by Marian Wells
“To them it is. A conquered city, people in submission—that’s the story of war.”
“And we’re in the middle. Daniel, if we stayed they would have forced us to—”
“Accept? Never.” He was shaking his head as she flicked the reins again and rode out in front of him. He watched her force the horse into a lope before he fell in behind her.
Just after midday they stopped to water the horses and to rest in the shade of the fir forest. Daniel came to sit beside Amy as she prepared the bread and beans.
“Daniel, Hal didn’t tell us much, did he?”
“No, but I think there’s a reason. I’m guessing he was an officer from one of the forts in the area, and from the looks of him, I’d say he’s fortunate to be alive.”
Her voice dropped as she poured water into the cups. “And if they catch him?”
“I have a feeling Manuel will keep that from happening.” From her expression, he knew she wasn’t satisfied.
Later she asked, “The message—did you read it?”
“No, but he said it described troop movement and gave recommendations, including the use of this trail we’re on.”
“Why is that important?”
“He expects the Confederate Army to be lining the road between Santa Fe and Fort Union within another week.”
“How long will it take us to get to Fort Union?”
“This trail winds back through the mountains and then follows Apache Canyon down until we join the Pecos River. I’m guessing, from the information he gave us, that it’ll take three or four days to get to Las Vegas.”
“And the troops can get there in one day of hard riding? Then why—”
“That’s the whole point. We’re leaving now—ahead of the troops. Hal estimates we have at least a week in which to deliver the message. It shouldn’t take us that long. You saw the men today—they were celebrating. That’s encouraging.”
“What were they celebrating?” Her voice was heavy.
Daniel could only shrug as he said, “A victory. They’ve taken Santa Fe, as well as Albuquerque. It’s a short step to Colorado now.”
That night they slept under the stars. Conscious of Amy’s restless tossing, Daniel pulled her close and asked, “Afraid of all the night critters?”
“I can’t help thinking—of all that’s going on.” Her eyes were dark shining spots in her pale face. “There aren’t slaves here. The people are content. They just seem bewildered by it all. Why shoot and fight? Daniel, doesn’t it matter what the people want?”
“Yes, it matters, but we’re only guessing that they hold the same values we have. It’s possible, just like Manuel said, that they don’t care who controls the territory.”
Thinking of the people they had been seeing, Daniel reviewed the impassive faces. “I don’t like this, their acceptance without a fight.” Moving restlessly on the hard ground, he said, “Peace and a decent life don’t come easily. From here it looks like war is a hard thing, but peace is harder to come by. You have to want it with all your heart and then be willing to work to make it last.”
“Peace inside as well as out,” Amy murmured sleepily. And in a moment she spoke again. “Yes, peace is hard to come by.”
When her gentle breathing indicated she was asleep, Daniel was still staring into the night, wondering about her final statement. Why do I link that thought with Lucas Tristram?
The following night they found an abandoned cabin beside the trail. The afternoon had been cool with a touch of moisture in the air, and Amy was more than happy to follow Daniel into the tiny log cabin.
As Daniel built a fire in the crumbling clay fireplace, he said, “We’re getting close to the Pecos River and nearly to the point where we break out of the mountains. According to the map Hal drew for me, we’re at the point of crossing the Santa Fe Trail, before it circles to join Santa Fe.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“If his calculations are correct, we’ve avoided the roadblocks the Confederates have set up around Santa Fe.”
“Will we have time to search for Mother and Father in Las Vegas?”
“Certainly—that is why we’ve come. Hal suggests we all head for Fort Union together. He’s inclined to believe there could be fighting along the way if any of the federal troops from Fort Union have started for Santa Fe.”
“Who gets the message in that event?”
“If there’s fighting on the trail, the message has lost its importance. In any event, we’ll worry about delivering it only after we find the folks.
“Amy, you realize the situation, don’t you? If they aren’t in Las Vegas, we must head for Fort Union.” She ducked her head, and gently he added, “Tomorrow we can start asking about them.”
