Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "I look back on it now, and wonder how people can go through life, without feeling more, wanting more. I wonder what my Uncle will think now? When Robert doesn't return, he won't know what to think. Perhaps that's best. At least we can leave the man's reputation intact."

  "That's probably best. He won't know for a long time, unless you write him and tell him. He won't know about the confession. Nothing will probably change with him. Are you sure you don't want any part of the Shipyards? Don't you at least want to contact your lawyer and let him know you are alive?"

  "No…and I'm sure…" The night was cooling and Emily pulled her shawl around her closer. "You see, I sort of made a pact with myself. When I came on this train, I left my old life behind. I really did. And because I did, my thinking and feeling changed with it. And I won't be writing him and telling him. A clean break is what we need. And the company, well, he'll just have to figure that out for himself. The Shipyards are so a part of him, and I do owe the man for supporting me all those years. He'll know what to do, and he'll do it. Nothing has changed for him, and it won't. In fact, if he wanted to, he could have me declared legally dead. That would entitle him to the company."

  "I don't know another woman in this world who would give up so much…" Cole said quietly as he looked at her.

  She shrugged and looked straight at him. "Don't think me noble. I've had a good life as people call it. I've had the luxuries that many only dream of, nice home, beautiful clothes, great reputation. Everything. It never once made me a happy woman. Another thing I realized when I was leaving. And now I want to be happy. Now I don't want to be sheltered and taken care of. I want to make my own way. Even if I fail, I want to try."

  "You cold?"

  "Just a bit…" She said. "I better turn in. You should get some rest too, you look tired."

  "We made it across without losing anyone. I'm pretty happy about that." Cole said. "So it's a happy tired."

  "You're a good wagon master…the job suits you." She said and got up to leave.

  He grabbed her hand. It was warm and moist and he held it gently for a moment. "Everyone can change a little, Em…we are still going to have that talk."

  "Let's not worry about that…until we get there." She said softly.

  "I'm glad you are talking to me now…I missed that."

  "So did I." She said softly meeting his gaze.

  He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it.

  She wondered what he had been about to say. She might never know.

  She crawled into the wagon that night and pulled the blanket tight against her. She had a new life to look forward to, and she needed to focus on that. There was nothing she could do about the past, about Robert, her Uncle or the Shipyards.

  She lay listening to the lull of frogs and crickets, and the occasional howl of a coyote far off.

  When Cole slid under the wagon, she heard him. She heard the gigantic sigh he made as he finally bedded down for the night. He was tired, and rightfully so. Still, it was a happy tired.

  But she was right about one thing, he was a good wagon master.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Things were going well once they made the crossing and they picked up a little time. The trails were rougher in areas, and some took a lot of time. It rained more in Oregon and this made travel not only miserable, but time consuming since the wagons often bogged down in the mud.

  The people seemed to be happy and looking forward to getting into their new homes. Homes they would have to build. Homes it might take years to cultivate. But they had willing hearts, that would make a difference.

  Emily had the feeling that another chapter in her life was coming to an end, her marriage to Cole. She didn't want it to end, but short of that confession there was nothing to be done. Cole was a wagon master, and he wasn't going to give up a life he enjoyed to stay with her.

  Somehow she had to reconcile that fact.

  But then something happened that changed everything.

  It was raining and miserable as they trudged through the mud. Several wagons had to be dug out. Sometimes the wagons pulled out of the mud easily, other times because of the weight, they bogged down even more.

  But a feeling of imminent danger lurked.

  When about twenty men showed up at the camp that evening, Emily was the first to discover them.

  She was fixing the evening meal, talking to Bill, when the men rode right up into camp.

  Bill turned to greet them. "Can we help you?"

  Alarms went off in Emily's head, but she knew the best thing she could do was stay calm.

  "Well now, we were just wondering if we could take shelter with you folks." One of the men said.

  Bill came forward. "This is a wagon train mister."

