“Under his bed?” Came the dubious sounding reply
“Well, the mattress. Under the bed would be easily uncovered.”
Tilly couldn’t look at Fiona as George pulled out the documents. Just as he laid them out on the bed, Fiona opened the door.
“Rather warm in here don’t mind me opening the door do ye, Sir?”
“Shut that door, you stupid girl,” He barked back
Fiona shut the door reluctantly.
Tilly grabbed one of the papers, “it says here something about ….”
She didn’t get to finish as the door burst open admitting the sheriff and some other men, Almanzo among them.
“What’s the meaning of this? What are you doing here?” Harvey protested loudly as he pushed the papers to the floor.
“Protecting my fiancé from your evil games. What are you doing here?” Almanzo answered, drawing Tilly close.
“Fiancé? Who? You and her? Don’t make me laugh. Even you are not low enough to marry an Indians leavings!”
Almanzo raised his fist but Tilly got in first as she whacked Harvey across the face. Her palm stung but it was worth it.
“Don’t even think about it,” Almanzo replied as Harvey took a step in Tilly’s direction
“What’s going on in here, Harvey,” Sheriff Rodgers drawled.
“Mr. Harvey admitted everything to me, Sheriff. He told me about killing the Indians and selling their land. He offered to sell all my father’s land claims even though I told him there were no such properties.”
“She’s lying. You can't believe her.” Harvey looked as desperate as he sounded.
“He said he knew various people who had done this before and had even invested himself. He was only going to take a small fee for his hard work, not every penny though.”
“That was very honorable of you, Harvey.” The Sheriff’s sarcasm brought a flush to Harvey’s face.
“Sheriff, he told me Mia was still alive. She is Almanzo’s sister. He couldn’t have known that unless he was present, as the little girl was smuggled out to another location. Also, he said your deputy would keep quiet and do as he was told.”
“That right young lady?” Sheriff Rodgers gave Harvey a dirty look. “You’ll be singing like a canary once you see what Judge is lined up to come visiting. He’s got quite a reputation for landing people like you in prison. Come on, let’s get you behind bars where you belong.”
The sheriff dragged a protesting Harvey out of the room and down the stairs. David and Scott picked up the paperwork with Fiona’s help. Blacky stood to watch over Fiona as if she was in a danger.
Almanzo took Tilly’s arm and pulled her out of the room, dragging her into a kiss as soon as they were in relative privacy.
“Let me know never to make you angry. That’s some right hand you got Miss Tilly.”
“Do you think it will be enough to put him away. He is such a horrible man. You should have seen his face when he was talking about people.” Tilly shivered. “He made me feel dirty just sitting with him. Oh Almanzo, how can people like that live with themselves.”
“I don’t know darling but let’s get you back to Mrs. Newland’s. You can have a bath and get some sleep. Then we can go see Reverend Polk and talk about our wedding.”
“Our wedding?” she murmured.
“Yes, Miss Tilly. I don’t think I can wait much longer to make you my wife. Not with the way you kiss me.”
Tilly blushed at the way he looked at her, her insides bubbling with happiness. He loved her as much as she loved him. Even with the sadness of Rick’s passing and the other deaths, she knew their friends and family would understand their hurry to get married. If they had learned anything over the last few weeks, it was life was short. When you had a chance of happiness, you had to grab it with both hands and not let go.
“Why don’t we skip Mrs. Newland and go straight to see the Reverend?”
He swung her into the air. “Well Miss Tilly, you just got the best ideas.”
Arm in arm, smiling widely they left their friends and the hotel behind them and headed in the direction of the church.
Epilogue
Almanzo and Tilly stood outside their newly built home, surrounded by a mass of horses.
“They are a gift.”
“You have given us so much already, Walking Tall,” Tilly said warmly.
“Not from me, Fire Daughter.” Walking Tall winked at Tilly as he used her old name. “They belonged to the Chief, so they should go to Mia now, but she wants you and your husband to have them.”
Almanzo looked down at his sister, the tears in his eyes making it difficult to see her face clearly. She put her hand in his, a solemn expression on her face.
“I will see you soon, brother.”
“Mia, would you not reconsider? You can stay here with Tilly and me.” Almanzo wrapped his spare arm around his wife’s waist. “Tilly would love some company while I am out working.”
“Thank you brother and you too, Tilly, but it is not my place. I belong with my people.”
“She will visit you often, we will bring her.” Walking Tall put his arm protectively around the young child. She gazed up at him in adoration. “I have asked Mia to join my lodge. Be my daughter. She can teach my sons manners.”
Almanzo held out his hand to the Indian brave who took it and then, dropping Mia’s arm, grabbed the white man into a bear hug.
“Now you will smell like me again,” Walking Tall said laughing as he released Almanzo.
“We will have to try to find you a new fragrance,” Tilly joked as she sniffed the air making them all laugh despite their sorrow at the parting. Mia would take to the mountains with Walking Tall and what was left of his tribe. It would be safer up there. Plus Paco wanted to be buried in their original homelands. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the Chief was not responding to treatment. He had stayed for the wedding but was keen to go home now.
