Journey of Honor A love story Read Online Free Page A

minute, and then said, “Just a moment.” Her head disappeared back inside the wagon cover and he could hear her whispering quietly to someone and then a bare foot and lower leg appeared through the flaps. He realized she was getting out.
    He went forward to help her down and she turned to look at him with big eyes in the darkness. She was wearing a nightgown covered with a long robe and her hair was loose and hanging around her shoulders. She was even prettier than when she’d been all dolled up and he questioned again to himself what in the world he was doing while he waited there to see if she was going to laugh or cuss at him.
    He was completely amazed when she looked up at him in wonder and asked in a soft, sweetly Dutch voice, “You’d do that for me? Truly?”
    He didn’t know what to say to that. He’d never experienced anything in his life that would help him figure out what to do in this situation. Finally, he just said, “Uh, yes. I would. But honestly, it’s not being totally unselfish. Without you and your grandparents, we can’t leave either until we find someone else to take your place. The army won’t let trains of less than twenty wagons start out.”
    He paused for a minute and then decided that being absolutely forthright was in both of their best interests. “I give you my word to be a gentleman. I wouldn’t expect anything other than your help in getting underway. You needn’t worry.”
    She laughed a sweet laugh at him in the dark and said with her intriguing accent, “Worry? You have just taken a huge load of worry off of me! I don’t doubt that I can trust you. I knew that the moment I saw you on the hotel boardwalk. And I fully intend to help all the way across this great journey. I will be glad to. I am more grateful to you than I can say right now. I would love to marry you to get started in the morning. I would be thrilled!”
    For a second, he thought she was going to come right up and hug him. Just when he felt relieved that she didn’t, she actually did. Then as quickly, she pulled back and looked up at him with a sober face. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
    Still a bit shaken, he simply said, “Be ready to go into town a little before sunup. We’ll meet with the Sheriff, get married and be back and ready to leave at first light.”
    All she did was look up at him with those wide eyes and say, “Okay.” With that, she turned around and climbed back into her wagon without a backward glance at him. He walked away in the moonlight in a stupor. He got clear back to his wagon before he remembered that he’d left his horse at the VanKomen’s, and he had to go back and get it. Gathering his reins, he was turning to go when she poked her head out again.
    Feeling a little sheepish, he said, “Sorry. Forgot my horse.” After a thought, he turned back around and said, “Miss VanKomen, you can go to sleep and rest easy. My dog will be right here between our wagons and he’s an excellent watch dog. If any one was to approach, he’d let us know and we could handle it before anyone could get near your wagon. And all of my men will be alert for trouble too. You can sleep without worrying about Filson.”
    She took a deep breath and smiled at him. “Thank you, Mr. Grayson. That will help me. Good night.”

Chapter 2

    The next morning, as he felt the sun climb the sky and shine warmly upon his back, Trace was still wondering what had happened. Walking his horse alongside the cavalcade of white-topped wagons strung out along the road after crossing the wide Missouri River, he realized that, although yesterday he had never even met her, today he was married to the beautiful girl from Holland who he had thought so striking on the boardwalk. Granted, it was a marriage in name only, but still, what a turn of events!
    The funny thing about it was that, even as unusual as this whole situation had been, in actuality, it hadn’t been that earth-shaking of an occurrence. The actual