In the morning when they left the cabin, there was a crystal finish on all the grass. Daniel nodded toward the shining foliage. “We’re higher than I thought. Looks like we came near to having a hard freeze. Guess winter isn’t over in the mountains.”
“Daniel!” He turned at her sober exclamation and looked the direction her finger pointed. “Isn’t that dust hanging over that hill?”
“Could be. I’m going to investigate.” Quickly he slipped the reins over the mare’s head and mounted. Nudging her with his heels, he rode up the rocky incline. Amy had only time enough to pace the square of level ground in front of the cabin before he was back.
“Amy, it’s gray uniforms, headed this way. It’s a big bunch, and I’m guessing they’re bent for Fort Union. Come on.”
“Where?” she cried.
“Ahead of them. We’ve got to hope they slow down when they hit the hills.” Daniel slipped off the mare and went after Amy’s horse. By the time the horses were saddled, Amy was there with the bedroll.
“Ride!” Daniel wheeled his horse and watched Amy move out ahead of him.
At midday Daniel pulled over and signaled to Amy. “Let’s take time to rest the horses. There’s enough underbrush here to hide us. We’ll be safe even if they do catch up with us.”
“Daniel, why are we trying to keep ahead of them?”
“We’re riding for our lives right now. I’m not happy with the idea of being found carrying that message.”
“You think they would shoot us!”
“No, never. I can’t believe that of a fellow American. But we’ve a job to do. Who knows what failure will bring?”
Slowly she said, “What happens if—”
“We won’t be separated. But in the event we’re stopped, that message isn’t very well hidden in my pocket.”
“Give it to me, Daniel—I’ll hide it in my stocking.” He hesitated a second, then handed it to her.
“Amy,” he pleaded, “I don’t think we’re in real danger, but if anything should happen, don’t come after me. Promise?”
“That’s foolish; why I’d never consider—”
“Amy, promise.”
“Daniel, of course. If it will make you rest easy about me, I promise, but still—”
“If you’ve finished eating those dried apples, let’s get moving.”
Within the hour they broke into a clearing. Daniel signaled Amy to stop. “According to the map, we’re at Johnson’s ranch. Hal indicated they are secessionists. He said avoid the place, no matter what happens. Let’s cut around through the trees and pick up the trail again.
“From the map it looks like the next spot he’s marked is Glorieta Pass. It’s up through the mountains. We’ve got a hard ride ahead of us.”
It was late afternoon when Daniel signaled another stop. “Daniel,” Amy said, “this is terrible land. We can’t make any time! The big rocks and boulders have us cutting around in circles more often than we ride a straight trail.”
Daniel nodded. “I know. I hope the troops behind us are having the same problem. I’ve been listening and looking for signs we’re being followed. My hunch is the grays stopped for the night at Johnson’s ranch. I’m going to check it out from that hill over there.”<
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Amy slipped off her horse and watched Daniel guide his mare up the steep slope. When he disappeared from sight, the silence and heavy afternoon shadows pressed in upon her. She paced back and forth in front of her browsing horse. Tension was knotting her neck muscles. She pressed her hands against her stomach. “Lord, are you still here?” she whispered, fearful of raising her voice. “In a spot like this, it seems unlikely. I’m trying to remember that you promised you’d be with us forever. Even when we don’t feel—”
Daniel came crashing down the mountainside. She ran toward him. He slipped off the horse as she threw herself at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Daniel, this is terrible! I—” She stopped and gulped. Pulling herself away from his sheltering arms, she took a deep breath and said, “Just being a baby. I was scared to death I’d never see you again. It’s so lonesome here.”
She caught her breath again. Daniel studied her face before saying, “I didn’t see any signs that we were being followed. And I could see far enough down that dusty trail to be satisfied. Amy, there’s a stream on the other side of this hill. Let’s go find a place to camp. These horses are going to need rest if we’re to make good time tomorrow.”
