The Secret Saddle_Anna Troy's Emancipation

by Dani Larsen

  Bane began bothering me soon after our departure, even thinking I was a boy. One night he came to my quarters off the galley. We had a terrible struggle where I bit his nose (almost off). I got away and made it to the top deck, which was hard to do, as we were in the middle of a raging storm. Bane caught me again as I was trying to get through the hatch to the passenger deck where I thought I might get help. Ah Kim arrived at that moment and attacked Bane. He forced him to let go of me, and I fell into the hatch. I woke up to find my neighbor, Thomas Bailey, and his nephew, (who is now your da), at my bedside, along with the captain; who now knew that I was a girl. I knew Mr. Bailey was on the ship, but I had never met your father. Jack Bane was in the Brig, and I was assured that he would face charges when the ship landed in Boston. Unfortunately, that was not to be, as he escaped from the ship in a life boat two days before we reached Boston.

  I finally met Ah Kim after we were lodged at an Inn by the waterfront. Mr. Bailey took both of us under his wing. He promised to help me get a position when we reached San Francisco. My protectors found out that Bane was going to be on the ship that we were taking around the horn. The "Harmony" had already sailed, so there was no one to arrest him. Imagine my surprise, when I boarded the ship and went to Mr. Bailey's stateroom where your da handed me a note telling me to not speak for my own safety. I was told to sneak off the ship, and Ah Kim, who had carried our things onto the ship, would accompany me by a different route to San Francisco, where we would meet up with them again. They loudly asked Ah Kim to dispose of the old trunk and motioned for me to get in. I was tearful as your da gently said goodbye, and I was transported to a flat in Boston where Ah Kim's relatives lived.

  Anna put the letter down in her lap and sat there trying to absorb what she was reading. She was shocked to hear that her mum had gone through such a trying ordeal to get to where she was today. She had met her da on board the ship, instead of at home in Ireland, as Anna had always assumed. Was she dreaming about the same evil man? Why was he in Oregon? Reading her mother's words was like reading the books by Charles Dickens that she had been so avidly reading. She picked the letter back up again and resumed reading.

  I was really scared, as I didn't speak Chinese and knew nothing about their customs. Ah Kim had a plan to get me across the country without anyone recognizing me. His cousin, Ming, disguised me as a Chinese woman and taught me how to emulate their customs. Ming and I joined a funeral procession with a group of mourning women that were headed to the outskirts of town. We hid in some bushes and stayed there for several hours, until Ah Kim arrived with a wagon and supplies. He took us into the forest where I met the Tong, a secret Chinese Society.

  It was there I found out the truth about Bane. Ah Kim had been watching him, and that is why he happened to be there when the man attacked me. Bane had killed his father several years before, and Ah Kim was seeking revenge and was looking for the portion of a map that Bane had stolen from his father. His father and two brothers had discovered gold in Eastern Oregon. The details about my adventures in that camp are not important to this story, but I will someday tell you all.

  The night before we were to leave for the train station in Albany, I was shocked when the missing map fell out of my bible. I called Ah Kim to my quarters and showed him what I found. That was when we realized what Bane had really been after that night on the ship. Ah Kim had searched Bane's quarters looking for the map. As he was interrupted when doing so, he had not covered his tracks. After realizing someone had searched through his things, Bane had hidden the map in my Bible when I was in the galley. He had been there to retrieve it, and to keep me quiet about it, in whatever way necessary.

  Ah Kim copied the map, making a slight change that would confuse anyone using it to find the mine's location. It was decided I should quit hiding, and that we should let the counterfeit map fall into their hands. I removed the disguise, although my hair was now very short. Ah Kim, Ming, and I went to purchase tickets for the train that would take us to California, with the money Mr. Bailey had given Ah Kim. I created a stir at the depot when the attendant tried to seat us in the car for people of color, and I angrily told the man my name was Mary Sweeney. Ah Kim politely took over, bowing to the man, telling him that he and Ming were my servants, and that we were headed to my grandmother's funeral. It was then that I realized how poorly people of other nationalities are treated in this country. Wearing that disguise really opened my eyes.

