Free Westward Hearts by Melody Carlson

she would be perfectly happy to leave this all behind. She couldn’t even explain exactly why. She simply knew it was time to move on. And she was ready to go. Above all else, and as strange as it might seem to anyone else, she could sense James cheering her and the children on. They were going west!

    Elizabeth wasn’t terribly surprised to spot her parents’ carriage pulling up in front of her house the next morning. Fortunately, the standing water had receded, and although the ground was still soggy, the children had already ridden Molly to school. She didn’t usually let them ride a horse to school, but the idea of them slogging through the mud made no sense. Besides, she realized it would be prudent for them to both get more comfortable on horseback. Jamie was an experienced rider, but Ruth still had room for improvement.
    “Hello,” she called out to her parents, watching as her father helped her mother from the carriage. Brady came hurrying from the barn, giving Asa a hand with the team.
    “Elizabeth!” her mother exclaimed. “Matthew tells us that you have decided to go west. We wish to get to the bottom of this.”
    “Come in, come in.” Elizabeth opened the door. “The coffee is still—”
    “We did not come for coffee,” Asa said in a stern tone. “We came to talk some sense into our daughter.”
    Casting a concerned glance toward Brady, who didn’t yet know of her plans, Elizabeth ushered her parents into the house. “Please,” she said to her father. “Brady doesn’t know yet and—”
    “You’re worried about Brady?” He frowned. “What about us?”
    She patted her father’s shoulder. “I’m plenty worried about you, Father. But Brady is dependent on me, and I—”
    “Brady is a good man. He’ll have no problem finding employment,” Clara assured her as she peeled off her gloves.
    “We’ll be happy to have him work for us.” Asa hung his hat on the hall tree and began to remove his coat.
    “Elizabeth!” Clara blinked and opened her eyes wide. “You’re not wearing black!”
    Elizabeth looked down at her calico dress. “Well, there’s some black in the print. But you’re right, it’s mostly violet.” She sighed. “Ruthie had been begging me to put away my widow’s weeds.”
    “Good for her.” Clara briskly handed Elizabeth her hat. “But that is not what we came to discuss.”
    “That’s for sure and for certain.” Asa shook his head glumly.
    Elizabeth felt guilty as she led the way to the kitchen. She knew her parents were hurt by this news, but what could she do to soften the blow? Soon they were seated around the table with three mugs of hot coffee and a plate of leftover doughnuts between them.
    “There’s really not much to say,” Elizabeth quietly told them. “We have decided to go with Matthew to Oregon.”
    “Just like that?” Asa shook his head.
    She gazed sadly at her parents, wishing there was an easier way to do this. “The hardest part by far will be leaving you two.”
    “Yes…well, that is precisely why I insisted your father and I pay you a visit this morning.” Clara spoke in an uncertain tone that didn’t sound quite right. “In order to discuss this a bit further.”
    “Not that it will do much good.” Asa picked up a doughnut and peered into the hole as if looking for something. “Seems to me she’s already made up her mind, Clara.”
    “It seems that way….” Clara looked intently at Elizabeth now. “But I am not going to take this lying down.”
    Elizabeth blinked. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
    “I refuse to sit idly by as my only two living children and my two precious grandchildren trek to the ends of the earth…perhaps never to be seen again.” She pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing her eyes, although Elizabeth didn’t detect any tears. “There is only so much an old woman can take.”
    “You’re not an old woman,” Asa insisted. Now he pointed a finger at Elizabeth. “See what you’ve done to