Cassie's Surprise

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  “Wait for me, Travis. Don’t forget me.”

  Chapter 8

  Travis drove the wagon. He and Matt had kept six mules and two riding horses and still had enough to buy the wagon and supplies. They were five days behind the Watkins train and Cassie.

  Matt stretched. “We should be able to catch up to them. There’s another train behind them, but we can go around them. Hope we don’t see those Indians.”

  “I’m sure they’re long gone.” Travis patted his rifle. “We’re ready for them. They don’t like to attack if we’re armed. And we’re both good shots.”

  “You thinking about Cassie?” Matt grinned at him. “I have to admit, Abbie has been in my thoughts. Wouldn’t that be something? Us married and in Oregon with our own land.”

  Travis nodded. “I can’t wait to see Cassie. I hope she got my note.”

  “You still worried about that? Abbie would tell her where we went.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Travis rubbed the back of his neck and slapped at a biting fly. “I just have this nagging thought that they didn’t give her my note.”

  “Even if they didn’t, she’d forgive you. I saw the way she looked at you. Her heart was all yours.” Matt stood, looking around. “I see a line of wagons ahead. Probably the train that was behind Watkins.”

  Travis slapped the reins. “Up, boys.” He wanted to make good time. Wanted to believe that everything would be like it was before they left. Wanted to see Cassie and know she still cared for him. He didn’t find it easy to give his heart away, and she’d taken it.

  Matt thumped him on the arm. “Slow down, I’m going to jump down and get my horse. I can ride up there and see if they know the captain of the wagons in front of them.”

  Travis pulled on the reins and let Matt off and then waved him on as he rode to see how far behind they were. Travis figured they were making good time. They didn’t have a wagon loaded down with furniture, and with six mules pulling, the animals were fresh.

  Arthur had given them a fair price for the livestock. Travis made him promise to take care of Cassie’s mare and filly and find them a good home. The liveryman told him he knew a family up the road that would appreciate them and kids that would take care of the filly. Cassie would like that.

  The monotony of driving the wagon was hard to take. Travis figured part of it was being kept from Cassie. To lessen the boredom, he thought back to their dance under the moon. Soon, he’d see her again.

  The day blurred on with nothing of significance happening, other than he finally made it to the back of the train in front of him. Matt hadn’t come back yet, so he figured he must be talking to the captain of this train. It looked to be a long one with maybe over a hundred wagons.

  Matt rode back to him. “Want to switch? I guessed you’d be getting tired of driving those mules and the rough ride. Riding a horse is a lot more comfortable.”

  Travis pulled the mules to a stop. “What did you find?”

  Matt climbed off the saddle onto the wagon. “That is one long train and moving slow. The captain said they’d stop around five, and we could race up the road and get ahead of them. He wasn’t sure how far ahead the next train was because he hasn’t seen them since the first day they met, and the Watkins train took off.”

  “Thanks for driving. I’m not sure I could take the rough ride any longer. Walking would be better.” Matt waited until Travis was in the saddle and then slapped the reins and yelled at the mules. “Take your time big boys, but you’re going to have to run in a few hours.”

  Travis rode alongside the lead mules and looked around the land. Far to the south, he saw what looked like a small town. Only a few buildings. He wondered what they did out here in the middle of nowhere.

  If they’d had more time, he might have taken a ride to see, but he didn’t think the risk was worth it. Besides, they were about to stop for lunch, and he was hungry. He looked back at the town and wondered what its name was.

  They hit a dusty patch, and he put his handkerchief over his mouth and nose. As soon as they could get in front of this train, the better. No wonder the wagon masters let the rear wagons move up to the front every other day.

  He tried getting off the road, but the ground was too soggy. The scouts said there was quicksand in places and to be careful. So Travis stayed close to the wagon. Finally, they stopped for lunch.

  Matt grinned. “How do you want your beans?”

  “With bacon and steak or anything.” Travis laughed. “It will be nice when we catch up to our girls.”

