Free Bright Morning Star by J. R. Biery Page B

out her side. She saw Bonnie on the last rise. The girl was striding along in step with the team, her mouth open in laughter as she talked with the children. Too long limbed and lean, but with large, high breasts, there was no denying she was a striking woman. Instead of ruining her complexion, all the sun had seemed to polish Bonnie’s skin gold and her hair sparkled with copper highlights. For a minute, it looked like she was going to step off the trail into the air, like some winged goddess of old.
    Mother Wimberley caught her breath and sat back on her seat. It was her imagination. Bonnie had been through poverty, abuse, and a tragic marriage. She should slink along with bowed head and humility. Instead, Bonnie, who had always been shy and quiet, now was speaking out, offering her opinions, as though they were as good as anyone else’s, even the men. She was like the rough ore Robert smelted and turned into shiny steel. The more adversity that was heaped upon her, the stronger and brighter she emerged.
    For the first time Mother Wimberley looked at her cherished child and felt sorry for her. Calum Douglas wasn’t the only man who might make the comparison between the two girls and choose Bonnie over Claire. A minute later, she had decided on an answer. “Well, she is very tall, and Tarn and the Lieutenant are both exceptionally tall men. Maybe that’s why they like her.”
    Claire smiled for the first time all day. “I think you’re right, Mother. And I don’t want a tall man. They’re too hard to kiss.”
    Suddenly, Claire reached out for her startled mother’s hand.
    “All I want is to find someone to love me, someone like Father, who has always loved you. I just don’t think I’m going to ever find him.”
    Mother wrapped her daughter in a reassuring hug. “Love will find you, you just need to make yourself ready.”
     
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    At noon, it was Claire, who walked to the rear wagon, then walked to each of her fellow travelers, handing out the food Bonnie had prepared. When she reached the mounted riders, it was Henry who gave her a special smile as he accepted his food. Before he could comment, she held out the last sandwich to Bonnie.
    Her friend stood surprised, then swept her into a tight embrace. In minutes, Claire was saying all the things she had tried to say earlier. Bonnie let her babble on, then stopped her with another big hug. “Thank you, friend.” She raised her hand, extending her small finger. Claire hooked hers around it. “No more jealous fights, okay?”
    Claire laughed, “No more, I promise.”
    As the two walked off to eat together, Claire missed how Henry’s face darkened. He watched the two women settle in the shade of some nearby trees to eat and talk. He had no problem with whomever Bonnie chose to love. But the thought of Claire wanting the tall Lieutenant took away his appetite.
     
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    Two weeks later, as they passed through Indiana early in the morning, they stopped at a farm house. In the meadows beyond the farm house, several dairy cows grazed. Someone whistled and three barking English shepherds stopped carrying on. In the barn, they found a farmer pitching hay down. He whistled sharply and the three dogs who had sat down at the farmers, ‘quiet,’ sprang into action.
    By the time he had the feed-boxes full, the dogs had a string of cows headed toward the barn, ready for milking. The Wimberleys were able to buy some of his stored pumpkins and wheat. The boys quickly loaded everything inside Bonnie’s wagon on top of the tools.
    Father Wimberley watched the boys trying to pet the young dogs whose long coats flashed as they zipped around the herd, and then back toward the boys, temptingly close.
    The farmer watched the boys playing with the younger pair of dogs. “Your boys there need those dogs. I can make you a good price. Here Tip and Tyler,” he called. The black animals ran low to the ground with lovely splashes of white on their faces and legs. Like