Disaster

“The wagon’s all packed pa,”said 16-year-old Jetta Thorne.

     “All right go get your mother, so we can start on the trail,” responded her father excitedly.

       As Jetta entered the house for the last time; she doubted if she would ever see this kind of luxury again. The carpeted floors, painted walls, comfortable cushioned chairs, all of this she knew she would probably never see again. She was nervous, but excited her sister, Katie dreaded going, and Peter wanted to stay right where they were living. Nevertheless seeing, as they were still blooming young blossoms they had to follow their parents.

     It was hard to persuade Jetta’s mother into leaving. She had always liked the idea of living on her own land and not being crowded on a busy street. But when the day came for her to leave their precious home, she could not go. Elizabeth Thorne had grown up in the little town of Harrisfield, Missouri everything was a memory to her. Jetta silently walked up the carpeted stairs into her ma’s beautiful bedroom. Elizabeth was sitting on her bed sobbing uncontrollably.” Ma,” Jetta whispered,” what’s the matter? Pa is ready for us; won’t you come?”

   “I can’t go Jetta I’ll be leaving behind my ma and pa and my sister, Jemima. I probably will never to see them again if I go. I �"I just ….can’t go.’” Jetta’s mother sobbed.

    “Are you coming?” yelled a voice up the stairs.

   “In a minute,” Jetta called back. Then turning to her mother Jetta pleaded, “Ma we need you. You promised you’d come. Please keep your promise.”

   Elizabeth sat straight up on the bed, and said, ”Alright ,Jetta, if you insist. It will be hard though.” In a few weeks, Jetta would regret that she had ever talked her mother into going west.

      The wagon jolted and jostled along the trail recklessly as if the whole wagon would fall apart. Elizabeth was still heartbroken about leaving her home, so Jetta and Katie had to do most of the cooking and chores. Charles did not seem to notice her sadness. He was much to determined to get to Broken Bow, Nebraska, where the would build a homestead. The Thorne family was about two weeks into their journey. Elizabeth wasn’t  getting used to the dusty dirty routine of trail life. As for Peter and Katie, life was lonely, hard, and there seemed a never-ending sea of grass. Pa was having the adventure of his life. He had grown up in the city, and for the first time in his life, he felt free from the crowded city.  Jetta was like her father enjoying every moment of the trip; she became very close to him and told him about her dreams quite often.

       It was evening and the wagon slowed to a halt. Peter lit a fire while pa got the enormous family bible. When everyone had gathered around the fire pa started to recite in Proverbs chapter 15:1”A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. ……..” Pa stopped and looked up, he slowly stated, “I have noticed that angry words have been thrown at some of us. Traveling on the trail is a tough time. Nevertheless, we need to love each other, and be kind. Please remember that.” Charles continued to read. Elizabeth drooped brown haired head. She had hollered many times at her children.

     That night Charles felt that he was not doing something right. He had seen his wife droop her head while he was reading. And for the first time on the trip he asked himself, “Is she happy?” All night he was awake wondering if she was, and then he heard something that pierced his somewhat stubborn heart. Elizabeth was calling out in her sleep, “Momma, momma, save me! It is horrible to be nowhere. Nobody loves me, nobody!” For the first time on this trip Charles knew his wife was not happy. He thought about turning back, but no he had gone too far. Was there any use in turning back?