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at being caught staring at the woman. He’d never made a practice of gawking at women and had always told himself that inner beauty mattered much more than outer.
    Why, then, was he having such a hard time ignoring Priscilla White?
    “I always said, it’s too bad she decided not to get married,” the gentleman said. “She’d bring some fortunate fellow a lot of pride and pleasure.”
    Dr. Baldwin stuck his elbow into Eli’s side and cocked a brow.
    Eli shook his head. “ Pretty won’t get a woman west.”
    “Ah.” The older gentleman’s eyes lit. “So you’re considering asking Miss White to accompany you?”
    “’Course not—”
    “He can’t go without a wife,” Dr. Baldwin cut in. “And I’ve been trying my best to convince him of the merits of our wonderful Miss White.”
    “She’s simply perfect,” the gentleman added.
    Eli forced a tight smile. “I won’t argue with either of you. She seems like a fine woman. But as I already said, Doctor, she’s not the type I need.”
    He was unable to resist another glance at Priscilla. She was smiling at the Indian boys, tentatively fingering the beads and feathers at the end of John’s braid.
    Eli had to give her some credit. She was the only one who’d made an effort after the service to put aside her fears and show kindness to the boys.
    “Am I to understand you’ll be traveling with another missionary couple?” the older gentleman asked.
    John’s dark eyes radiated excitement. Eli had no doubt Priscilla was the fairest woman the boys had ever seen, and one of the first to attempt to speak with them. Apparently she hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d rattled off her qualifications—from all appearances she was every bit as pious and mission-minded as she claimed.
    Too bad she was like a flower that the least heat or hardship could easily wilt or crush.
    “Eli had a terrible time finding another couple willing to go,” Dr. Baldwin offered. “He located a young minister and his new wife who were planning to start a mission with the Osage in Kansas. It took some arm twisting, but we finally convinced them to change their plans and travel a little further west with Eli.”
    “I can’t imagine too many people would want to risk such a dangerous journey,” the gentleman said.
    Eli tore his gaze away from Priscilla, and the all-too-familiar weight of despair and irritation pressed against his sternum—irritation at the Board for their strict stipulations and frustration at the direness of his situation.
    “I wasn’t planning to take another couple,” he said.
    “Well, it’s probably a relief you won’t have to make the trip alone.”
    Dr. Baldwin raised both brows as if to caution Eli against saying too much. And Eli swallowed his rebuttal—the argument he’d already had with the old doctor and the other Board members several times.
    They believed the mission would have a much greater chance of succeeding if they sent a team.
    But Eli knew better. He’d never relied upon anyone but the good Lord and the sweat of his own brow. In all his thirty-one years, he’d had to overcome one obstacle after another to make something of his life. He’d scraped and slaved to save money for an education. He’d spent hour after long hour studying, pushing himself to keep at it, even though book learning had been nearly impossible for him.
    But he’d done it. Earned his doctor’s license. Made a new life for himself. On his own.
    He didn’t need anyone to help him now or in the future. He was doing just fine.
    “Eli’s a strong, independent man,” Dr. Baldwin said, as if he knew the thoughts running through Eli’s mind. “But I’m sure he’ll be glad for the companionship once he’s there.”
    “Don’t forget, I’ll be meeting up with Parker. He’s planning to help me get the mission started.” His companion from the exploratory trip had stayed west to scout out a site for the mission. Samuel Parker had decided to live with the