“Yes, really. So starting now, what do you think is a fair punishment for going off alone to the camp?”
“Dunno.”
“I don't know is the correct answer. Jo tells me you are behind with your schooling.”
“Pa never let me go,” Almanzo said defensively.
“Education is very important, Almanzo. You need to read and write properly. So tonight, you can show me how well you can read. Every night, you will read for at least fifteen minutes.”
“Ah shucks. Couldn’t you whip me instead?”
Chapter 28
The days passed as they continued their travels. Becky found the journey was beyond monotonous with the same scenery around them. Everyone, including Ma who was usually so good-tempered, was snappy and ill-tempered. Becky was quieter than usual, not that anyone noticed. She hadn’t seen Scott alone for a while.
Tension filled the air and it wasn’t solely caused by couples fighting or parents snapping at children. It had been some days since they’d last found water and their supplies were worryingly low. They had rationed themselves to a cup a day each. It wasn’t enough, especially as the air was dusty from the sand on the roads. The cattle weren’t faring much better. The best grass had been eaten by the animals from the trains ahead of them leaving sparse vegetation in their midst.
“Look, that’s a river bed, isn’t it?” someone shouted out. She thought it might be Mr. Bradley, but she couldn’t be sure.
“Let’s go check it out. Seems like it might be as there is grass beside it. The cattle will be happy,” Pa commented, a smile back on his face.
“Shouldn’t we wait for Captain Jones and Rick to get back?”
“No, they will see us. Come on, you want a drink, don’t you?”
A drink? She wanted to take a bath in nice, cool, refreshing water. She shook the thoughts out of her head and concentrated on the task at hand. It wasn’t a steep slope but she didn’t want any accidents with the wagon now.
When they got to the river bed, they were severely disappointed.
“Where did the water all go?’ Julia’s voice trembled as the tears streamed down her face. “Those look like muddy puddles not a big river.”
Johanna bent down to give the little girl a hug. “The water must have dried into the ground. We will find some. You go play with Carrie, she can show you her books.”
She knew Julia didn’t believe Johanna but she went with Carrie and Sarah anyway. She put the brake on the wagon and jumped down.
Grabbing a shovel, she turned to her twin. “So where do you think the water is?”
“How do I know. We just have to dig until we find it.”
Taken aback by Johanna’s uncharacteristic terseness, she decided to say nothing and start digging. They dug for a while before the men came and relieved them. Thankfully, they did as they didn’t hit water until the hole was four or five feet down.
“We’ll have to sieve it as it’s so sandy. It will do until we find a better supply.”
“Maybe Captain Jones will have found a spring. And some meat. Wouldn’t that be fantastic?”
“Not asking for much are you, Becky?” Johanna said grinning, this time no trace of anger in her tone. “Sorry for biting your head off earlier.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad to see I am not the only one fed up with all this.” Becky waved around her. “I can’t wait until we are in a real town.”
“In a proper house that doesn’t move.”
“And has a well and a pump and a bath.”
The sisters giggled as their list became more demanding. By the time Scott and Rick had returned, they were nearly hysterical. Both men looked at each other as if wondering whether the women were going mad from lack of water or too much sun.
“Did you find water?”
“Yes, but it is too far away for the wagons to get there tonight. We will reach it late afternoon at the earliest.”
Becky groaned.
“But we brought you back a present,” Rick handed his canteen to Johanna. She took a mouthful and then another one. “Go on, drink. We brought enough for everyone to have at least a cup.”
Scott handed his canteen to Becky, her skin tingling at his touch. He looked tired, his eyes clouded with pain. She longed to say something to ease his pain but what? She had bared her soul and he’d told her they had no future. He’d made his mind up. She had to live with that. The water lost its attraction. She couldn’t stand here close to him without being able to touch or embrace him like Johanna had done with Rick. She moved away, using the excuse of having to find her pa to give him the fresh water.
David found an actual stream a few miles away from the river bed. They forced themselves to travel to it knowing it would be better for both man and beast.
“I am not going another step. Not one single one.”
“Okay, my darling, I will carry you.” David picked Eva up and carried her the last few steps to the river.
“Isn’t he so nice—oh my!” Ma started laughing as David unceremoniously dumped his wife in the river. Eva screamed in shock before trying to turn David’s joke back on him. She kicked as much water as she could in his direction but her skirts hampered her efforts. David laughed and teased her from the river bank. Johanna caught Becky’s hand and pointed toward someone on the bank. Captain Jones snuck up behind David, picked him up and threw him into the river beside his wife. The children soon followed suit, jumping in after the adults. It was just the break everyone needed after the tedious travels of the previous few days.
Becky caught Scott’s eye as he laughed at the antics in the water. She smiled thinking how relaxed he looked. He smiled back making her insides quiver but then he turned his back leaving her feeling bereft.
Scott watched the people in the water. He had grown close to them over the journey. They’d been through so much together. If he married Becky, he could continue to live among these people. Raise a family with them as neighbors. Why couldn’t he forget Mitchell?
