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154 pages

English

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Bestselling author Melody Carlson (more than 5 million books sold) continues her Homeward on the Oregon Trail series with this second romantic adventure.Elizabeth Martin and her two children have made it through the easy part of their journey, but now their wagon train faces high mountain passes, dangerous river crossings, and decreasing supplies. Desperate circumstances bring out the best and worst of the travelers, including Will Bramford, the wealthy widower who is pursuing Elizabeth, and Eli Kincade, the independent and solitary guide who has stolen Elizabeth's heart.As the group reaches the Oregon Country, the emigrants part ways to find their new homes. Elizabeth and Will and their families have made arrangements to board a ship that will take them south along the coast. Will Eli change his plans and accompany Elizabeth to her new and permanent home? Or will his mysterious past continue to keep them from love?

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Romance

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Publié par	Harvest House Publishers
Date de parution	01 février 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780736948746
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0480€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover by Koechel Peterson Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cover photos Koechel Peterson Associates, Inc. / Hemera / Thinkstock
Backcover author photo Ruettgers Photography
A DREAM FOR TOMORROW
Copyright 2013 by Melody A. Carlson
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Carlson, Melody.
A dream for tomorrow / Melody Carlson.
p. cm. - (Homeward on the Oregon Trail series ; bk. 2)
ISBN 978-0-7369-4873-9 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-0-7369-4874-6 (eBook)
1. Women pioneers-Fiction. 2. Widows-Fiction. 3. Wagon trains-Fiction 4. Oregon National Historic Trail-Fiction. I. Title.
PS3553.A73257D74 2013
813 .54-dc23
2012026064
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
List of Primary Characters

THE DAWSON PARTY
Elizabeth Anne Martin
JT (12) and Ruth Anne (8)
Asa and Clara Dawson, Elizabeth s parents
Matthew and Jess Dawson, Elizabeth s brother and sister-in-law
Brady, Elizabeth s farmhand and a freed slave
IN OREGON COUNTRY
John and Malinda Martin, Elizabeth s brother-in-law and his wife
Todd, Emily (13), Bart (12), and Suzannah (9)
WAGON TRAIN LEADERS
Captain Brownlee, wagon master
Eli Kincaid, scout
FELLOW TRAVELERS
William Bramford, a widowed lawyer from Boston
Jeremiah (18), Belinda (17), and Amelia (16)
Hugh and Lavinia Prescott, friends of William Bramford, also from Boston
Julius (19), Evelyn (16), and Augustus (13)
Bert and Florence Flanders
Mahala (18), Ezra (16), Hannah (13), Walter (11), and Tillie (8)
Horace and Jane Taylor
Henry and Gertrude Muller and their four children
Ruby Morris ( Jess Dawson s aunt ) and her friend Doris
Paddy and Fiona McIntire
Dr. Nash
Abner Stone and his son Robert
Contents
List of Primary Characters
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Discussion Questions
Homeward on the Oregon Trail series Book Three: Chapter One
Chapter One

