Chapter One

These are exciting days for me. My new book, Beyond the Valley, has been released! It's always fun to share a piece of the story so I've posted Chapter One for you.

I hope you enjoy.

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Chapter One

Deer Creek Oregon Territory

April 1857

             Emmalin grasped Jacob’s hand. He cast her an ardent smile, and her heart stilled. Though she’d waited many months for this day, it was difficult to believe it had finally arrived. Through the challenging seasons, trusting God had not always been easy.

             Mrs. Jaco Landon. It feltlike a dream.

             Jacob squeezed her hand, his gripsturdy and resilient just like him.

             Yes. She was his, now and forever.

             Jacob led Emmalin to the door ofthe church and through to the landing, immediately pulling her into his arms.She thrilled at his touch. Wearing an adoring expression, he dropped a chastekiss on her lips. Emmalin’s pulse hurried. She closed her eyes and thanked Godfor such a man.

             Friends clapped and hooted.Embarrassed, Emmalin stepped away. She looked out at the people who meant somuch to her though she’d known them less than two years.

             She caught her father’s gaze. Hisfriendly face beamed with joy, and his eyes brimmed with tears. He swiped themaway and managed an unsteady smile. Samuel Morgan was a good man, and Emmalin’slife had changed because of him.

             She’s left Philadelphia three years before in search of the father she’d never known. She found him in Deer Creek, Oregon, but it hadn’t been easy to convince him she was his daughter.With a few blunders, he finally wholeheartedly stepped into the role of father.Her heart squeezed at the beautiful gift she’d been given.

             As she’d crossed the great opendeserts and prairies of America she’d wondered if she would ever find him. Godhad made a way, and she would be forever grateful for her new life in theOregon wilderness.

             Now, she was saying farewell to her father and placing her trust in the man who had promised to share herfuture. Tears of gratitude filled her eyes. She could still barely believe hergood fortune.

             “Just a moment.” Margaret,Samuel’s wife, edged around Emmalin and Jacob. “There’s a girl here who needs ahug.” She handed off a little native girl.

             Tears left tracks down Annie’s woe-begone face.

             “Oh, sweetheart.” Emmalin cuppedthe child’s face in her free hand. “We will only be away for one night. Blossomand Wild Dove will bring you to the cabin tomorrow.” She kissed her adopteddaughter’s cheek. “I love you.”

             “I want to go with you.” Anniewrapped her arms around Emmalin’s silk and lace gown and hung on.

             “Tomorrow,” Margaret said. Sheleaned closer to whisper in Emmalin’s ear. “Tonight, you are not a mother. Youare a lover.”

             Heat rose in Emmalin’s face, andshe shook her head slightly. She focused once again on Annie. “You can staywith Margaret tonight and tomorrow you will sleep in your own bedroom in ournew house.” She smiled, trying to reassure the little girl.

             Annie stuck out her lower lip and tears washed into her eyes, but she nodded and reached into the front pocket of her dress. “I made this.” She held out a small case, about three inches tall, with two spouts, one on either side and a handle.

             “Oh my. How lovely.”

             “It’s a wedding vase. But it’s notreal. It is too small.”

             Emmalin turned it from side to side, admiring it. A butterfly and a ladybug were painted on the front of the vase in the midst of what looked like the wild grasses found in nearby meadows. “Where did you get this?”

             “I made it. I painted the designs.Blossom helped.

             “I love it.” Emmalin held out thevase to Jacob. “Look, Jacob. Annie made this for us.”

             He peered at the small vase, thentook it from Emmali for a closer look. “You made this?”

             Annie nodded, her dark brown eyesshining brightly.

             “Fine work. But I’ve never seen avase with two spouts. What does it mean?”

             The little girl pointed at thespouts. “It means two lives joined.”

             “It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”Emmalin gave Annie another hug, then handed her back to Margaret. She tuckedher arm into Jacob’s and gazed up at her handsome husband. “I’m ready.” The ideaof being his lover set up a tremor in her body, an exquisitely unsettlingapprehension and desire.

             Together the couple started downthe stairway. Careful to hold her white gown out of the way, Emmalin held tightto Jacob’s arm. When they reached the bottom step, they were showered withwell-wishes and uncooked rice that spattered about them in a spray of springhail. They made their way through the crowd of people and ran to their wagon.Jacob helped Emmalin onto the seat, carefully tucking her gown around her. Heclimbed up beside her and circled his arm around Emmalin’s back.

