Mac thought Esther outdid herself, despite her advanced pregnancy. The children shrieked and shouted happily and ate more than their fill. When Nate found himself the center of attention of children and adults alike, his head swelled to twice its normal size. Mac had to tell the boy to settle down.
While the children played in the barn and the women gossiped inside, the men sat on chairs and barrels in the yard. The early May afternoon was warm and sunny, and the plum tree Esther had planted years ago was in full bloom.
Samuel Abercrombie accosted Zeke Pershing about his land dispute. Apparently, the creek still maintained its new course, even as the runoff slowed.
“I told you, Abercrombie,” Zeke said. “I’ll help you dig that ditch as soon as all my crops are planted. But it’s goin’ more slowly than I’d like.”
“Mine, too,” Daniel said. “Without Jonah’s help, I’m down a worker.”
“Don’t know why you couldn’t keep track of him,” Samuel growled to Daniel. “Young Jonah is as unreliable as his pa Franklin Pershing. You shoulda put a firmer strap to the boy when he was a young’un.”
Mac’s jaw clenched at Samuel’s words. Daniel treated Jonah well—as well as Mac treated Will. Mac had never hit any of his children. “Is that how you raised your sons?” he demanded of old Abercrombie. “With a strap?”
“Darn tootin’,” Samuel said. “Only way to raise a boy. Both of ’em turned out fine.”
“If you raised Daniel so well, he probably handled Jonah just fine.” Though he shouldn’t bother arguing, Mac thought—Samuel would say whatever he wanted.
The party continued until late afternoon. The children enjoyed themselves, but Mac grew weary of the men’s bickering. Samuel Abercrombie had a bone to pick with every man there—after arguing about water rights with Zeke and about Daniel’s child-rearing, he started in on Mac’s investments.
“Don’t know why you put money into steamships and railroads,” he told Mac. “What we need is farm roads to town, so’s we can move our grain.”
“I’m looking into road opportunities as well. A road from Eugene to Boise. Would you like to invest?” Mac asked.
“And loans to farmers.” Abercrombie shook a finger at Mac. “You could do a world of good if you charged less interest than them damn storekeepers in town.”
“Come see me,” Mac said. “I’m happy to finance your needs, assuming we agree on suitable collateral and terms.” As he suspected, Abercrombie had no interest in obtaining a loan—he merely wanted to complain.
Later, as Mac harnessed his horses for the ride home, Zeke took him aside. “Heard any more about Jacob Johnson?” he asked.
Mac shook his head. “I asked the deputy to ride by our house today. I didn’t like leaving Jenny alone. Not with Johnson on the loose.”
“I’ve asked folks in these parts,” Zeke said. “No one’s seen any strangers about. Maybe he’s gone.”
“I hope so,” Mac said. “But somehow I doubt it. A man doesn’t like to be chased off by a fourteen-year-old girl.” He gave a wry grin. “And our women beat him off twice—both Jenny and Maria have pulled guns on him.”
As Mac drove the wagon home, the younger children all fell asleep, curled together like a litter of kittens. Nate, the birthday boy, was the first to nod off. Maria sat on the bench beside Mac, and Cal sat right behind him, talking into his father’s ear. “Where do you think Will is, Pa?” Cal asked. “Why’d he leave?”
“I don’t know, son.”
“Do you think he’ll come home soon?” Cal asked.
“Maybe, son. Depends on what he’s looking for.” Mac hoped Will would tire of the adventure soon, but there was no telling.
“Do you think he left because of me?” Cal demanded. “Because I took Maria’s horse?”
Mac and Maria both stared at him. “Of course not,” Mac said. “I’m sure he had his reasons. Or just wanted an adventure.”
Cal moved on to another subject. “When can we go to Portland again? Can I see the telegraph again?”
“I’m not planning any trips while your mother is ill.”
“Can I come see your office in town? Can I help you there?” Cal’s questions fired one after the other.
Finally, Mac snapped, “Hold your tongue, Cal. I can’t hear myself think.” And then he felt guilty—he’d reacted just as his father might have reacted when he was young.
Cal sat back with a huff, leaving Mac free to brood about his troubles. His irritation with Cal. His broken relationship with his father. His business troubles. Abercrombie’s continued threats to Zeke. Will’s absence. Jenny’s difficult pregnancy. Jacob Johnson. Each problem loomed larger than the last.
He pulled the wagon into the carriage house, and Mac asked Cal to unharness the wagon. “I’ll be back to care for the horses in a moment.” Mac carried Maggie up to bed, then returned to help Cal. The boy’s exuberance had returned, and he talked the whole time they curried and fed the horses.
Chapter 25: Searching for Joel
The trail left the Umpqua and headed due south, moving from creek to creek. The surrounding forest grew denser, with few farms in the area. Will and Jonah shot more small game and caught enough fish to stretch their cornmeal and flour until Sunday. Occasionally, they came across prospectors panning in the streams. Jonah asked them if they knew his brother Joel. The men shook their heads with barely a glance at the boys.
By Sunday afternoon, Will and Jonah reached a much larger river. “It’s the Rogue,” Jonah said. “It’s gotta be the Rogue.”
A few houses, a store, and a mill sat near the river. “We should ask how far we are from Jacksonville,” Will said. “We’re almost out of food again. Maybe we can work in exchange for provisions.”
They tied their horses outside the store and walked inside. It was a small establishment, nowhere near as large as the stores in Oregon City, or even the store they’d visited in Eugene.
When they asked for directions, the storekeeper told them, “Two ways to Jacksonville. Trail heads southeast to Applegate, then northwest into Jacksonville. That route is purty well clear of brush, though might still be snow on parts. But the shortest route is to follow the Rogue. It’s rough, and snowmelt has the river running wild. Still, if your horses are surefooted, you can make it easy enough.”
“How long until we get there?” Will asked.