Mid-June 1857
F or the third time in one morning, the wagon train came to a complete halt. With reins held tightly in one hand, Elizabeth used her teeth to tug one of her leather driving gloves up higher before she firmly pulled her wagon s brake handle. Listening to the creak of wood grinding against wood and the squeak of the straining harnesses, she was thankful that her father had insisted on giving her wagon and team a complete inspection earlier in the morning. He d urged everyone in their unit to do the same, but the Mullers had not taken his suggestion to heart. Consequently they d had the first breakdown of the day. As councilman of their unit, Father had not been pleased.
Shading her eyes from the sunshine with her prairie bonnet, Elizabeth peered upward at the intensely blue sky. Maybe it was the elevation or the time of year, but she couldn t remember when she d seen sky this shade of blue. The position of the sun indicated that it was nearly noon, but she suspected they d only traveled a mile or two, maybe less. Although she was relieved to give her weary team another chance to rest, she couldn t help but feel concerned about the travel time they were losing.
Elizabeth understood these delays were due to overly burdened teams and mechanical breakdowns. The stress of driving heavily laden wagons up this rugged trail was taking its toll on many of her fellow travelers. As a result, a number of bulky items had been abandoned alongside the trail in the past few days. Most had been large pieces of furniture, and some appeared to be family heirlooms. But no material goods were valuable enough to threaten the lives of people and livestock. And seeing the Taylors wagon up ahead and the worn-looking team, she figured Reverend Taylor and his wife would soon be forced to leave their beloved piano behind as well. The way Mrs. Taylor clung to that instrument mystified Elizabeth. It was out of tune and was obviously putting a severe strain on their mule team. To risk injuring an animal for a piano made no sense.
Captain Brownlee had warned all the units that ascending the treacherous South Pass would be slow going this week. He d strongly cautioned a number of wagons to lighten their loads before beginning their ascent. Some had heeded his advice. Lavinia Prescott even left behind the solid cherry bedroom furniture she had brought all the way from Boston. Others, like the Mullers and the Taylors, had not listened.
Several days back, Eli Kincaid, the wagon train scout and Elizabeth s good friend, had shared the welcome news that they were nearly in Oregon Country and were more than halfway to their final destination. Of course, the hardest part is yet to come, he had said lightly.
So I ve heard, she admitted. But at least the landscape is beautiful.
He nodded, looking up toward the foothills. Beautiful and treacherous.
Elizabeth looked past her sturdy pair of mules to the glistening black backs of her Percheron horses, Bella and Beau. So far this team combination had worked well together. However, crossing the prairie had been relatively easy. Elizabeth hoped that with the flat plains and weeks of travel behind them, the animals would be accustomed to each other and continue to pull their weight. She also hoped that she hadn t been mistaken not to go with oxen teams like the rest of her family.
What stopped us this time, Mama? Ruth poked her head out from the covered part of the wagon. Another breakdown?
I m not sure. I hope it s not Grandpa or Uncle Matthew. Elizabeth peered up the trail to where Brady and JT were walking back toward them. She had offered to take the morning shift of driving the wagon. Brady and JT would take over in the afternoon. JT removed his hat and waved it high as if to signal that all was well.
It s someone up in unit four, JT explained to her as he paused by Beau, stroking the horse s glistening black flank.
Your ma and pa and brother and his new bride are all jus fine, Brady told her. No problems there.
But the Mullers team is looking poorly, JT said quietly. Grandpa is talking to them right now. I heard him telling Mrs. Muller that if they didn t unload some things, he didn t want to see her or her children riding in the wagon.
Oh, dear. Elizabeth shook her head. Gertie Muller was a big woman, and she did not enjoy walking along the trail. Hopefully they ll lighten their load before it s too late.
What ll they do if n their team gives up the ghost? Brady asked Elizabeth with concern.
I honestly don t know, Brady. She sighed. I suppose we d all have to take them in or try to replace their animals with some of our extra livestock.
That don t seem fair, Ma. JT scowled. Would you really let the Mullers use one of our cows to pull their wagon?
She pressed her lips tightly together. The truth of the matter was that she would resent this as much as her son would. But she was the grown-up here, so she d have to hide her emotions. I reckon it d be our Christian duty, JT. It s not as if we could just leave the Mullers all behind, could we?
As contrary as they ve been toward us? JT looked unconvinced. I don t see why not.
Elizabeth forced a smile for the sake of her children. Jesus said we need to love even our enemies, son. Besides, don t you think Gertie needs friends as much as anyone else?
JT s brow creased as if he was considering this. You want us to take over driving for you? He brightened as if the prospects of driving were better than walking.
Don t you think we ll be stopping for dinner soon? she asked.
Grandpa said we re not supposed to stop for another mile.
The idea of stretching her legs was appealing. She glanced back at Ruth. What do you say? Want to walk now?
Ruth nodded. I think Flax wants to walk too.
Elizabeth handed the reins to Brady and JT, relieved to get down from the firm wagon seat, and she and Ruth and their energetic yellow dog made their way up the trail. They soon reached her parents wagon, but only her mother was with it, and her head was bowed as if she were praying.
Everything all right? Elizabeth called up.
Clara blinked in surprise. Oh, Elizabeth, you caught me unawares.
Were you sleeping, Grandma? Ruth giggled.
I reckon I was. Clara gave them a sheepish, tired smile.
How are you doing? Elizabeth asked.
Clara s smile strengthened. I m a little worn out but no more than the rest of the travelers. Your father is checking on our unit trying to talk some sense into certain emigrants.
Like the Mullers, Ruth offered.
Ruth. Elizabeth gave her daughter a warning look. Remember your manners.
Clara pointed to a large wooden dresser alongside the road with vines growing over it. Look at the poor old thing. It appears to have been sitting there for some time.
Do you think there s anything in it? Ruth asked curiously.
I m sure others have already gone through it, Clara told her.
But you go ahead and have a peek if you like, Elizabeth said as she climbed up in the wagon to sit next to her mother. Then as Ruth and Flax hurried over to investigate the old dresser, Elizabeth turned to peer at her mother,