             He pressed a kiss to her lips,this one less chaste than the previous. With his breath tickling her lips hesaid, “I love you, Mrs. Landon.”

             “I love you.” Emmalin thought herheart might burst with all the love she felt for this wonderful man. “Are youready to begin our life together?”

             “I’ve been ready for a long time.”He kissed her again then lifted the reins and slapped them over the horses’rumps. “Get up.”

             The team took off at a brisk paceand the church fell away behind them. The newlyweds traveled down the middle oftown and toward the wilderness where their cabin rested among the trees alongthe North Umpqua River.

             Emmalin leaned against herhusband. The morning had breezed by, the ceremony nearly perfect except for afew wrong notes played by the pianist. Emmalin smiled. Dear Grace. She’d doneher best. The accompanist was a fine woman who had been widowed too early inlife.

             A twinge of angst shot through Emmalin. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to Jacob. She snuggled against him and told herself nothing was going to happen. They had their entire life to look forward to. “It was a perfect day, don’t you think?”

             “It sure was.” Jacob pulled thereins tighter, keeping the horses at a reasonable pace. “It’s not over yet.” Helooked at her with a roguish grin.

             Emmalin was suddenly embarrassed. “The team seems a bit keyed up, don’t you think?”

             “I think they feel our happiness.I once thought this would never happen.”

             “I know, me too. We’ve alreadybeen through so many difficulties—your terrible accident, scarlet fever, Indianattacks. But God has seen us through it all.” Emmalin envisioned their firstterrifying encounter. “The attack from the Indians was the first thing we facedtogether.”

             “You surprised me. I didn’t thinkyou had it in you to fight off those renegades.” He glanced at her. “But thatwasn’t the first thing we went through.”

             “What do you mean? What else?”

             “Your uncle’s death. I didn’t knowyou, but I was proud of you. An eastern city gal, left alone in a strangeworld. At the funeral, you were so strong, standing with your back straight andyour emotions tucked inside. You faced an uncertain future bravely. I wasimpressed and knew even then that you were someone special.”

             Tenderness welled up. “I didn’tknow you felt that way. You never told me.”

             “I should have.” He looked at her with pride in his eyes. “Course, when the Indians came at us, you showed mewhat you are really made of. You saved my life.”

             “No. You saved mine.”

             He chuckled. “We saved eachother.”

             “I guess we did.”

             “You were a pretty good shot.”

             “It was luck or God. I didn’t knowmuch about firearms at that time.”

             “You had a lot of grit, and youstill do.”

             “I was terrified. I’m not evensure how I managed to hold the gun still, I was quaking so hard.” She put on acoy smile. “Of course, in those days I was almost as afraid of you as I was theIndians. You looked so unfriendly and cross.” She clasped his hand. “Wemisunderstood each other then. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

             “Never.” Jacob gently squeezed herhand.

             Just outside of town, a large wagon had parked in the shade of a huge oak tree. It was unusual-looking with shelves and cupboards on the outside. A set of mules grazed in grass nearby anda middle-aged man sat at a makeshift table working on something. Emmalincouldn’t be sure what. He stood when he saw them coming.

             “Who is that?” Emmalin asked. “Idon’t remember them being here yesterday.”

             “I saw him when I came into townthis morning. He’s a peddler of some kind. He travels with his daughter. Ithink she’s some kind of soothsayer.”

             “Did you speak to them?”

             “I did, but just for a fewminutes. They seem decent enough, but I wouldn’t fully trust them. Never knowabout these types, and God tells us that witchcraft is from the devil.”

             Emmalin nodded then smiled andwaved at the gentleman, wondering if he had any wares she might need.

             They moved past the peddler and quiet settled over them as they headed toward the hills northeast of Deer Creek. Spring sunshine warmed the fields adorned with wildflowers and thick grasses. Pollen hung heavy and sweet in the air, drifting around oak trees that stood, looking like stout green umbrellas. Pine and fir clustered in the distance. Jacob kept the wagon on a trail pressed into the meadow grass. Bees buzzed about, unwavering in their call to collect nectar, and birds flitted from bush to bush. The sun sat above the western mountains its heated rays splashing warmth across the meadows and providing sustenance to all life that dwelt there.

