Laura's Secrets

by Augusta Wright

  The trail became clearer as the sun rose higher over the mountain. As she headed up the rough road, it became narrower with the trees and brush growing closer to the wagon ruts. It was no smoother on the way up than it had been on the way down. The weight of the heavier wagon helped as it bounced along. But not much. The trail was still rough, no matter what. As she approached a small clearing, a large screaming eagle with its talons extended swooped down from the sky startling her.

  Sensing the bird of prey was offering a warning, she became more alert to her surroundings. As she rounded the next bend with high boulders on either side, she saw it was a perfect place for an ambush. Suddenly, a tough-looking man holding a gun stepped out from one of the boulders, waving for her to stop. Recognizing him as one of the men who worked for Tuffy, and who had followed her, she knew he wanted to hurt her or take her back to Tuffy. She urged the team to a faster pace with no intention of stopping as he raised his gun to shoot one of the lead horses. She did not wait to find out his intentions, but instead drew her pistol, shooting his gun hand before he could fire.

  A flash of sunlight on a rifle barrel in the boulders drew her attention, and she fired at the gun pointed in her direction. Whether it was expert shooting or dumb luck, her hot lead found the gunpowder in the rifle barrel causing it to explode in the outlaw’s face. She heard a loud explosion and a scream as she continued at breakneck speed up the mountain.

  The wagon sped by the gunman lying next to the road, holding his hand with a bullet hole through it and cussing her for the she-devil he knew her to be.

  Laura was frightened by the ambush; she pushed the horses hard, racing around dangerous curves. As she began to calm down, she slowed the horses as well, talking to them in soothing tones. Easing them into a comfortable pace, she soon found a place near a spring to stop and rest them.

  Glancing around to make sure she was not followed, she secured the reins, set the brake and climbed down taking her rifle with her. Her six-shooter strapped to her leg and hip gave her comfort, but if she encountered a bear, she would need the power of a rifle. Getting several wooden buckets from the wagon, she headed in the direction of running water.

  After she gave each horse a drink to cool them down, she talked softly to each one, petting and scratching their ears. She thanked them for working hard to take her out of harm’s way. Climbing up on the wagon seat, she picked up the reins, saying, “Ladies, nice and easy now!”

  By noon, they were almost home. It amazed her the way four horses could eat up miles. She remembered the hard journey down the mountain with the gold and two horses. She felt ashamed now, knowing what a strain she had put on those two. She had learned so much from John about the horses sharing the weight of pulling the wagon. She was happy her first two mares were tied to the back, and not pulling the wagon.

  Deciding to take a break, Laura searched for a place where she could pull off the narrow trail in case another wagon or riders came along. Finding a wide spot to stop, she eased the mares into a shaded area with a rushing stream nearby. Tying them securely, she hauled water to the mares again.

  Laura prepared six feedbags with oats for them because they had not eaten since last night. They needed food and rest and so did she. After attaching the feedbags to each horse, she grabbed her rifle and her dinner basket and went to sit under a tall pine tree. Sadie had filled the basket with all her favorite foods—fried chicken, fresh vegetables, sourdough bread and best of all, slices of apple pie. After eating, she became drowsy. As she eased back against the tree, the long weary hours and the short night took their toll on her.

  She did not know how long she slept, but as she woke, something furry was lying next her. She slowly opened her eyes to see Silver. He had been guarding her and waiting for her to wake up. “Oh, Silver!” she cried, hugging him close, feeling his soft, beautiful fur, and gazing at his piercing blue eyes. She did not know how he always knew where to find her, but he did. Did he sense her? She felt better knowing he was here.

  The mares did not like the wolf around them and were becoming nervous. However, she talked to each one of them, explaining the wolf would not harm them. They seemed to understand. Gathering up the feedbags, she watered each horse again before continuing the rest of the journey. Laura felt refreshed and sensed the horses did too. Silver followed behind.

