by Trumbo, Kari
“Looks like I’ll be driving the wagon into Deadwood. I don’t think Beau meant for him to leave. Something’s been eating at Aiden since last night and I think Beau was a little sore about spending so much of the night waiting for him in the rain when he would’ve rather been in the wagon.”
Jennie closed her eyes. His teasing had been in fun and now it was her fault he was gone. She’d known that beast was under her; it had kept her awake all night. She should’ve been more careful climbing out of the wagon.
“I know it’s silly, but I’m going to miss him, Ruby.”
“I know. Beau told me you came out to check on Aiden last night. Beau trusts him enough to let him travel with us, but I’m not so sure he thinks Aiden is good enough for you.”
Jennie’s heart clenched in protest. “That isn’t his decision. I didn’t go from letting Pa pick who I would marry to your husband doing it. I will decide. No one else. You said yourself yesterday that it was important to you. Was that a lie?”
Ruby avoided her question and her eyes. “You think there was marriage in your future? I didn’t think you two were all that close. Heavens, it’s only been a day.”
“We weren’t, not at all. I’m just saying it shouldn’t be up to you or Beau or Pa or anyone else.”
Ruby wrapped a bandage around Jennie’s forearm and tied it near her elbow. “I don’t think you’ll have to worry. The bite was surprisingly shallow. I’ve never seen a man move so fast as Aiden when you screamed. I think he flew across the camp to get Jack off you.”
Jennie looked down at the bandage running her hand down her arm and shivered. “Why did he bring that beast into our camp?”
Ruby collected the damp and soiled cloths. “I’m sure I don’t know. He didn’t say much to anyone when he came in last night. All we know is that he was late and he brought the dog with him. Beau said he got it away from some coyotes.”
Jennie searched off into the distance, but he’d long since disappeared from view. Beau strode out from behind the other wagon, his face dark.
“We need to eat quickly, then get back on the trail. Level wants to be in Deadwood by the noon.”
Ruby touched Jennie’s knee. “Just rest back here. Hattie and Eva are enough help. One of the girls will bring you something to eat. I’ll mend your sleeve later, after we wash the dress.”
Jennie nodded, not really caring about any of it. She’d wanted her first experience of Deadwood to be with Aiden, since he’d been excited about their arrival. She’d thought he would somehow make the fear in the pit of her stomach go away. Now, she’d have to face Deadwood, alone.
Chapter Six
AIDEN’S FEET SWELLED AFTER just an hour of walking and he could go no further. “Jack, hold up. I’ve got to rest a bit.”
The dog bounded back to him and sat a few feet away, cocking his head.
“Why’d you have to bite Jennie? If you had to get angry with anyone it should’ve been me. I’m the one who tied you up. She didn’t do a thing.”
Jack sat and stared at him, panting. “I don’t have any rations, boy. You’ll have to go off and hunt on your own and I guess I gotta hope you come back.” He tugged the rope and Jack pulled on it. When he got Jack close enough, he untied it and Jack ran in circles, then laid down by his feet.
“Go. I know you need to eat. You’re skin and bones. I’ll be just fine.” He peeled his boot off his foot and sucked in his breath as they throbbed. The oily stuff that had been coming out of his feet was thick and shiny in the sun, and the smell turned his stomach. He hadn’t been able to take care of them the night before when he’d gotten back so late. “Doesn’t look like I’ll be going anywhere soon, boy.”
The dog whimpered and inched closer.
“You didn’t act this nice back at the camp. What was the trouble?”
He heard the sound of wagons approaching and hung his head. Beau was the last person he wanted to see. And Jennie would never want to see him after Jack had attacked her. How could he explain to her that Jack was like him? He’d been run off, abused, chased, starved, and finally just run. Jack needed him, and life was a little less hopeless if something needed him. Aiden glanced behind him toward the sound of the wheels against the rocks under the sparse grass. He didn’t recognize it. It was an old buckboard with an ancient man tottering at the lines.
“Ho!” The old man yelled down. “Who goes there? Need a lift to town?”
