Free Nan's Journey by Elaine Littau

of his life.
    As bad as it was, he was grateful for the plain ceremony. He could never bear going through all the poetic words that aptly described his love for his dead wife. He would help Nan get through this if it killed him.”
    “Well then, you’re married. Good day.”
    Fred put Nan and Elmer on Sonny and lead him through the busy town and toward the vast wilderness of the mountains. They would all be able to heal at the cabin. He would take care of them. He would get them through this. The thought pounded his brain. “Get through this… get through this.”
    Nan just about fell off the horse and Fred caught her just in time. “It isn’t much farther , Nan, hang on.”
    He noticed tears dripping from her chin. He couldn’t see her eyes because of the swelling from the beating. That judge probably thought that I did that to her. When is enough, enough? Lord, You have got to improve the state of her life!
    As they plodded along, Fred prayed to his God. A cold chill ran down his back as he remembered that he had killed one of the trappers. He had never killed anyone before. He wasn’t sorry for what he had done. Would God answer any of his prayers now?
    Just then the cabin came into site. He carried first Nan and then Elmer into the cabin. He then put Sonny in the barn, fed and watered him, and made his way to the house. There had not been nearly as much snow in this spot as there was up the mountain.
    When he entered the cabin, Nan was sitting on the end of the bed all bent over. Her posture was that of an elderly woman. Elmer was asleep in the trundle bed. Nan had tucked him in and rubbed camphor on his brow. The odor stung Fred’s eyes. Nan seemed to be unaware of Fred’s presence. Fred came to Nan and put his hand on hers. “Nan, get in bed with Elmer and I’ll tuck you in.”
    She bent her head back and looked at him through the slits in her eyes. She was so grateful to be back and safe with Fred. Nodding, she climbed into the unoccupied side of the bed.
    He tucked the quilts up to her chin and got out several woolen blankets and spread them over the pair in the bed. He walked up to the fireplace and began starting a fire in the cold hearth. As he was patiently tending the tiny flame and feeding the kindling to the fire, the L ord gave him a revelation of his future with Nan.
    He was assured that what had begun in tragedy would turn into something warm and beautiful. It would take a lot of time to start a flame of love, but God was the God of creation. He spoke the world into existence and He could bring love into a cold heart. Fred felt that God was pleased with him for marrying Nan. He was going to be with them in all of these troubles.
    Fred added a stack of wood to the flames and soon had a roaring fire. It was as if God were telling him that the love they would eventually share would be strong and good like this fire had turned out to be.
    He was reminded of the Scripture, “ I will return to you the years that the locusts have eaten.”  Could that really happen in his life? What if there was a child on the way? “My grace is sufficient for you.” He turned and looked at the young battered girl sleeping in the bed and wondered.
     
     
    Chapter 13
     
    Mary was surprised that the people of the town responded in kindness when interest was shown to them. She had always been a social outcast because she never had the nerve to risk being rejected by other people. Well, she was thirty-two years old now and she had decided to do or die.
    Her first attempts at making friends were quite shaky and awkward, but there was amazing progress. She had walked into the dry goods store and asked to see the stationary.
    When Sarah, the proprietress, raised her eyebrows at the request, Mary proceeded to recite the made up story of writing to her darling stepchildren and how she did hope and pray that they were enjoying their visit with the relatives in Boston. Upon completing the fabrication,
    Mary lowered her voice