by Leah Banicki
Corinne was quiet for a few days after Fort Kearney but started coming out of her shell again. She enjoyed helping Cookie with meals and also doing the laundry with Chelsea at the creek. They had just done an easy river crossing and the evening was perfect. The sky was pink and Chelsea and Corinne enjoyed the view while planning the future.
"So Corinne, I know you aren't happily married." Chelsea stated uneasily, she made a grimace then continued. "So what do you want to do once you reach Oregon? I know you love plants. Will you start your own farm?" Corinne laughed at her friend's comedic way of making her marriage seem less tragic.
"I hope so, I know my Father bought some farmland for his ranch. I don't know what will happen when we arrive and I get an annulment. Andrew seems pretty eager and may beat me to it." She laughed and imagined the foot race to the town.
"Well I can see your love for plants and medicine. I picture you doing amazing things my friend." Chelsea's warm smile was very sincere.
"I do have a dream of making my own medicinal oils. I hope to start with lavender." Her eyes went a little far away. She blushed and grew silent for a moment. "I am not sure if I will ever be brave enough to tell my father or any other man about it though. What man would understand a business plan based on flowers? There are few men in the world that truly would even comprehend what I want to do." Corinne continued to scrub the clothes embarrassed a little for sharing a glimpse of her dream.
"Well, the right man will come along and he will see your dream and help you to fulfill it." Chelsea said thoughtfully.
"From your lips to God's ears." Corinne grinned but realized seriously that those kinds of men were rare. Corinne wasn’t sure if she had Chelsea's luck for finding and keeping one of the good ones.
"Chelsea..." Corinne decided to get bold after a few minutes of silence. "Will you pray for me?" Corinne felt a tear slip out, as she grew silent. Suddenly she was overwhelmed with her situation.
"Oh sweet Corinne, Me and God have talks about you every day." Chelsea gave her a squeeze and they returned to their work, grinning in that bittersweet way of women, those smiles when the heart is a bit raw.
Corinne felt lucky for their growing friendship. They continued their duties and got back to scrubbing shirts. Lucas and Russell came by after their chores and brought stools. They were worn out but wanted the company of the ladies. Russell kissed his wife so soundly when he sat next to her, Corinne blushed and turned away. Unfortunately she met Lucas's gaze with her own and felt even more embarrassed. They both laughed nervously and awkwardly searched for something else to do with themselves.
"Sorry Corinne, I guess my husband missed me." Chelsea chuckled warmly and Corinne rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Well Andrew and I will be sure to shock you later with our own affection for each other." Corinne enjoyed everyone's laughter as they all had trouble imagining Corinne and Andrew in anything but a wrestling match. Corinne felt like herself around the Grant family and wished herself magically a part of it. Chelsea would be a great sister. She tried to distract herself from her own wishes by trying to focus on others.
" Lucas is your fiancé, Sarah Ballentine, coming next year to meet you? I am quite surprised you didn't marry her first and drag her along. A wagon train honeymoon has been wonderful for me." Corinne smiled and watched a strange play of emotions cross his face. Lucas and Russell were both dark haired, tall and nearly identical but Lucas was usually always smiling. It was strange to see him otherwise.
"Well, to be honest, I had asked her to marry me two years ago. She knew our plans for coming West but continued to put off the date. She eventually promised me she would join me after I got settled in Oregon." Lucas tried to make light of the fact that she was delaying the marriage but they could all feel his thoughts. He was starting to doubt. "I have had lots of time to think. I don't think I'll ever see her again. Somehow I expect to hear she's too afraid of the unknown West." Lucas grinned again in a sad lopsided way. He shrugged. "I'm just a farmer after all. Her father is a rich man with land and lots of horses. I can't expect any girl to give that up for a small house and a few acres of farm land."
Corinne kept her hands busy as she listened to Lucas. She knew the kind of girl that Sarah Ballentine was. She had been just like her before her Father left for the West three years ago. Corinne had been fourteen and spoiled, wanting to be a child for just a while longer. Her father was lonely and desperate for change after his wife died. He was still young and wanted to be just like Lucas was now, free, and on his own life path. Corinne could see how her Father had been so disappointed. To share your dream with someone was difficult and then to have it spit back at you in disgust must have been heart breaking.
