Across the Border

by Arleta Richardson

  “I want you to use it while you’re gone. You can draw pictures to show me where you’ve been. It ain’t yours to keep—I want it back with more pictures in it.”

  Together they spread the book out and looked at the pictures Ethan had drawn four years ago. They started with Briarlane, where both boys had lived.

  “Here’s the day we left.” Bert pointed out the train and the people gathered around to see them off. “I wonder how Hugh is gettin’ along.”

  “He’s probably a big banker by now,” Ethan said, “or at least working with his father at the courthouse.”

  Bert nodded. “And look … here’s Hull-House in Chicago, where we waited for the Orphan Train. Are you goin’ through Chicago this time?”

  “No. Luke says we’ll be going west to Colorado, and then south to Texas. We’ll go through New Mexico, too.”

  “I kinda wish I was goin’ with you,” Bert said wistfully, “but I don’t wanna leave my folks. I’ll be lonesome just goin’ to school in Kansas.”

  “Next year I’ll be there too,” Ethan assured him. “Pa says we’ll be back for harvest.”

  Bert picked up some pebbles and tossed them across the tracks. “So you’re callin’ him Pa now, huh?”

  Ethan shrugged. “When we first came, he didn’t seem to want me to, but now I feel like I belong. He’s been a father to me. I never thought much of my own pa, but Mr. Rush takes good care of us. And he doesn’t lose his temper as much as he did when I was younger. I guess I’ve learned a lot.”

  Bert smiled. He jumped up and challenged Ethan. “Come on. I’ll race you down to the water tower.”

  By the time Ethan and Bert had returned to the station, warm and out of breath, all the passengers were gathered at the front of the platform, and the baggage was ready to load. Ed and Rilla Swartz, along with Ben and Lydia Archer and other neighbors, had come to see them off.

  Rilla Swartz was in tears. “Probably never see ’em again,” Ethan heard her whisper to her husband. She sniffed. “Them bandits will get ’em before the year’s out.”

  “What’s bandits gonna do with all them folks?” Ed scoffed. “If they was smart enough to catch ’em all, they’d be too smart to keep ’em. ’Specially Manda Rush and Polly. Now there’s two ladies as would have their freedom right quick.” Ed chuckled. “And Chad would have all their land took over. Nope. The bandits won’t touch that bunch.”

  In a flurry of last-minute activity, everyone boarded the train, and all seventeen travelers were ushered into one coach.

  “Haven’t had a bunch this big goin’ south before,” the conductor told them. “Had a big church group from Russia that settled up north a few years back. In fact, the railroad took ’em up free because the folks was staking out land the company wanted to get rid of.” He helped the men put bags and boxes on the overhead shelves. “Too bad they don’t have that arrangement going south. At least you have a coach that will go clean to the border. That’s as far as our rails run. I think you’ll be comfortable here. You let me know if you need anything. I’ll give you notice when we’re coming to a town so’s you can get off a bit if you want. Here’s blankets and pillows, and the dining car’s up ahead. You make yourselves at home, and I’ll see if the baggage car’s loaded.”

  “Chatty, ain’t he?” Polly exclaimed as the conductor returned to the platform. Then she gestured around the car that would be their home for a while. “Good thing Ma’s not alive to know about me goin’ off the edge of the earth. She never trusted them trains neither. Called ’em ‘iron monsters breathin’ fire.’ I call ’em dust buckets. By the time we get where we’re goin’, we’ll be so crusted over, we won’t be cleaned up till we start back.”

  “I don’t think it’ll be quite that bad,” Manda assured her. “It’s not like living in a house, but we can keep some order, even if it is in a small space.”

  The engine hissed and steamed as it moved slowly away from the station. Ethan stood in the doorway and waved at Bert until Willow Creek was out of sight. Ethan had made friends at church in Winner, but somehow none were the same as Bert. He and Bert had shared a life that the others knew nothing about. Being an orphan did make you different from regular folks, Ethan decided.

