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news like this…”
    Elizabeth put an arm around her mother’s shoulders. “I’m sorry to share bad news, but I must admit it’s a comfort to know that my mother thinks as I do.”
    Clara gave her a sad smile. “I wonder, Elizabeth—not that I think it will ever happen…probably not in my lifetime—but I wonder if women ever got the vote…do you think that would change these things?”
    “If all women believed as we did, it might.” Elizabeth added a bit more water to the dough. “But to be fair, Father and Matthew think as we do, and that doesn’t seem to change these things.”
    “Some folks…they say that only war will change these things.” Clara sighed. “Your father says that war may be unavoidable—a war between the states, splitting our country right down the middle.”
    Despite the warm summer air, Elizabeth felt a chill run through her at her mother’s words. Oh, it wasn’t the first time she’d heard such rumors, but it was the first time she felt that they might be more than just idle talk. And although Will’s news about Brady was disheartening and unwelcome, she still believed they would all be better off in the West. She hoped they would be.

Chapter Four

    T he uphill travel seemed to get more rugged with each passing day. And the weather was not helping. Afternoon thunderstorms came almost daily, sometimes accompanied by hailstones the size of large peas. Naturally this would turn the already challenging trail into a muddy streambed. Teams occasionally lost their footing, and numerous breakdowns occurred. But the wagon train pressed steadily onward, trying to place as many miles behind them as possible.
    Due to the recent afternoon storms, Elizabeth had switched driving shifts with Brady. It wasn’t that she didn’t think he could manage her team during foul weather, but if anything happened to one of her animals, she would prefer to be at the reins. Then she would have only herself to blame. Not that she was expecting calamity exactly…but it was hard to know.
    Besides her own concerns, she felt worried that this trip was taking its toll on some of the older folks, including Brady and her parents. Oh, they didn’t complain, bless their souls, but sometimes her mother looked bone tired and had dark shadows beneath her eyes. And by the end of the day, Elizabeth couldn’t help but notice that her father’s usual spark and energy were missing. Sometimes he even snapped at the children, which was so unlike him. But she knew he was carrying a lot of pressure. It wasn’t easy leading his unit. And some emigrants seemed intent on making it much harder.
    “The Taylors are going to have trouble,” Elizabeth quietly told her father after they finished their midday meal. He was helping her to check the hooves of her team. “Their wagon is far too heavy.” She glanced over her shoulder to the wagon that had been traveling in front of her the past few days. “Their team is struggling. It’s just a matter of time.”
    Asa stood straight and removed his hat and wiped his brow. “I know.”
    “I keep a safe distance behind them,” she said. “But it pains me to watch them, Father. Isn’t there something we can do?”
    He shoved his hat back on his head and nodded. “Come with me.” He took her by the arm and began walking. “Let’s see if we can talk some sense in them together. I’ll speak to Mr. Taylor.” He gave her a sideways glance. “You talk to his wife.”
    Elizabeth nodded grimly.
    “Afternoon,” Asa said loudly to the Taylors. “Mind if we have a word with you?”
    “Not at all.” Mr. Taylor made an uneasy smile. “Is something wrong?”
    “Not yet.” Asa put his hands on his hips. “But it’s just a matter of time. You folks are putting our unit at risk, and it’s my job to tell you.”
    “What are you saying?” Mrs. Taylor demanded.
    “I’m saying your wagon is too heavy,” Asa told them.
    “Our wagon is our business,” Mrs. Taylor shot