by J. R. WRIGHT
It was obvious to Luke now whoever had been in the wagon had brought the smell with him. And he aimed to find out who that was.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Late on the fifth day, the boat came to a wood station. Feeling the boat slow and then reverse, Luke and Breanne went to the side to see why. There they saw a small settlement carved out of the dense woods which consisted of several cabins and a huge shed filled to the rafters with sawn and split lengths of firewood. Several men came down to the water’s edge and assisted in tying the boat and lowering the ramp to the levee.
It was then the captain made an announcement from the railing outside the pilot house above.
“We’ll be taking on wood here, folks. Since it’s late in the day, and some chancy stretches of river lay ahead, we won’t be departing until morning. This will be an opportunity for you gentlemen, and lady, to get your land legs back for a spell. So enjoy. And by the way, if any of you able-bodied men would like to join the woodmen and crewmen on the wood brigade, it will be appreciated. Thank you.”
Having said that, Captain Cooper came down the ladder and got into the line that formed outside the engine room and ran all the way to the wood shed below.
Luke went to join, as well, and headed down the ramp to get in line somewhere below. Seeing the inviting setting of the wood station, Breanne followed for no other reason than to walk among the trees and perhaps pet a young deer that she saw tied nearby.
Pearson, the missionary, followed them down and got in line next to Luke. Then when the line was fully formed, each man two arm lengths from the next, the sticks of wood began to travel one at a time from man to man until each ended up just outside the boiler room, where they were stacked neatly from the floor to the boards that formed the deck above.
“Pierre has given permission for you to tag along if you still have a mind to,” Luke said to Pearson as they worked.
“I most certainly do. Thank you, kind sir. I’ll try not to be a burden.”
After a short silence, Pearson said, “This would be a lovely setting for a wedding, if there was a need for such a thing.”
Luke thought on that for a moment, then said, “Breanne is the only female here, and she’s taken.”
“Have the two of you been married long, Mister McKinney?”
“No, not long at all,” Luke said, becoming a bit suspicious about where Pearson intended to take this conversation.
“Was it a proper wedding, minister and all?”
“You don’t need a preacher to exchange vows,” Luke said, getting a little angry. “That ought to be private anyway, to my thinking.”
“I agree,” Pearson said, “there’s nothing more sacred. And I’m sure your vows were lovely, but they weren’t sanctioned by God.”
“That’s not important to us. Neither of us have much interest in any of that.”
“Then how will you get into the book?”
“What book?”
“The one at our church in Independence that the census takers record from. It makes a legal record of your marriage for all to read and know to be official.”
“Official? Do we need that?”
“You do if you want it to be protected by law. Otherwise, what would keep your wife from going off and marrying another man while she is still married to you?”
“I think you’re blowing smoke up my ass, Preacher.” Luke laughed at the prospect Breanne would ever do anything like that.
“Suit yourself,” Pearson said and moved out of line to let a rested man in.
When it became Luke’s turn to be rested, he went to where Breanne was petting the deer by one of the cabins.
“That preacher has me befuddled,” Luke said as he came up. “He’s saying our marriage is not official unless we say the words again, and it’s recorded in some book.”
“I don’t mind,” Breanne said. “That is kind of what I had in mind when I picked the white silk dress.”
“Okay. You best go get ready then, ‘cause he has in mind to do it here.”
“When?”
“I guess we ought to work that out with Pearson.” He looked around and saw him leaning against a tree not far away.
Together they walked toward him, Breanne smiling all the way. She would finally be getting the wedding she always dreamed of. The vows they had exchanged in Independence were special, but nothing could take the place of a real wedding like her mother had had. At least that was the story her father told her when she was a child. Her mother had been dressed in white, she remembered him saying. That was before his drinking became so bad, so she believed him then.
Once the word was out, things started to happen. First off, Captain Cooper offered his cabin to Breanne so she could dress in a civilized fashion. Luke carried her trunk there and then went to the wagon where he scrubbed himself and dressed in new trousers, shirt, and a heavy coat he had bought in Independence. Pierre came shortly thereafter with a boring tool and a siphon hose, and climbed into the wagon.
Luke went around and looked in to see what he was up too. It appeared he was tapping into one of the barrels of whiskey.
Seeing him there, Pierre said, “Can’t have a proper hitching without some jugs to pass about.”
“Reckon not. Fact is, I could use a little nip presently myself.”
“Then start handing me those empty jugs under the wagon seat.”
Luke did as he asked, and Pierre filled all four of them.
“Here’s to ya, Luke,” Pierre said, taking a swig from the crockery jug after having poured Luke some in a tin cup.
The beautiful sunset all had hoped for was not to be. The sky now was completely overcast with rolling grey clouds that appeared quite by surprise from over the treetops to the west, erasing all evidence of the bright sun and blue sky of moments ago.
The crewmen, woodmen, the captain, and many of the passengers had gathered below when Signore Pearson, dressed in his finest black, began to sing a familiar hymn. Soon others joined in. A man with a fiddle struck a note and tried his best to stay in tune, but another with a mouth harp was doing a much better job.
