As the Civil War rages, Rebekah fights to keep her world intact. But loss and sorrow has seeped into her heart and mind. She sets her sights on Oregon, praying this new Eden will allow her a place of peace and a place to put her life, and that of her son's, back together again. She travels to Independence, Missouri ready to take the train west, but is denied the opportunity to join the train because she is woman alone.
Matthew battles his way through one fight after another, all the while thinking of Rebekah. The woman who holds his heart. He longs to help her west, but fears his biggest battle lies ahead of him. Will Rebekah open up her heart to him and allow him to be the one to hold her When the Shadows Fall?
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The grand escapade to Edwina's was set for dusk two days later.
The huge pair of pants Caroline wore swallowed her whole. Rebekah filled hers out much
better. She was... He stifled the thought. The girl could plague his senses something fierce. He
had to get them under control.
Rebekah grabbed Millie, a gentle nag, from her stall, and led her out to the middle of the barn.
"I can't ride bareback," Caroline complained.
"I'll help ya."
Caroline shook her head, refusing to go near the horse. Rebekah carried the heavy saddle to the horse and hefted it. Without Caroline's help, the chore took longer, delaying their departure.
Once Millie was ready, Rebekah climbed on and backed the horse to the rail so Caroline could get on. It took a couple of tries, and Caroline about pulled Rebekah from the saddle, but, finally, they set out for town, unaware anyone was following.
"They'll try to get a peek, but they won't see anything." Nathan shook his head as they rode. "There's dark curtains on all the windows."
"How would you know?" Matthew taunted his friend.
"I, ah."
Matthew swore Nathan's face beamed in the dark. Only he would know, and he wasn't telling.
"No need to explain. You're probably not the only one who's been."
"Have you?" Nathan turned on his horse.
"I might have considered it." Matthew shook his head. "Let's hope the curtains aren't open tonight."
Stopping at the church on the edge of town, Rebekah jumped down and tethered Millie before helping Caroline. Caroline wasn't much help in the venture. The girls ended in a pile beside the horse, with Rebekah on the bottom. With a heft and grunt, Rebekah pushed Caroline to the dirt. Once righted, they went the rest of the way on foot.
Using the evening shadows as cover, they slipped to the back of the yellow house, and crept along slowly while Caroline looked into the windows. Popping up and down, she tried to see past the drawn curtains.
"Looks like they won't see anything," Nathan declared with a smile, sounding rather smug. "Yep, they'll get tired of searching for an open curtain and leave real soon."
Checking the last window on the bottom level and finding, yet, another dark pane, Caroline leaned back against the house, breathless and discouraged. "Now what?"
Rebekah didn't answer. She tucked all her hair in her hat instead. She did the same for Caroline.
"Well?" Caroline's impatience was getting the best of her. She probably thought she'd see more by now.
Rebekah bowed her head to Caroline's and said something Matthew couldn't hear. Whatever she said, Caroline wanted none of it. She leaned in to whisper in Rebekah ear, then shook her head so vigorously, Rebekah had to help her fix her hair again.
Rebekah grabbed Millie, a gentle nag, from her stall, and led her out to the middle of the barn.
"I can't ride bareback," Caroline complained.
"I'll help ya."
Caroline shook her head, refusing to go near the horse. Rebekah carried the heavy saddle to the horse and hefted it. Without Caroline's help, the chore took longer, delaying their departure.
Once Millie was ready, Rebekah climbed on and backed the horse to the rail so Caroline could get on. It took a couple of tries, and Caroline about pulled Rebekah from the saddle, but, finally, they set out for town, unaware anyone was following.
"They'll try to get a peek, but they won't see anything." Nathan shook his head as they rode. "There's dark curtains on all the windows."
"How would you know?" Matthew taunted his friend.
"I, ah."
Matthew swore Nathan's face beamed in the dark. Only he would know, and he wasn't telling.
"No need to explain. You're probably not the only one who's been."
"Have you?" Nathan turned on his horse.
"I might have considered it." Matthew shook his head. "Let's hope the curtains aren't open tonight."
Stopping at the church on the edge of town, Rebekah jumped down and tethered Millie before helping Caroline. Caroline wasn't much help in the venture. The girls ended in a pile beside the horse, with Rebekah on the bottom. With a heft and grunt, Rebekah pushed Caroline to the dirt. Once righted, they went the rest of the way on foot.
Using the evening shadows as cover, they slipped to the back of the yellow house, and crept along slowly while Caroline looked into the windows. Popping up and down, she tried to see past the drawn curtains.
"Looks like they won't see anything," Nathan declared with a smile, sounding rather smug. "Yep, they'll get tired of searching for an open curtain and leave real soon."
Checking the last window on the bottom level and finding, yet, another dark pane, Caroline leaned back against the house, breathless and discouraged. "Now what?"
