by Marian Wells
Amelia glanced up. “No, I didn’t. That surprises me. You are helping me begin to understand your husband, but I can’t say I’m in sympathy with his decision.” Amelia mused, “This I’ll admit, they were both devoted to it.”
“But when my husband realized the South was on the verge of seceding from the Union, he began to listen to Lucas and question himself as to where his loyalties really lay. He was a torn young man when Lucas pushed him over the brink.”
“How?”
For a moment Crystal covered her face before saying, “One afternoon while I was dressing, Lucas came to the house to see me. I asked Mycinda to have him wait in the upstairs parlor while I dressed and to tell him I would come to him there. He must have seen my husband approaching, because he burst into my bedroom, catching me undressed. Before I could collect my wits, he ripped off his coat and tie. That was when my husband walked into the room.”
“Oh, Crystal! Surely he couldn’t believe that of you.”
Her voice was cold as she added, “He did when Lucas completed the picture of my integrity by revealing Benjamin as my father.”
Feeling powerless to comfort, Amelia watched Crystal pace the room, twisting her hands in agony. When she came back to her chair, Amelia asked, “And you don’t know where your husband is now?”
“I’ve never made an attempt to contact him through his family. Naturally, with the circumstances being what they are, it is impossible to force myself on him or the family.”
“And you’ve determined to accept life without him?”
Crystal straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “No. I told you I had sold my soul in an attempt to discover his whereabouts.”
“That frightens me. Please explain what you mean.” Amelia studied the frozen features of the woman opposite her, feeling her heart sink as Crystal began to talk.
“After I left the Tabors, I tried to find employment in Denver City. I finally ended up working behind the desk at a hotel. Lucas Tristram found me there. Immediately he began waving a tempting flag under my nose. He said he knew where my husband was.”
Crystal shifted uneasily on her chair, her voice dull as she said, “With that he led me on. He was very confident and forthright with me. He told me he’d been commissioned by some southern gentlemen involved in the new Confederacy. His job was to investigate and submit a detailed report of activities in Colorado Territory.”
“What kind of activities?”
“The South wanted to know how much support Colorado would give to the Confederacy. There had been rumors both for and against supporting the cause. Also, they asked for a detailed report on the gold mines. Location and the amount of gold being taken out.” Crystal looked at Amelia. “Of course it is no secret that the South is in dire straits financially. Also, Tristram let it slip that there is someone in the area who is making plans to invade Colorado.”
“You mean actually attempt to take over the territory?” Crystal nodded and Amelia asked, “Have you any idea who it might be?”
“No.”
Amelia got up to wander around the room. When she stopped in front of Crystal’s chair she said, “I nearly hesitate to say this aloud, but it seems a duty. Crystal, if you could pass this information along to Governor Gilpin, well, you’d be doing a very patriotic thing. Even more, if you were to find out just who is planning to invade Colorado and when, well—”
“I have no intentions of being involved any longer.” Crystal’s voice was cold as she made the statement and got to her feet. “My plans now are to finish up some business and then to leave the territory for home.”
“Home,” Amelia said slowly. “Are you telling me that you intend to return to New Orleans? You led us to believe the decision to seek out your real father had closed the door at the home of your adopted parents.”
“Not after I do what must be done. I’ve had communications with them this past year. They would never turn me out if my life is in danger.” Crystal walked to the door. “Amelia, I have a stage to catch in several hours. It has been good to visit with you.”
She opened the door, and slowly Amelia walked toward it. She had nearly stepped through when she stopped and turned. “Crystal, I am having a very strange feeling—as if the Lord is warning me. What is going to happen?”
Slowly Crystal’s hands crept to her throat while her eyes widened with alarm. Amelia shoved the door closed. “I’m not leaving here until you tell me what your intentions are.”
Crystal walked quickly to the window and turned. “Amelia, it is nothing that concerns you at all. Please leave; I mustn’t be delayed.”
“What did you mean when you said you’d sold your soul?”
