Free Hannah Alexander by Keeping Faith

“Understand?”
    “He just wouldn’t want you struggling alone.”
    “But I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by good people. Joseph knew what kind of community he was building when he chose these folks.”
    “Aw, now you’re just trying to distract me. Guess Reich didn’t tell you what a matchmaker I was back in St. Louis.”
    “It wouldn’t take much of an imagination.”
    Audy gave a soft chuckle. “You’re right, I’m afraid. I’m an interfering old biddy.”
    “No, you’re a kindhearted friend.” Victoria glanced toward Joseph again and saw him bowing his head for a final farewell over the mounds of the graves. They’d all had their prayers over the bodies and honored their memories. She doubted so many tears had ever been shed in this beautiful valley filled with birdsong and flowers and rushing water. Did anyone else know this place as a valley of death?
    When Joseph raised his head, he looked straight at her. She gave him a brief nod and turned away. She had other duties to perform, and though he didn’t know it yet, her direction and his wouldn’t coincide. Though Victoria had no choice but to leave the wagon train, she couldn’t bear the thought of Heidi feeling totally abandoned by her family and her mentor all in the same few days.
    Victoria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had already hinted to some of her friends that she had to leave the wagon train for a while, and now that was going to be more difficult. “You know, Audy, I have a stop to make before I continue my journey, so I may not arrive right along with you to that promised land in Kansas.”
    Audy caught her breath and drew back, the sun-streaked lines of her face more pronounced. “A stop?” Her voice, always robust, grew louder, and some from the huddle of mourners turned to cast a glance.
    Victoria quietly shushed her.
    “Has the captain been told?” Audy asked more softly.
    “I’ve made some medical calls along the route before when we’ve heard of illness and injuries. You know that’s my way.”
    “Yes, and none of those have slowed you down, so what is it about this stop that would keep you from traveling on with us?”
    “I recently discovered that this one’s out of the way of the wagon train, since we’ve changed our route to avoid the border ruffians.”
    “Ah, yes. The captain told us about your husband’s dastardly killer. You think he’d have the nerve to show up on the trail, then?”
    “I believe he would. I planned this stop before Matthew’s death.” Victoria looked toward Heidi’s slight figure—she stood a good stone’s throw from the rest of the group. “You will watch after her while I’m gone.”
    “But, honey, a woman alone in this wilderness? What on earth would you do out there?”
    “I can protect myself in the wild. What I can’t do is risk taking the rest of the wagon train with me.” An image of Broderick Thames, with his hulking shoulders and long, silver braid down his back, had haunted Victoria for months. “I have no choice. I made a promise. Audy, Heidi nearly fell apart when her brother passed on yesterday afternoon. She’s going to need a tender hand for quite some time.”
    For a moment, Audy didn’t say anything, simply watched Heidi and shook her head. She sighed. “The captain won’t let you do it, my dear.”
    “I know.” And she did. It wasn’t difficult to see how protective Joseph was of her.
    “He’s quite smitten, I believe.”
    Victoria nodded, for once allowing herself to enjoy the warmth of that knowledge for a few seconds. She loved how he sought her company. “But he doesn’t need any distractions on this journey, and I’ve had enough heartbreak to last me a lifetime.” She studied the graves. She’d been married to a man whose passion she couldn’t return. Could she even love again as she once had loved Joseph?
    Matthew had deserved a woman’s whole heart, but he’d settled for her broken one. As he’d worded it the day