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having some time alone with the man who would one day be her husband even more precious. “I miss having the use of my wagon,” she told Eli as they walked down the rutted road. “But I’m still using it to store our goods, and it seems silly to drive it around fully loaded like it is. But maybe once the house is built…maybe this winter we’ll have it to use.”
    â€œFrom what I hear it’s hard to drive a wagon in these parts once the rains start. It doesn’t take long for these roads to turn to mud.” He nodded toward the river lazily meandering alongside the road. “Seems the best way to travel might be the river. That’s what the coastal Indians do to get around.”
    â€œMy father has wondered about that very thing,” she told him. “He’s talked about using the oxen team to pull a barge up the river from the ocean. But as far as I know, no one has tried that yet.”
    â€œThe Prescotts would benefit from that kind of venture,” he said as he reached for her hand. “As it is, they have to go all the way to Empire City to get their shipments, and that will be difficult once the rains come. From the looks of the mercantile, Empire City has been a good resource for them. Hugh tells me there’s an enterprising family running a sawmill up there on the bay. Having access to milled lumber has hastened the Prescotts’ building process considerably.”
    Elizabeth nodded. “I was trying not to feel envious at how quickly they’ve been able to get their store built.” She turned to look at him, still feeling slightly amazed that he was here with her now…that they would be married in the not-so-distant future. “But money is not everything.”
    He laughed as he squeezed her hand warmly in his own. “No, it certainly is not.”
    â€œAnd there are many families with more challenges than ours,” she confessed. “I worry that the Flanders household will suffer this winter. They seem so ill prepared. And yet Flo seems utterly unconcerned.”
    â€œThis land is generous,” he said. “Those who are willing to work hard will benefit from the natural resources.” Again he pointed to the river. “I hear the fishing is good this time of year.”
    â€œThat’s for certain.” She nodded. “Father and Matthew and JT have had some good luck catching salmon. Father has been running his smoker almost continuously.”
    â€œHe’s a wise man. And the woods abound with deer and bear and other sources of meat, if a man is good with a gun.”
    â€œYes.” She smiled at him. Eli was an excellent hunter and fisherman. She couldn’t even remember how many times he’d shared game with them on the Oregon Trail.
    â€œAnd Bert has a useful trade with blacksmithing,” Eli added. “Surely he can trade for food and provisions for his family. I know I’d be happy to trade with him.”
    Certain that no one was around to see them now, she stopped walking and turned to look into his face. “I’m so very grateful you’re here, Eli.” She felt her heart fluttering. “I feel very blessed to know you will be my husband.”
    His eyes glimmered as blue as the river as he leaned down to tenderly kiss her. “I feel equally blessed, Elizabeth,” he said quietly. “More than equally. By marrying you I get a wonderful family as well. Do you know how much that means to me?” He embraced her now, holding her close. Elizabeth couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this incredibly happy…she didn’t even want to.
    As they continued walking, Elizabeth told him the news that she and the children would be moving in with Malinda. “I have to admit that I won’t miss camping,” she told him. “I won’t miss waking up with everything damp from dew.”
    â€œWell, if you’re not going to be camping