Her face twisted into a tortured mask. “Just another foolish thing I’ve done. I’m committed too deeply to back out.”
“With Lucas? And you’ve agreed to help Lucas sell out Colorado?”
“I didn’t say—” She wilted. “You figured that out. All right, Amelia, I’ll tell you. I intend to meet Lucas in Denver. I sent him a letter telling him I will help him get the information he needs. But I don’t intend doing it.” She stopped and took a deep breath.
“Amelia,” she cried wildly, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You don’t need to know all of my plans.” She started to walk away from Amelia, and then she turned back and lifted her chin. “I’m going to kill him.”
Amelia caught the back of the chair. Taking a deep breath, she watched Crystal’s ashen face as she gently said, “Please, Crystal, tell me about it.”
For a long time the woman was silent, motionless. Finally her shoulders drooped and she leaned against the window frame. Her voice was a whisper. “He raped me. Do you understand? I am nothing. He has broken my last hope, my last reason for living. Now my husband will never have any place in my life.”
Amelia was trembling as she stepped forward and put her arms around Crystal, whispering, “I love you. God and I won’t let you destroy yourself.”
“Amelia, help me! I need you desperately.”
The afternoon sun had slipped away from the window when Crystal finally lifted her tear-stained face. “Thank you. I—guess it isn’t the end of life. Now I feel strong enough to go on.”
“What do you mean ‘go on’?”
“With my plans, of course. Amelia, please go now.”
Amelia crossed the room. Pushing back Crystal’s hair, she cradled her face against her, saying, “You’re too precious to waste yourself like this. Can you believe God has a great love for you?”
Her lips twisted. “That once again He is pursuing me?”
“Just as He did me,” Amelia said softly. “Chased me until I couldn’t run anymore. At one time I didn’t think I’d ever be able to surrender to His seeking love again. But Crystal, that’s part of God. He never gives up on us. We’re never too far away from Him to be forgiven and restored. I know firsthand.”
After they had been silent for a long time, touching Crystal’s face, Amelia murmured, “I need to know; what are you going to do now?”
Crystal pulled away and smiled bitterly. “What do you suppose? Lucas is expecting me. In less than an hour the stage will be here.”
Amelia asked, “What will happen if you fail to meet Lucas?”
Slowly she said, “He’s revealed his plans to me. That puts him in an uncomfortable situation. Since Tom Pollack cleaned the Bummer Gang out of Denver City, Colorado Territory has become known for dealing harshly with lawbreakers. You know how extreme Governor Gilpin has been. He’s solidly behind Lincoln and the Union.” Slowly she added, “I think Lucas will be very worried if I don’t show up.”
She looked into Amelia’s face. “You mentioned talking to the governor. You said those things about being patriotic. Do you suppose I would dare do that? I would be a fool.
“He hurt me, Amelia. Beat me. My face was bruised for a week. He would do it again. He will kill me—if I don’t kill him first.”
For a moment Crystal presse
d clenched fists against her face. When she dropped them she said, “I’ve thought, wondered what I could have done differently. Now I am wiser. I should have kept my door locked.”
Amelia gasped, “Crystal, I’m afraid! Please, don’t go to him! Just leave the territory as quickly as you can.”
For a moment Crystal hesitated. Fear flitted across her face and then she whispered, “You don’t understand, Amelia. I have nothing to live for. And this is worth my life. You might say that if this is to be my life’s biggest sacrifice, it will be worth it.”
Amelia’s face was still rigid with horror as Crystal paced the room and then stopped in front of her. “I’ve told you this in confidence—don’t betray me. Look at it this way. I’ll be doing more than killing that man. Count it as my bid against slavery.” Her lips twisted as she turned.
Walking to the door, once again Crystal opened it and waited. The smile on her face mocked the pain on Amelia’s. She said, “Now I insist. Please leave.”
As Amelia passed through she whispered, “Crystal, I’ll be praying that the Lord brings you to your senses before it is too late.”