  “Not sure my stomach can wait that long.” Matt dished out a spoon full of beans. “Remember how good a cook Mrs. Hunt was? She could make beans taste like a treat. I wonder if she’s married by now.”

  Travis scooped a spoonful of beans into his mouth and nodded. “Don’t remind me. You are no Mrs. Hunt.”

  Matt laughed. “No, I’m not, but neither are you.”

  “Eat hearty, we’re skipping dinner tonight. Thinking of that, let’s unhitch the mules and let them eat some grass and give them a little grain.” Travis stood.

  Matt nodded. “Guess so. That means someone better watch them. Unless you want to hobble them.”

  “We better. Somehow, I don’t think we can pull that wagon.” Travis took the hobbles out of the wagon and helped Matt unhitch the mules.

  Matt led the first two out and put the hobbles on them.

  Travis led the other two mules and then did the same for the horses. “Now, we can rest a good three or four hours before we have to start.” He threw out their bedrolls from the back of the wagon and took a canteen with him.

  Matt brought some hardtack and pemmican and settled down in the shade of the wagon. “We might as well have a snack.”

  Travis took some. “I was glad to find some pemmican at the store. The wagon didn’t have any in its supplies.”

  “The old hunters and trappers knew how to live, didn’t they?”

  Travis nodded. “But I have to admit, I’m glad we’re going to Oregon to settle down and help civilize a portion of the country. Just think of it, Matt, we’ll be a part of something grand.”

  Matt nodded and took some more pemmican. “We saw a lot going to California. You think Oregon will be as wild as the gold camps?”

  “No, Look at these wagons. They’re full of families. The gold rush was mostly men, and you know how wild things got. If we’d had wives, we wouldn’t have acted that way.” Travis thought of Cassie. No sir, there was no way he’d have been so wild with her by his side.

  Matt laughed. “You’re right there. Guess it’s decent women who are taming the west.”

  Travis stretched out and put his hat over his face. “I guess one of us will wake up before too late.”

  “Think of Cassie. Maybe she’ll wake you up in your dreams.”

  Travis laughed. But he was right. The minute he closed his eyes, he imagined Cassie.

  ***

  By the time Cassie made dinner and cleaned up the dishes, she’d made ten dollars. She never felt in danger. The men were gruff, dirty, smelly even, but they managed to be relatively polite.

  Sam came into the kitchen. “Need some help?”

  “Sure.” She handed him a clean plate. “You can dry.” Cassie glanced at him. He looked cleaner. He’d shaved off his scraggly beard and combed his hair. And his shirt was semi-clean.

  “You changed this whole town in one day.” Sam looked at her. “Thanks. You are something, Cassie.”

  She held up the money she’d earned. “All I want is to join the wagon train and find Travis.”

  “He’s the one you’re engaged to? Why did he let you go?”

  Cassie winced at the same question she’d been asking herself. “I’m not sure he knows what happened. My aunt sold me off to you. I don’t think she’ll tell him the truth about me. And she got me up early before I could tell my friend.”

  Sam nodded. “I’m sorry. Thanks for all the hard work you’re doing, though. Sheets sme
ll real good.”

  Cassie smiled. “I put a little verbena I found out back in the water. Tomorrow, I’ll do another couple of rooms.”

  He shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter. There’s no one coming to this town.”

  “You can’t be far off the wagon trail. Those people are eager to sleep in a bed and pick up supplies. All you need is a sign where the trails converge. You’re not that far. I could see the trail dust.”

  Sam put up another plate. “You think so?”

  “I do. Even though the pioneers haven’t been on the trail long, they will be anxious to sell off some of their furniture. You can get it cheap because by then, they’ve realized that they are going to have to dump it on the trail sooner or later. Then you could stock extra wheels and axles. Barrels. You could have a thriving business.” Cassie liked the hope that shone in Sam’s eyes.

  “You really think so?”

