It was early October when they reached the cutoff where they could choose to continue on to the Dalles Mission or turn south onto the Barlow Road. They were only about a hundred and fifty miles from the Willamette Valley. With any luck, a couple of weeks more should see them to their destination. Selena could sense Liam's excitement. He, even more than the others, was relieved they were close to the end of their journey. As the unofficial leader of their traveling group, he felt a responsibility for all their safety.
They made camp that night and agreed to share a community dinner. Liam described what lay ahead of them in either direction.
"The Dalles Mission, or Fort Dalles as it has come to be known, is a collection of rundown buildings surrounded by a crude stockade fence. It is situated on the Columbia River, where large rocks confine the water and the river is forced from rapids into a slower moving, wide body of water. The river is over a mile wide in some areas, and the water is quite deep. There is a group of soldiers, both regulars and volunteers, to guard against hostile Indians in the area, since they've had some problems in recent years." Liam gave them a sheepish smile. "When my brothers and I crossed several years ago, we went through there, but now there's the cutoff that allows us to bypass it entirely if we decide to. I've heard supplies are limited there, so the town doesn't really offer much opportunity to restock. Everyone is anxious to move through the area as quickly as possible."
"What are our choices then, Liam?" Gerald asked quietly.
Liam chewed on a stalk of grass as he considered. "We can go on to Dalles. Once we get there, we have two choices. We could abandon the wagons and load our belongings onto rafts to float down the river. However, the river is treacherous and develops into another series of dangerous rapids further downstream. Many emigrants have died trying to navigate the river on their own. As a result, professional ferrymen have set up business, and emigrants can load their wagons onto flat bottomed boats to be floated down the river. They know how to negotiate the rapids, so it's a lot safer, but it's still risky. Then there's the cost. The ferrymen charge exorbitant rates for their services, sometimes over eighty dollars, and many people can't afford their prices. I don't think the cost would be a problem for any of us." He glanced up to see their agreement. They were fortunate that everyone in their traveling group had sufficient funds for whichever route they chose. "If we chose that route, we could save several days of travel time."
"And if we go the other way?" Matthew asked quietly.
"The other choice is to take the Barlow Road around the south side of Mount Hood. It's the tallest peak in the Cascade Mountains, and the Barlow Road is the only land route around it. The route is a toll road that was carved out of the dense woods around the mountain several years ago. It would allow us to avoid the Columbia River altogether, but it is not without challenges. That's the way I went when I was returning east, and as I remember it, it was the hardest stretch I faced. That's the way most people go though, because of the expense and danger of the river." When Liam lapsed into silence, a few thoughtful moments passed as the others considered what he had told them.
"What do you think is best, Liam?" Hank asked, taking a deep puff from his pipe and squinting through the smoke.
"Well, I think we should take the Barlow. The charge is five dollars per wagon and ten cents a head for the livestock." Liam stared into the flames, thinking back on his earlier experiences. "It's a rough trail, even when I came back east on horseback by myself. Sometimes it's so narrow and steep we'll barely get the wagons through. In fact, there's one hill, Laurel Hill, that is almost impassable." He thought for a moment, recalling his trip with his brothers. "But I still think it's safer than the river." He looked up to scan the group. "I'm worried about the weather though." Liam paused again, his hesitation palpable as he considered their options. "It would take us several extra days of hard travel, but if we all have sufficient supplies, I think we should go that route. Of course, if we go that way, we have to hope and pray that the weather will hold a few more days. It would be impossible to try and get the wagons over those steep hills in ice or deep snow. Luckily, all our oxen are in decent shape. They're tired and lean, but they're healthy and I think they would make it alright."
A few thoughtful moments passed, and Gerald was the first to break the silence. "I trust your judgment, Liam. You haven't steered us wrong before." He looked at the others, seeing their nods. "We're okay on supplies. We're running low on a few things, but we won't starve by any means."
"We should be alright too," Matthew said, looking at Cassie for confirmation. When she nodded, he looked back at Liam. "I'm fine with going that way."
Liam glanced over his shoulder at Selena. She was perched on a log behind him, and he was leaning back against her legs. "What about us? Will the foodstuffs hold out another week or two?"
"We're fine," she answered with a smile. "In fact, we might have some extra if anyone needs."
"Good," Liam sighed. "Well, if we're all agreed, let's head out first thing in the morning."
Everyone murmured their agreement, and the families headed to their respective tents. Liam and Selena undressed and settled into their pallet, snuggling under the blankets as they shared their warmth. Selena's head was cradled in the crook of Liam's arm, and her hand lay across his chest as she listened to his breathing in the flickering firelight that lit their tent. She could sense his tension.
"What's the matter, Liam?" she asked softly, turning her head so she could see his face.
He hugged her against him and sighed. "I just hope we made the right decision. The river route would be several days faster, but I can't justify the risk just to save time. I don't mind telling you though, I'll be glad when this trip is over. I'm ready to be home."
Selena gave him a reassuring smile. "We all trust you, Liam. There's no way to know for sure which way is better, so we'll just have to hope for the best. We're almost there." Seeing that he was still troubled, she sought for a way to distract him. Her smile turned mischievous as she rose on an elbow. "You should be worried about when we actually get to your farm. Then you'll have to explain me to your brothers. I'm sure they were expecting you to return as a carefree bachelor. They may not like it when you show up with me."
Liam's eyes took on a teasing glint as he smiled up at her. "Now you're just fishing for compliments. I guess you expect me to tell you how happy they'll be to meet you." His hand that held her against him wandered down to boldly knead her bottom. "I bet you think I'm going to admit that my brothers will realize instantly that you're just the woman for me. They'll see how good you are for me, that you're my every wish come true, and they will be anxious to welcome you to the family." His other hand reached to cup one breast with sensual familiarity as he gave her a devilish grin. "You probably think I'm going to say that when they see how beautiful you are, they'll understand why I couldn't help but fall hopelessly in love with you." As his hands continued to play, he pulled her down to receive a heated kiss. "But I'm not going to tell you any of those things."