  Mid afternoon, she approached the trail to her ranch. The logs and limbs were still arranged the way she had placed them when she left. She had asked Matthew to come through the woods but never the same way twice. She did not want paths that could be followed to her cabin. After the attack on the road, she knew Tuffy was still looking for her. She did not want anyone to find her easily. Moving the logs aside, she made enough room for the horses and wagon to pass through. Replacing everything, she picked up a branch using it like a broom to erase the horses’ hoof marks and wagon tracks and moved loose leaves over everything. Anyone who approached the cabin would be someone who already knew where to find her. And there were few people who knew.

  She decided she would wait for Matthew to come tomorrow to unload. After backing the wagon to the front porch, and setting the brake, she placed rocks in front and back of the wheels to prevent it from rounding. Unhitching the horses, she led them to the barn to remove the harnesses and she turned them out into the hidden valley. They ran, jumped, and kicked up their heels glad to be free of the leather and chains. Before long, they settled down and began to eat the luscious green grass.

  The penned chickens made squawking noises at her when she scattered grain in their pen. She laughed at their fussing, promising them tomorrow they would be free to roam and scratch wherever they wanted.

  She was anxious to unload her new clothes and other personal things she had bought. As she removed the tarp at the back of the wagon, she sucked in her breath. A beautiful oak cradle on rockers had been hidden there. Inside a note read, “For your babies, Love, Sadie.” She cried as she touched the cradle.

  The cradle was the first item she carried into the cabin. More of her personal things followed, but she gazed at the cradle each time she passed it. Replacing the tarp over her supplies in case it rained during the night, she went inside to fondle and talk to the beautiful cradle. Nothing could have pleased her more. When she looked inside the cradle, she found tiny baby clothes, blankets, and soft materials for making more baby things.

  “Oh, Sadie, you wonderful person. Thank you so much,” she said. Later, when she went to bed, she placed one hand on the cradle and the other on her stomach.

  Up and dressed by sunup, Laura was ready to start the day. Opening all the windows to catch the freshness of the early morning, she gloried in her happy feelings. She filled her cup with coffee and added a spoonful of honey, remembering she was almost out of the sweetener. Could she rob a hive without getting stung?

  Taking her coffee, she walked out of the cabin, toward her Widow’s Peak and her bench overlooking the river valley. She checked for any animals, friendly or wild, because she had to be careful now considering she was alone again and carried a special treasure under her heart.

  Would it be dark like Jim or fair like Rowdy? Would it be a boy or a girl? Thoughts whirled through her mind as she wondered who the father of her baby might be. It came from one of them. Jim had talked to her about being in the family way and wanted her to contact him if she did. However, she did not know which man was the father. Perhaps when the baby was born she would know.

  Sometime later, as she finished her breakfast, she heard someone crossing the wooden bridge below the cabin. Hoping it was Matthew but getting her rifle anyway, she went to the door.

  Matthew gave her a big hug. “I was thinking I would find you home today. Did you have a safe trip? I worried about you while you were gone.”

  Laura hugged him as she began telling him the highlights of her trip. “Have you had breakfast?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes, we’ve been enjoying your fresh eggs every morning. Thank you for sharing them with u
s. But Mother is anxious to leave as soon as possible. I don’t want to go. I would rather stay here and work for you. I don’t want to live in Georgia.”

  “I know she has been unhappy here. I’ll visit with her tomorrow, and we’ll get our arrangements taken care of. Are you ready to work hard today? I have a lot of work for you to do.” She led him over to the wagon and began to release the tarp covering.

  It took the boy and the pregnant woman until after noon to unload the wagon. Laura wanted things stored just so. Therefore, as Matthew brought boxes in, she worked to unload the items and store them within easy reach.

  The most difficult to handle were two large sealed barrels of salted pork and beef. During the winter months, she might not be able to hunt, so she planned to have meat available. They devised a plan to remove some of the meat from each barrel to make it lighter to carry down into the cellar. When they had reloaded the salted meats back into the original barrels, they resealed them.