  Anyway, somehow his men found out we were on that train. Several days later, when we reached the West, some bandits boarded our car and robbed all the passengers. They took my bible with the fake map in it. I thought it was all over then and was relieved, when we finally took the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. I thought I would find your father there, but that was not to be either, as he and his uncle had to leave before we arrived.

  Anna heard George softly calling her through the door, so she quickly folded her letter up, put it in her pocket, and went to the door.

  "Is everything okay, Anna?" He asked as she opened the door.

  She put her finger to her lips, "Shhhh," then softly closed the door behind her and followed George into the main room.

  "John woke back up while I was in there, so I sang him back to sleep. I just wanted to make sure he was asleep."

  "Did you read the letter from your mother? Is everything okay in Baker County?"

  "Yes, George. Everything is fine there." She suddenly thought she should tell him everything, but she hadn't even finished reading the letter, and she didn't know if her mama wanted her to tell anyone what had happened so long ago. After all, this is the first time she had heard the story, so she thought she better get permission from her parents before she divulged the story to anyone.

  Anna picked up her knitting basket and began working on the sweater she was making for little John, and began going over everything she had just learned about her parents in her head. The image of her mother in disguise as a Chinese girl was flashing through her mind. The whole thing was such a shock. She knew she needed to reread the letter in depth, so she could really understand what had happened, and she couldn't wait to find out how the story ended and what this all had to do with her nightmares. The oil in the lamp was getting low, so they decided it was time for bed.

  After George left in the morning, she got John fed and put him in the apple cart in the middle of the room. He played with the wooden blocks that George had made him. Anna took the letter out of her pocket and read it again slowly, trying to imagine everything in her mind. Then she got to the part she hadn't read yet.

  They left letters at Ah Kim's cousin's laundry for us in San Francisco. Da was late for his appointment with the railroad man in Oregon by the time they arrived, and his uncle went with him to smooth over the late arrival with the man who was a personal friend of his. Mr. Bailey had also left a letter of reference for me and the name of a friend whom he thought could get me a position as a maid in San Francisco. Ah Kim took me to that address the next day. Unfortunately, she didn't know anyone needing help. She referred me to a woman she heard of, who was always hiring, so we went there.

  I should have known when I met the woman that it wouldn't work out, but I needed a position. She hired me immediately. The head housekeeper, Greta, was nice, but warned me about the woman and her lecherous son. When he grabbed my breasts a month later, I hit him with a vase I was cleaning at the time. His mother, blamed me, called me names, and fired me on the spot. Greta told me to check with a lady across the street to see if she knew anyone who needed help. I did, and she referred me to a Mrs. Goldstein, who needed a housekeeper and governess for her daughter. This time I got lucky, as she was a lovely Jewish widow. After serving me some tea, she hired me. I'm sure you've heard me mention Hannah and her lovely daughter. Rachel was how I was fortunate enough to meet our lovely Kate Murphy.

  That is how I lost track of the three men for several years. Ah Kim left San Francisco shortly after I was hired at the first job. Befo
re he left, he asked me to keep an envelope safe for him, until either he asked for it again, or he died. Of course I agreed. He went to Oregon as your da had promised to hire him to work on the Railroad. I wrote letters, but never received answers. Ah Kim's cousin's laundry had burned to the ground during a riot where people were protesting against the Chinese, and that was my only link to Ah Kim.