“I do. Can my dog follow?” Aiden glanced up and winced as he shoved his foot back into his boot.
“Don’t see why not. You headed to Deadwood? Looking for work?”
Aiden laughed as he climbed up and Jack jumped in the back, the old man didn’t seem to notice or care. “Yes, and yes.”
The old man held out his hand. “Boom’s the name. I work with a small mining outfit in Deadwood, it’s hard to get work on the big mine. Men don’t want to leave once they git a spot. But our outfit finds pay dirt often enough to keep our few miners working.”
Aiden nodded. “That’s what I’m looking for. Are you sure they’re hiring?”
The old man threw his head back and cackled. “Yup, cause it’s my claim. Deadwood’s about two hours away by this route, but I was out checking a few things in Preston, then at the big load in Lead. Good thing I happened by. It ain’t a good idea to be walking out here alone. Deadwood’s been a town for almost twenty years, but we still keep our eyes open. This is Indian country.”
The man’s condescension made him chafe. Everyone assumed that since he was young he didn’t know anything. His da had been the same way. He’d never planned to be out walking alone, anyway. When he’d left his first claim back in California, he’d planned to stick to the stage coach trail, then his horse died. Then, he’d planned to stay near the river, until the river he’d been following dried up. He’d met up with the Rockford group later, but then he’d been a fool. Now, he knew what his problem had been, he shouldn’t have been planning at all.
“You know, Boom, I think I was meant to meet up with you today. I’m Aiden Bradly, and I know gold and how to stir it from the earth.”
“Good to hear, son. We don’t want ‘em green.”
No one ever did.
*~*~*
Jennie sat next to Ruby as they pulled the wagons out of the circle and formed a line with Reverend Level in the lead, Beau following, and Ruby tagging behind. Jennie wouldn’t miss the inside of the wagon one bit. She’d always thought sharing one room with her sisters growing up in the tiny house had been difficult, but it was nothing compared to the cramped covered wagon.
Jennie held her arm tight to her chest, every bounce and shifting of the wagon sent a fire up her arm. She watched the ever-changing horizon as they slowly climbed over swells and maneuvered through valleys. When she was sure she couldn’t take the sight of another evergreen tree, a city grew up in front of them, squished between three tall hills and surrounded by deadfall.
Ruby pulled up on the lines and stood, shading her face. Jennie sat in awe and gasped, shading her eyes from the pressing sun. The town was made of stone. There wasn’t a shanty in sight and no tents, either, it was a bustling city, bigger than Cutter’s Creek and far larger than anything she’d ever seen.
“They made it of stone… like a castle from one of those stories you read us in Cutter’s Creek.” Jennie could hardly get the words past her throat. An excitement she hadn’t expected built inside her. All the rocks were light colored and glinted back at her in the sunlight.
Ruby glanced at her, a twinkle in her eyes. “The city of Deadwood has had a lot of time to grow. You’d have known that if you’d have listened to Reverend Level instead of going off on your own deciding how much you hated the idea of coming here.”
“I’m sorry now I didn’t pay more attention.” Jennie swallowed hard. “It isn’t at all what I expected. What’re we going to do once we get there?” Jennie gazed up at Ruby. Now that they were here, new worries attacked her. Where would they live? Did they have
supplies? What if goods were more expensive?
Ruby handed Jennie the lines and stretched her back gingerly, then sat back down ready to catch up to Beau’s wagon.
“The first thing Beau needs to do is get us lodging for a night at a boarding house or hotel. Then he’ll need to find work so we can talk to the land office about housing. We had some money saved for the trip, but we didn’t know how much land costs here. I’m not afraid to work. I’ve heard there are laundries and restaurants here, not just saloons, gambling houses, and other places we have no business talking about.”
“I’m sure all of us are willing to work.” Jennie glanced back at Hattie. Jennie had an inkling that Hattie, more than anyone, would be more willing to work any job. She shook off the feeling and prayed what she hoped was a proper prayer for forgiveness. Thinking such things about her own sister would only cause strife.
