Bright Morning Star

by J. R. Biery

  When he returned, he looked furious. Over Bella’s protest, he moved the wagon and pulled back the cover. The quicker he moved the angrier she became. “This is not the way to do business. At least let me straighten and cover our own belongings.” Henry ignored his scolding wife. Claire offered to take the boy so that Bella could help him, but the angry woman climbed down and carried the still complaining child onto the boardwalk and into the shade.

  Red-faced, Henry tried to call out to a couple of passing pedestrians. Suddenly Claire climbed up onto the front of the wagon, removed her bonnet and fluffed her hair before turning and smiling to the riders and travelers passing on the street. “Come take a look. We have all the latest lovely things from Boston. Delicate, lacy scanties. Wonderful, whale-bone corsets. And incredible petticoats.” With each item named, she pulled one from the labeled but jumbled boxes to unfurl and hold up in front of her. In minutes, they had created a traffic jam and Henry turned from the sidewalk to face the street and collect money. Surprisingly, most of the first customers were men. But soon the working girl’s from down the street poured up from the saloons to pick through things.

  Bella looked horrified, but Claire just smiled and held up another unmentionable for inspection. At the end of the hour, the merchant who had sent Henry fleeing came out. He agreed to purchase all of the remaining undergarments, but passed on the ordinary shirts and skirts. On the condition, that Lambton move on from his business and not sale any more in Independence. Henry agreed.

  <><><>

  Frustrated, Father Wimberley tried every store without luck. Bonnie pointed to the Lambton wagon and Claire waving a pink petticoat at a cowboy. He turned his wagon around. Bonnie laughingly raced to join her friend. She helped Claire down from the wagon and together they ran to where her father had pulled his wagon to a standstill.

  “Here’s your sales girl. I don’t think those cowhands were buying petticoats for themselves. Just let Claire get their attention, you can explain what you’ve got for sale and how much you want for it. The twins happily climbed into the second wagon, handing out items or holding them as Claire repeated her antics from the front of the wagon.

  It was harder to get a crowd, but many of the passing wagon trains were interested in the spare oxbows and wagon-wheels. A few men on foot or horseback also stopped to inspect the items the smiling blonde was holding aloft. “Looking for gold?” she called. “Then you need the best gold pan, hand-forged in the best foundry in Boston.”

  “Goldie Locks, reckon that has to be a lucky pan since you’ve already touched it,” the man who had addressed her so boldly was elbowed by his friend for his brass.

  Claire’s father glared at the man and Henry stepped away from settling Bella and Barney back in their wagon, pulling out his shotgun, just in case.

  The men lowered his head, removed his hat and grinned sheepishly up at the trio. “Sorry folks, I didn’t mean any insult to you miss. You’re just such a sweet, pretty gal. Reckon you’re the prettiest to come through town in quiet awhile. My apologies if my remark offended.”

  Claire relaxed and smiled as she held out the pan. “Apology accepted, if you’re buying a gold pan?”

  “For one of your smiles, beauty, we’re both buying,” the man behind him said.

  As one item was sold, she took the next. “If you bought that wonderful pan, you probably need this oak-handled shovel to move the dirt into your pan,” she said.

  It took a little longer, but a store owner came out and bought half the remaining lot at noon so he could get rid of the competition.

  Father Wimberley and the boys shifted the remaining cargo into his wagon, raising the beds higher to rest on top of the remaining stock. He then sold his empty wagon without a team. He sent the twins back with a pair of oxen so Henry’s rig again matched his own. Each family now had a single wagon pulled by four oxen.

  The fear that had prodded them since St. Louis, again made them rush to find a secure campsite before nightfall. Every man who had admired Claire wouldn’t be as gallant as the gold miner. When they were directed to a campsite full of fellow travelers, they felt a little safer. When the soldiers came by, they finally relaxed.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  It did not take long to figure out where to walk. The trail made by other wagon trains had left a broad muddy path through the center of town to the camping grounds. As usual, there was someone on hand to demand a fee for the delivery of feed for their oxen. Since there wasn’t a sign of anything left alive on the muddy ground, Father Wimberley paid up. He asked only that the stable owner deliver to his animals first. The man grunted in answer as he took the money.