  Matthew laughed when he discovered Laura had purchased a large copper bathtub and filled it with bottles of bathing salts and fragrant soaps. She told him jokingly, “Mind your own business,” as she carried her treasures into the cabin.

  Near the front of the wagon were large burlap sacks of oats for the horses and colorful sacks of chicken feed. She would use the cloth material to make aprons or shirts when the sacks were empty. Nothing went to waste on a ranch. When the snows came, she would have feed for her animals since the grass would be gone except for what hay she could manage to cut and store in the barn. She wished Matthew could stay to help with the haying, but knew not to voice her wish to him because he would stay. And his mother needed him more.

  They worked steadily, not stopping to eat until all the food items had been unloaded. Laura sent Matthew to hitch up the team and unload the remaining sacks of feed, reminding him to put the wagon into the lean-to. She asked him to release the mares into the grassy meadow. While he took care of the animals, Laura went into the cabin to prepare a late dinner of cured ham and fried potatoes.

  Matthew gobbled the meal before heading home to continue helping his mother pack. Laura waved from her Widow’s Peak as Matthew reached the other side of the valley and waved back at her. Pleased with how well today had gone, she went back in to finish organizing the supplies in the kitchen and to knead the bread dough she would set to rising. She was preparing a going-away basket of food for the Wilsons’ journey. She hummed and sang as she worked. She was tired but happy, too. Today had been good, but tomorrow would be even better because she would double the size of her ranch when Mrs. Wilson sold her the 320 acres she owned. She could hardly wait!

  The next day, Laura returned to the ranch after noon. She was as pleased as Mrs. Wilson at how well the transaction had gone. Mrs. Wilson expressed her pleasure at the price Laura had insisted on paying for the land. “I would have taken less to get out of there.”

  After she signed over the deed to Laura, she cried telling her, “This place was always my husband’s dream, but it turned into a terrible nightmare we just couldn’t wake up from. Nothing has ever been right here. I pray you and your husband will not have the problems we’ve had.”

  Laura allowed her to assume Abner was still alive and responded by saying, “Will you take this letter and deed papers to Mr. George Miller in Denver? He is my lawyer who is taking care of business affairs for me. He will record it, making it a legal sale. Here are several letters for Mr. Miller and this letter is to Mr. Little at the bank. It directs him to pay you our agreed upon price. You may want to take just enough money to buy tickets and food for your travels. It isn’t a good idea to travel with all of your money. Mr. Little can have the rest transferred to your bank at home. That way you and the children will not lose all your money if by chance something happens. I had robbers try to stop me on the way up.”

  Mrs. Wilson gasped.

  Laura explained, “By the grace of God and a screaming eagle, I made it through. May God continue to protect you and the children as you return home. I’ll miss you all.” After hugging Mrs. Wilson and each of the children, she mounted her horse. Matthew walked a little way down the trail from the house because he wanted to speak to Laura privately. He asked her again if he could stay and work for her, but she shook her head saying, “Matthew, you are the head of the family now, whether you want to be or not. Your mother is not strong yet, and she is depending on you to help her and the children get back home. I know you will, but I promise you this, when you have her settled and happy again, and when she will let you go, you will always have a job here with me.”

  “Do you promise?” he asked.

  “Yes, it’s a promise. If it is one year or several before you return, you will have a job with me.” She shook his young hand, slipping a twenty-dollar gold piece into it. “You are worth a lot more than that. Take care of your family and I’ll see you when you get back.” Laura urged her mare toward home.

  Chapter Nineteen

  While Laura was gone to Denver, Eagle Talon had continued to watch the Spirit Woman’s cabin unable to find her. He prayed to the Great Spirit the woman was a good omen. He asked for help from his eagle spirit guide to help him on his vision quest to find buffalo for his people. Without the mighty buffalo, his people would die.

