by Zina Abbott
Roslyn swallowed. “I’m so grateful you talked Isaac into hiring you to help guard the station and to keep it safer for Caroline and I.” At the intensity of Elam’s gaze that bore into hers, Roslyn forgot to breathe.
“You, Roslyn. I come for you, especially after seeing you got that baby, and all. I ain’t good for much no more, but what little use I still got in me, it’s for you.”
Roslyn lost awareness of everything around her. He had come for her. Instead of taking from her like so many in her life in recent years had, he gave. He saw her dressed as Ross, and then as herself when she fended off Albert Becker and reclaimed her baby. He had known so little about her. Yet, realizing where she was headed—alone, and with a baby—he followed her. He came for her.
For Roslyn, at that moment, there was no stage station full of animals and men, no soldiers taking positions to protect the station, no hostile band of Cheyenne or some other tribe preparing to attack in order to kill as many people inside as they could and steal the livestock. Elam, alone, filled her world. He was there for her. Why couldn’t he be Emmy’s father?
“Need you inside the building, ma’am.”
The corporal’s words broke the spell. Roslyn jerked her head to face him. “As soon as I bring Mr. Stewart the bench he requested, I will. Excuse me.” She strode toward the building.
Caroline opened the door so Roslyn could carry the bench outside.
The corporal ran over and took it from her. The man motioned with his head in Elam’s direction. “I see he’s a veteran. He know how to shoot that Spencer?”
“He used to be a sharpshooter.”
The corporal puffed a breath of relief. “Good. Our men don’t get enough ammunition to practice much. I’ll be lucky if they don’t shoot themselves or each other instead of the Cheyenne.”
Within minutes of Roslyn shutting the door behind her, the sounds of battle filled the air. She closed her eyes. Barely aware that Caroline dragged her toward the storeroom and handed Emmy to her, fear and worry gripped her.
Elam was an experienced fighter. Would his knowledge and skill protect him from an arrow or a bullet finding him? For the first time in years, she sent a prayer heavenward toward the God she had learned about while reading the Holy Bible; the Being she decided over a year ago had abandoned her. Please, God. I know you gave me Emmy, but I’ve lost so much. I can’t lose him, too. Don’t ask that I be the one to send Emmy home to You. I beg You. Please don’t take him or Emmy from me. If they must leave this life, take me with them.
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Chapter 15
~o0o~
R oslyn hid inside the storeroom with Emmy and Caroline. The light from the single glazed window in the main room shined through the crack in the door they left open, but it only dimly illuminated their space. Roslyn felt certain the attack on the Ellsworth Station lasted for hours. She knew each time Jim, who had been assigned to keep watch through the gun ports on the east and south sides of the building, moved from the main room to the men’s bunkroom because she heard the doors open and slam shut.
While the near darkness did little to allay Roslyn’s concerns, it proved to be a benefit as far as prompting Emmy to fall asleep after Roslyn nursed her. Thank you, God, for small mercies.
She heard Jim shoot twice through one of the windows in the main room. Then the sound of running footsteps and muttered curses reached her. Several more shots coming from the bedroom followed.
The door flew open. Roslyn heard Eustace call out as he ran inside to join Jim in defending the east of the house. What seemed like minutes later, he ran to the storeroom door and yanked it open. “They shot fire arrows on top of the roof. The grass growing on the sod up there is dry enough, it probably has a good flame going. Don’t know if it will burn through or smoke the place up. Be prepared to move to the other end of the building if it gets too smokey in here or the roof gives way.”
Not long after, Roslyn sniffed the air several times. “Do you smell smoke?”
Caroline stood and inhaled, and then she walked just outside the door and did the same. “I think we’re smelling it coming through the windows, but that doesn’t mean that fire up there won’t cause problems. If the men are fighting it, I’m going outside to see if I can help.” She left before Roslyn could protest.
Roslyn had not realized, until she sat alone in the storeroom with only Emmy by her side, how much Caroline’s presence comforted her. She closed her eyes and rubbed her arms, willing herself to remain still. She told herself to relax, fretting solves nothing. To her dismay, she failed at taking her own advice.