Chapter 8
On the Monday morning Amy and Daniel left Oro City, the housewives were hanging out their wash, and the ore in the sluice boxes was rushing down across the riffles.
When they reached the mouth of California Gulch, Daniel tugged at his reins, waiting for Amy to catch up. “Are you going to be comfortable riding on that saddle?”
“Most comfortable,” Amy replied. “Back in Kansas, with the cousins, I rode bareback. This sidesaddle is rocking-chair comfortable. Besides, it’s a mighty poor female who can’t stand a horse for a week.” She slanted a glance at him before adding, “If I could wish for more, it would be some of those new fangled bloomers the women are wearing so they can sit a man’s saddle.” At his expression, she added hastily, “Oh, I know the bishop would have apoplexy, and I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
“Well, I’m relieved,” he said dryly.
“Oh, Daniel, isn’t it a beautiful day? Look at the misty mountains and the line of green along the creek. It puts me in mind of a painting.”
“It is nice. And if you feel that way about it, this week will be almost as good as a honeymoon.”
“Well, I doubt it,” she teased. “If we’re sharing cabins with your parishioners, you daren’t pass me a kiss.”
He chuckled and pointed. “Look, the snow’s melted except for the drifts under the trees.”
“Could those possibly be pussy willows this early?”
“Not up here.” He grinned. “It’s dried leaves still clinging to the branches. Should have fallen off long ago.”
It was only fourteen miles to Granite, the first town on their circuit. They rode lazily along the route, enjoying the early spring day. At midday they stopped to eat while the horses grazed and drank of the icy creek water. The sun had warmed the boulder on which they leaned and for a time they dozed.
When Amy stirred, she looked at Daniel, saying, “Can heaven possibly smell better? That wet, fresh growing smell mixed with the willow smell is good enough to save and put in a bottle.”
Daniel nodded and bent over her. “I’m going to kiss your sunburned nose; then we’d better move on.” She sighed with regret as she lifted her face to him.
In the middle of the afternoon they reached the outskirts of the little mining town built along the creek. From the road they could look down on the community, which seemed to be stretched along the creek in a haphazard manner.
Amy looked at the line of log cabins and said, “Seems substantial, like they’ve taken time hereabouts to think of the future.”
“But notice, these cabins are new. See that shack? Most of the places looked like that last year. There’s been a new thrust of activity around here. New mines.”
“Daniel,” Amy said, hugging her arms, “I’m excited. I’ve listened to you talk about these places. Suddenly this all is part of me. The people. I want to know them.”
As they cut down the hill into town, Daniel pulled back on the reins, slowing his horse. “I should warn you. Granite is a strange place. I can’t quite figure it out. People are closed-mouth and clannish.”
He looked at her, shrugged and grinned as he said, “Father Dyer has the reputation of considering not one hamlet too tough or small for his best efforts. Every time I ride into this town, I recall him saying that.”
After supper that evening, the townspeople began to crowd into the little cabin to hear Daniel preach.
Studying the faces surrounding her, Amy began to understand Daniel’s statement. With curiosity, she watched the silent line of unsmiling women as they sat down on the benches in the tiny cabin.
The next morning as they rode out of Granite, Amy bobbed her head in the direction of the cabin and shivered. “Daniel,” she murmured, “you described the town as strange. That it is. Where were the men? Is it only the women who attend services?”
He nodded and she continued. “I’ve never seen such people; I’d believe they’ve never smiled. Did you feel as if they were frightened? I don’t think they enjoyed the singing. Every one of them knelt for prayer, but their mood made them seem desperate.”
“Yes, that is so,” he said reluctantly. “I’ve heard rumors about the place. On the other side of the mountain they talk of an outlaw band hiding out hereabouts. I was told to not pry.”
When she looked up, he was grinning at her. “Don’t worry. Not many of the places are like Granite. You’ll love the next little burg. Only a couple of families live there, but they’re easy to love. I’m not certain they’ve gotten around to tacking a name on the town yet.”
