Jenny rested in the afternoon, as the doctor ordered. She’d argued with Mac, more about Will than about Johnson. She was frantic with concern over her son—he’d never been away from her this long in his life. But every time she thought of Johnson, she remembered the rape again. And she could not sleep. She’d tried to put it all behind her, but now that ugly day was in her mind again. This time, the villain menaced not only her, but her son.

When Mac returned home that evening, she begged him again to search for Will. “I don’t know where he is, Jenny,” he said. “And I’m not leaving you while you’re still ailing, let alone while we think Johnson is still around.”

What if Johnson found Will before they did? Jenny worried. Would the man kill Will? If not for Maria, Will might already be dead.

Late the next morning, Esther visited Jenny. “Esther—it’s so good to see you.” Jenny exclaimed in delight as she let her friend in the front door.

“I been shopping,” Esther announced. “Got the nesting instinct, with this baby comin’ any day.” Truly, Esther seemed to get bigger with every pregnancy. She was as heavy as her mother had been on the wagon trek to Oregon. “I’m glad to see you up and about. I thought you might take to your bed for the duration.”

Jenny shook her head. “The doctor says I can be up if I stay home. And no lifting. Maggie doesn’t quite understand why I don’t pick her up.”

“Must be nice,” Esther said, sighing as she sat in the parlor. “Not to have to tote and fetch. I’m mighty glad to have Cordelia and Abby to help, but I’m still on my feet from morning till night.”

“Have a rest here,” Jenny said. “And won’t you stay for the noon meal?”

“Can’t,” Esther said, shaking her head. “Got to get home. Cordelia was cookin.’ She can manage the kitchen, but if I ain’t there, one of my brood’ll kill another one.”

“You left Cordelia in charge of all of them?” Jenny asked. “Usually you bring one or two with you.”

Esther tsked. “Do you realize that girl is older’n we were on the trail?” she said. “And we grew up pretty quick. You were carryin’ Will already, and I was carryin’ Cordelia soon as Daniel and I married.”

“Yes,” Jenny smiled, remembering.

“You hear anything about Jonah and Will?” Esther asked. “I can’t believe those boys ain’t back yet.”

“Not a word,” Jenny said. “Jacob Johnson was seen, but we’ve heard nothing about William.”

“Why in tarnation would Will drag Jonah with him when he left?” Esther demanded.

“We don’t know it was Will’s doing,” Jenny said, irritated at Esther’s assumption. “It could have been Jonah’s idea.”

“Why would Jonah want to leave?” Esther asked. “Daniel was about to deed over a parcel of land to him, soon as the boy turns seventeen this summer.” She sniffed. “Will’s the one found out his pa weren’t who he thought. He’s the one with a reason to run.”

“I just hope we find them,” Jenny murmured, wondering if Esther was right about Will.

That afternoon Jenny rested again. When the children returned home from school, their stomps and teasing sounded through the walls. She considered getting up to calm them, but Maria shushed the younger girls and sent the boys outside. The family could manage without her, Jenny thought as she sighed and put her hand on her belly—at least this child needed her.

She felt a faint fluttering. So far, the child lived.

And what of William? Jenny wondered. Was he still alive?

She dozed until supper time.

Mac frowned when he saw Jenny come downstairs for the evening meal. “I would have brought you a tray,” he said.

“But I want to spend time with you and our children,” she protested. “I’m fine. The doctor said.”

“You were sound asleep when I got home,” Mac said. “I checked on you. You need the rest.”

She smiled and moved toward her place at the end of the table without further comment.

Mac didn’t want to press her further in front of the children. “Cal,” he ordered, “seat your mother.”

Cal bounded to her side and pulled out her chair. After she sat, Jenny pasted a kiss on Cal’s cheek. The lad winced.

After supper, Mac led Jenny upstairs. “We can sit here as well as in the parlor,” he said. “And it will be quieter.”

She sat in her rocking chair by the fireplace. Mac started a fire, though the warm evening did not require it. He didn’t want Jenny to get chilled.

“I felt the baby move today,” Jenny said. “So far, it’s healthy.”

Grinning, Mac leaned over and placed a hand on her belly. “That’s good.” He sighed in relief. He still needed to get to Eugene sometime and wondered if he could leave her soon. But with Johnson in the area, it would be best to wait.

“How are your business interests?” Jenny asked him, as if reading his mind. “You haven’t mentioned anything recently.”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” he said. Then he explained about Ladd’s banking developments and the Eugene group’s road surveying project. “I might need to travel to Eugene soon. But it can wait a few weeks.” Just until they found Jacob Johnson or learned he had left the area.

Chapter 27: Joining Up

Will and Jonah worked at the livery Thursday morning, then the proprietor fed them a hearty meal at noon. Will thanked him as he shoveled food in his mouth. “This is pay enough, sir,” he said, and the man laughed.

After they ate, Will and Jonah lounged outside the livery. A man rode into town pulling a string of mules behind him. Will nudged Jonah’s arm and pointed. “Is that your brother?” He’d only seen Joel Pershing a few times, but the man reminded him of Jonah’s oldest brother Zeke.

“Yes,” Jonah shouted, and ran to greet his brother.

Joel stopped in the street as Jonah approached. The two brothers gesticulated, but they were too far away for Will to hear their conversation. Joel didn’t act happy. After a few minutes, Joel led the mules toward the livery, while Jonah ran alongside Joel’s horse.

“Well, Will,” Joel said when he dismounted. “Never expected to see you here.”

“No, sir,” Will said.

“Jonah tells me you’re both after prospectin’,” Joel said, his face expressionless.

At that point, Will realized Joel didn’t want them there. “I’m sorry, sir.” He rubbed at his pockmarks.

“Sorry for what?” Joel asked. “For runnin’ away? For wantin’ to prospect? For searchin’ me out? Which is it?”

“Yes, sir,” Will said.

“We’ll be fine, Joel,” Jonah said, with a skip beside Joel’s horse. “We can help, you’ll see. You can teach us, and we’ll help you find gold, and we’ll all be rich.”