“I’m just not sure what work we’ll find. Just keep your eyes open and pray for something to make itself known. Beau has always been good about finding work wherever he is, but that was when he was alone. Now, he needs work that’ll provide for his whole family.”
“I guess since Ma and Pa made do with so little, I never thought about what it costs to have a family, but I bet it was hard going from one man to a family of nine…”
Ruby smiled absentmindedly and flicked the lines, now in a hurry to get close to Beau’s rig. “He’s learned to trust less in himself and more on the Lord in these last few months. He’s responsible for all of you and doesn’t take that lightly. I’m sorry you felt he took your choice away from you when Aiden left. It wasn’t his intention to make him leave. He just needed Aiden to understand, in the same way he had to learn, that you’re all precious and take special care. He wants you to be able to turn to him like a father, without ever asking you call him that or forcing you to treat him as one.”
Her heart lurched in her chest. Beau wanted to be a real father to her, so much more than the man who’d actually carried that title. “I never thought of it that way. I was thankful for you, and for him, but I never took account of what it cost both of you. What will you do when… I mean—” She glanced down to Ruby’s waistline suddenly worried that when a baby came, they wouldn’t want the burden of her or her sisters.
“We’ll be a family of ten,” Ruby whispered as she leaned in close and flicked the lines once more, the oxen powered ahead and Jennie groaned as the jolt jerked her back in her seat. As they navigated through the thoroughfare of people and animals, they had to slow way down as Ruby concentrated on avoiding everything with the heavy wagon.
They pulled their small train down the main street and stopped in front of an inn. Reverend Level and Beau climbed down stiffly and went inside The Grand Central Hotel, Jennie and all her sisters waited outside.
A handsome, younger man in a suit walked by and tipped his hat to Ruby and Jennie. The longer they sat in the street, the more men stopped and just stared at them.
She didn’t see a single woman around them. So, at least some of her fears had been warranted. There were many men bustling about doing business and the city was huge, with many blocks of housing and businesses climbing up the face of the nearby hills, but she didn’t spy a single swishing skirt.
The younger man approached their wagon and leaned against the buckboard.
“Hello ladies. Welcome to Deadwood. Name’s Roy.” He wore a smart gray suit and black satin string tie, with a light Stetson perched on his head, shading eyes just a little too beady to suit Jennie’s taste.
Beau strode out of the hotel and stood next to Roy, shooting him a glance that would’ve had her moving fast had it been her in Roy’s shoes. He elbowed his way to the wagon holding out his hand for Ruby. “I have a place for us, but let’s get a little lunch, then I’ll take you to the house we’ll rent until we can get our own homestead.”
He stepped back and looked at Roy. “Can I help you with something? Don’t you have somewhere to be, mister?”
Roy held up his hand and stepped back. “No, no. I thought you were someone else entirely. Good day.” He tipped his head and strode off.
Ruby let Beau help her down. “Strange fellow, though it seems we’ve attracted quite the notice.”
Jennie scanned the street around them and some men were outright staring, while others tried to make it less obvious.
Ruby touched Beau’s arm. “I don’t think it’s safe to leave all our things out here in the street. We should get all our belongings put away, and then get lunch. With all of us, it won’t take long.” Ruby sighed and glanced back up at the seat. “I was looking forward to a short break, but, with as busy as it is here, I’ll do whatever you think is right, Beau.”
“How about we compromise? The owner of the hotel has a small livery in the back and he said we could use it until we get ours cleaned out. I’ll move the wagons back there while you ladies wait here.”
Ruby shook her head. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ve been kidnapped before and don’t intend to let it happen again. We’ll follow you, then go in the back of the inn”
Beau kissed her on the nose. “Sounds good, we’ll get these moved then join the reverend inside.”
Beau and Ruby maneuvered the wagons through the busy, crowded street, and around the block to the small stable in the back of the inn. Unlike out front, no one stood around to look at them back there.