Almanzo seemed to be lost for words, he stood silently watching those he loved make ready to leave. Tilly squeezed Almanzo’s hand tightly dragging his attention back to the scene in front of him. She let go of his hand and ran back into the house returning quickly with a parcel under her arm.
“Mia, this is for you. From both of us.”
Mia unwrapped the present and squealed in delight at the ragdoll the ladies had made for her. Tilly showed her the extra outfit they had fashioned. Mia hugged her first and then Almanzo.
“I promised you a doll. Ma said to bring it back with me…” he couldn’t keep talking.
“She is beautiful. I am going to call her Lucy.”
Almanzo nodded, too overcome to comment. He hadn’t even known Mia knew her mother’s English name. Then Walking Tall made the sign to move out. He pulled Mia up in front of him, his horse nickering softly.
“Stay safe my friend. We will be back next year and will expect to see a fine son.”
Tilly blushed at Walking Tall’s words as Almanzo started coughing. Walking Tall winked and then he was gone, Mia waving back at them until she was no more than a speck on the horizon.
Almanzo and Tilly stood arms entwined watching, long after their friends had disappeared into the horizon. Then Tilly took Almanzo’s hand and led him down to the creek running behind their house.
Tilly lay her head against her husband’s bare chest, their feet in the babbling creek.
“We are so lucky aren’t we darling?”
Almanzo dropped a kiss on his wife’s head. Rick had left Almanzo land in his will. Unknown to his son, he had purchased the land some years ago. Johanna had given him the deed the day after Rick’s funeral. Then everyone had got together to help build a small house for Tilly and him to live in. Tilly was overjoyed with her castle as she called it. Some castle. It had three rooms with a privy and barn outside but it was theirs. Best of all it had a small stream running at the back of the property where they loved to sit and watch the sun going down.
“I am so happy I could burst,” Tilly said, her sm
ile evident in her voice.
He drew her even closer. She was everything he’d ever wanted and more. He hoped they would have years together. She looked up at him, wariness written all over her face.
“Stop it. You promised not to think about it,” she said, her voice pleading with him.
“I know Tilly but it's impossible to ignore the situation. Walking Tall believes war is coming and he doesn’t read the newspapers. He’s been listening to various reports from other tribes as well as the travelers he meets. Word from the forts…”
“Please don’t talk about the chance of war tonight,” she begged. “I want to sit here with you and be thankful for all the good things that have happened to us. Trouble will always find us, we don’t have to go looking for it.”
He wiped away a tear from her face, kissing her gently at first and then with more passion. All thoughts of the war disappeared as they melded together, the love for each other being the only thing that mattered.
Historical Note
The character Richard Weston is a fictional although his existence was sparked by reading the true story of an Oregon senator, Mr. John H. Mitchell. This senator’s life story reads like a bad work of fiction. Not only was he eventually convicted of land fraud, aged 70, there are also rumors that he made a habit of marrying the daughters of wealthy businessmen. Later, when they had outgrown their usefulness, he would abandon them and move onto his next victim.
The Pig and Potato war
This incident really happened. In June 1859, a man who had claimed land under the Land Donation Act shot and killed a pig who was eating his potatoes. The pig was owned by an Irishman who worked for the Hudson Bay Company. The shooter offered the Irish man ten dollars for his pig, the Irishman wanted one hundred. When they couldn’t settle, the British threatened to arrest the man who’d shot the pig. The Americans asked for military protection. The situation escalated and the President, Mr James Buchanan had to get involved. In the end it was resolved but there was a time when both sides appeared to be willing to go to war over the incident. Both sides agreed to joint military occupation of the Island with a token force of 100 men from each side. They lived in relative harmony for the next twelve years until the situation was finally resolved.
Acknowledgments
This book wouldn’t have been possible without the help of so many people. Thanks to Erin Dameron-Hill for my fantastic covers. Erin is a gifted artist who makes my characters come to life.
The ladies from Pioneer Hearts who volunteered to proofread my book. Special thanks go to Marlene Larsen, Cindy Nipper, Marilyn Cortellini, Janet Lesley, Sherry Masters, Robin Malek, Meisje Sanders Arcuri and Denise Cervantes who all spotted errors (mine) that had slipped through.
Last, but by no means least, huge thanks and love to my husband and my three children.
Also by Rachel Wesson
Trail of Hearts - Oregon Trail Series
Oregon Bound (book 1)
Oregon Dreams (book 2)
Oregon Destiny (book 3)
Oregon Discovery (book 4)
Oregon Disaster (book 5 coming soon)
12 Days of Christmas - co -authored series.
The Maid - book 8
Clover Springs Mail Order Brides
Katie (Book 1)
Mary (Book 2)
Sorcha (Book 3)
Emer (Book 4)
Laura (Book 5)
Ellen (Book 6)
Thanksgiving in Clover Springs (book 7)
Christmas in Clover Springs (book8)
Erin (Book 9)
Eleanor (book 10)
Cathy (book 11)
Clover Springs East
New York Bound (book 1)
New York Storm (book 2)
New York Hope (book 3)
Writing as Ellie Keaton
Women & War (World War II fiction)
Gracie
Penny
Molly
Oregon Discovery Page 23