  Claire and Bonnie went for water together, with Bonnie carrying her usual shotgun. On the way to the city well, they overheard a lot of camp talk. Most was repeated tales of Indian trouble and revised accounts of Custer’s defeat on the Little Big Horn.

  When they came back, neither girl was surprised to hear the two men in their group arguing again. Henry wanted to leave with the large train that was pulling out in the morning, Father insisted they had no choice but to wait until there was a large enough group of others to form a wagon train pulled by oxen. Their animals, as good as they were, wouldn’t last trying to keep up with mules and horses. It was Bella who broke up the argument by calling Henry to bed.

  Claire wondered why he argued so fiercely, when the Lambtons could always go their own way at any time. Father had certainly pointed it out to Henry enough times. Even she knew their main priority was to join a wagon train headed west as soon as possible. They needed others for safety against the Indians or any other marauders.

  <><><>

  It was the first night for the travelers to not all sleep under the canvas wagon tops. Father Wimberley and the twins were struggling to pitch one of the big tents, leaving his wagon to the four women. Standing around beside the fire, Claire and Bonnie smiled as they heard Henry and Bella arguing as they shuffled things around inside their crowded wagon. Claire saw the couple were merely building a high wall with the boxes to surround their mattress.

  Claire and Bonnie offered to help, but were sent on to their beds. The older man’s face was gloomy, the boys aglow with excitement. Claire kissed her father Goodnight, then led Bonnie over to the Wimberley wagon. “You can sleep with Mother, since the bed we sleep in is a lot shorter.”

  As Claire and the young girl shook out the covers and climbed in the small bed wedged near the back of the wagon, Bonnie cautiously removed her dress to prepare to sleep with Mother Wimberley. “Do you think he will be all right, the boys looked excited, but I’m not sure Father was?” Claire asked.

  Mother Wimberley looked out the front flap of the wagon to stare at her husband. He looked frustrated, but Tom and Jim were already holding the post in a different position and his face changed into a smile. He turned to wave at his wife and she pulled the center gusset to close the wagon, embarrassed at being caught watching. Robert never complained, but she knew today had exhausted him. She had heard his groan when Henry had asked about the new sleeping arrangements.

  “Your father will be fine. At least with us in the center of the camp, our men won’t have to keep their usual watch. The fact that troops are camped on the perimeter of the wagons should keep us all safe.”

  Claire hoped Bonnie wouldn’t mention all the talk about the Indians, they had heard on the way to the well. It wouldn’t help in any way, and they all did deserve one peaceful night of sleep.

  <><><>

  Finally, on their second morning in town, the team Henry had sold and nine other ox drawn wagons joined them. As they left town, they felt safer with more rifles and men.

  There were several disapproving glances at Claire and Bonnie. Bonnie sent Mother to find out what the issue was. When Mother walked out to where the women were taking care of business, she heard one loud-mouthed woman, Kaye Raglon, objecting to letting the Wimberleys and Lambtons stay with respectable people. Mother Wimberley didn’t hesitate. �
�And just what do you have to object to?”

  “Well, it was unseemly, the way you all were selling goods on the square,” the pug-faced woman complained.

  Mother pointed out they had done only what they came west to do. They had hauled the goods from Boston with plans to sell them along the route, preferably in Independence.

  Then the woman nodded at Claire. “It was unseemly, the way your girl held up those things and swished around to get men to buy them. No respectable woman would have. Course I noticed you sold plenty to the undesirable kind.”

  “It seems you’re pretty experienced at judging ‘those women.’ I won’t ask where you gained the experience. But I will remind you that the Bible says, ‘judge not, that you be not judged.’ I can assure you, Claire is an innocent and was only trying to help friends sell merchandise. She used to be a clerk in their store in Boston. I think you had better stop trying to divide our small group,” Mother said.