  She nodded and handed him another plate. “Get yourself a bunch of chickens, and you could sell pickled eggs. Bacon. Beans, of course, beans. Pots and pans. Shoes that will last. That’s something my family didn’t think of.” She grimaced at the mention of family. She’d never been a part of her aunt’s family.

  “I admit, I didn’t have the best notion when I agreed to take you on. But you’ve been making me think.”

  “Sam, you’re a smart man. You knew to plant a town out here. Now, you just need to make it worth your while. And all the men in this town, employ them. Give them a chance. In fact, tomorrow, tell them I’ll wash clothes. And sew the ones that are ripped.” She turned and put her hands on her hips. “Am I the only woman in this town?”

  “Pretty much. There’s Ellie in the saloon, but I’m not sure I’d call her a woman.”

  Cassie shook her head. “More than likely, she’d like to be. Have her come to me, and we’ll cook together, and I’ll teach her to sew and wash clothes if she doesn’t know how. If she’ll quit the saloon. Nothing good comes out of a man full of whiskey.”

  Sam nodded. “You might be right there. The only thing is there’s been nothing else to do in Calder.”

  She shook her head. “You’re going to change it into a thriving town.”

  “It costs money.”

  Cassie faced him and shoved another plate at him. “You’re going to have to start where you’re at.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Is there a place to buy a horse in this town?”

  “Not really. The livery barn fell down. I think a few of the boys at the saloon might have a horse.” Sam narrowed his eyes. “You’re not thinking of riding out of here, are you?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He grasped her arm. “I won’t let you go. Not till you pay me back.”

  “For what?”

  “I gave your uncle fifty dollars for you, and then there’s your board and keep.” Sam held her arm tightly.

  Cassie yanked her arm from him. “I’m not your slave. I’ll pay back what I owe you. But I won’t stay here. I promise you that.”

  Sam frowned. “You’re staying for a while. You owe me.”

  “Look, I’ll help you get things going, then I’m leaving.”

  “You can’t go by yourself. You’ll need a wagon. A girl alone out there, well, I don’t even want to think what would happen.” Sam’s expression was mixed with concern and defiance.

  “There will be other wagon trains. I can ride with them until I reach the one that I left.” She pleaded with him. “Haven’t you ever been in love? I have to find Travis.”

  Lowering his head, Sam nodded. “Once. She’s gone now.”

  Cassie touched his arm. “Sam, if you’ll promise to help me find Travis, I’ll help you with this town.”

  He nodded and then ran a hand through his hair. “I thought I was getting a girl to use. Instead, I got a tiger by the tail. All right. You help me get this town going, and I’ll help you find your man.”

  Cassie held out her hand. “Deal.”

  Sam shook her hand. “Deal. You look tired. I’ll see you in the morning.” He smiled. “I have some chickens. How about if I gather eggs and you make us breakfast? You keep the money, of course.”

  Wiping her forehead, Cassie nodded. “I’d be glad too.” She left him and walked to her room. She shut the door and put the chair against the doorknob. Just in case. Sam had turned out to be much different than she first thought, but she really didn’t know him enough to trust him.

  She slipped between the clean sheets and smelled the sun and the verbena in them and thought of her mother. It did occur to her that all the hard work because of Aunt Ethel had prepared her for today.

  That was just like her mother always said. That God would make good out of what was meant for evil.

  But why did this have to happen just when she thought she had the man of her dreams. The one who would take her out of her aunt’s clutches and give her a good life. She glanced out the window and saw the moon rising.

  “Travis, remember me.”

  Chapter 9

  Travis woke up and figured it was maybe three in the afternoon. He stood and scanned the trail and didn’t see any wagons, only dust rising in the distance. Turning, he thumped Matt. “Let’s go.”

  It didn’t take them long, and they had the mules harnessed, the camp cleared, and they were on the way down the road. Travis flipped the reins and urged the animals to speed up. “You can go faster than that, boys.”

  Matt stretched a leg out. “Might not hurry them too much. Once we catch up and the wagons go to the side, then we can run these mules to get ahead.”