Corinne said her goodbyes, grabbed her tub full of clean laundry, and headed back. Lucas volunteered to bring her washboard and water bucket back for her so she didn’t have to come back for a second trip. She nodded and quickly walked away. There was something about Lucas lately that made her very happy and uncomfortable at the same time.
* * * * *
Later that evening the Grants invited the Temple crew to dine with them again. Cookie was happy for the time off and used his free time to clean out his small stove. It was always giving him fits when the ash got clogged in there.
Andrew had sent word that he was going to be gone for several days on a scouting trip and everyone breathed a little easier. Corinne walked into the Grant camp and smiled at the scent of pipe tobacco that drifted toward her. Its warm woodsy aroma made her feel welcome and homey. She saw Clive leaning against a tall sapling watching little Brody play with a small-carved horse. He was puffing on the pipe leisurely and seemed quite pleased with himself.
"That smell is heavenly, Clive. I didn't know you smoked." Corinne had a bit of a bounce to her step today and joined him next to the sapling after she said a quick hello to Chelsea and Russell.
"Well, I don't actually smoke verra often, but every third full moon or so I get a hankerin. I don't like thinking I have to have it, but I do like the warm way it settles me." He smiled and took another puff.
Corinne laughed and sat with Clive for a few minutes until she felt the urge to get up and stretch the tightness out of her arms. She was still getting accustomed to the chores and she knew her arms and hands would take a while to get adjusted to the increased labor. She welcomed it. It was her proof of serving. She was no longer a child and was sharing the burden.
* * * * *
Dinner that evening was hearty and the company was excellent. Outside the camp there were some hoots and hollers, and they soon discovered they had company. Some native women and children arrived outside the wagon train and they had brought wares to trade. Several groups came near the Grant camp and everyone made them feel welcome. Clive jumped up and used some simple hand gestures and a few words that Corinne didn’t understand. He told Chelsea to serve up some extra dishes.
Corinne told Cookie to go get some leftover biscuits and a small pouch of coffee beans for trading. She had a few flannel shirts she had purchased just for this type of moment. She went to her wagon quickly and got a small bottle of lavender to amaze the native women. As she got back to the Grant camp the women are eating happily and a lively trading session was taking place. Clive was the interpreter and he was doing an excellent job of keeping the situation lively and fun. Corinne got a few beaded necklaces traded for her two shirts she brought. They traded a few fresh fish for the biscuits and cheese. The biggest thrill was when Corinne approached the women with the lavender oil. She opened the vial and lifted it to her own nose and then put it closer to them. They all sniffed, smiled, and began talking fast in their own language. Corinne took her finger and put a dot of oil on her finger than touched it to the side of her neck. She then got another dot on her finger and held it out for one of them. The youngest girl came first and got the sweet floral scent on her neck after that, she giggled and showed off her new scent to her friends. Corinne had many requests from the women and childre
n to be 'perfumed' by her. The trading and visiting had gone delightfully well and the native visitors left with many good trades and full bellies.
Everyone in the wagon train felt charged up and a gathering was inevitable. After a few musicians got their instruments and began warming up, Jimmy and Joe announced they wanted to sing and with a flourish they started singing a spiritual hymn that made everyone feel grand. The ox handlers had a way of singing that put everyone in a happy mood. A few more camps move in and the music got lively. Corinne went to her bed that night having lived a grand day.
* * * * *
Corinne woke up with a start. The sky for a moment was bright then a crack of thunder shook the earth. She drew a shaking breath and tried to clear the cobwebs out of her sleeping brain. It was obvious, there was a storm coming. So far, they had avoided any storms nearby. She saw the wagon canopy light up as bright as morning again and within two-seconds the boom of thunder nearly shook her out of her skin. It was thirty-seconds later the rain started its torrent. She could hear it hitting the semi-dry ground with slapping sounds. She crawled back to the flap and peeked her head through. Lightning lit up the sky and Corinne could see the fat raindrops coming at a slant, driving into the ground with determination. The wind was picking up speed and Corinne had a brief moment when she wanted to cry out but another boom of thunder shook her powerfully. She lit her lantern that was nearby and decided to put on a comfortable dress. If the wind got any stronger she might have to retreat under the wagon.