Daylight was streaking wide bands of coral across the sky when Daniel slipped out of the blankets and began to pull on his boots. When Amy stirred he murmured, “Just going to walk around, see what I can see.”
She sat up and looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. “Amy, I’m just checking. I think we’re well ahead of them. Get us something to eat and then let’s be moving on. We still have dried meat and apples, don’t we?”
She nodded. “There’s pancakes left from last night. Daniel—” He bent to kiss her. “Never mind,” she said, “just hurry.”
“No fire, understand?” He touched her chin as she nodded.
After setting out their meager breakfast, Amy rolled up the bundles to be fastened behind the saddles. Suddenly Daniel came flying down the slope, leaping boulders and bushes.
She jumped to her feet. With her hands pressed to her throat, she waited. The frown on his face cleared as he glanced around. “Wondered if you’d made a fire. From up the mountain, I spotted either smoke or dust.”
“On the mountain?” she asked.
He nodded. “Could be a cabin over that way.”
“It could be something else,” she whispered. “Daniel, what do we do?”
“Eat.” He grinned and settled down on a rock. “Afterward we start moving out. Don’t act so guilty. We’re harmless travelers. If we’re stopped, we’ve nothing to hide—except that message. Besides, coming from that direction, it’s probably a settler.”
Finally Amy managed a smile. But they ate in silence and quickly prepared to leave. The sun crested the mountain in front of them and warmed their faces as they rode toward the mountain pass.
They had been riding most of the morning when over the jangle of metal and the creak of leather punctuated by the snort of the horses, Amy began to hear another sound. She glanced at Daniel. He was hearing it too. His face was grim.
He pulled close to Amy and said, “There are men coming. A lot of them. Follow me.” Yanking on the reins, he forced the horse off the trail and up the sloping mountainside.
When Daniel stopped, they were well above the trail, looking down at the cloud of dust moving their way. Daniel slipped off the mare and led her, trembling and snorting, into the shade of the piñon. “A steep climb old girl,” he murmured, rubbing the horse’s nose. He tied the reins to the tree and lifted Amy down.
“It was bad,” she said soberly. “From the way we rode, I’m guessing you really do think there’s something to fear.”
“Just not taking chances. Let’s leave the horses here and go watch the road.”
“Do you suppose this is Glorieta Pass? See, ahead the trail seems to drop off down the mountain.”
“Looks like it,” he murmured, squinting at the dust cloud. “You know, it could be Indians. Guess it’s a good idea to get off the road when you don’t know who’s coming.”
“Daniel—” He turned and squinted in the direction her finger pointed. “The dust is down over there now.”
Quickly he came to her. Studying the surrounding mountainside he said, “Amy, I don’t know what’s going on, but I aim to find out. Stay here. I’m going to climb higher. It’s possible—”
Amy ran after him, “Daniel, don’t leave me!”
He took her hand. “Run!” Boosting her over rocks and then dragging her by the hand, Daniel plunged through the trees.
When they reached the crest of the mountain, they stood panting, looking over the sharp decline. From east and west the two clouds of dust rose against the intense blue sky and spread slowly toward each other.
Amy shivered against his arm. “What is it?”
“I don’t know, but I think we’ll find out very soon.”
“I can hear horses.” He nodded. The distant pounding of hooves changed into earth-trembling force. “Daniel, there’s lots of them. More horses than I’ve ever heard on a trail.”
Daniel tensed and leaned away from the sheltering rock. The dust cloud far down the mountain erupted into a streak of blue. “That’s federal forces! Amy,” he groaned, “those men are the United States Cavalry!”
“Daniel, they’re headed right for that other cloud of dust. And we know that’s the Confederate Army.”
When she stopped, Daniel added, “Amy, there’s not one thing we can do about it.”
