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    “I’ve told you once and I’ve told you twice…” Asa shook his finger at the wagon. “You must get rid of that piano before it’s too late.”
    “The good Lord is watching over us,” Mrs. Taylor spoke in a superior tone. “There is no need for you to be concerned for our welfare.”
    Asa looked as if he was about to sputter.
    “I disagree with you, Mrs. Taylor.” Elizabeth spoke in her firmest tone, almost as if she were addressing one of her children caught in an act of disobedience. “My wagon follows yours, and your trouble could soon become my trouble.”
    “We are having no trouble.” With narrowed eyes, Mrs. Taylor looked over to where her husband was focused on adjusting the harnesses.
    “I see your team struggling more and more each day,” Elizabeth persisted. “It’s unfair and inhumane to make them pull such a load.”
    “Our team is strong enough. The good Lord made animals to serve man, not the other way around.”
    Asa exchanged glances with Elizabeth, encouraging her as he went over to speak quietly with Mr. Taylor.
    “Again, I disagree with you. I believe God expects us to take good care of our livestock.” She pointed to their team. “These mules are being overworked to the point of endangering lives. You may have noticed I’ve been keeping a safe distance from your wagon while we’re on the inclines. It’s because I’m afraid you’re going to have serious trouble.”
    “The good Lord has brought us safely thus far, and I have the faith that he will continue to protect us.”
    “I believe in God’s protection just as much as you, Mrs. Taylor.” Elizabeth tried to keep the anger building up inside of her in check. “But I also believe that God expects us to use the good sense that he gave us. To ignore wise counsel is both foolish and dangerous.”
    “Mr. Taylor and I both use all of our good senses to serve our Lord.” Mrs. Taylor gave her a disdainful expression. “Sometimes I feel as if we are among a minority in our religious beliefs. But we are used to our solitude. The good book says that the road to heaven is straight and narrow, and only a few will choose to travel it.”
    Elizabeth knew this had to do with the fact that her family did not attend the Taylors’ Sunday church services, but she wasn’t going to let this woman bait her with this distraction. “The road to heaven may be narrow, but the road to Oregon is filled with peril for unwise travelers,” she warned. “Please listen to us, Mrs. Taylor. Lighten your load before it’s too late. Do you want us to take our concerns to Captain Brownlee?”
    Mrs. Taylor glared at Elizabeth now. “I’m sure the good captain has other matters to attend to.” Now she made what seemed a mocking smile. “And I’m sorry you don’t share my strong faith in the power of the good Lord to get us to our destination. But you are still a young woman, and I’m sure that the good Lord will continue tempering you and increasing your faith with maturity.”
    “This is not about faith or maturity.” Elizabeth could see the wagons starting to move up ahead, and she was fresh out of patience and thus raising her voice. “This is about common sense, Mrs. Taylor! And it is not fair for you to put your team and all of us at risk just because you refuse to part with your precious piano!”
    “The good Lord gave me my piano in order to worship him. Neither you nor anyone else can force me to leave it behind.”
    Elizabeth pulled her driving gloves out from where they were tucked in her belt, tugging them on in anger. She pointed a finger at Mrs. Taylor. “The very least you can do is to get out of this wagon on the upgrades and walk,” she said loudly. “It won’t make up for the weight of the piano, but it might help.”
    “Oh, ye of little faith.” Mrs. Taylor’s lips curled into a smug smile.
    Elizabeth watched speechlessly as Mr. Taylor climbed onto his wagon with a somewhat grim expression. With her fists