  "Yeah, I can see that pops. But you got food and fire, and a little shelter."

  "What do you men want here?" Bill asked outright.

  "Just a little grub, a place to sleep for the night…" The man kept staring at Bill.

  Emily saw the tension building and wanted to calm Bill. "You're welcome to eat…" she said, not even looking at the men.

  The man that had been doing all the talking came up to her on his horse. He was young and good looking. He had blondish hair that curled a little at the back and wide-set blue eyes that stared easily. "That's right kindly of you ma'am."

  His eyes went over her provocatively and Emily felt the first pangs of panic. Turning her attention back to her food, she ignored him.

  "Well, you heard the woman, let's eat." He said and climbed down off his horse. The other men followed his actions.

  Bill came close to Emily. "You are making a mistake, these men…"

  But he was interrupted. "Calm down pops, we've been invited to eat."

  Emily filled them small plates of her meal, so that she'd have enough to feed Cole's men. They'd be back any time now.

  She handed the first plate to the man she figured was their leader. "There you go."

  "That ain't much." He stared at the food. "Is that all you can spare?"

  "Yes, it's all we can spare, sorry," Emily answered not looking at him. "I have more to feed than you gentlemen."

  "Gentlemen are we? If that don't beat all. Well, since you've been so friendly with the invite, the next meal will be bigger, won't it?" He nudged her with his elbow.

  "Next meal?" She turned now to look him in the eye.

  "Why sure, we'll be here for breakfast," he laughed.

  Bill cast her a quick frown.

  "I guess you'll have to take that up with the boss," Emily said quietly. "I only invited you to eat. Not stay."

  Her hands were shaking, but she willed herself not to show it. She knew the key sometimes to getting away with an attitude was to be strong.

  "And who might that be? Who runs this outfit?" The man laughed.

  "Cole, Cole Morgan."

  "Never heard of him…" the man laughed.

  The others laughed with him.

  "He's the wagon master," Emily explained.

  She was about to turn back to her cooking when the man grabbed her wrist, "And who might you be?"

  "I'm…Emily Morgan." She said, finding it strange to say the name aloud to anyone.

  "You the boss's wife?"

  "That's right." She answered and pulled away from the man.

  The man stared at her. "She's feisty, ain't she?"

  The others chuckled.

  But when Cole and Sam rode in, the very air changed.

  His face was a storm, but obviously like Emily he tempered it.

  He glanced around and studied the men before speaking. Weighing the circumstances he eyed the one that was staring at Emily as he dismounted.

  "You men seeking shelter for the night?" Cole asked, his voice guarded.

  The man who'd done all the talking so far came right up to him. "That's right. Your missus done made us feel welcome too. Invited us to eat with you."

  Sam stood close by, watching, his hand almost
at his gun.

  "Considering the weather, I can understand that. You are welcome to eat…but I'm sure you'll be wanting to shove off after that." Cole said, his voice holding no argument. "Looks like more weather coming."

  "That ain't very friendly of you mister. It's raining, and we need shelter for the night. You got wagons we could sleep under."

  Cole narrowed his gaze once more. "Most cowboys can put up with a little rain. You don't look like tenderfoots to me."

  The man stood square in front of Cole, ripped out his gun and put it in his belly. "Maybe they can, but we ain't cowboys, we're outlaws. And we ain't ready to leave yet."

  Cole didn't back down or act surprised. "I figured as much. What do you want, we're a wagon train full of people. We have little of value to offer you. We've left a lot behind on the trial."

  The man looked at his men, then Cole and Sam. "Oh, we're aware of that. Most trains leave a little furniture behind, we saw a few piles here and there, but we ain't looking for that. We want the small stuff, like jewelry and…money."

  "You must be pretty desperate to rob a wagon train," Cole said glancing at Sam. "Don't you know most of these people pay a price to take on a trip this size. They have little money."

