How the West Was Won (1963) Read Online Free PDF Page A

with Zebulon, and even at times superseded him in authority. Now she deferred more to pa. Zebulon went about everything-making camp, chopping wood, and all the other camp duties-with a quiet assurance, a forcefulness she had never noticed before. Never before had Eve realized what a tower of strength he was.
    In the wilderness a man grew important, for on his strength others must depend. More than ever she could understand why men loved the wilderness, for it made demands on their strength, on their ingenuity; and they loved the feeling of doing and of accomplishment that the wilderness provided. Eve sat down and took up her book, leaning closer to the flames to see the print better. Lilith came up to the fire, and Eve looked up.
    Lilith ... listen to this: Theirs was a poignant parting in the forest. The handsome young backwoodsman carved two hearts on a tree trunk, and then, from ten paces, hurled a knife at the junction of the two hearts- Junction-what's that mean?
    It's where the two hearts come together. Now be quiet and listen: His marksmanship was uncanny. Three times he hurled the knife. That was for luck, he said the first time, and that was for love, after the second. That was a prayer, a plea for love undying- And then Eve added, dreamily, Isn't that beautiful?
    I reckon. If anybody ever talks like that.
    It's the sentiment, not the talk.
    You don't make sense, Eve. You want to be a farmer's wife, but you'll never find a farmer who's the kind of man you want. You don't really want to marry a farmer.
    Neither do you.
    I don't want anything to do with farms. Lilith stared at the fire. I want silk dresses and fine carriages like those we saw back in Albany. She turned her head to look at Eve. I want a man to smell good, and I want to go out to eat in fancy places. All I want seems to be back east, yet here we are, going further and further away. But you wait-I'll have those pretty dresses, and all.
    You're only sixteen, Lil. There's plenty of time. Besides, it's the man that counts, not where he lives.
    The man you want doesn't live, never has, and never will. I don't believe that, Lil. I just can't believe it. I know how I feel, and I can't be the only one who feels this way. I want a man who loves me, not just one who needs a wife to do for him. Somewhere there's a man who feels as I do. And you think you'll find him out west? Lilith scoffed. Where else? A man who would think like that would be likely to go west, it seems to me. There'd be poetry in him, and that sort of man would incline toward mountains and forest. As far as farming goes, there's poetry in farming, too. Hard work, of course, but most things worth doing are hard, and a man who plows the earth, plants seed, and watches his crops grow-I think there's poetry in that. One time I heard a man say that all real strength comes from the earth, and I believe it.
    Eve! Rebecca called. Watch that stew! Tune to put the onions in! Zebulon and Sam came up to the fire. We must keep a sharp lookout tonight, Sam, Zebulon said. There's talk of river pirates and folks murdered for their goods. With the womenfolks to think of, we'll have to watch special sharp. I'll set the first half of the night, pa. You can set the second half. Those Harveys, he added, they sleep too sound for comfort. He glanced at the trees. They say where they're goin' there's plains ... folks say it's an altogether different way of livin'. Rich soil they say-deep as a man wants to dig, it's rich soil.
    A man wants to build close to fuel, Zebulon argued. What's he going to burn, come wintertime? You boys never rustled for wood like I done as a youngster. Not that I had far to go, but any distance is too far, come wintertime. He listened to the ring of an axe from the Harvey camp. Strong boys, he said.
    I wish Eve would set her cap for one of them. Now, pa, Sam protested mildly, you don't wish nothing of the kind. Those boys aren't for Eve ... nor for Lilith. They're good enough men, I expect, and