  I gave up on ever seeing your father again. And I didn't for over four years. With the help of Hannah, I was able to bring the rest of my family over from Ireland. It was at my parents' surprise 30th Anniversary Party at my sister's home when my luck came back. We were baking cookies the day before the party when Margaret's husband brought home a friend. Imagine my shock when your da walked in. He had no idea I was there. It was a happy day. Both of us had written, but the letters had never been received. It was at the party the next day that your da and I knew we were meant to be together, and he asked me to wait for him. The railroad had stopped construction for various reasons, and he was headed back to Oregon to resume work. He said that Ah Kim was in Oregon, and unfortunately Bane was there also.

  It was several years before I got the letter asking me to marry him. It was a lovely wedding in San Francisco, and it was also the last time I saw my mum and da, Hannah Goldstein, and my brothers and sisters, but I was happy to be marrying your father. It was a shock when we got to Oregon, and Bane's men were following us. Your da didn't tell me he had seen the man just before he left, and that he had threatened me again. He thought it was because he was angry that I had disfigured his face when I bit him, but I thought there was more to it than that.

  He terrified me! I tried to stay away from him, but there were several incidents where he went after me and Kate, who had come to live with us before you were born. You were four, when he kidnapped you and took you to Lookout Mountain. Da and I treasured Ah Kim and his relatives. Da and Ah Kim had even stayed together during the Nez Perce War, before I moved to Oregon. When I got the news that Ah Kim and some of his cousins had been murdered in their mine, I was devastated. I knew it was Bane! I had forgotten all about the envelope Ah Kim had given me for safekeeping until after he and his men had left with you that day.

  I have never been so scared! I am so sorry that you are having these nightmares. I wish there was something I could do to help you, dearest daughter. That man was so evil. When I opened the envelope, I realized what he was after. We did not know that our ranch was next to the one thousand acres that were owned by Ah Kim through his father. He had steered us toward buying the adjoining property several years earlier. In that envelope was the deed to his property which he had signed over to us in case of his death. He trusted us to let his cousins continue mining that property for ten years. After that it would all be ours.

  Your Uncle Sean went into town and brought back four members of the Tong. They devised a plan and made a counterfeit deed for me to take to the mountain to use as ransom to get you back. We knew that he would kill us all anyway, and we didn't want to let him have the property after what he had done to Ah Kim.

  The men worked all night and built two long boxes underneath one of the wagons where two of the Chinese men hid for the ride to the mountain. Two of them drove the other wagon, which would follow us by fifteen minutes. Your father and Uncle Sean hid in barrels in the back.

  I really don't want to upset you with details, because I don't know what all you remember, so I will just tell you that Bane and one of his men died on that mountain, and so did one of the Chinese men. Your Uncle Sean was mortally wounded and lived for another ten days, only long enough to see their long lost son, Bobby, arrive. This is a very long and sad story that I will tell you all about after I get permission from Kate. Anyway, Kate married Sean just before he died. It was a very sad time for all of us.

  Perhaps you should tell me more about your nightmares, and I can help you more.

  My darling, Anna, Da and I love you very much, and we fervently wish that these things had never occurred, but of course we cannot take them back. I know this is a long letter, and I am sorry. I hope this helps you understand why it happened, Give our love and affection to George and little John, and our best wishes to Caroline, Frank, and the children. We hope to see you all soon.

  Your loving,

  Mummy

  Anna read the letter again twice, and then put it in the bottom of the dresser under a stack of John's clothes. She still wasn't ready to tell George what her dreams were about. She spent the rest of the day thinking about her mother's adventures and said many prayers of thanks that she had survived those ordeals. She hadn't known that Sean and Kate had married on his death bed, but she did suddenly remember that was when she had first met Bobby. She couldn't imagine what her mother had endured, especially having her best friend and her uncle murdered and her child kidnapped.

  She had just gone to retrieve John from his afternoon nap when she heard George come home. When she came out of the bedroom, he was sitting at the table smoking his pipe.

  "Did you have a good day, Anna?"

  "Yes, little John keeps me busy, but I'm just happy he is such a healthy baby. By the way, be sure to tell your parents that my parents send their love to all of us."