Rebekah didn't answer. She tucked all her hair in her hat instead. She did the same for Caroline.
"Well?" Caroline's impatience was getting the best of her. She probably thought she'd see more by now.
Rebekah bowed her head to Caroline's and said something Matthew couldn't hear. Whatever she said, Caroline wanted none of it. She leaned in to whisper in Rebekah ear, then shook her head so vigorously, Rebekah had to help her fix her hair again.
"I can't do that," Caroline said.
"You won't see anything down here," Rebekah proclaimed. She stood and headed for the
stairs.
Caroline soon followed. "Oh, all right," she said a little too loudly.
Rebekah put her finger to her mouth to silence her cousin and put her foot on the first
stair. It creaked slightly beneath her weight. She slowed and felt each step with a bit more trepidation.
Matthew's heart felt like it was in his throat. "What does she think she's doing?"
Rebekah reached the door and tested the knob. It was unlocked. She turned it slowly, opening it a crack then motioned for Caroline to hurry.
Nathan's jaw dropped. "They're going in."
Going in. Matthew's mouth was soon gaping; that wasn't part of the plan. They were supposed to be stopped by the curtains and head home. Matthew grew frantic. "Maybe we should go get them right now?" He jumped from his horse prepared to run and grab Rebekah. That one had more guts than he cared for her to have and she was scrambling his nerves.
"They're already in." Nathan alighted quickly. "We can't just run after them. It might cause a commotion. We'll wait. If they're not out in five minutes, we'll go get them."
Apprehensive, Matthew agreed to wait. Those five minutes went forever. Matthew couldn't tear his eyes away from the door and he couldn't slow the beating of his heart. The worst scenarios ran lose in his mind. What if someone saw them? What if they couldn't get away? What if someone thought they were...? Oh, dear Lord, Rebekah. He started out of hiding when Nathan stopped him.
"Here they come." His voice sounded relief.
Caroline giggled nervously as they passed. Head up, and silent, Rebekah walked straight on. Her chest rose and fell heavily with each breath she took.
"What's with her?" Nathan asked.
She removed her hat and shook her head vigorously, letting her hair fall.
Matthew was mesmerized by her unbound tresses, and completely dumbfounded by her
actions.
Leading their mounts, he and Nathan walked behind the buildings, paralleling the girls quietly in the darkness. Caroline's intermittent giggles broke the silence.
Instead of leaving, when the girls reached the church they sat on the front steps. Nathan and Matthew slipped around the back of the building and came up the other side.
"Gosh, Becca, I can't believe you had the guts to open that door. I'd have never... we should have gone to another room."
Matthew mouth dropped open. They'd gone to someone's room. Puzzled, he looked to Nathan.
Nathan slapped his forehead. "Pa's gonna have my hide."
Matthew could hear Henry even now, berating Nathan for not keeping a closer watch on his sister and cousin. Matthew thought about Nathan's eulogy. Which, of course he, Nathan's best friend, wouldn't be able to give because he'd be dead, too.
"Huh?" Rebekah sounded preoccupied. Elbows on her knees, she leaned forward and cupped her face in her hands.
"I said, we should have gone to another room," Caroline repeated, starting that stupid giggle again. "Maybe the one where that fat man went. Then we might have seen something."
"You won't see anything down here," Rebekah proclaimed. She stood and headed for the
stairs.
Caroline soon followed. "Oh, all right," she said a little too loudly.
Rebekah put her finger to her mouth to silence her cousin and put her foot on the first
stair. It creaked slightly beneath her weight. She slowed and felt each step with a bit more trepidation.
Matthew's heart felt like it was in his throat. "What does she think she's doing?"
Rebekah reached the door and tested the knob. It was unlocked. She turned it slowly, opening it a crack then motioned for Caroline to hurry.
Nathan's jaw dropped. "They're going in."
Going in. Matthew's mouth was soon gaping; that wasn't part of the plan. They were supposed to be stopped by the curtains and head home. Matthew grew frantic. "Maybe we should go get them right now?" He jumped from his horse prepared to run and grab Rebekah. That one had more guts than he cared for her to have and she was scrambling his nerves.
"They're already in." Nathan alighted quickly. "We can't just run after them. It might cause a commotion. We'll wait. If they're not out in five minutes, we'll go get them."
Apprehensive, Matthew agreed to wait. Those five minutes went forever. Matthew couldn't tear his eyes away from the door and he couldn't slow the beating of his heart. The worst scenarios ran lose in his mind. What if someone saw them? What if they couldn't get away? What if someone thought they were...? Oh, dear Lord, Rebekah. He started out of hiding when Nathan stopped him.
"Here they come." His voice sounded relief.
Caroline giggled nervously as they passed. Head up, and silent, Rebekah walked straight on. Her chest rose and fell heavily with each breath she took.
"What's with her?" Nathan asked.