They were still staring at each other when they heard the explosion far below them. Together they watched the gray cloud drift above the trees. Daniel said, “Gun smoke. Howitzer. The Confederates are firing on them with a mighty big gun. No wonder they were so slow on the trail.”
Another explosion drowned out his words and Amy pressed against him. “Oh, Daniel, let’s go! Let’s get out of here.”
“Go? We’re safer up here. That is, as long as they don’t move that artillery any closer. I’m going to look.”
He moved away from her and eased around the rock. Far down the slope he could see the two field pieces in the middle of the road. As he watched, the line of blue men hesitated briefly; then with horses rearing and plunging, the line split in two and charged up the sides of the mountain.
Amy came to press against his arm. Together they watched the huddled gray mass back away from the guns. The explosion flattened Amy and Daniel against the rock. Slowly the canyon filled with acrid smoke and dust.
When the smoke began to clear, Daniel exclaimed, “The bridge is gone!”
For a horrified moment, Amy was afraid to look. Daniel said, “Do they know—” The question changed to a whispered cheer. “Bravo! Amy, look at those horses leaping Apache Creek.”
“Oh, Daniel,” she gasped as she began to see through the smoke. “Those men down there are wounded. That horse—it’s wounded, too. Daniel, they need help!”
As Amy’s voice broke, Daniel pushed her face against his chest. “Not now,” he murmured. “We couldn’t do them any good right now.” Amy huddled with her face against Daniel, flinching with every new outburst of gunfire.
Daniel finally stirred and spoke. “I think the Feds have them in retreat. The howitzers are gone, and the last of the cavalry has disappeared. Looks to me like they’re taking care of the wounded. I see soldiers being carried away.”
“Let’s go,” Amy moaned, still not looking down the mountain.
“Wait a bit,” Daniel replied. “There’s bound to be action down on that trail, and I don’t want us run over. We’ll need to get back to the horses as soon as possible, but for now let’s stay here.”
“Should we do something about the wounded?”
“Their men won’t leave them, and they’re better prepared to care for them than we are.” He paused and listened. “I think troops are moving back this way.”
“It’s nearly dark,” Amy said uneasily.
“And I think it’s time for u
s to go looking for those horses. Now, while we can still see where we’re going.”
Amy’s knees were still shaking. She looked up into Daniel’s face and tried to smile. The smile he returned didn’t touch his eyes and she found herself blinking at tears. “I’m sorry, Daniel. It’s just that I’ve never been around anything like this.”
He slipped his arm around her as they started down the slope. To Amy it seemed to take forever to get down the mountain. “Are you certain we came this far?” she questioned.
Daniel nodded, “Farther. And if we don’t find the horses before dark, it will be nigh impossible.”
“I’m hurrying as fast as I can.”
Just ahead, they could hear the whinny, the restless stomping. “Over that way, Daniel. I heard them.”
“Yes, I did too,” Daniel murmured, “and something is upsetting them.”
As they approached, they could hear the voice. “Take it easy, darlin’s—we both need to find a drink o’ water.”
Daniel sucked in his breath. Amy gasped, “We don’t even have a gun!”
“Halt! I’ve got my gun pointin’ at you.”
Daniel moved ahead. “Whoever you are, we’re friends, and these are our animals.”
There was just enough light for Amy to see the gray-clad figure sagging against her horse. There was blood on his coat. She could see hardly an area was free of the dark stain.
As Daniel walked up to the man, he attempted to lift the rifle with his left hand. Gently Daniel said, “It takes two hands to fire a rifle. Besides, we don’t have a gun. I’m a parson. Would you like us to take you back to your camp?”
Wearily the man shook his head. “I just came from there.” He paused, took a deep breath and said, “Parson, if you really are one, listen—I don’t intend to go back. I’m sick of war.”
Chapter 12
The three of them stood looking at each other while the silence stretched between them, stretched until Amy could no longer endure it. The man in the gray uniform swayed.