  The train hadn’t gone many miles before the travelers had the living arrangements worked out. So that each family could have privacy, extra blankets were hung across the aisle. They could be pulled back during the day to allow visiting and moving about. It wasn’t long until the men had devised a set of rules intended to add to their comfort. The younger children needed some boundaries.

  Luke explained the plan. “One end of the coach is the play area. No runnin’, no ball throwin’, no climbin’ on the seats in the other part of the car. The young ’uns that forget can sit beside their folks for fifteen minutes.”

  The warning seemed to help, because things settled into a regular routine very soon. The younger children played games while the ladies quickly became friends as they discussed the life ahead of them.

  “We certainly don’t know what to expect,” Mary Brooks said. “No one I’ve talked to has ever been in Mexico. Do you suppose the people will welcome us?”

  “I’m sure they will,” Emma Sellers replied. “But we’ll need to learn how to talk to them.”

  Manda bit off a piece of embroidery thread. “We had thought to have Frances teach the younger children while we’re there, but I believe it would be better to send them to school. They’ll have to speak the language, and we can learn from them.”

  The others nodded. “We need to be able to talk to people if we’re going to shop and find our way around.”

  Polly was concerned. “Do you s’pose there ain’t a soul there as knows English?”

  “Oh, I think there will be,” Mary added. “The oil companies have office workers from the United States. And there must be lots of other homesteaders with all that land around. I’m anxious to see where we’ll live.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” Emma advised her. “It won’t be anything fancy.”

  Mary laughed. “We never did have anything fancy.”

  “If you been thinkin’ that havin’ water pumped into your kitchen and a floor under your feet is fancy, you’ll do fine,” Polly told her. “Far’s I’ve heard, we’ll be livin’ in an oversized soddy on top of the ground.”

  Mary looked startled, but she spoke calmly. “I expect I can carry water again. I did it all the time I was growing up. But a floor does seem like a necessity.”

  “I thought so too when we lived in the soddy,” Manda said. “But I found out that you can make do with very little if you have to. We’ll get on all right.”

  Frances began to keep a journal of the trip.

  Tuesday

  The ladies talk and sew and seldom look out the windows. Right now Nebraska looks all the same, but I’m sure the scenery will change. I’m getting acquainted with Prudence Sellers. She is a quiet girl.

  “If Mama does send the children to school,” Frances told Prudence, “I’m going to try to get a job with one of the oil companies. I don’t want to sit around all day.”

  “Oh, do you think I could get a job too?” Prudence looked nervous. “I’m sure my brother, Ted, will find something to do, and I’d like some money of my own.”

  “I don’t see why you couldn’t. We’ll go together to see about it as soon as we’re settled.”

  Friday

  Simon called everyone to look at the water we were crossing over. Papa says it’s the Platte River. We are not very far from the Kansas border. We only cross the northwest corner of the state.

  Sunday

  Today we woke up to a beautiful sight. In the distance to the west we saw the Rocky Mountains, and they are covered with snow! Papa showed us on the map that the train will go along the border of four states—Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. I’m gl
ad I didn’t stay in Winner to teach. I’d hate to have missed this trip.

  Wednesday

  We are going south now, and we’re following the Pecos River. The children race from one side of the coach to the other when the train crosses a bridge.

  “Look!” Will shouted. “Sometimes the river is on this side of the train, and sometimes it’s on the other side!”

  “Sometimes it’s on both sides,” Simon pointed out.

  “That’s bigger than our creek,” Alice said. “I wouldn’t try to wade across that one.”

  Saturday

  The conductor says we will be in El Paso, Texas, tomorrow. That’s as far as the railroad goes. The rest of the trip will be by wagon, and it will take two days. Papa says there is a small village about halfway where we can stay overnight. The closer we come to Mexico, the more nervous I am becoming. I wish we didn’t have to leave the train.