Chapter 29
The roads over the mountain were extremely hilly and rough. They didn’t cover as many miles as they had previously. The scenery was delightful and there was plenty of grass for the animals. They traveled about ten miles before meeting an Indian who showed them where to water the cattle. Johanna didn’t recognize him from the camp but it was clear Captain Jones knew him. She watched as they greeted each other. It seemed friendly but she sensed he didn’t know this man as well as he had known the previous group.
They were soon surrounded by a herd of horses and ponies. The children became very excited.
“Do you think they would let us ride them?” Stephen asked excitedly.
“I don’t think so, Stephen. Those horses are wild and not suitable for riding unless you can ride bare back.”
“I can ride without a saddle,” Almanzo said, his eyes on Sarah.
“Really? Where did you learn to do that?” Sarah challenged him.
“It’s easy. Anyone can do it. Look at that boy, he looks a lot younger than me.”
The Indian boy looked to be about Carrie’s age but he was in complete control of his horse. Rick laughed but quickly turned it into a choke as Johanna frowned at him.
“Almanzo, darling, the Indian boys are different from us,” Johanna said gently. “They are taught to ride without saddles from a very young age. Don’t try to be brave or heroic. We have had enough illness and injury to last a life time.”
Almanzo didn’t say a word but frowned, looking at the ground.
“Promise me you will not try to ride.”
“Yes, ma’am, but…”
“But what, Almanzo?”
“Walking Tall showed me how to ride when I was at the camp. I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Let him go, Jo, he has to learn and it looks like he made a good friend.”
They watched as Almanzo and the Indian boy greeted each other like long lost brothers. Johanna’s heart was in her mouth as Almanzo mounted a horse
, but to her surprise, he handled it very well. He was growing up.
“Thank you for coming together tonight. We have to cross the river and the current, while not as fast as some, is unpredictable. My friend, Ahmik—his name means Beaver—will help us across. He knows this river better than anyone.”
“Can you not do it, Captain Jones?”
“No, Mrs. Newland. Ahmik is the expert. He will guide the cattle too. He knows the easiest places for them to cross.”
“Is his service expensive?”
“No, Mrs. Long. He would like some fresh meat for his family. I have taken care of it.”
“Thank you, Captain Jones. When do we cross?”
“In the morning. It is too dangerous to attempt at night.”
“Is there no way around the river?”
Milly’s nervous tone had her husband, Stan, reaching for her hand.
“You will be fine, Milly, Johanna and Becky will travel with you. You ladies will cross first.”
“I’m sorry Captain Jones but I can’t travel with Milly. Well, not unless she wants to go over by canoe.” Becky’s smirk made him angry but he couldn’t say anything. Not here in front of her pa.
“Becky, I don’t think that is wise. It’s not safe.”
“Sure it is Ma. Beaver will take me. He promised.”
“You spoke to Ahmik?”
Becky shook her head, her eyes looking beyond him. He knew who he would find without turning his head.
“Paco, what on earth are you doing this far away from your village?”
“I was bored and hungry. We tracked some deer near to you but they were scared away by the noise of your camp.”
Paco smiled, but he knew better than to believe his brother’s explanation. There was another reason for him being here.
“You told Becky she could go over in the canoe?” he asked, trying to keep his tone cool.
“Not exactly. I said I would paddle and she could travel with me if she wishes. She has a wild spirit. Let it fly free for a while. When she gets to Oregon they will make her dress like a woman again. Her life will be changed forever.”
Paco spoke his native tongue so the others couldn’t understand, but his brother’s perception of Becky’s situation impressed him. Was there nothing this man did not understand?
“Captain Jones, perhaps you could talk Becky out of this nonsense?” Mrs. Thompson frowned at her daughter.
“She will be perfectly safe with Paco, Mrs. Thompson. He knows the river like the back of his hand.”
Becky almost jumped up and down. He could see she wanted to but she restrained herself at the last minute. In some ways, she was still very much a child.
Chapter 30
Becky stood to the side watching the interchange between Scott and the Indian who had piloted their wagons across the river. The Indian was agitated, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. She wasn’t near enough to hear, not that it mattered as he wasn’t speaking English. Had this something to do with Mitchell? She looked around for Paco but he had disappeared.
She made her way toward where Scott was talking, but instead of interrupting him, she waited until he had finished, and the Indian had moved away. Scott was in deep thought and didn’t hear her approach.
“Something wrong?” she asked, wanting to put her arms around him and kiss away his worry.
“No.”
“Try again and this time I might believe you.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words but she couldn’t hide the concern in her eyes. “Trouble?”
“Might be but keep it to yourself.”
“I am not that good of an actress. I wasn’t the only one who saw you speaking to him. You will have to tell them something,” she said, but when he didn’t respond she continued, “why did Paco really come here today? It wasn’t to canoe me over the river.”
“I think that was part of it. Paco likes to have the last laugh on me.”
Becky’s heart jumped. He had admitted he was jealous. Hadn’t he? She couldn’t ask anymore as they heard people moving toward them.