  "They might not, but the wagon master ought to have a pile somewhere."

  The man stared at him and shook his head. Then he turned to Sam, "I wouldn't be thinking of going for that gun mister. Your boss will be dead, and you'll be next."

  Cole looked at Sam and shook his head.

  Sam eased his hand off his gun. But his glance never left them.

  "That's better. Now, let's sit down and finish eating. Then we'll get to the others."

  "The others?"

  "Yeah, your people. You're going to gather them and they are going to empty their money and possessions to us."

  "We'll take some of your better horses, maybe a side or two of beef and…your wife…to make sure you don't try to follow us and kill us in our sleep."

  Emily turned around to look at Cole. For only a second, her expression mirrored the terror in her heart. He saw it and his frown grew bigger as he looked at the man with the mouth.

  "Who are you?"

  "Not anyone you would know, I'm sure. My name is Mike Bates, and these are my men."

  "Robbers, murderers, what?" Cole demanded to know.

  "We've frequently robbed the Hudson Bay Company of its payroll. Had to kill a few in that. They got guards all around. Mostly we rob from ones that cheat others. But occasionally we have to rob from the innocent and that would be you…"

  His men snickered.

  "We are traveling to the Willamette Valley, we are settlers sir," Cole explained as though it made any difference to these men.

  Mike blinked effectively then smiled. "And once we've taken what we want, you can be on your way. Now, for tonight, we'll sleep under the wagons and in the morning you will gather the people, we will take their possessions and your wife and leave…"

  Cole frowned. "What do you want with my wife?"

  "Aside from the fact that she's a handsome woman, she's a dandy cook. We need a cook. My men and I have had scarce good meals in a long while." He explained.

  Emily came to stand beside Cole. "And if I won't cook for you?" She asked boldly, holding her chin high.

  "Then we'll just have to kill you…"

  Cole's teeth gritted.

  "If you do this, I'll hunt you down personally and kill every one of you," Cole promised. "That's not a promise, it's fact."

  The man looked at Emily. "Does he always brag so?"

  "He means it," Emily affirmed.

  "That's a shame, because so do I," Mike exclaimed and his men snickered.

  "Now…let's finish eating and then we'll be finding us a place to sleep under the wagons."

  "Which wagons?" Cole asked.

  "Any we choose."

  Cole, Emily, Sam and Bill all sat together. "Sam I want you to tell me where they are bedded down later. Em, don't be afraid. If they take you, I'll be right behind you. Sam can take the train ahead. Sam, the money for the Barlow Road crossing, is in my boot. Tonight, I'll take my boots off and hang them over the back of the wagon. Take the money and get the people through."

  "But I want to go with you."

  "You can't. I'll take Perez. Someone has to get the people through this. Someone has to get their money back too. But the reason I will be following them is Em. No one is going to hurt her…"

  "Okay boss. I'll take them through. You probably got a better chance of getting them if there are only two of you. And Perez is as good as you with a gun."

  "Thanks, I knew I could count on you. Em…try not to be afraid…I won't be far behind."

  "I'll do my best, but don't take any chances Cole. I'm not ready to be a widow…" She tried to smile.

  Everyone bedded down, but Mike left two of his men on duty to guard. The rest of the men drifted in, and the guards informed them of their intentions. The men were restless, but Sam was able to dispel some of their frustrations.

  "Em…" Cole had called to her before he bedded down.

  She turned and he hauled her against him, his lips assuaging the ache that was growing between them. "I'll find you Em…if it takes forever…"

  Then he kissed her as though it were their last. Em drown in that kiss. She melted against him, her lips eagerly moving against his.

  "Be strong Em…for me…" He said and slid under the wagon.

  Next morning the camp was in a frenzy as Cole called a meeting.

  As everyone gathered, they noticed the men.

  "Well now, isn't this a big crew of people. If you will all be good enough to bring all your valuables, we won't kill anyone." Mike announced.