Jennie laid down on the feather tick with the younger girls and waited for Beau to secure the oxen and give them some hay and water. She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Aiden. She’d hoped they’d have caught up to him before reaching Deadwood, but they’d seen nothing of him. She’d wanted to apologize for Beau. Perhaps even convince him to stay, though maybe not his dog. They were both in Deadwood, but would they ever see each other again?
Beau called for them and they went into the inn to get lunch. When they’d finished, he walked them two blocks from the inn to a house the size of the one they’d left in Cutter’s Creek. It had huge front windows, a wrap-around porch and enough room for all of them. Ruby and Beau walked arm-in-arm ahead of the group, smiling at one another.
“How did you get this for us? Why didn’t the man at the inn just let us rent a room?”
“I explained to him that we’d be looking for a home and there were quite a few of us. He didn’t really have the space for such a large family and for what could be more than a day, so he suggested this. It was his mother’s home, but she passed recently and he hasn’t had a chance to sell it, so he’ll rent it to us until he can find someone.”
“And do we intend to be that someone?” Ruby asked as they waited for him to open the door.
“I guess we’ll wait and see what the inside looks like and how much they want to sell it for. If I can find a good job soon, it might be possible.”
Beau pushed open the door and they entered onto gleaming wood floors that led to a large fireplace. On the other side of the room was a large dining area and a table with enough chairs for all of them. Along the right wall was a staircase that led to the second level where the bedrooms were. And along the back wall, behind the stairs, was the small but serviceable kitchen.
Ruby stood in the middle of the room and held her arms out wide, slowly spinning in a circle, smiling when she finally stopped. “It’s perfect, Beau.”
Jennie felt the same way. After living in the tiny confines of the wagon, a home where you could stretch your arms out wide and not touch anything was a blessing. Lula yelled from upstairs, “There’s beds up here. Almost enough for all of us to have our own!”
Beau took Ruby in his arms and danced her around the large room. Jennie turned away from their affection.
“Will you work in the mines, Beau?” Jennie turned back toward the couple, her question stopping their celebration.
“I don’t think so, Jennie. I’ve never worked in a mine before and it’s dangerous work. The railroad is big here, I’ve done that, cattle work, worked with horses, and mov
ing freight with ox carts. I’m sure I’ll find something to do. I feel it, right down to my bones, this is where we belong.” He smiled down at Ruby.
If only Jennie felt as sure.
Chapter Seven
BOOM DROVE AIDEN TO the outskirts of Deadwood, then bypassed the town and went around to a small area with what seemed like endless rows of tiny decrepit homes. It was the shantytown Jennie had been so fearful of. The one he’d assured her didn’t exist. It wasn’t supposed to, at least that’s what he’d heard. All along the edge of the shantytown was a row of houses painted red. He’d live in his very own red-light district without even being near the railroad. Aiden shivered. He hoped wherever Boom led him was far away from the cribs.
Boom pulled up in front of a shanty with a sagging roof and no paint. It looked only a little bigger than an outhouse. A foul smell surrounded him and he held the bile in his throat at bay. There was nowhere for the men to empty chamber pots or spittoons, and litter had piled up in public areas. Even at the California claim, he and the prospector had been neat. Looking about him now, it was a wonder they didn’t all die of disease.
“The last guy that had this one didn’t take such good care of it. It’s got a cot, a stove, and a table. Don’t need much else. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning, work starts early.”
Aiden climbed down, grabbing his saddle from the back of the wagon, and keeping the pain in his feet barely under control. Jack jumped down, sitting by his feet and they watched as Boom turned his wagon and headed toward Deadwood in the distance. Aiden limped to the small run-down building. As he opened the door, he noticed there was no lock on it, or any way to keep people out. The bed was a nearly flat tick that had seen better days. He’d have to search for miles to find enough material to fill it. He pulled back the shredded curtain that covered the one crate on the wall for storing food and dishes. It held one dirty plate, cup, and bowl. There was no food, no kindling or wood for the stove, and he had no way to get into town except to walk. He didn’t even have an ax to cut wood.