Caroline returned, resumed her seat, and folded her hands in her lap.
Roslyn waited for Caroline to say something, but several seconds of silence passed. “Caroline, are you all right?”
Caroline turned to Roslyn, even though they could barely make out each other’s features in the dimness of the storeroom. “He yelled. I can’t remember the last time Isaac raised his voice at me. All I intended to do was see if I could help. I thought I could dip buckets in the barrel and pass the water up to them. Instead, as soon as Isaac saw me, he started yelling and waving his arms. He ordered me to get back inside.”
“He loves you, Caroline.”
“I know.” Emotion choked Caroline’s voice. “It’s chaos out there, Roslyn. As bad as the noise of all the yelling and gunfire sounds in here, it’s ten times worse outside. I can’t be sure, but it seems like some of the natives are trying to break through the main gate. At the same time, several of the men keep shooting at something beyond the outside wall of the stock corral.”
Although faint, Roslyn heard the shouted warning. “They breeched the wall.” They’re inside. With her heart beating twice its normal rate and her eyes wide, Roslyn turned to Caroline. “They’re inside the station.”
Men shouted, and a volley of gunfire followed.
Above the cacophony of battle noise, Roslyn heard the distinctive sound of the part whiny-part braying of an unhappy mule fighting against something or someone with which it refused to cooperate. “That’s Bubby.”
Roslyn tensed and squeezed her hands into fists as rapid bursts of escalating gunfire exploded outside the north end of the building. Then, as suddenly as it started, it ended. She realized the only sound from outside reaching her was Beelzebub raising a fuss. Next, she heard thuds on the roof above them.
She and Caroline looked at each other wide-eyed.
Caroline glanced up once more until a shower of dust forced her to turn her face to the ground to protect her eyes. “Maybe they’re putting the fire out now. I hope they keep their feet on the rafters so no one risks falling through.”
Eustace burst through the main door. “Mrs. Welsh, you need to get out here and take care of your mule. Now the Cheyenne are gone, we’re trying to get Isaac out of the corral, and that blasted animal won’t let anyone inside.”
Caroline sucked in a breath and rose to her feet. “Isaac! What’s wrong with Isaac?”
“He was in the corral and tried to keep the Cheyenne from stealing the stock. He’s got an arrow in his thigh, plus it looks like a bullet found his right shoulder. He’s conscious but down, and Beelzebub won’t let anyone through the gate.”
Roslyn turned to be sure Emmy slept safely on the mattress and also rose to her feet. “I’m coming. Eustace, tell the men with wide-brimmed hats to take them off and stand back from the corral wall.” She reached the door just as two soldiers entered, supporting between them a third man who had been shot in the side just above his belt. As she sidled around them to get outdoors, she heard Caroline question the men.
“Any others injured?”
“Just the stationmaster. Can’t get to him, yet.”
Roslyn only half listened to Eustace instructing the others as she approached the gate to the corral. She glanced to each side long enough to know everyone had backed away from the wall—everyone except Elam, who stood on
the bench and leaned against the wall of the station building, his Spencer in position to take a shot, if necessary. He nodded her direction, then turned his head to scan the countryside beyond the outside wall.
Roslyn studied Beelzebub as he snorted and paced back and forth in front of a trio of mares. One was Josie, one Starlight, and a third mare Roslyn named Tulip. Two other mules had moved to the far side of the corral where they milled around the feed bins. We’re short livestock.
Between the two clusters of animals, Isaac lay on his side. He looked at her and smiled briefly. Then his grimaced and curled his face and shoulders toward his chest as his blood-stained left hand pressed against his right shoulder.
Roslyn put her hand on the latch to the gate and assumed the calming voice she used when working with Beelzebub. “Bubby? It’s all right, boy. I’m here now. I’m coming in.” She unlatched the gate and slowly swung it open, watching for any indication that Beelzebub might make a break for freedom and escape the corral. After latching herself in, she slowly started toward him. “You know I won’t hurt you. Let me check you over and make sure they didn’t injure you.”