  Travis slowed the mules and thought of Cassie. He couldn’t wait to get back to her, yet on they plodded. Finally, they reached the last wagons of the long train. Travis perked up and looked ahead.

  Matt nodded. “They’re stopping for the night and moving over just like the captain said they would. Wait a few minutes, and then we can let these mules run.” He looked back. “The horses are tied. The back of the wagon is up, and we are good to go. Take us to our women.”

  Travis slapped the reins, and the mules picked up speed passing wagons that were settling in for the evening. He slowed down to watch for children. They could dart out and easily get run over.

  Matt grinned and settled back in the seat, trying to get comfortable. “You’d have thought they would have made these wagons more comfortable. We’ll be sitting in this thing for six months.”

  Travis laughed. “Maybe you missed your calling and should have built wagons.”

  Pulling his hat down over his eyes, Matt nodded. “But you do know that someday they’ll build tracks all across the country, and they’ll ride across the country by train.”

  “Yep, I think you’re right. Good thing we’re going to Oregon before the whole country can do it in style.” Travis laughed. Yet, it did excite him to think about settling the new land and being a part of something important for the nation.

  Finally, they passed the last of the wagons. Travis grinned, thinking how much closer he was to reunite with Cassie. But the sun was sinking, and soon it would be dark. “We better stop and camp here with the wagon train. Hate to lose a mule to a broken leg traveling at night. No telling how much farther ahead the Watkins trains is.”

  Matt nodded. “Sounds good to me. The mules have had a hard day.”

  Travis stopped the wagon, and soon they had the animals hobbled. He couldn’t wait for the night to be over so they could get on their way. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the sky above was still clear. He hoped it stayed that way.

  He settled down underneath the wagon and hoped he’d see Cassie tomorrow.

  ***

  Cassie had eggs and bacon cooking by the time Sam woke up and came into the dining room. Already, most of the men in town were seated and waiting for their breakfast. Another ten dollars for her.

  “The bacon woke me up. You’re an early riser.” Sam ducked out of her way. “Can I help?”

  Startled, she nodded. “Take thos
e plates to the table by the window.”

  Cassie watched him go. Sam wasn’t a bad sort. In fact, most of the men in the town were clean now. Smiles had replaced their surly looks from yesterday, and they treated her with respect as if she were their sister.

  Sam came back in. “Any more?”

  She nodded and handed him two more plates. “These go to the men on the back wall. Jed told me he’d work on getting me a wagon and horses.”

  “He did? I’ll have to talk to him. I won’t let you go off by yourself.” He dashed out of the kitchen to deliver the plates.

  Cassie took two more plates out to the men nearest the kitchen. “Here you go.”

  One of the men didn’t look familiar. Not that she had gotten a chance to meet all the residents of Calder, but she would have recognized him. He was as rugged as the west and wore danger like an overcoat. He was one man that she’d stay away from.

  Sam called her back to the kitchen.

  Cassie smiled at the men and left. “You’re going to have to get more chickens.”

  “Stay clear of that last man you served. His name is Dawson. He just stopped in town and is moving on to catch a wagon train and work as a scout. But he’s rough. Treats women bad. I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sam flipped an egg. “I thought I’d cook my own.”

  Cassie grinned. “Thanks.”

  Sam slid the egg onto a plate. “I do need more chickens.”

  Cassie made herself a plate of eggs and bacon. “Today, we need to get the barn repaired. And I’ll make a sign, and you or someone can go and place it near the crossroads.”

  “I’m not really ready.”

  “Then get ready. Figure out what you need. Go to a bank and get a loan.” She chewed on a piece of bacon. “How much money do you have?”

  “I saved up five hundred when things were good. Still got most of it. I haven’t had anything to spend it on.” Sam shook his head. “I don’t know, it’s all I got in the world besides this town.”

  Cassie nodded. “Well, make a sign and just advertise the hotel and the diner. Later, you can add more.”