  “We thought we was bringin’ plenty of food to last this trip,” Polly said, “but we buy more every time we stop. Never reckoned it’d take so much to feed nine folks back when we had it comin’ out of the garden.”

  “We might as well get used to it,” Manda told her. “I doubt there will be any garden in Mexico. At any rate, we’ll soon know. I can’t decide which is worse—to imagine what kind of life you’ll have or to get there and live it!”

  “I just hope that livin’ it ain’t worse than I imagine,” Polly declared.

  Chapter Eight

  Reymundo

  When the family arrived in El Paso, a wagon sent from the land agent’s office was there to meet them. The driver, Reymundo, was most helpful in answering their eager questions. He assured Chad that he would remain with him as guide, translator, and friend throughout their stay in Mexico.

  “Will there be a house ready for us when we get there?” Manda asked.

  “Sí, Señora. The land agent has made arrangements for you to move in at once. The house is furnished. My sister, Carlotta, has cleaned it well. You will be comfortable there.”

  “We’re a pretty big family. I hope it has room for nine people.”

  There was silence for a moment. Then Chad cleared his throat. “Well, Manda, there will only be seven people in the house. Luke and I will go with Reymundo to survey our land and begin drilling for oil.”

  Manda was outraged. “Chad Rush! You’re leaving us alone in a town where we don’t know anyone and can’t even talk to the people?”

  “Now, it’s not that bad,” he answered swiftly. “I understand that Carlotta speaks English well, and she has offered to help you get settled. I’m sure she’ll be there to see that you have everything you need. And you won’t be alone. Ethan is capable of looking after things and will take care of you when I’m not there.”

  Ethan looked pleased at the recommendation, but he said nothing. Manda thought that was wise, since she was less than impressed at that moment. Reymundo paid close attention to driving the wagon and appeared not to be aware that any disagreement was in the air. Manda leaned back and surveyed the surrounding desert. The thought of being alone in a strange land with four children in her care was not pleasing. She would have a word with Chad later.

  When the wagon entered the small town of Galeana, Chihuahua, Mexico, the travelers looked around curiously. It was unlike anything they had ever seen. Dust rose like a cloud as they rolled down the narrow road toward the town square.

  Polly tried in vain to keep the dirt away from her face. “We won’t get rid of all this grit by the time we start back,” she muttered. “Reckon we’ll have to scrub up after we get home.”

  Frances looked about her with interest. “These people look neat and clean. We can do as well as they do.”

  Will had eyes for one thing only—the burros. “Is that a little horse? It’s no higher than our horse Ned’s legs!”

  “No, it’s a donkey or burro,” Luke explained. “Burros don’t do the same kind of work as Ned and Jesse do. They carry heavy loads on their backs, though.”

  “I don’t see how those spindly legs hold them up,” Frances said. “They’re carrying too much.”

  “They’re strong little critters,” Luke replied. “Besides, if they reckon they worked enough, they just stop. Burros got minds of their own. ”

  The little burro that walked beside the wagon rolled his eyes toward them, but he didn’t move to the edge of the road. He seemed to be saying that he was there first, and if anyone moved, it would be that wagonload of strange people. The man who was leading him smiled and waved at the newcomers.

  “I want a hat like that!” Simon declared. “Did you ever see one so big?”

  Reymundo guided the wagon around a group of people.

  “That is a sombrero, mi hijo. You must begin to learn how to speak Spanish.”

  Simon looked puzzled. “My name is Simon, not mi hijo.”

  Reymundo nodded. “I know. Mi hijo means ‘my son’ in Spanish. And you are a niño, or a boy. See there? You have learned four words in our language already.”

  Simon beamed as he repeated the words. Then he asked Reymundo, “What is Alice?”

  “She is a niña. Just the last letter is different. Many names end in an o for a boy and an a for a girl.”

  “Do you have a sister named Reymunda?”

  Reymundo laughed. “No, I have only Carlotta. But you are learning Spanish quickly.”