His eyes wide, Beelzebub tossed his head and kicked his back feet as he twitched his ears forward and focused his attention on Roslyn. Gradually, he grew calmer.
Roslyn continued to move toward him, taking her cue from him when he gave his permission for her to stand close enough to touch him. She scratched his muzzle and patted each side of his neck as she searched for any wounds to the front of his body. She knew she needed to check the rest of him over. First, she must get the mule away from Isaac so the men could enter the corral.
She grabbed Beelzebub’s halter. “Come with me, Bubby. Let’s go over here and see if there’s any water for you.” Seeing his reluctance to leave the mares, she turned to them. “Come on, ladies. Let’s keep Bubby company. There should be enough water for everyone. If not, I’ll get more.”
After the mares began to amble toward Roslyn for their nose rubs, she gave each one a few seconds of attention. She returned her focus to Beelzebub. He allowed her to lead him toward the trough.
As she passed Elam’s position, she maintained her “keep Beelzebub calm” tone as she called out, “Tell the men to enter as quietly as they can. I’ll keep Bubby distracted.” Her gaze and outward attention stayed focused on the mule, but she heard the men enter the corral and leave, nothing said except a few groans from Isaac.
“They done got Isaac out, Roslyn.”
“Thank you, Elam. I’ll come out as soon as I’m sure none of the stock was injured.”
“Best check that mule’s hindquarters. I think he got grazed by a bullet when one of them Cheyenne on the wall got a shot off while a couple of others tried to drive him off. That there mule didn’t take kindly to going. He done fought them off, and again when they come after the horses.”
Roslyn moved down one side to check Beelzebub over. Rather than walk behind him, she turned back and ducked under his head to check the other side. She found the fresh wound in his hide. “It’s not too bad, Elam. I’ll put some liniment on it, and he should heal up pretty quickly.”
After ensuring all the animals had enough feed and water for the time being, she left the corral and walked toward Elam.
Elam lowered his rifle as she grew near. “Don’t reckon them Cheyenne’ll be back for a spell. Depending on what they got off the fort and town, if they took enough horses, they likely will drive them back to their village.”
“Are you coming inside? If so, I can help you off that stool, if you want.”
Elam ticked the side of his mouth up and shook his head. “Reckon I can get down, but I ain’t wanting no audience when I do. I best stay a spell and keep watch. I’d consider it a favor, though, if you’d check on Isaac and let me know how he’s doing.”
“I will, Elam. Caroline is no doubt busy with him, but I’ll get some coffee and food going for everyone. I’ll return as soon as I can.” Roslyn glanced up as Tom, a bucket in his hand, climbed off the roof and stood in front of Elam on the corral wall where it joined the side of the station building.
“Think we got that fire out. We’re lucky. Wind’s hardly blowing today, and it never flared up.”
Elam nodded toward the wall behind the necessaries. “You got time, might want to take a gander at that section where they drove them horses through. Figure the sod broke down some over winter, making it easy to pull apart.”
To Roslyn, Elam’s guess made sense. Most people spent as little time as possible visiting the necessaries, and they probably did not take time to look over the shorter wall to the back corner of the corral.
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Chapter 16
~o0o~
I nside the station, a hive of activity greeted Roslyn. The corporal and another soldier had their injured comrade lying on the stool while they pressed one folded cloth against the front of his side, and another one against his back. “How is he doing?”
The corporal looked up. “The bullet went through. I’m not sure, but I think it missed hitting anything important inside. I think he’ll be all right, as long as we keep him from bleeding too much.”
“Don’t you have a doctor at the fort who can take care of him?”
The corporal gave a derisive snort. “No. We’re lucky to have almost a full company. Nearest military surgeon is at Fort Riley.”
“Oh. If you’ll wait a minute, I have some long strips of material you can wrap around him to hold those in place.” Roslyn hurried to the storeroom. She pulled her carpetbag to the light and rummaged around until she found the fabric bands she once used to bind her breasts—and to protect them from leaking milk those days she and Emmy were separated. Now washed and clean, she freely offered them as medical bandages.