The storm raged on through the night and Corinne had time to consider that this could happen every day. The cold driving rain and the unmerciful lightning had its own life and agenda. She felt like such a tiny speck, alone in the middle of the wilderness. She started believing that they were at the mercy of the elements. She kept her calm as the hours crept by. She leaned on a trunk and blew out the lantern. She fell back to sleep a few times that long miserable night but the thunder always had its way of getting her attention.
The camp was up early and Corinne dragged her weary self up with everyone else. The rain had turned their camp to mud. The creek nearby was swollen and appeared larger than it had been earlier. The area was pretty flat and the water had few places to go so it formed puddles everywhere. Corinne's boots were wet and cold throughout by the time she finished with her breakfast and taking the necessary walk with her women friends. The sky stopped the rain but the clouds were a dreary gray that blocked out nearly all sunlight. The wagons started rolling by eight a.m. but several had major problems immediately. At the front there were two wagons with one or more wheels stuck in the mud. A few oxen were having trouble pulling the wagons through the muck and rocky terrain. The day was not starting well.
Corinne was riding Clover when she heard a loud crack nearby followed with a shout by Jimmy Blake. Corinne rode over and saw that her wagon was leaning haphazardly to the left. She saw the culprit a minute later. The broken wagon wheel was on the ground and the remaining front one looked like it was hanging on to nothing. After the animals had been unhitched and were safely out of the way of other traveling wagons, Jimmy and Joe used all of their strength and muscle along with the help of a few wagon jacks, and got the wagon back to the proper angle. Andrew's wagon had the spare wagon parts and after a short while of jostling things around they had the tools and parts they needed to make the necessary repairs. Corinne rode ahead slowly through the muddy path to find the Grants and warn them that they would be behind today only to find them with their own set of troubles with the mud. Russell explained that the terrain didn’t handle the water very well and got waterlogged quickly when the rain came, so much so fast. Corinne observed that the area was getting sparse of trees so there was no way of using the ropes and pulley systems for getting out of the mud, just men and brute strength. She appreciated how resourceful all these men were.
It was several hours of the Temple outfit grunting in the mud, wrestling with the wheels and finally hooking the ox team back up. The movement was slow and labored and the fear of getting stuck in the ruts made by the other wagons was a real one. The land was laid out pretty flat and reached far in both directions. The ground was a mess of mud pits and animals tracks. Corinne felt bad for the mess they were leaving in their wake. The Temple outfit rolled up to join the other wagons at around eight o' clock that night. Everyone was exhausted and did their duties quickly. Cookie made coffee and biscuits and everyone ate silently and crept into their beds.
* * * * *
The next day the whole train were drinking their coffee and sitting around their fires when the dogs started their racket. Everyone's gaze was soon drawn to the South where twenty natives were outside the camp on horseback. Their faces were impassive and they seemed calm, but the outlandish stories the newspapers painted back home told about Indian scalping parties, made the wagon train occupants a bit wary of surprise visits from the native men. Clive quickly mounted up and headed over in a peaceful zigzag fashion. Everyone watched excitedly to see what would happen next. There were several gestures and if Corinne focused hard she could hear them grunting their own simple way of communicating. Clive rode back with three of the men. Corinne watched in startled fascination as they headed toward her. She nearly choked on her sip of coffee when she registered they were heading for her! She bolted up from her stool and gazed up at Clive with eyes as big as her coffee mug.
"They came to talk to the medicine woman." He had such a proud grin on his face that his face would surely crack open.
"Medicine woman? That is funny Clive! What can they want with me?" Corinne was wondering if her bit of fun with the native women had offended anyone. Her heart was pounding a quick step in her chest.
