word for them to come to my office.”
Browning nodded. “Lance, get your things ready, and when the army arrives, I’ll go immediately and request an escort to at least get you and the others to the train. For now, though, I’m going back to Clint’s office with him. We’ll try to head things off with the tribes.”
“Are you sure you won’t be in danger as well?” Tom asked.
“These people know me. They know I am not the enemy, and I mean to prove it by staying to face them. It won’t be the first time we’ve had trouble.” Mr. Browning moved to the door, then turned back. “But frankly, it might be good for you to go with them, Mercy. I won’t have time to worry about you, and I may need Isaac’s help.”
“I don’t want to leave without you,” Mrs. Browning said.
“I know, but do this for me.”
They both fell silent for a moment, and finally the gravity of the situation seemed clear. Mrs. Browning nodded.
“Let’s go,” Browning said to Clint.
Once they were gone, Mrs. Browning went upstairs, and Isaac went to move his sheep into the pen rather than the far pasture.
Tom didn’t like the situation at all. Once they left the protection of the house, the Indians would have the advantage. They could lie in wait and ambush the entire lot. He needed to talk to Connie.
He made a dash up the stairs, hoping he could have a minute alone with her while her mother helped her sister and niece pack. He saw Connie huddled with her female family members in the bedroom. It was obvious they were praying.
Tom had only just come to believe God existed. Would God listen to him if he prayed? He was a sinner. Wasn’t there a verse in John that said God didn’t listen to the prayers of sinners?
“Oh good, Tom, you can help us,” Mrs. Browning said as she caught sight of him standing in the doorway. “We need to hurry.”
By the time the army arrived, it had been decided that Tom would remain at the reservation while Connie and her family would head to Portland. Isaac insisted on staying to care for the livestock so their father would be free to do whatever he could to maintain peace.
Connie didn’t want to leave, but everyone insisted. Even Tom and Clint wanted her out of the way. She knew there was still the matter of figuring out who was responsible for inciting the Indians to war. She hadn’t had a chance to speak to Tom about the additional details Faith had learned about the location of the Indians’ gun house. She knew she needed to tell him before they forced her from the reservation. Unfortunately, he’d been busy helping Isaac with his sheep.
That evening they ate in shifts and tried to keep an eye out for anyone approaching the house. Connie had never seen her father so upset, and in turn, that upset everyone else. Adam Browning was known for being calm and collected, and the fact that he was agitated and afraid was unusual.
“Connie.” She turned to find Tom. “I was hoping to talk to you.”
“I wanted to talk to you too.” She pulled him into the kitchen, where they could be alone. “What did you want to say?”
“You go first.”
Connie felt momentarily lost in his gaze. He really did have the most beautiful blue eyes. “I . . . uh, Ruth said something about the place where Sam goes. The house filled with rifles. I don’t know where it is exactly, but it’s not far from the big bend in the river. Near where I saw them unloading crates.”
“The night Clint kissed you?” Tom asked.
Connie nodded, ignoring the fact that he sounded jealous. “Exactly. Ruth said it’s in the woods to the north of the river. Get your journal, and I’ll sketch it out as best I can.” He started to go, but Connie stopped him. “Wait, I almost forgot. Ruth said there are always guards around the house.”
“That makes sense. If your entire future depended on the contents, you’d have guards there too.” Tom turned to go, but heavy pounding on the front door drew their attention. “It sounds like someone is trying to beat the door down.”
Connie started for the front room, but Tom held her back.