Before she left the storeroom, Roslyn heard a squeak and saw Emmy stirring. Roslyn picked her up and carried her into the main room. She knew, no matter what else might be taking place, the baby would not be content for long if she was not fed soon. Still, Roslyn could not settle down with her daughter until she knew how Isaac fared.
Roslyn walked up next to Caroline, who held a folded cloth to Isaac’s shoulder.
Her face blanketed with concern, Caroline turned to Roslyn. “The bullet’s still in there. Eustace tried to feel for it, but it’s too deep. He needs a doctor to remove it.”
Roslyn glanced toward Isaac’s thigh and swallowed. “What about the arrow?”
“Eustace seems to think he can get it out.”
“No thinking about it. It’s almost all the way through, anyway. I’ll slit the skin, break most of the shaft off, and push it the rest of the way.” Eustace turned to Caroline. “Mrs. Peterson, you sure you don’t have any spirits I can use to clean these wounds?”
Caroline swallowed. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. We keep a bottle of whiskey in our trunk, for medicinal purposes, mind you. But, don’t ever let Fergus know, or he’ll never give us any peace when we won’t bring it out for him to drink.”
Eustace grunted. “Fergus can go to Ellsworth and buy his own whiskey. Right now, I need you to get what you have.”
“Here, Roslyn, will you please hold this on my husband’s shoulder?”
Holding Emmy to her left shoulder, Roslyn held Isaac’s bandage.” She swallowed down the bile that threatened to come up. Why am I so squeamish about this? I’ve doctored plenty of horses and mules.
By the time Caroline returned, Emmy’s cries signaled her loss of patience at waiting to be fed. “I need to go take care of her. I’ll be back.”
“Good. I’d rather not do this with a baby squalling in my ear. Jim, come over and hold his leg while I get this arrow out.”
By the time Roslyn returned, Isaac’s leg was bandaged. Somewhere, Caroline had found fabric to tear into bandages, and Isaac’s shoulder was swathed in white.
Caroline turned to Roslyn. “The men said they would move Isaac to the bed. Do you think
you can cook the meal? We’ll need to fix extra for these soldiers.”
“Certainly. I told Elam I’d let him know how Isaac’s doing and bring him food.”
Eustace shook his head. “That man sure earned his pay today.” He stopped and considered. “Elam probably better eat and go to bed so he can stand guard tonight. I’d like to think those Cheyenne are gone, but I wouldn’t put money on it.” Eustace waved Jim and Danny over. “Let’s get Isaac in bed where he can be more comfortable.”
About the time Roslyn put together a quick meal and served it to the men sitting at the table, Elam called out. Eustace and two others leaped to their feet and, grabbing rifles, ran out the door. Soon, the sound of the gate swinging open reached them. A quick peek out the window told Roslyn three soldiers from the fort had joined them. She picked up the water bucket to refill it so she could make more coffee.
Eustace brought the newcomers in with Elam bringing up the rear. Eustace motioned to Danny. “You mind going out and keeping watch for a while? I need Elam to eat and get some sleep so he can stand guard later.”
Roslyn noticed the soldier in charge wore three chevrons on his uniform sleeve. Must be a sergeant. “May I offer you men some coffee and food?”
“No, thank you to the food offer, ma’am. We filled up on beans and hardtack before we came. Although…” The sergeant eyed the two biscuits still in the bowl in the center of the table and pointed. “If you have extra of those, I wouldn’t turn them down. We don’t get biscuits very often.”
“I’ll make a fresh batch, sir. It won’t take long.”
While Roslyn stirred together and rolled out biscuit dough, she listened to the conversation between the others. Like the private slouching on the bench while he nursed the bullet wound in his side, the fort had a man injured severely enough their lieutenant thought he should see a physician. Not only did Fort Ellsworth not have their own surgeon, they did not have an ambulance for transporting soldiers to get medical care.