  As they neared the village square, many more burros appeared, laden with fruits and vegetables and other things to sell. Most of the little animals had straps over their backs, from which baskets hung to carry the produce. Some of them had big loads of clothing or rugs fastened with ropes. All of them plodded patiently along, brushing flies away with their tails and flicking their ears.

  There were a few other wagons on the road. Suddenly Ethan called out, “Oh, look at that! There’s a smart little burro!” He pointed at a wagon piled high with hay. Walking behind it, the small beast loaded with baskets was munching happily on the hay that hung over the back of the wagon. He looked so contented that they all had to laugh.

  “I’ll draw that in my book for Bert,” Ethan decided. “Burros are a lot smarter than they look.”

  At last the wagon pulled up in front of a building on the edge of town.

  Reymundo jumped down and said proudly with a wave of his hand, “Está es su casa. This is your house.”

  Polly was speechless. Sun-dried bricks of mud, water, and straw were the materials used for the structure. Through the open door, she could see the floor, hard packed and smooth, but undeniably dirt. The windows had no glass in them, but wooden shutters on the outside of the house would keep out the cold and rain. The roof was bright-red tile.

  While Ethan helped the men unload the wagon, and the other children ran through the yard, Polly, Manda, and Frances stepped into the large room and looked around.

  “Well, it is big,” Manda said as cheerfully as she could. “I think we can put up curtains to make separate bedrooms.”

  “I thought bedrooms was s’posed to have beds in ’em,” Polly said. “Them little sacks on the floor is what we sleep on?”

  Reymundo set down the boxes he was bringing from the wagon. “We’ll fill them with fresh straw, Señora. The cots are folded up in the corner.” He quickly unrolled a piece of heavy canvas and set up a low wooden frame.

  “What do you know! I ain’t slept on a straw tick since I was a child.” Then, seeing the concern on Reymundo’s face, Polly added hastily, “I remember how I loved to smell ’em.”

  The rest of the furniture was easy to identify. There was a large table, chairs, a dresser, and a cupboard. Upon examination the cupboard proved to contain heavy pottery plates, bowls, and cups. A drawer revealed pewter eating utensils with bone handles. These seemed to be all the household goods that had been provided.

  Reymundo looked nervous as he wat
ched Manda and Polly survey the house. Neither had the heart to show him how dismayed they were, so they smiled bravely.

  “My, my. It certainly is clean!” Manda said.

  Reymundo looked relieved. “Sí. Carlotta scrubbed everything for you. She wants you to be happy here.”

  When he left to help the men finish unpacking the wagon, Polly whispered to Manda, “I knew as soon as I saw this place that there weren’t no kitchen in here. Do I go to cookin’ outdoors again?”

  At that moment Frances poked her head in through a back window and glanced around outside. “Your kitchen is leaning up against the house.”

  “Does it got a stove?” Polly asked.

  “I think so. I guess that’s what this is.” Together they studied the adobe structure. It contained a hollowed-out space to make a fire and an iron grate across the top to hold pots and pans. It stood in the middle of a small room.

  Polly circled it. “I don’t see no oven door. Where do you put in your bread and pies to bake?” She looked up at the ceiling. “If this ain’t just like an Indian tepee! The smoke goes right out the roof. I declare! Did you ever see the like?” She continued to gaze around the room. “At least there’s shelves here and some pots to cook in. And they’re clean. Now if I knew what I had in the way of food, I’d feel better.”

  Chapter Nine

  Polly’s Adventure

  Polly trudged down the road toward the village market. With a basket over her arm and a shawl over her head, she looked like the other women headed in the same direction. She still wasn’t used to calling the long, fringed shawl a rebozo, although she had to admit that it was a handy piece of clothing. It kept the sun from beating down on her head, and Polly had observed that it was used as a covering for the mouth and nose when a sharp gust of wind blew sand through the air. The Mexican women would also tie the ends together and use the shawl to carry things.