When Breanne appeared at the upper end of the ramp like a living angel, her beautiful white silk dress flowing in the breeze, the singing stopped and the cheering began. She was so elated, she paused for a moment and looked over the motley group below. In her happiness, they could have been a pen of hogs and it wouldn’t have mattered, it was Luke’s beaming face at the bottom of the ramp that cheered her heart.
He held her new coat and slipped it over her shoulders when she reached him. Then they walked together toward Pearson, who had situated himself under a huge oak tree near the woodshed.
When they arrived Pearson raised his hands and the group quieted, not wanting to miss a single word of the proceedings. Many had never witnessed a wedding, not even one of their own. Generally, when a man married in these parts, it was to an Indian woman, with at best a few words from the chief, if they were on friendly terms. If not, the ceremony was no more than an unspoken agreement.
At first Pearson launched into a wailing discourse on the sinful practice of coupling outside the temple of holy matrimony and the consequence for such actions come judgment day.
“If not made right in life, be it known the fires of hell will surely nip at your heels throughout eternity!”
Following that there was a loud clap of thunder, and Pearson came to the notion time was short. It would rain soon; the air already smelled of it.
At that moment Pierre stepped up and took a position directly behind the young couple. He had changed into his best buckskin outfit and slicked down his gray hair with some bear grease he had borrowed from one of the crewmen. Luke turned to acknowledge his presence and noticed him standing proudly as if he were the father of both.
“I think most everyone here knows who these two are and why we’re gathered here, so I’m going to get right on with it.”
There was more thunder and Pearson cut to the chase. He didn
’t have a book to go by, but that didn’t seem important now, with the urgency for speed at hand.
“Now I have to ask you, Luke, if you’ll take this woman Breanne as your wife till death do you part?’
“Sure I will,” Luke said joyously to cheers from the group of thirty or so that surrounded them.
“Do you, Breanne, take Luke to be your husband until…”
Breanne didn’t like the death part so she cut Pearson short. “Yes, I do too,” she said, and grabbed Luke’s neck to pull him in for a kiss.
The crowd cheered wildly.
“Do you have a ring?” Pearson asked as the first rain drop arrived.
Breanne held up her hand to show it was already there, while they were still embraced.
“The ring is on the finger!” Pearson shouted, then ran for the cover of the woodshed, as did near everyone else, including the bride and groom.
Pearson, remembering something he forgot to say, located them there and broke through those that gathered around to say it.
“I need to say, by the power of God invested in me, I pronounce you man and wife…”
“Okay,” Luke said. “Now are we hitched?”
“You are,” Pearson said and laughed. It was his first marriage except for a couple of failed attempts at trying to unite Omaha couples. They couldn’t stop laughing long enough to get through it. But they didn’t much understand what it was all about anyway.
“You won’t forget to put us in that book you were talking about, will you?”
“Rest assured, just as soon as I get back to Independence in the fall.”
With great speed the woodmen brought tables in from the rain and soon had them covered with previously prepared foods. There was a whole spit roasted antelope, a bushel bag of deer jerky, a smoked turkey, and two huge baskets of smoked river fish, along with baskets of biscuits and loafs of crusty wheat bread.
It was then Pierre went among the people handing out the jugs of whiskey, saving one which he brought to Luke and Breanne with three tin cups.
Soon the fiddle player and the man with the harmonica struck up a tune, and the celebration began. The heavy rain continued, and even though the clapboard roof didn’t keep all of it away, this minor problem didn’t seem to disturb anyone. The men danced with men, and Luke danced with Breanne, until she was totally exhausted some hours later. It was then Luke made an announcement thanking them all for the great party and bid them a good night.
Then to moans of disappointment from the group, they moved away toward the boat. But they no more than started through the driving rain when Captain Cooper, who was coming back from the boat, brought them back.
“I kinda wanted you to have these, Breanne,” he said, then drew a shimmering strand of pearls from his pocket. “And I must say it’s been an honor having you aboard. Pierre has told me a lot about you.”
Breanne looked to Luke for approval and got the nod she hoped for. “They’re so lovely. Thank you!” She reached out for them until it became obvious he was prepared to place them around her beautiful neck. Once on, her fingers couldn’t resist caressing each of the larger ones over her chest.
“And for you, Luke, so you never lose track of this lady, I have this.” He pulled a brass compass from his pocket.
“Thank you, sir,” Luke beamed.
“And that’s not all,” Cooper said. “I think the woodmen have a surprise for you as well. Where is Herman?”
“Here, Captain!” The little man came forward shyly.
“Well, tell her?” Cooper encouraged.
“We fixed you up a cabin, ma’am. It’s that one there.” He pointed to the small log structure nearest the river.
“Oh, thank you so much. You’re all so kind.” Breanne broke into tears and hid her face in Luke’s neck.