             Emmalin took in a deep breath.“It’s so beautiful here. I’ll never get used to it.”

             “You will.” Jacob pulled back onthe reins and the team stopped. A deer and two fawns grazed less than a hundredfeet from them. “Well, maybe not.”

             “Oh, how I love the deer. They aresuch lovely creatures.”

             “I hope those fawns are bucks. They’ll provide some fine roasts for a Sunday afternoon…after they grow up.”

             Emmalin poked him in the side.“Oh, you. They are adorable. How can you see them that way?”

             “I can’t afford not to. Neithercan you. You’re going to have to let go of city ways.”

             “I have. Mostly,” she said. Butwould she truly be able to relinquish such weakness?

             “It’s all right. I love all ofyou, the part that’s from the city and the part that’s working hard to become apioneer woman.”

             She placed a hand on hiscleanshaven cheek then plucked a piece of rice off his suit lapel. “Thank youfor being patient with me.”

             “You’re going to be just fine.” Hedropped a kiss on the tip of her nose, then lifted the reins, clicked histongue, and the horses moved forward.

             The only sound was that of thehorses’ heavy breathing the jangling of harness, and the grinding of the wagonas it rolled over uneven ground. Emmalin’s mind set to worrying. She still hadso much to learn about being a wilderness woman and a wife. What if shecouldn’t make Jacob happy?

             She gazed about searching for anysigns of humanity. There was none. They would have no close neighbors. Whatwould she do when Jacob wasn’t home? Fear bristled up her spine, but she castit away. She wouldn’t be alone. God would see to her. She could trust Him nomatter what might come her way, at least that’s what she told herself.

             The sun had nearly set when Jacoband Emmalin approached their rustic log home. The exterior had been cleaned upand a woodshed constructed. A new barn would soon come. It looked picturesquein the pink hue of the setting sun.

             A large white dog came runningfrom behind the cabin. He woofed, his tail wagging.

             “I think he’s glad we’re home. I narly brought him with me this morning but thought better of it.” Jacobchuckled.

             “Good boy, Henry.” Emmalin lovedthe dog that had been Jacob’s only companion for many years.

             Jacob pulled the wagon to a stop. “What do you think? Is this home?”

             “Oh yes. It’s wonderful, Jacob. "Thank you.”

             “I know it’s not what you’re usedto in Philadelphia, but—”

             “If what I wanted was inPhiladelphia I would still be there.” She rested her gaze on their house. “Thisis what I want. This is where I want to be, here with you.”

             Jacob nudged the horses forward,then stopped in front of the cabin. He leaped to the ground and tied off thereins, then reached up to help Emmalin down. His broad hands encircled herwaist, and he lifted her as if she scarcely weighed anything.

             As he set her on the ground, Emmalin rested her hands on his muscled arms. She didn’t move away from him butinstead stepped closer and pressed into him.

             He pulled her into a tight embraceand held her against his chest. “I love you. Thank you for marrying me.”

             “What else could I do?” Shestepped back just a bit and looked up at him. “You are the only one for me, Mr.Landon.”

             He gazed at her, his hazel eyes warm and flaming. Without warning he lifted her into his arms and walked toward the cabin. With ease, he carried her up the steps, lifted the door latch, and pushed open the door with his hip. “Our first home as husband and wife.”

             “Our first and last” Emmalin said. She hugged him tightly around the neck.

             Holding his bride close to him, Jacob stepped through the doorway. “Welcome home.”

             Emmalin looked around. Everything was in place, including her piano which sat on the front room wall across from the fireplace. A meal had been brought out by dear friends Margaret Morgan and Charity Sutton. The room smelled of roasted chicken and fresh bread. A prepared table waited for the couple.

             A small cake with white icing and pink florets sat at one end of the table along with two delicate china plates, part of a silver serving set. “How sweet of Margaret. Of course, she would make us something special. But how did she and Charity make time to do this?”

             “I think they had help.”

             “I am so fortunate. Good friends and a wonderful husband. What more could I ask for?”

             Emmalin looked into Jacob’s hazel eyes where passion flamed. Her own ignited. She feared this moment and longed for it. She kissed him gently, then more deeply and murmured against his lips, “Oh, Jacob.”

             “Maybe dinner can wait.” He kicked the door closed and carried his bride to their room.

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