The following day they moved on. As their route dropped steadily down out of the mountains, the grass beside the road became green and thick. Amy pointed to the willows along the creek. “Daniel, we’ve caught up with spring! Look at the little pussy willows. I remember them from Kansas.”
Suddenly she looked up and said, “I forgot to tell you about the strange handbill Lettie gave me. She said Hank brought it back from the mine. It seemed to be a plea from the South for money to buy arms. It mentioned Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. The whole thing sounded confident—like we’d be glad to support the Confederacy. Daniel, is war really getting that close to us?”
“I don’t know, Amy. I do know that everywhere I go it’s the first subject people begin waving in front of my nose. I can’t believe the secessionists have any designs on our territory, for all the talk.”
“What designs could they possibly have?” Amy looked around in bewilderment. “I can’t believe anyone would want the territory.”
“There’s gold,” Daniel said heavily. “Lots of gold, and it would help finance a war.”
Amy nodded in agreement. “Lettie says Hank hears plenty of war talk from the miners. She says he comes home angry at what he’s hearing. He told her most of the fellows are just uneasy, but some are openly saying they support the secession, and that their cause is bound to win.”
Amy rode past Daniel to look at the clutch of flowers growing beside the road. “Don’t lean over so far,” he called. “You’ll fall on your head.”
While he grinned down at her, she asked, “Aren’t these wild irises?” He nodded, and she continued. “You know, you promised me wild irises along the creek at Oro City. All I’ve seen along that creek are mine tailings.”
“I’m sorry. While I was in Buckskin Joe those miners made a liar out of me. First thing I noticed was the pile of rock where the flowers grew last year.” Then he added, “We’re dropping down out of the mountains. Enjoy the iris while you can. Pretty soon we’ll be in the arid part of the territory. It’s going to be too dry for irises down there.”
That evening, before they could dismount at the cabin where the services would be held, a jolly-faced woman bounced out the door. “Parson, we’re going to have revival. I feel the shouting beginning down inside. I’ve been promising the miners you’d be
here tonight. Come have your supper.”
She watched as Amy allowed Daniel to lift her from the horse. Amy smoothed her frock and said, “Mrs. Pepper, Daniel’s told me about this place. Says besides the fact you are the best cook on the circuit, this place rests easy in his mind. I’ve been told the people here are of a mind to come to worship. You know it isn’t that way all over. The biggest excitement in California Gulch is the gold.”
“Well, there’s plenty of that around here,” Mrs. Pepper said, adding, “but there’s also been some hard times, enough to remind the people they gotta have the Lord to see them through.” She paused and a twinkle started in her eyes. “Besides, soon as they start slipping out of the habit of coming to services, I goad them on with the ‘remember whens.’ Yes, without a doubt most people need a good nudge regularlike.”
The next day the morning sun was slanting into their eyes as they turned onto the road. “Mrs. Pepper made certain her prediction of revival was right, didn’t she?” Daniel chuckled as they rode out of the little community. He smiled down at Amy, “I also have the feeling she’d given the promise to everyone else. At least there was a good group.”
The trail narrowed and Daniel rode ahead. Amy was glad to be alone with her thoughts. She recalled Mrs. Pepper’s declaration. Why did she tell me I needed to pray down the joy of the Lord?
Moving her shoulders uneasily, she flicked the reins and caught up with Daniel. Giving him a quick glance, she wondered, Was it possible Daniel ever felt the tug to be something different than he was? Did he ever desire anything desperately?
As she continued to study the face of the man who was becoming increasingly precious to her, she knew one thing was certain. Nothing must ever bring the old hurt back into Daniel’s eyes. No matter how dear her desires, it was impossible to consider anything that would hurt him afresh.
But as she thought of her big desire, she settled contentedly down in the saddle and chuckled to herself. Thank you, Father Dyer! I’d never have thought of it if you hadn’t given me the crucible.
