added, “Your mother recovered before I left town. She insisted that I leave with the Nelsons while she stayed behind to care for Doc Sims. She told me because she had survived the fever, she would probably be immune. If you didn’t go to town, how do you know she wasn’t there caring for Doc Sims?”
Clint studied her face, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Was it possible his mother was still alive and in La Grange, nursing the doctor? “Are you saying my mother was completely well when you left La Grange?”
“Yes, but when the doctor became ill, she insisted on staying with him. Doc lost his wife several years ago, so there was no one to help him. He had done so much for everyone else and your mother wouldn’t desert him.”
Clint looked off into the distance. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, only to have them dashed once again, but at that moment he felt a spark of faith. “Then it’s possible she’s alive.”
“A family passed this way two days ago and told us that the fever had stopped spreading, and some families were already returning to La Grange,” Amelia told him.
“Was Mr. Nelson thinking of returning?” Clint asked.
“Not yet. I would like to go home as soon as possible, but I think he wants to stay here for now. I understand why he wants to wait, after losing one grandson. We all want to protect the children.”
“Ma left because of us. She didn’t want us to get sick,” Katie commented.
Clint thought Katie sounded too old for her age, much like Whitt’s boys. “Your mother did the right thing.” Clint remembered his mother’s letter mentioning that Amelia had lost her parents to yellow fever, but she hadn’t mentioned Amelia’s husband. “Did your husband come with you to Honey Creek?”
“My husband is deceased,” Amelia replied softly.
Clint assumed he must have died from yellow fever. He hadn’t expected Amelia to be a young widow with two children to care for. Staring at her, he thought again how beautiful she was, with her dark hair and pale skin. He imagined her husband fought that disease every step of the way so he could stay with her and their children. If she was his wife, and these beautiful little girls were his, it would take more than yellow fever to take his life.
Amelia sat down beside Clint. “Mr. Mitchum, I believe your mother is in La Grange, caring for the doctor. She was determined to stay alive to see you, and I can’t see the fever taking her life after what she had been through. She is a strong woman.”
Clint knew his mother was a determined woman of faith. He hoped it wasn’t wishful thinking on his part—he’d been disappointed too many times—but Amelia’s words rang true in his heart. He had to find out as soon as possible if his mother was in La Grange. “I’ll have to let my horses rest for a couple of days before I go back. They’ve been pushed to the limit.”
“Did Casey know you were Ingrid’s son?” Amelia asked.
“Who is Casey?”
“The man you saw at my ranch.”
“I introduced myself, but he didn’t seem to want to divulge much information,” Clint replied.
“That sounds like Casey,” Amelia retorted with a frown on her face.
Mrs. Nelson walked back to camp accompanied by her husband. After introductions were made, and Amelia explained the situation to Mr. Nelson, he told Clint he was welcome to stay at their camp.
“I’m sharing a campsite with Whitt Newcombe and his two boys. Our camp is less than a mile away.”
“Is he having any luck finding gold? I haven’t found a flake,” Tom Nelson said.
“Some. You folks should ride back with me and set up camp there.”
“I would rest a lot easier if there were others nearby,” Sophie Nelson admitted, looking at her husband.
Clint didn’t think Whitt would mind having them. He’d prefer that two men be on hand to protect the women and children while he was gone. “There’s a spot for your family. It would be a wise decision to stay close to one another.”
Tom Nelson readily agreed. “We’ll pack up and go with you.”
* * *
Bo and Boone ran to Clint when he returned to the camp with the newcomers. Whitt welcomed everyone, and told the Nelsons to set up camp right next to his. Clint had an opportunity to talk to Whitt alone while the Nelsons were getting settled.
Clint discussed with Whitt what Amelia