Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  By nightfall, Cole figured he'd better check to see how the man was doing.

  "Not well. He's vomiting, he calls for water…his muscles are cramping and spastic, his heart is pounding and he has severe diarrhea. He's quite sick, and I'm not sure I can save him. He's already severely dehydrated. He's apparently ingested the spring water, wasn't he told about it?"

  "He was. He refused to believe it. Can you save yourself, doc?" Cole asked, worried that the doctor would get sick too.

  "I'm wearing gloves and taking every precaution not to contract it. But I honestly don't think I can do him a bit of good. He's obviously been drinking that water."

  Cole frowned. "Thanks doc, just do what you can. And let me know…"

  "Sure…who is he?"

  "A stranger…Is Perez in danger. He's the one that found him."

  "Casual contact won't usually infect a person. Now if anyone got hold of his canteen, or kissed him or anything like that, maybe."

  "I'll check on him anyway. I can't have my scouts sick too."

  "That would be wise, yes." The doc agreed. "Meanwhile I'll make him as comfortable as I can…"

  Cole rode off.

  That afternoon Emily came to the wagon. She peered in to see the doc napping and Robert twisting and turning. She went inside. The doc looked at her and decided to take a breather.

  "I need to stretch my legs a bit…I'll be back."

  "Of course." Emily smiled.

  She stared at Robert now who was in pain from the muscle cramps, and the pains of diarrhea. The stench in the wagon was enough to gag a person.

  "Emily…I guess I should apologize…I'm not going to make it…"

  "Only God can determine that…" Emily tried to smile.

  "Well, I…I am sorry for all the trouble I caused you. You probably don't believe that. But it's true. If I'd have known how you really felt, I wouldn't have done this…."

  "Water under the bridge." Emily shrugged. "I'm sorry you got this…"

  "It's my own fault. That wagon master tried to warn me. And his scout. I wouldn't listen."

  "He's a pretty nice fella, isn't he?"

  "I guess he is…and your Uncle….he should know the truth."

  "Yeah well, that's alright. He'll figure it out eventually."

  "It's my fault. I took that money. I thought if we married I wouldn't have to do something like that. That night when you caught me, I didn't want to do it, but when you ran away. I had no choice…I'm not rich like you and your Uncle. I worked for everything I got. I was afraid you'd get control and then I'd have nothing to look forward to because you weren't in love with me, wouldn't marry me…"

  Emily's smile didn't meet her eyes. "It's alright Robert. I forgive you…You just concentrate on getting well. Okay?"

  "You-you mean that?"

  "Yes, I mean it. I have even forgiven my Uncle."

  "You've changed. Are you in love with your husband?"

  Emily looked around, "Let's not talk about that right now.?"

  "This pain….it's bad…I never could take much pain…"

  "I'm sorry, has the doctor given you anything for it?"

  "Laudanum. It's the only thing that helps…."

  "I better be going. I just wanted to see how you were."

  He grabbed his stomach, "Not too good. Goodbye, Emily…" He said and stared into her eyes. "Thanks for coming…"

  "Sure…" she said and walked off.

  Emily couldn't believe it, but she was near tears.

  She'd known Robert for six years, and yet she knew so little about him. That was as much her fault as it was his. She'd never been interested in him. Now he lay dying and somehow it struck her as sad. He'd never actually learned to live…and he was dying.

  ~*~

  Perez was testing another stream but because of the many wagon trains that passed the same way, it had become a wealth of sickness.

  "Something wrong?" Perez asked.

  "I wanted to know how you felt. I mean…you came in contact with Robert, the fellow following the train, and picked him up and carried him, so are you alright?" Cole asked looking him over.

  "Si…I am fine. And just so you know, when I test a stream, I wash with the other water afterward, to avoid contaminating myself." Perez smiled. "I carry River water in one canteen, it is the one I drink from."

