Forever by Your Side (Willamette Brides #3) - Tracie Peterson Page 0,82
proper civilization.”
“I know, but I’m confident that the army will be able to keep you safe,” her brother replied. “Still, if it makes you feel better, I could ride along until you reach Willamina.”
“No, because then you’d have to ride back alone. I don’t want either of you in danger. If you came with us to Portland, you’d be safer.” She looked at each of them, hoping they would change their minds.
“We can’t, and you know that. I need to help Isaac with the farm,” Tom said, then looked at Isaac. “And Isaac is going to help me with our investigation. I told him about the house of guns. The soldiers have demanded that all of the Indians appear for a count in the morning. That will hopefully remove the guards from where the rifles are stored and allow Isaac and me to see what’s what.”
“Maybe you could take some soldiers with you,” she suggested.
“We were just discussing that, and I think we will.”
Connie nodded. “Good. I’m glad you’ll have each other. I’m so afraid the uprising is going to start before we can figure it out. Having Papa arrested has been the worst that could happen.”
“It’s going to be all right, Connie,” her brother said. “Pa’s faith is strong. Mama’s too. They’ll get through this and be just fine. Now we need to do the same.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I’m trying to keep a positive spirit.” She looked at Tom. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. Either of you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to us,” Tom said. “We’re smart, and we’ll be careful.”
She felt tears trying to form. Her throat ached as she fought back the urge to cry. “I hope so.”
She turned and ran from the barn. She knew if she remained much longer, she would have begged them to leave with the rest of the family.
She slowed her pace when she reached the house. A dozen soldiers had formed two lines in front of her home. Connie knew it was time to go. There hadn’t been time to go speak with Rosy and say good-bye.
Clint appeared from the back of the house. “I was just coming to find you. They’re waiting on you.”
“I know. I wanted to say good-bye to Isaac and Tom and ask them one more time to come with us.”
“And will they?”
“No. They feel they must stay here. You’ll be too busy to worry about taking care of our sheep or the other livestock. This way you won’t have to concern yourself with it. I hope you will all be safe.”
Clint laughed. “The army will keep the Indians in their place. My father is due here tomorrow, and they wouldn’t dare do anything with a man as important as my father in residence. I found out that was the original reason for the army being here. Additional men will likely arrive with my father. The telegram delivering orders to arrest Adam and bring him to Portland was just happenstance.”
“It’s ludicrous, and you know it.”
“Well, I want to believe that, but sometimes people just aren’t who we think they are.”
“I’m going with you, Uncle Lance. I have a picture of Mama and Papa, and we can show it to the man at the hotel before we go to the jail. If Papa can be arrested just because he supposedly signed a hotel ledger, then hopefully we can prove he isn’t the same man who checked in.”
Her uncle threw a pleading glance at his wife. Aunt Hope just shrugged. “You know how stubborn we can be.” She looked toward the kitchen, where Mama and Faith were talking to Nancy. “You’d better head out, or you’ll have the rest of the women with you as well.”
He shook his head and gave an exasperated sigh. “Very well, Connie. Let’s go.”
The carriage was waiting for them at the curb. David, Nancy’s full-time groundskeeper and stableboy, stood holding the horse.
“Thank you, David. I’ll bring the carriage around back when I return.” Uncle Lance helped Connie into the small carriage, then quickly climbed up and took the reins.
Connie said nothing until they neared the hotel. The front desk clerk had told police officers that he could identify Adam Browning as the man who had signed into his hotel. Connie was still uncertain how her father supposedly being at the hotel was linked to the killings of Berkshire and Lakewood.
Uncle Lance brought the horse to a stop in front of the Grand Hotel. The place betrayed its name by not