  “Well I never, you can’t talk to me that way,” the woman protested.

  Mother held up her hand to stop the woman. “We’re leaving. Just remember, there are a lot of perils along this route. We will all need each other’s support in the days to come. I don’t want to quarrel with you,” she extended a hand to the woman. “May we part as fellow travelers and allies, not enemies?” Mother Wimberley stood poised, her blue eyes and perfect complexion in marked contrast with the other woman’s coarse looks.

  Finally the woman extended her hand as one of the other women nudged her. Claire stood with her head lowered, her red face hidden by the wide brim of her poke bonnet, biting her tongue.

  Mother and Claire walked back toward the wagons. “I’m sorry, Mother, I never thought about making the wrong impression. I just wanted to help Henry and Bella sell their goods.” Mother nudged her back and they hurried toward the campfire. “Hush,” Mother said, wrapping her arm around her daughter’s bent shoulders. “You had no way to know, but from this point on, remember to practice modesty and decorum. The last thing we want is to be left by this party because of an old biddy like that’s gossiping.”

  As they approached the wagons, Bonnie rushed out to the pair, well aware that something was wrong. Claire climbed up into the back of the wagon, pretended to be busy straightening the already straight cover on the beds. When Mother Wimberley wouldn’t tell her. Bonnie climbed into the back of the wagon and pulled a tearful Claire into her arms. “Oh little goose, what’s wrong now?”

  Sniffling, Claire tried for a smile. “The women were gossiping, complaining that the Wimberleys and Lambtons weren’t suitable people to be in the same train with them.”

  “Who, tell me which one and I’ll go set them straight?”

  Claire let her bonnet fall down behind her, tried to smile at her friend but her mouth crumpled instead. “That ugly Kaye Raglon. She accused me of being one of those women, you know, the kind that bought all the expensive lace undergarments.”

  When Bonnie looked ready to chase out after them, Claire grabbed her skirt and used the thick wool to pull her back. “Don’t, Mother already told her off. Made her shake hands and everything. I just didn’t think, I was just trying to catch people’s attention in order to sell as much as possible.”

  “Well, if the women are talking, the men soon will be. You be careful and stay close to the wagon at all times It wouldn’t do for one of them to get you cornered.”

  Claire stood up, reassured enough to go back to sit on the wagon seat to relieve her Mother of the chore or at least keep her company.

  <><><>

  The next day, all were working in harmony. If the men had heard the gossip or added to it, no-one gave any sign. It was early in the day when they appointed Father Wimberley to be in charge of the wagon train. One day, and he had convinced all that he was the most qualified and capable to drive the lead wagon. He and his boys seemed to get a good deal more from their oxen than the others could. But like all cattle, when the lead animals moved forward, the rest followed.

  That night, Claire was walking back with another pail of water when the thing Bonnie warned her about happened. A leering man stood in her path and dared to speak to her. “I heard about your fancy petticoats and other things. I figure if you showed everyone in town, you could show me if I ask nicely for a peek.”

  “I don’t know what you heard, but it wasn’t true. I showed nothing of mine, in town or anywhere else. Please move so I can pass,” Claire said with as much outrage as she could manage. This wasn’t the first man to ever try to corner her. She had pushed away the foreman at the mill a half-dozen times the last week when she was the only woman still on the floor. Of course, then she had the long hat pin that her mother insisted she carry.

  The man looked confused for a minute, then shook his head. “Naw, my Ma wouldn’t lie about something like that. Come on now, girlie. I just want to get to know you a little better.”

  When he stepped closer, Claire did what Bonnie had taught her, she stepped forward hard on his foot, then pushed him away with great force. The man yelled and grabbed at her and Claire screamed. As she backed quickly out of reach the man started to rise and they both heard the ominous ratcheting of a shotgun.