  "Great. Robert isn't doing too well. I don't think he's going to make it. But I want to put off telling the others I don't need a panic on my hands." Cole said. "Just wanted to reassure myself that you are alright."

  "I am sorry for that." Perez made the sign of the cross on his chest. "It is not a pretty death."

  "I better check and see if everyone is rationing their water," Cole said wearily.

  "You should rest…if you can." Perez looked at him.

  "Don't have time for that," Cole assured him. "We're nearly finished with the ferry, we can start hauling them over the Crossing tomorrow."

  "That is good news." Perez nodded.

  "Yeah, maybe we'll make some progress…" He sighed and rode back toward the train.

  Emily was about to prepare the evening meal. She glanced at Cole but turned away when he looked at her.

  "We'll be crossing tomorrow."

  "That's great. Thanks for letting me know. And for what you are doing for Robert, thanks."

  "Robert isn't doing too well. I wanted you to know that. I looked in on him just a while ago."

  Emily stared at him for a moment. "Has anyone else come down with it?"

  "Not yet, no."

  "Good." Emily sighed.

  Just then, the doc came walking up to them. "I'm sorry, Cole, I couldn't do anything to save him."

  Cole glanced at Emily.

  She turned away slightly, but she wasn't crying, just upset.

  "We'll bury him this evening," Cole said.

  "Yes…of course." The doc hung his head. "I know the people don't like you rationing the water, but it is probably saving lives. Stay your course, don't give in to them. You're on the right track."

  "Thanks doc. I appreciate you saying that."

  Cole hailed one of his men. "Thomas, the man died, can you rig up a proper marking for him?"

  "Sure, be glad to. What was his name?"

  "Emily can fill you in on that."

  "Alright. I'm sorry…."

  "Yeah…just hope he's the last…"

  "Yep…."

  That evening he gathered the people and he prayed over the man, and everyone sang a hymn. They buried Robert alongside the road, so that his grave would be trampled down by the cattle and wagons and the animals would not dig it up.

  As they lowered his cloth covered body into the ground, a sadness took hold of Emily.

  Cole turned to the people. "I want you to know, that because you are abiding by the rules about the water, no one else has come down ill. But we do have some miles to cover yet and it might be a while before we get more water. Don't panic. Used wisely, we can make it until we get to the Columbia. Remember, when you are cooking to wash your hands good. That's all for now. Tomorrow we will start ferrying the wagons over. Then we'll be in the Oregon officially."

  Everyone began to smile and talk about that. It instantly lifted their spirits.

  When Cole turned in that night, he sighed heavily and sleep came quickly.

  ~*~

  But Emily lay awake now, wondering what her Uncle might do if he ever caught her. Since Robert was dead, she wondered if her Uncle would even bother with hunting her down. Of course, her Uncle didn't know Robert was dead. And when he didn't return he might imagine all sorts of things.

  But despite it all, she felt a little relief and a sadness she didn't understand.

  It seemed simple when she left New York, just walk away from it all. Now Robert was dead, her Uncle had a warrant for her arrest, but what was worse, her heart was breaking because Cole wasn't in love with her. She'd known better than to let her heart stray, but the way he kissed her, she couldn't help herself. A
nd yet, it wasn't his kisses she was in love with. It was the man.

  Oh, he wanted her. She understood that, but it was lust, not love.

  She closed her eyes and instantly thought of Cole. She tossed and turned and cried herself to sleep.

  It wasn't in her nature to be weak, but she had fallen very hard for her husband, and she feared she had lost him.

  Still, it occurred to her that she was acting very childish. Cole hadn't really done anything wrong. And she had no right to treat him so unfairly. She knew the bargain when she began this trip. She'd have to stick to that, and not fret over lost love.

  Tomorrow would be better. For tomorrow, she would smile and go on. She wouldn't be mad any longer.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ten wagons went across the next morning without a hitch. Cole's men drove the wagons down slowly. Hawk was on one side of the crossing, Perez on the other. Cole watched as he helped load the ferry. Many of the settlers waited on each side as their wagons were hauled over the crossing.