  Several days ago, he had slipped down to the cabin. Not sure where she might be, he watched hoping to see her working. He waited for several hours in his hiding place, and then he slipped closer.

  Opening the cabin door, he peeped inside. She was not there! With a feeling of relief, he did not encounter her, he moved around the room looking at what odd things the Spirit Woman surrounded herself with. He climbed up a small ladder, which led to a shelf above the corner of the room where she dried her herbs and plants for healing. It pleased him when he recognized plants he used as well. She used powerful medicine. He grunted, pleased with that knowledge.

  He wanted something of hers he could use to draw her to him. On the table, she had placed wildflowers in water, which had now drooped and died. She liked flowers. He had seen thorny plants in wooden buckets outside and wondered why she grew them. On a table near her bed, he found a small box and opened it. Inside was an assortment of buttons, hairpins and small shiny trinkets. Picking up each item, he examined it to see if it had the strong power he was seeking. He placed everything back as he’d found it, except one large mother-of-pearl button. He had seen traders from the great waters that brought shells and other treasures like these to swap for furs. It was shiny and beautiful, like her. He hoped she would not miss the possession.

  He continued to walk around the cabin a little longer, enjoying the sense of wellbeing he received from being where she lived. He liked her scent, which was everywhere. He needed to know if she could help his people, or if he should stay away from her. He left the cabin as he found it, and prowled around the rest of the buildings.

  Soon he returned to the forest following the animal path back to his tepee. Untying the leather strips from one of his braids, he threaded it through the button and tied it in his hair as a coup. He believed he now had power over the Spirit Woman.

  As he sat cross-legged in the predawn darkness before his fire, his medicine bag and contents spread before him, he breathed the fragrant smoke of the sacred sage filling his lungs and swirling about his head. He chanted a song as he moved his eagle feather fan, motioning the smoke in the four directions to guard him from evil spirits. Today he would take the form of his spirit guide and search for the herds.

  As he lit his pipe, filled with his special blend of bearberry, sweet grass, and the powerful peyote, he began his summoning ceremony. He sucked smoke up the long clay pipe into his mouth and lungs, and felt the soothing and comforting relief it gave him. All will be well was his last conscious thought as he slipped into a meditative trance.

  The rising sun began to chase the dark shadows away as Eagle Talon began his Sunrise Song. When he finished the welcoming song of morning, he sang the Buffalo Song a
nd then made music on his eagle bone whistle. He tapped slowly on his drum as he followed the ancient sacred ceremony calling to his spirit guide.

  Suddenly, he felt his spirit transported high above the clouds. His guide had lifted him upward to find the buffalo. He flew in ever-widening circles as the wind currents caught his feathered wings and he soared higher, ever searching.

  He cut through the early morning air, his sharp eagle eyes seeing someone driving a wagon into an ambush. Why he flew downward to warn him, he did not know, until the moment the Spirit Woman turned her face upward as he screamed his warning and swooped down. His spirit and hers united together in that moment. His eagle spirit form had not frightened her and his warning was successful. He heard shots, and the wagon continued onward without stopping.

  The Spirit Woman had returned! His very soul knew it as if the earth had communicated to him. It had been many suns since he first saw the strange Spirit Woman in the spring. He had not seen her again until today. He sensed she would be able to help him on his quest, but he did not know how or when. He must find out all he could about her.

  Now as the sacred sage smoke circled around his head, he suddenly was back on his medicine blanket in his tepee, his eagle spirit had returned him to his human form. He sang a song of thanksgiving for her return as he tapped lightly on his spirit drum.

  Eagle Talon rose and broke his fast with water and the remains of a small turkey he had killed and roasted yesterday. He needed to hunt soon for larger game. Later, as he sat outside his tepee, he remembered the time before he came to the mountains. He and his people believed the Great Spirit lived here. He was the medicine man of his tribe, an honor he shared with his mother, Running Fawn. He had sought visions, but they had not come. He had begun to doubt his power as a medicine man.