  “You heard the lady. She told you to move out of the way.”

  “It’s you, ain’t it? You’re the dandy she was selling her bloomers for. Bet that wasn’t all she was doing for you.”

  Henry shocked Claire when she heard him swear.

  “Well, I ain’t afraid of no city man, no matter how many women he handles.” The man was lurching to his feet when they heard another voice speak, one as loud and angry as Henry’s.

  “You better stand up and apologize now, or you and your mother can just head on to Utah alone. I won’t have any man who is disrespectful to my innocent daughter in this wagon train.”

  Again, the man looked confused. The twins moved out of the shadows, as confused by what was being said as the young man. When they looked at Claire, they saw she was frightened and rushed up to stand beside her. “You better stay away from Claire, mister, or we’ll…” Tom wasn’t sure what the threat should be, but Jim needed to yell too. “We sure will. You ought to be ashamed, acting so mean to someone as sweet as our Claire.”

  The man stared at the pale face, the enormous blue eyes of the innocent looking girl before him. He took in the threatening stance and glares of the four men who had come to her rescue. Suddenly he felt worse than foolish.

  “Miss, I’m sorry. I sure am. My Ma was telling tales, and I…”

  But Claire had already turned and stormed off, leaving the confused man to face all her protectors. “I really am sorry, fellows. I promise, I won’t get out of line again.”

  “And you’ll tell the other men on the train to leave her alone,” Father Wimberley ordered.

  “Yes sir, yes sir. I certainly will. I’ll try to set Ma straight as well.” He lowered his eyes and muttered, but “she probably won’t listen.”

  Henry glared at him, reluctantly lowered and eased the mechanism back on his gun. His eyes pierced the foolish young man, who had the grace to finally meet his gaze before looking down. “I’m sorry Mr. Lambton, I had no right to say what I did…”

  Again, his apology faded as the man turned and stalked off back to the wagon train, motioning for the twins to follow him.

  Behind the man who was starting to look angry again, Father Wimberley spoke. “That’s her second warning. Next time you’re leaving. There’s too much out there to worry about to have someone on the train stirring trouble between the members. Tell her loudly, and tell her I mean it.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Claire returned to her wagon, searched for and finally found the hat pin in her hat box. Fuming, she carefully stuck it along the inseam of her arm with the big pin head just at the fold of her wrist. When Henry came stomping in, complaining about the Raglons, Bonnie and Mother rushed to the wagon and tried to offer her sympathy. Claire assured them, she was fine, that the men in their group
had rescued her. She noticed Bella looked smug rather than upset like her Mother and friend. She knew even after working with her for months, Bella secretly approved of the attacks on her character. Though there was nothing between her and Henry, Bella had always been jealous of them.

  Claire swallowed and sank back in the shadows as her Father appeared and told them how the matter had ended. Hopefully the young man and his mother would listen. If not, she knew Father never made threats or postured, the trouble-making pair would be gone.

  <><><>

  After supper, Father Wimberley groaned as the boys raced to take the tent out of the back of the wagon. Mother Wimberley reached up to rub his lower back in sympathy. Bonnie looked at the older man and shook her head. “Let me take the tent. The boys are used to sleeping with me anyway.”

  Father Wimberley shook his head. “You’ve no idea how hard on you it can be.”

  Laughing, Bonnie grabbed the bag of tent posts as the twins ran past. “At least let me give it a try tonight. If it’s too much, you can have it back tomorrow.”

  Mother Wimberley smiled at the tall girl and looked past her where her daughter stood, quietly rinsing the tin plates as Mary Anne passed the emptied ones to her. The two shepherds stood happily snapping up scraps, with only an occasional lick on a plate if the little girl wasn’t fast enough. “Let her Robert, so I can rub some of these aches away for you in my bed.”

  The couple exchanged a secret look and Bonnie walked on to set up her bed for the night. She knew it had been difficult for the older woman to fall asleep last night. Tonight the couple would be together the way they belonged.