She removed her hat and shook her head vigorously, letting her hair fall.
Matthew was mesmerized by her unbound tresses, and completely dumbfounded by her
actions.
Leading their mounts, he and Nathan walked behind the buildings, paralleling the girls quietly in the darkness. Caroline's intermittent giggles broke the silence.
Instead of leaving, when the girls reached the church they sat on the front steps. Nathan and Matthew slipped around the back of the building and came up the other side.
"Gosh, Becca, I can't believe you had the guts to open that door. I'd have never... we should have gone to another room."
Matthew mouth dropped open. They'd gone to someone's room. Puzzled, he looked to Nathan.
Nathan slapped his forehead. "Pa's gonna have my hide."
Matthew could hear Henry even now, berating Nathan for not keeping a closer watch on his sister and cousin. Matthew thought about Nathan's eulogy. Which, of course he, Nathan's best friend, wouldn't be able to give because he'd be dead, too.
"Huh?" Rebekah sounded preoccupied. Elbows on her knees, she leaned forward and cupped her face in her hands.
"I said, we should have gone to another room," Caroline repeated, starting that stupid giggle again. "Maybe the one where that fat man went. Then we might have seen something."
"Yes, we... I mean, no!" Rebekah said emphatically. She straightened and turned to
Caroline. "I saw enough." She shook her head. The moon danced in the flaxen waves cascading
down her back.
Matthew couldn't tear his eyes away. What did she see in that house? Why was it so important to her?
"But didn't you want to see that fat man?" Caroline laughed. "He was a whale. Imagine the woman who got him. I wouldn't envy her," Caroline added, sputtering as her giggling over took her words. She snorted.
"I don't want to imagine that."
Caroline sobered some. "Then imagine what it would be like with Matthew." Caroline hugged herself, her voice dripped with longing.
Nathan nudged his friend. Matthew groaned. Being the recipient of Caroline's affection drove him crazy. He wished she'd change her mind about him. Hound someone else for a while. He wished Rebek...
"Will you shut up about Matthew? Why would you want him like that?" Rebekah broke into tears.
Matthew was stupefied. Was he that bad? What exactly did 'like that' mean? Just what happened in that house? The way Rebekah had frightened him by going in, he was ready to shake a little blond vixen to find out. But she was a child, just a child.
"Why are you crying?" Caroline said impatiently.
"Didn't you see her eyes?" Rebekah gasped "She was crying."
"Who? The hooker? She knew someone was coming up to see her and was so happy she
cried tears of joy."
"Happy! Joy! She was afraid. Afraid someone would come up." Rebekah toyed with her hat. "Did you see how she looked at herself in the mirror? It was like she was looking through herself. Trying to disappear. She had hollow eyes, Caro. Sad, hollow eyes."
"Oh, come on." Caroline put a hand to Rebekah's back. "She's the one who chose the life, Rebekah. Don't make such a big todo out of it."
"She chose!" Rebekah cried out in exasperation. "Caro, she wasn't much older than you or me. How would she know what to choose? Would you?" Rebekah's voice broke, she pounded her fist in her hat. "If I were her, I'd... Oooohh. How could any man use a woman like that?"
"It happens all the time," Caroline countered, removing her own hat and flipping her curls with a shrug.
Exasperated, Rebekah slugged her hat into form. "I'm not stupid. I know what men and women do. But there's a difference. Your mom's eyes aren't sad. Didn't you see her eyes?" she repeated her point, trying to make Caroline understand. "Those women dress up all pretty and try to look happy, but they're not. Didn't you see? Wouldn't you want Matthew to love and care for you before... Oh, never mind."
She jumped up and brushed her leg in agitation. She didn't finish but she'd said enough for Matthew to understand completely. He smiled. She warmed his heart again.
Rebekah put her hat on, went for the horse, and climbed into the saddle.
"You think about the darnedest things," Caroline declared. "You're too softhearted. Don't be so serious. Just think about that man and you'll laugh. What a man."
Caroline started to laugh again.
Rebekah didn't join her. "Say whatever you like, Caro. And laugh all you want. But he wasn't a real man. Because a real man, well, a real man would never use a woman, any woman, that way."
Matthew couldn't tear his eyes away. What did she see in that house? Why was it so important to her?
"But didn't you want to see that fat man?" Caroline laughed. "He was a whale. Imagine the woman who got him. I wouldn't envy her," Caroline added, sputtering as her giggling over took her words. She snorted.
"I don't want to imagine that."
Caroline sobered some. "Then imagine what it would be like with Matthew." Caroline hugged herself, her voice dripped with longing.
Nathan nudged his friend. Matthew groaned. Being the recipient of Caroline's affection drove him crazy. He wished she'd change her mind about him. Hound someone else for a while. He wished Rebek...
"Will you shut up about Matthew? Why would you want him like that?" Rebekah broke into tears.