He saw Johanna, Rick, and some of the children a little way off. “Did they hear?”
“I am sure they saw you but they couldn’t hear you nor understand you,” Becky reassured him but he had to face reality. “But they aren’t stupid. You don’t need to speak Indian to know that man was upset about something.”
“The weather is turning bad.”
“That is an excuse. No man, let alone an Indian, gets that agitated about some bad weather. Why don’t you tell me the truth?”
He stayed silent.
She wasn’t going to beg him to talk to her, she had a little more pride than that. But he needed to speak to someone. “Well, if you don’t trust me, why not tell David? You should tell someone if only to let them protect the group.”
“I trust you but I don’t want to worry anyone. This is my problem.”
She tried but failed to keep a grip on her anger. He wasn’t thinking straight. “Look around you, Scott. This is not your problem. The Indian is concerned. The people who trusted you with their lives are worried. This stopped being your problem a long time ago, only you are too stubborn to admit it.” Becky took a deep breath, “If Mitchell is coming after you, then he is coming after us. All of us. The Freemans, Bradleys, Longs, Newlands, Hugheses, Clarkes, Thompsons and me.”
His head swung up, his eyes wide with alarm. He pulled her into his arms. Instead of being delighted, she was alarmed. Even more so when he held her too tight.
“You. He may try to hurt you. You must be more careful. Don’t go anywhere alone. He knows what you look like.”
“Scott, stop it. You’re scaring me.” Becky twisted a little so he loosened his grip. She reached up and kissed him on the lips but it was a kiss of reassurance not passion. “You must tell people. I will ask Pa to call a meeting tonight. You owe them honesty. You don’t have to tell them the whole story. As much, or as little as you want. But they need to know a murderer is on our trail or waiting for us up ahead.”
She kissed him quickly again before forcing herself to break away. He needed space to think.
He watched her walk back to the others. Was she only seventeen? At times, she acted much older. She was right. He had to warn the others. Mitchell had been spotted along with a group of renegades. He had already attacked one wagon train. Luckily, they managed to fight back. But according to his friend, there had been a lot more people in the train. Maybe that would put Mitchell off attacking again. He wished he could believe that.
Chapter 31
Scott stood looking at the people who had become his friends, his family, or at least that is how he saw them. He had a commercial duty to get them safely to Oregon but it was more than that. He wanted them to be happy and safe in their new home. They meant more to him than the money he was being paid. He looked from each face to the next, their expressions of trust mingled with anxiety or in some cases fear making him feel worse. His gaze stopped at Becky. She smiled at him, her eyes telling him she thought he was doing the right thing.
“I asked Mr. Thompson to call a meeting as we may have unwelcome company,” Scott began.
The men eyed each other before looking back at Captain Jones. The women just stared as if not quite believing what their leader was saying.
“What type? Indians?”
“No, Mrs. Newland. This is a white man, maybe two of them.”
“Who?”
“A man called Mitchell and perhaps a man we met previously, Harold's friend Bill.”
“But what would they want with us?”
“It's not you they want, Mrs. Thompson. At least Mitchell doesn’t. I am not sure what Bill is looking for.”
“Could be revenge. You stopped him getting whatever Chapman promised him,” Mrs. Thompson added.
“Knowing Harold and his big mouth, he probably said he would pay him a lot of money.” Eva's disparaging tone made it quite clear what she thought of their ex traveler.
“Either way, we have to be on our guard. I do not want any of the women wandering anywhere alone. You all know how to use a gun, right?”
Becky held her breath watching the reaction to his speech. Everyone nodded apart from Milly. Her hands were shaking. Becky took one and rubbed it, trying to ease her friend's mind. She was upset enough at the thought her baby may come early without having to worry about an attack.
“I don’t understand. What would a white man want so badly he'd be willing to take on the whole train?”
Becky sighed, she guessed her pa wasn’t trying to be racist but he made it sound like only Indians stole from white people.
“Some years ago, Mitchell attacked a wagon train. A couple of the survivors told the army that it was Indians who attacked them but their leader was a white man. The army didn’t take much notice of that bit,” Scott explained. “They only heard Indians and in retaliation they ambushed an Indian village and killed everyone they found. Including my wife and two children.”
Becky nearly vomited. She’d known his wife was dead but murdered? And his children too. No wonder he was in so much pain. But why hadn’t he told her in private? He should have known she would comfort him.
“I am sorry you lost your squaw but what’s that got to do with Mitchell or us?”
“I lost my wife and children, Mr. Bradley.”
Mr. Bradley turned pale at Captain Jones's tone.
“What Tom means is he is sorry for your loss, Captain Jones. We are a little confused as to the part Mitchell plays and why he is coming after us?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Long, for your sentiments. Mitchell is a land pirate. He wants any land deeds you already hold or the cash and other valuables you intend to exchange for the land. He led the attack against the two other wagon trains. He dressed up his men to look like Indians.”
“They must have had some red skins, otherwise, people wouldn’t believe that.”
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