A Cry in the Wilderness
Copyright© 2025 by Megumi Kashuahara
Chapter 1
Butler, Ohio, Autumn 1859
“Where ya goin’ all duded up and hitchin’ the buggy?” Tessa McLaughlin teased, leaning against the door frame of the barn. At sixteen, she was all sharp angles and quick wits, a perfect match for her brother’s easygoing nature. “Gotta date with Mary Ellen?”
“Yeah, Squirt. What’s it to ya?” Will grinned, securing the last strap.
“Nuttin’,” she said, a playful glint in her eyes. “Just pokin’ fun.” She stuck out her tongue, turned, and sashayed back toward the house.
Tessa adored her big brother, but she secretly wished she had his freedom. It wasn’t fair. He was twenty and could court her best friend, Mary Ellen Robbins, who was the same age as her. Yet, Will would threaten to break the arm of any boy who so much as looked at Tessa. It just wasn’t fair. The unfairness of it all chafed her. In this town, a woman’s worth was in her virtue. Lose it, and you were trash—cast out like you had cholera.
Twenty minutes later, Will pulled his buggy to a stop in front of Robbins Mercantile General Store. Mrs. Robbins, Mary Ellen’s mother, paused her sweeping and smiled.
“Will! So good to see you,” she said, leaning on her broom. “Mary Ellen’s inside. Her father has her finishing up some chores before she goes.”
“Thanks, Miss Ella. I’ll just go on in.” Will tipped his hat as he walked past her.
Ella Robbins watched him go. He was a fine catch, she thought—tall, handsome, and steady. He has a good head on his shoulders and could probably run that Lazy Susan Ranch by himself if he had to.
A few minutes later, Mary Ellen emerged from the store, a picnic basket in hand. She waved goodbye to her mom, and Will took the basket, helped her into the buggy, and climbed in himself. The two headed east, a ten-minute ride to the old mill. The mill had been useless for years since a flood had rerouted the river, but now it was a quiet, peaceful spot—perfect for a fall picnic.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.