  Everyone began muttering and looking at Cole.

  Cole tried to reassure them. "Please…to prevent violence, do what he says. They won't get away with this…"

  One woman fainted when one of the outlaws jerked a pearl necklace off her neck and gathered the scattering pearls.

  A man objected. "First we gotta leave our furniture and goods on the trail. Now we let outlaws in and they rob us. What next?"

  Mike looked at his men and smiled. The he turned to the old man objecting. He pointed the gun right at him. "If you want to stay alive, I suggest you do as we tell you. Now, you'll cooperate, won't you." He glanced at the people.

  Watches, jewelry of all kinds were confiscated.

  Then the money was collected.

  The people gave it up, but they looked to Cole to save it all. Cole knew what he had to do, and he wasn't about to hesitate.

  Mike saw the stack of possessions and money and smiled. "Well now, Mr. Morgan it would appear you have a right sensible group here. No trouble at all. And I thank you fine people. It makes a difference in life and death."

  He looked at his men. "Find a trunk and put the stuff in. Oh and Mr. Morgan, do you have something to contribute?"

  "Sorry, the money is in the bank in Independence."

  "Bank….? Search him fellas."

  His men searched Cole and found nothing.

  They went through a couple of wagons and found one trunk. Then they gathered the loot and put it in it.

  After tying it to their horses, they looked at Mike again.

  "You've done well. Now, the only other thing is we are going to take Mrs. Morgan with us. You see we need a cook badly."

  Mrs. Meriwether came forward. "Take me instead, I'm a better cook than anyone here…and it won't matter so much if you kill me."

  Mike looked the old woman up and down. He laughed aloud. "That's a right generous offer, old lady, but I'd rather look at her, than a dried up old woman, and she cooks fine. We ate with her last night. No, we'll take her."

  "I want this one…" one of the outlaws brought forth Beth from her wagon.

  Beth was dressed in a thin cotton dress that clung to her curves. The men all eyed her. It was plain what they wanted from her.

  Mrs. Meriwet
her shrieked.

  "Well, now, you do carry some delicate cargo, Mr. Morgan. Two nice looking ladies. Alright, you want her, she's yours. Take her with us. Now, Mrs. Morgan…if you please…"

  Emily shook, but she looked at Cole and turned to kiss him. "Be careful…" she murmured in his ear as her lips touched his momentarily.

  Mike jerked her away. "That's enough of that."

  "When will you turn her loose?"

  "Oh…I forgot to tell you. We won't be turning her loose. I told you, we need a cook, and she's an exceptional looking woman…I'd never turn a woman like her out."

  "Aren't you staying the night?" Cole asked abruptly.

  "Nah…I guess not. You weren't very accommodating about that. So we'll just mosey along. And I better not catch anyone following us, I might get a little trigger happy with the girls if that happens."

  The crowd shrieked again.

  Cole frowned and doubled his fist at his side.

  Sam murmured behind him. "Easy, wait until they leave…"

  Cole relaxed just a fraction.

  Emily stared at him.

  Beth went willingly, a smile on her face.

  Mrs. Meriwether clutched her chest. "Don't hurt her, please don't hurt her. She doesn't know any better."

  "Oh, we plan on taking real good care of them."

  He stared at Cole now. "I see a venomous look in your eyes. I wouldn't even try to follow if I were you. We have two of your women, if we see you behind us, we'll just have to kill them. And that would be a shame…"

  "Why take them…why not me?"

  Mike laughed in his face. "You! Now what would we do with you?"

  "Kill me…"

  "That wouldn't help us a bit. My men have been without female companionship for a long time. They are kinda randy. This should take care of the problem." Mike laughed. "Especially with that young, lively one. She doesn't seem to mind going like your wife does."

  "Your days are numbered Mr. Bates," Cole shouted.

  Sam held him back.

  Perez was standing beside him and his look of disgust and pent up anger spoke volumes to Cole.