The little man took one of the blazing lanterns that hung in the woodshed and proudly led the way to the cabin. Once inside he hung the light in the center of the room and left without another word.
“My, I certainly didn’t expect this,” Luke said, looking about.
He turned after hearing no response from Breanne and saw her climbing weakly onto the bed. Once on the far side, she closed her long coat over herself and shut her eyes. He wasted no time joining her there, for he too was exhausted and a little drunk, and soon they were both fast asleep. If there was to be a consummation of this marriage, it would just have to wait for morning.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sound of heavy rain on the roof lulled Luke and Breanne all of the night; that is, until it was spiced faintly with that of a bell. This strange change in their surroundings brought them both bolt upright on the bed. Luke went immediately to the door and flung it open. Men were running for the boat in the driving rain.
“We best get back to the boat.” He turned to Breanne. “Something must be the matter.”
In an instant Breanne was on her feet, and the two of them ran for the loading ramp and got there just as some of the crew were preparing to raise it.
“What’s the matter?” Luke asked of a crewman once onboard.
The wind was so fierce once they were above the protection of the trees, Luke held tightly to Breanne, fearing she may be swept across the deck and possibly over the far side.
“The river is coming up. She’s getting mighty swift,” the crewman shouted to be heard over the roar of the river. “The captain wants to take her out into the channel before she beaches.”
“Where is the captain?”
“In the pilot house.”
Pulling Breanne behind him, they climbed the two flights of steps to the pilot house.
“How can I help?” Luke asked of the captain as he fought to get the both of them through the door to the small glassed-in space.
“Didn’t expect to see you here, McKinney. Ma’am. Most of my crew is passed out below,” Captain Cooper said, appearing quite drunk himself.
“I’m rested.”
“Good, then you can help the fireman. We’ll be needing all the head we can muster if we’re to stay ahead of this current. And it’ll get worse. Best take the woman to my cabin. That’s no place down there for a lady.”
“Yes, sir.” Luke backed through the door, taking Breanne with him.
After depositing her in the captain’s cabin one flight below, Luke went on down to the boiler room, where he found the burley fireman busy stoking a roaring blaze in the firebox. He must have just gotten started, Luke noticed, for the pressure gauge above the boiler still registered near zero.
Not seeing any logs remaining in the wood box, he went to fetch some and soon found the fireman was using it as fast as he brought it in. The massive firebox wasn’t near being filled, and it took the better part of an hour of constant feeding before it was.
“Now what?” Luke eyed the big man who still seemed a bit drunk, as well.
“Now we wait,” he said, miserably scratching his snarled red beard.
“How long?”
The fireman looked at the gauge which registered near one hundred pound pressure.
“It will take at least twice that to get the big wheel moving. Three times, if we’re to beat that current.”
Not getting the answer he was looking for, Luke rephrased, “How long before you need me again?”
“Come back in a half hour.”
Hearing that, he went to check on Breanne and found her gazing out of the window at the turbulent river, fully dressed in her new buckskins. She had gotten them from her steamer trunk that still remained in the captain’s cabin from last night.
She rushed to him. “I was so worried!”
“Nothing to worry about,” he said, taking her in close. “It just took a while. I’ll need to go back. I wanted to see you were settled.”
“Are we going to be okay?” she said. “Maybe we ought to leave the boat?”
“We’ll be fine. I’m sure things like this happen all the time.”
“Well, then, can I at least go with you? I�
��ll go nuts cooped up here wondering what is happening.”
“Yep.” He hugged her tightly before leaving the room.
Luke, with Breanne in tow, made his way back to where the wood was stored around the corner from the boiler room. Knowing she would be safe here, he made her a place to sit on the woodpile closest to the wall and encouraged her to do so. He then gathered an armload of logs and disappeared into the boiler room. But when he returned, he found her standing with an armload of wood of her own. Since the river was so loud and conversation was impossible, she simply held out what logs she had for him to take. He smiled gratefully and gave her a peck on the cheek. This brought a smile to her face as well.
A short time later, the steam pressure was sufficient to start the big wheel in motion, and the fireman pulled the bell rope to signal the captain. Soon the return signal came for full reverse.
The steamboat was still tied to two huge tree stumps at the water’s edge. But it would be important to get the stern back out into the main stream before cutting the boat loose. Two of the woodmen stood by with axes, awaiting the captain’s orders. It would require perfect timing, or they would surely be taken down stream and possibly run ashore down river.
Now that there was plenty of wood stored in the boiler room for the time being, Luke waited with Breanne at the wood pile. They heard the captain shouting the order, followed closely by a blast from the horn, and they floated free. The big boat immediately righted, became parallel with the stream, and started to drift, slowly at first, then faster. The captain sent the signal for forward full. The big wheel stopped, then with great force began slowly moving in the opposite direction. Now it was a matter of catching up with the flow of the river and hopefully surpassing it. The signal soon came for more speed. It wasn’t long before the paddlewheel was spinning so rapidly, the white water going over it matched that of the turbulent river below.
