Walk by Faith by Rosanne Bittner

calling.”
    â€œOh, but I am. This is part of it. I’ve been praying for the both of you, and look what’s happened.”
    â€œOh, nothing has happened! I fell into the mud, and he laughed at me. That’s what happened. None of it means anything, and if you’re suggesting I am interested in that ornery, cloud-covered man, I’m not! ” She sobered. “I’m not interested in any man—not now, and maybe not ever, after what Chad did to me. I don’t think I could ever love or give of myself that way again, let alone trust any man again.”
    â€œYou trust me, don’t you?”
    â€œI’m not married to you.”
    Michael chuckled. “But surely you see how devoted I am to Carolyn,” he told her, giving his wife a loving glance. “There are other good men out there, Clarissa. You’re so very young, and little Sophie needs a father.”
    Clarissa shook her head. “Surely you aren’t suggesting that someone like Dawson Clements is the answer. He’s hardly every woman’s dream, with that bossy attitude and crusty nature. The man has a huge chip on his shoulder that would take a bull moose to knock off, let alone the fact that he is obviously un-Christian to the point of practically being a heathen. He apparently would rather befriend a murderer than a preacher.”
    â€œAnd eventually we are going to find out why that is,” Michael answered. “Before this trip is over I will find a way to bring light into that man’s eyes.”
    Carolyn, who sat beside Michael on a log, reached over and took hold of one of his hands. “I just hope he doesn’t end up punching you right in the face for trying,” she told him.
    Michael chuckled, kissing her cheek. “We’d best be retiring. Tomorrow will be a long day, I’m sure, getting animals and wagons and children and all of us across the river with only one ferry raft.”
    â€œAnd the Cherokee who run the ferry service will be quite rich by the time we’re done,” Carolyn suggested as she rose. “It’s ridiculous what they charge, and they know they have us over a barrel.”
    â€œWhich is why they can get away with it,” Clarissa commented, also rising.
    â€œLet’s pray before retiring,” Michael suggested.
    Clarissa walked closer, and the three of them bowed their heads. Michael prayed for safe passage across the Kansas River tomorrow, then added a prayer for Dawson Clements. “May he laugh again, Lord Jesus, for laughter is a balm for the broken heart. Please continue to guide us in helping Mr. Clements by putting Your words into our mouths and making us say the right things. Keep him safe and well, Father, and we pray the same for our little Lena and little Sophie. In Christ’s name, Amen.”
    Clarissa echoed her Amen, and she and Carolyn embraced before Carolyn left for the wagon where Lena slept. Michael left to bed down in his wagon, and Clarissa made for her own. Just as she rounded the end of the wagon to climb inside, she gasped when Dawson Clements appeared out of the shadows. “Mr. Clements!”
    He stepped closer, and because of the darkness she could not read his eyes. “Thank you for making me laugh today,” he told her quietly.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDo you know how long it’s been since I laughed?”
    His appearance and the admission took her by complete surprise. “I—I suspect it’s been a very long time.”
    â€œI’m sorry it seemed I was laughing at you. I know you were trying your best and trying to do it all on your own. I admire that about you, Mrs. Graham. What you’re doing takes a lot of courage.”
    She folded her arms. “For a woman without a husband?”
    By the moonlight she saw him grin. “Yes, for a woman without a husband. But trips like this take courage even for women with husbands along. In fact, most of them are going