Matthew was stupefied. Was he that bad? What exactly did 'like that' mean? Just what happened in that house? The way Rebekah had frightened him by going in, he was ready to shake a little blond vixen to find out. But she was a child, just a child.
"Why are you crying?" Caroline said impatiently.
"Didn't you see her eyes?" Rebekah gasped "She was crying."
"Who? The hooker? She knew someone was coming up to see her and was so happy she
cried tears of joy."
"Happy! Joy! She was afraid. Afraid someone would come up." Rebekah toyed with her hat. "Did you see how she looked at herself in the mirror? It was like she was looking through herself. Trying to disappear. She had hollow eyes, Caro. Sad, hollow eyes."
"Oh, come on." Caroline put a hand to Rebekah's back. "She's the one who chose the life, Rebekah. Don't make such a big todo out of it."
"She chose!" Rebekah cried out in exasperation. "Caro, she wasn't much older than you or me. How would she know what to choose? Would you?" Rebekah's voice broke, she pounded her fist in her hat. "If I were her, I'd... Oooohh. How could any man use a woman like that?"
"It happens all the time," Caroline countered, removing her own hat and flipping her curls with a shrug.
Exasperated, Rebekah slugged her hat into form. "I'm not stupid. I know what men and women do. But there's a difference. Your mom's eyes aren't sad. Didn't you see her eyes?" she repeated her point, trying to make Caroline understand. "Those women dress up all pretty and try to look happy, but they're not. Didn't you see? Wouldn't you want Matthew to love and care for you before... Oh, never mind."
She jumped up and brushed her leg in agitation. She didn't finish but she'd said enough for Matthew to understand completely. He smiled. She warmed his heart again.
Rebekah put her hat on, went for the horse, and climbed into the saddle.
"You think about the darnedest things," Caroline declared. "You're too softhearted. Don't be so serious. Just think about that man and you'll laugh. What a man."
Caroline started to laugh again.
Rebekah didn't join her. "Say whatever you like, Caro. And laugh all you want. But he wasn't a real man. Because a real man, well, a real man would never use a woman, any woman, that way."
Rebekah backed the horse to the stairs and helped Caroline on.
"Say what you will, but I bet Matthew thinks about it," Caroline said smugly. "I wished he'd think about me."
Matthew rolled his eyes, thankful Nathan didn't comment.
They could hear Rebekah moan. "Caroline," she said sternly.
"Yes," came the meek reply.
"Shut up."
The plan had been to confront them. Maybe Caroline, but neither one wanted to face Rebekah. It might prove embarrassing.
"So, that's why she was interested." Nathan got on his horse. "She sure taught me something tonight."
Matthew pulled himself into his saddle. He shook his head. "How old is she now?
Thirteen going on thirty?"
Rebekah, unknowingly, changed his viewpoints. Any longing he may have had to visit Edwina, and women of her caliber, was bound forever by the woman child.
"I feel like a worm." Matthew pushed his hat back on his head. "A low down, dirty worm."
"Don't worry. Even if Rebekah won't have you, Caroline still thinks you're the greatest." Laughing, Nathan slapped Matthew's leg and headed his horse toward the road.
"Whoever said I...?" Matthew stopped. He was going to say 'whoever said I wanted Rebekah?' He couldn't finish the sentence, because the truth was, he did. "She's a child."
"My pa married my ma when she was fourteen. Many girls are married by then. And Rebekah's mature for her age."
Many girls were married by fourteen. No, she was a child, a child wreaking havoc on his
heart.
"Say what you will, but I bet Matthew thinks about it," Caroline said smugly. "I wished he'd think about me."
Matthew rolled his eyes, thankful Nathan didn't comment.
They could hear Rebekah moan. "Caroline," she said sternly.
"Yes," came the meek reply.
"Shut up."
The plan had been to confront them. Maybe Caroline, but neither one wanted to face Rebekah. It might prove embarrassing.
"So, that's why she was interested." Nathan got on his horse. "She sure taught me something tonight."
Matthew pulled himself into his saddle. He shook his head. "How old is she now?
Thirteen going on thirty?"
Rebekah, unknowingly, changed his viewpoints. Any longing he may have had to visit Edwina, and women of her caliber, was bound forever by the woman child.
"I feel like a worm." Matthew pushed his hat back on his head. "A low down, dirty worm."
"Don't worry. Even if Rebekah won't have you, Caroline still thinks you're the greatest." Laughing, Nathan slapped Matthew's leg and headed his horse toward the road.
"Whoever said I...?" Matthew stopped. He was going to say 'whoever said I wanted Rebekah?' He couldn't finish the sentence, because the truth was, he did. "She's a child."
"My pa married my ma when she was fourteen. Many girls are married by then. And Rebekah's mature for her age."
Many girls were married by fourteen. No, she was a child, a child wreaking havoc on his
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