  They began sending the next ten over slowly. Cole didn't mind how long it took only that it was a safe trip.

  But when they sent the cattle over, a couple bogged down and two of his men rushed to dig one of the cows out. The cow slipped on the rocks and the current pulled it under. Both his men nearly drowned trying to free the cow, but when it didn't look like the rescue would work, Cole went in to help his men. One of the cows didn't make it, though. The cow was swept away by the rapid current.

  The men lay on the banks of the river as the cow went down with the current. All three of them trying to catch their breath.

  When they looked at each other, they laughed, at least they were alive, Cole sighed and leaned back on the bank.

  Emily had seen Cole dive in the water and she had shrieked. When she saw all three men come up on the other side, she sighed with relief. For one brief moment, she knew a pure terror though, she grabbed at her chest.

  The men had worked frantically to save the cow, but they couldn't fight the pull of the currents.

  All the while the two scouts worked diligently to get the wagons ferried over with as little problems as possible. So experienced in building quick ferries the operation was smooth without flaws.

  The wagons had been caulked in case they tumbled and slipped into the current, the food had been raised so it wouldn't get wet. Every precaution was taken that Cole could think of.

  Then came Mr. Swenson with his balking mule.

  Two of Cole's men decided to help get the Mule over.

  "Pull his tail, Carl, that will make him go…" one of the men shouted.

  When they pulled his tail, he made a loud bray and scampered back the way he'd come, wreaking havoc in his trail.

  It took nearly ten minutes to get the mule simmered down. But each time they tried to take the mule across he balked.

  Cole shook his head, "Wait…we'll ferry him across, it will take less time and not make him a nervous wreck. Mules are valuable cargo too."

  Although his idea was right, the mule was not used to moving over water like that and still brayed and reared. By the time they got him across he had damaged the ferry considerable.

  Mr. Swenson shook his head, "He just don't like it. I'd get rid of him, but I plan to use him when we get to the Valley."

  "Getting him there is a problem. We'll have to figure something out before the next crossing." Cole said. So far, the mule had been his biggest headache at the crossing.

  The crossing was high, higher than Cole had ever seen it. And he feared he'd lose someone along the way, but things went so smooth he was almost afraid to breath a breath of fresh air.

  Cole and his men personally helped those who could not swim over to the other side.

  When they stopped to eat, Emily had everything ready and the men were extra hungry as they had been working hard at the crossing. She knew when they worked this hard, she needed to fix extra and she did.

  Emily brought Cole a cup of coffee wanting to make some kind of peace with him.

  Waving aside her own hesitation, she straightened her back and stared at him boldly. She could feel his glance upon her as she approached him. Setting aside her frustrations, she stared at him in his beat-up chaps, sweat worn hat, and always clean shirt and wondered how a man could be so tired and dirty and look so good at the same time. Her heart fluttered every time she allowed herself the pleasure of looking at him. But she didn't let on, she couldn't and keep her pride.

  His gaze was fixed on her face, but slowly slid down her body. She felt a tingling way down in her stomach just from his glance. She wished she could control it, but it was impossible. Cole had that effect on her.

  "Thanks." He reached for the cup and shot her one of his famous, shy smiles.

  That smile could melt the coldest of hearts, she thought to herself.

  "Good meal…I was starved."

  "It wasn't that much, just potatoes, beans and cornbread." She confessed.

  "Yeah, but you keep changing the taste up, I like that. You never get tired of the same thing when you add something new to the pot."

  "A little trick Mrs. Meriwether taught me."

  "Haven't seen you talking to her in a while…something wrong?"

  "No…too many other things going on, I guess. But I speak to her every morning. I make a point of it. After all, she's the reason you have such decent meals, you know. But I'm a little worried about her, she's been getting a little more tired lately too. Staying in her wagon more. It's not her nature."

  Her concern had him staring again.