  "No news about the ranch? How about your sisters? Is that Becker boy still paying lots of attention to Margaret?"

  "I think so. Mama didn't mention it this time. Last I heard, he was being real attentive. But Fan and Zee are busy teaching school all over, and they don't seem to be interested in any of the fellas around there. They are also teaching some of the local kids how to ride. I think they like ranching right where they are. I don't know that they will ever find someone to marry, or whether they are even interested. They seem to like each other's company better than any man."

  "Well, they are very independent ladies. They would probably make any men who came around feel poorly about themselves, as they are so good at taking care of anything that comes along. Most likely, they would be better ranchers than anybody who lives nearby."

  George chuckled as he dumped the contents of his pipe into the small tin plate on the table.

  "You are probably right about that. I've got some stew on the stove just slow cooking. I'll have your supper on the table in a few minutes, George."

  Anna went to check on her evening meal. George took a deep breath, inhaling the aroma of the meat, onions, and carrots bubbling behind him.

  "Smells wonderful, Anna. I'm just going to sit here and smoke my pipe until it's ready. Is John still sleeping?"

  "Yes, I went in to wake him, but he was still sound asleep, so I thought I'd let him sleep until supper is ready. He had a busy afternoon. I was chasing him all over. Now that he can walk, he is getting into everything. I can't let him sleep too long though, or he won't be sleeping tonight. I've been feeding him some solid food, as I want to get him weaned before the new baby arrives. He ate some smashed up beets and peas for lunch, but he didn't act like he liked them too well. He didn't nurse much afterward though, so I think it won't be long."

  "Good, Anna. You really are a good mum. I think you'll do just fine with two children."

  After she put the food on the table, she went to wake up John for dinner. She fed him some potatoes she smashed with butter in between feeding herself.

  "He seems to really like those potatoes, Anna."

  "Yes, he is eating a lot of that. How was your day, George?"

  "It was fine, Anna, for the most part."

  "What does that mean? Did something go wrong again?"

  "Well, I don't know. We were harvesting the last of the Italian prunes, and it seemed every time I turned around to put the crates on the wagon, they would be unstacked or spilled. I was trying to watch the migrant workers to see who was doing it, but never caught anyone. I don't really know any of the workers we had today. I just wandered through the orchard during the day, watching people, when I wasn't picking the prunes myself, but everyone just seemed to be working hard. It was just kind of a crazy day."
<
br />   "Was it just you working with the migrants?"

  "No, Jude was there too, but he was complaining about the same things happening that I was. We did finally get them all picked and Dad took them into town to the General store where he sold them. It was just not the way I like to spend the day."

  Anna thought it seemed funny that Jude was always around when things went wrong for George. She quit saying anything to George because he thought the man was a really nice guy.

  Chapter Eight

  "A Visitor at the Troy Ranch"

  1910

  Mary Troy finished reading the letter from Anna after breakfast. She sat there drinking her tea and worrying about her oldest daughter. Fan and Zee were tending to the animals this morning, and Margaret was in the chicken coop. Steve was with his father checking out the range fences, or so she thought, until her husband came in through the back door.

  "I thought ye were out checking fences."

  "I was, but I saw the train stop and let out a man and his horse up the track a ways at Durkee, and it looked like he might be heading this way, so Steve told me he would check the rest of the fences by himself."

  "Why do ye think he was headed here?"

  "From a distance, it looked like that Pinkerton feller who stopped here not long after the Lookout Mountain nightmare. I could be wrong, as me eyes aren't as good as they used to be."

  They both heard the sound of a horse outside, and John went out the back door. Mary cleared off the rest of the dishes and put them in the sink. She heard the back screen open and went to see who was there.

  "Mary, do ye remember Detective Siringo?"

  "Yes, I certainly do. Charlie, is it?"

  "Yes it is. May I call you Mary?"

  "Of course, please sit down. Will ye have a cup of tea, Charlie?"