"They want to trade you many goods for the bottle of medicine you showed the women." Clive gestured to the men and they all dismounted. Corinne was very embarrassed at their near naked state. The warm weather was certainly no problem for them in their simple loincloths. They were pulling goods down from their horses and began displaying for her what they had to offer. Corinne blinked and explained to Clive she would be a moment. She walked over to her wagon and grabbed her small pouch hanging just inside. In it was the bottle she used the other day to show the women her lavender oil.
She had many bottles packed in her things and would not miss just one though the oil was expensive and precious. She had her own goal of making more if she could convince her father of her plan. She ran back to the group that had gathered.
She showed the native men the bottle and opened the stopper. They all sniffed noisily and were excited to see it. She closed the bottle and handed it to Clive. She nodded to him then to the men. They communicated happily with Clive and she trusted him entirely to do a 'good trade' as she had heard a few Indians say in a stunted accent. The leader of the pack settled on some sort of agreement and Clive handed the bottle over to him. He spoke directly to Corinne looking into her eyes with his own dark ones. He clasped his hand over the bottle and gestured over his heart then to his head. He glanced back to the man behind him and he approached Corinne with a necklace held forward. She responded by leaning forward as he approached and placed it around her neck. She smiled and admired at the artistry of the necklace.
It appeared to have bear and wolf claws surrounded by beads and a few dark blue stones. She looked up to see the other man approach her carrying fur. She opened her arms and they deposited a heavy pile of fur. She knew the worth of fur and wanted to protest. She looked to Clive and he told her to accept them. Lucas was behind her a minute later to take them off her hands as they came forward with other gifts. There was a small pouch covered in beads with a long leather handle. They placed it on her shoulder. The beadwork was so elegant it nearly made her cry. They also held the last gift tenderly. It was a hollow leather bag with no ornamentation. She knew they used empty bladders like canteens. They opened it and inside was a white paste. They spoke to her again and Clive translated.
"They said you make good medicine for the h
eart and the head. They say you gathered the flower of many good medicines in that bottle. They respect what you offer and give you a token of the respect with a necklace that proves you have found great honor in their sight. The pelts are to pay you. The beaded bag is for you to gather more. The last is their own medicine to share with you. They say it will drive the stomach demons away." Clive chuckled as he finished. The gasping of the wagon train population behind them amused Clive greatly.
Corinne accepted the lavish praise by blushing and bowing to them out of respect. They mounted up and left a minute later. The 'good trade' was over.
Within a moment she had a crowd around her. Chelsea reached through to give her a big hug and get the first look at the necklace and gathering pouch. The crowd was amazed and it seemed like breakfast was forgotten because of the medicine woman in their midst. Corinne said it's silly whenever anyone called her that. She was secretly thrilled though, her Grandmother Trudie would have been so proud.
The Grant family joined her over by her wagon, as she wanted to get a closer look at the pile of fur that Lucas held for her. They were astounded to see first, a large wolf pelt, then the stunning shining black mink, and wrapped inside were five snowy white rabbit pelts. The women gushed over the softness and the men commented on the quality and worth of such handsome specimens.
"I have a few things I can do with those rabbit pelts for you my dear girl. If you trust me I think I can make you something of a keepsake." She handed them over gladly; slightly excited and curious to see what her dear Clive would come up with. Lucas and Clive then procured a rubber tarp and with some thin rope secured the furs within the tarp in a way they said would be nearly catastrophe proof.
She grinned at Chelsea who felt like her about the men's need to tie things up and then explain to them why they did it. Men were just as silly as the women sometimes. She gave Clive a kiss on the cheek and thanked Lucas warmly for the help. They both seemed to gush over her praise. Chelsea and Corinne wondered out loud to each other about the strange way the men reacted to the Indians gifts to Corinne. They were treating Corinne with a strange awe that made them nearly giggle. All Chelsea could say was that was an 'Interesting way to start the morning.'. They both laughed getting the respect of men was a hard-earned battle for any woman. They figured the respect would fade quickly as new adventures unfolded.
