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openly supported slavery—those whom she and her family had taken a stand against by becoming abolitionists. But for Oregonians to vote to oppose slavery on one hand and then turn around and vote to oppose residency to Negroes on the other…truly, it made no sense. And it made her angry. One reason she and James had originally planned to emigrate from Kentucky to Oregon was to escape all this. But suddenly it felt as if she had leaped from the frying pan into the fire—and taken poor unsuspecting Brady with her. What was to be done?
    As Elizabeth filled the water barrel, she knew she would have to tell her father and Matthew about this. They had a right to know. Still, what could they do about it? It wasn’t as if they could simply abandon their loyal employee and friend out here on the Oregon Trail. And the few settlements and forts along the way weren’t welcoming to Brady’s situation either. It hurt to think about Brady’s high expectations for his new life in Oregon Country. To consider his hopes of having his own land to work, his dreams of living his last days as a free man in a free land…well, it made her stomach ache and put a rock-hard lump in her throat.
    As she walked to her parents’ camp, she silently prayed for divine guidance. God would have to lead her, she decided as she rounded a corner, spotting her mother and Ruth bent over the cooking fire. Just as God had led them through all the other steps of this journey, he would have to lead them in the best ways to help Brady.
    “Is something wrong?” Clara asked as Elizabeth joined them.
    Elizabeth pressed her lips together, giving a slight shake to her head—her clue to her mother that this was something she didn’t want to discuss in front of Ruth. Fortunately Clara understood. “Eli brought us a nice piece of bison roast.” She removed the lid from the Dutch oven so Elizabeth could spy the chunk of meat nestled with wild leeks.
    “Looks good.” Elizabeth nodded.
    “It won’t be done for another hour or so,” Clara said.
    “And since supper will be late, Matthew and Jess want to go fishing,” Ruth said, “They asked me to come with them as soon as they’re done tending to their livestock. May I go, Mama?”
    “Only if you promise to catch us a big trout to have for breakfast.” Elizabeth grinned at her.
    “I’ll do my best.” She frowned with uncertainty. “But I might not catch one.”
    “I know, sweetheart.” Elizabeth tweaked one of her braids and then waved at Jess, who was just coming into camp.
    “Ready to go fishing?” Jess called out.
    Ruth was off like a flash, and Elizabeth utilized the moment to tell her mother about what Will had just said.
    “Oh, no!” Clara’s hand flew up to her mouth. “Is that really true?”
    Elizabeth sighed and then turned to begin measuring the dry ingredients for the biscuits. “I wish it weren’t. But Will seemed to know what he was talking about. After all, he is an attorney.”
    Clara nodded. “Of course. I’m sure he wouldn’t tell you this if he didn’t know it was fact.” She shook her head. “But it is so strange…that Oregonians would oppose slavery and then oppose Negroes as well. So very strange…and sad.”
    “I don’t want to bring it up in front of Brady. Not yet. So if you could tell Father about it…he needs to know.” She threw some salt into the bowl. “Not that there is much to be done about it.”
    “And you did say that slaves are allowed in Oregon?”
    Elizabeth nodded as she began to stir. “For a few years. But most of these folks know Brady is a free man. And some of our fellow travelers plan to settle near us.”
    “Even if that were not the situation, it would be such a shame for Brady to put on the pretense that he is a slave just to appease a foolish new law.” She poured a cup of rice into a pan. “ Pish-posh! To think we’re out here in the middle of nowhere, assuming we have escaped the tomfoolery of divisive politics, only to hear of