  She sat down beside him. "I thought the three of you were going to drown today with that cow."

  "Pretty near did." Cole smiled at her. "Almost lost Mr. Swenson's mule. Boy, that's one contrary animal."

  "I saw it…nearly losing your lives all over a cow and a mule…" She shook her head.

  "Cows are necessary…And Mules, well, on a farm they not replaceable." He explained. "I like beef as much as the next man. Mr. Swenson's mule sure tore the ferry up though. Glad he was the last to cross."

  She snickered.

  When it got quiet, she glanced at him. "I was able to talk to Robert before he died." Her voice went low now so the others couldn't hear. "I wanted to see if he was sorry for what he'd done. If he'd admit it."

  "Did he?"

  "Yeah. Kind of surprised me. He's not to type to admit things."

  "The threat of death will do that to any man. That's good. Did the two of you make peace?" Cole watched her expressive face.

  Surprised he knew it, she raised her eyes to him. "Y-yes, we did. Sort of."

  "Good. Did he confess?"

  "Yes. He said he wished he'd listened to you when you tried to warn him." Emily remarked. "He's always been stubborn about things. It was one of his worst faults. It cost him his life."

  "It would have made a difference if he had."

  "Yeah…I guess. But sometimes I think nothing could make a difference, it had to work out this way. I don't think anyone dies before their time. Just like you and that cow."

  He laughed. Then when it got too quiet he asked.

  "You were engaged to him for six years? It's hard to imagine that," Cole said, mulling that in his head.

  "Yes. I was a different person then. You wouldn't recognize me. I mostly did as my Uncle asked me to. I was living in his house, under his graces. As I got older, things began to change. He never understood my growing up."

  Cole nodded.

  "But it was three years before Robert gave me a ring." Her mind wandered back to that time. "He really couldn't afford one. I didn't know that at first. That was something I took so for granted at the time. You know it's funny…I really never got to know him very well…" She shook her head. "I didn't know his favorite meal, his favorite color. What kind of house he wanted to live in, where he wanted to live. Nothing. We just didn't discuss it. We never discussed how many children we should have if I should work after the marriage or not. Nothin
g of real importance. Not like a real couple would talk. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure what we did discuss."

  "I guess that's the way of it, sometimes."

  "Maybe, but I got to thinking about it the other day. He gave me a huge ring, more than he could afford, said a Carrington should have the best. He had a good job with my Uncle, I thought he made enough to afford it, he didn't. Now that I think of it, it must have set him back some to pay for that…He never once complained of it." She reflected sadly. "I'm very sorry now for my lack of interest and callous way of assuming so much from other people."

  "You make it sound as though you were pretty spoiled to the good life."

  "I never realized what a sheltered life I have lived until I came on this drive. Until I saw for myself the struggles that these people make every day, to get there. I chunked that ring out the window so callously. When I suddenly realized how manipulative my Uncle had become, I was mad, at him, not Robert. I'm afraid Robert suffered from my growing up."

  "I can understand that."

  "You see, Robert wasn't rich, and yet he was living as though he were. So naturally, I thought he could afford such a thing. I don't know if that was to impress my Uncle or what, but he really had no money.

  "He worked very hard at his job and took it very seriously. That much I can say for him. It was me that was callous and unfeeling. And to an extent, unfair. Engaged for six years to a man, and still didn't know the little things about him, like I should have. I wasn't even sure what color eyes he had until the other day. I just wasn't that interested. I guess you could say we both wasted a lot of time. But I'm not sure when I started really growing up. I only know it was a lot later than most."

  Cole stared at her. "You didn't have any feeling for him at all?"

  She looked at him and thought about the question. "Not until he died Isn't that strange? It sounds so cold of me. So wrong of me."

  "Obviously, your Uncle was contributing to your immaturity by insisting on the engagement that you were not ready for. It's how life is sometimes…" Cole stared at the ground for a minute. "You're just now realizing how little you had in common, and yet you were engaged for six years."