Fiona's Journey

by Agnes Alexander

  Zeke took Clint’s horse from him. “I’ll take care of this. Looks like you need to do some explaining.”

  “Come on, Joey. Let’s go to our wagon and have a talk.”

  Joey looked frightened. He swallowed as if he was expecting bad news. “All right,” he muttered.

  Refusing to stop to talk to anyone, Clint hurried Joey to their wagon and climbed inside. Sarah was there with Hope. “Oh, Clint, I’m so glad to see you. What in the world happened? Where’s Fiona?”

  “I’ll answer all your questions later, Sarah. I need to talk with Joey alone right now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course. I’ll take Hope...”

  “Leave her. She’s part of our family and she needs to be here, too.”

  “I understand.” Sara put the baby in Clint’s lap and left the wagon.

  Clint turned to Joey. “Sit down, son.”

  Joey dropped to the mattress beside Clint. “Is Aunt Fiona dead?”

  “No, Joey. Fiona is very much alive.” He placed the sleeping Hope in her crate and put his arm around the shaking boy’s shoulders. “I told you she’s in Mrs. Wetherbee’s wagon. I’m going to get her in a little while and you can go with me if you like.”

  He smiled up at Clint. “Yes. I want to go with you.”

  “What I need to tell you, Joey, is that Luther Markin is dead.” He let these words sink into Joey’s mind.

  Joey’s eyes got big and he stared at Clint. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. He won’t bother you or Fiona ever again.”

  Joey threw his arms around Clint’s neck. “Thank you for killing him, Uncle Clint.”

  “I didn’t kill him, Joey.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “No. Would you like to hear the whole story?” Joey nodded and Clint went on. “Markin caught Fiona out in the weeds. He tied and gagged her and put her on a horse. He was trying to get far enough away from us so we couldn’t find her, but he didn’t count on your Aunt Fiona. She tore off pieces of her big floppy hat and left a trail so I could follow it.”

  Joey smiled. “I bet she hated to tear up her hat.”

  “Even if she did, she wanted us to find her and her hat was all she had to use. Mr. Fritz, Bruce, and I followed her trail to a cave several miles from here. When we got there, Markin heard us and was ready when I went into the cave to rescue Fiona. He hit me on the head and knocked me out. What I didn’t know was that Mac had followed the trail after we’d already left. He found his way to the cave where Markin had tied the three of us up. I got loose as he tried to hurt your Aunt. I knocked him away and Mac shot him. After we buried him, we headed back here.” He smiled at Joey. “I must say, I was sure glad to see you and this place again.”

  “How about Hope?”

  “Of course, I’m glad to see Hope. Has she done all right with Fiona gone?”

  “I guess so. I talked to her and told her you’d be back and we’d be a family again. I don’t know if she understood, but I think she knew I was here with her.”

  “I’m sure she did, Joey.” He patted the boy’s back. “Now while we’re talking, there’s something else I want to discuss with you.”

  “Okay.”

  “When I thought I might never see Fiona again, I realized how much I love her. I wanted to ask you if you had any objection to me asking your aunt to marry me.”

  “Does that mean you’d want to send me to an orphanage?”

  “Of course not, Joey. I’d never want you to go away from Fiona.”

  “But Mr. Markin said if Aunt Fiona wanted to get married she’d have to get rid of me.”

  “Look at me.” When Joey looked up at him, Clint said, “Would you believe anything Luther Markin said?”

  Joey shook his head.

  “Well, don’t. What I want is for Fiona and me to get married and then she and I and you and Hope would be a real family. We might even add some more kids someday. If we do, we’d still be a family that nobody could ever split up. I’d be your second Daddy and Fiona would be your second Mama.”

  “Do you want me to call you Daddy?”

  “You don’t have to, Joey, but if you decided you wanted to, I’d be proud to be your daddy.”

  “I guess since I’m used to calling Aunt Fiona Ma most of the time, I think I’ll call her Mama.”

  “I think she’d like that.”

  “I bet Hope will want to call you Mama and Daddy when she learns to talk.”

  “I bet you’re right. There’s only one thing, Joey.”

  “What?” He looked worried.

  “You can’t tell anyone on this train about this. We have to keep it as our family secret. I haven’t even asked Fiona if she wants to marry me and I’m not going to until she’s all well. She might not want to be my wife.”

  “I bet she will. She likes you, Uncle Clint.” Joey stretched over the crate where Hope slept. “I know you don’t know any of this, yet, Hope, but if they get married you will be my little sister, but if you start talking you can’t tell anybody. It’s a family secret.”

  By the time the wagon train started out again, Fiona was on the mattress in their wagon. Her wounds had been tended and she was feeling much better. Joey sat by her side and held her hand. Hope was on the mattress beside her making baby noises.

  Clint was driving the wagon. Just like a real family headed to Oregon, he thought. I only wish we were headed to Texas.

  Chapter 31

  It wasn’t long until things got back to normal. Clint drove the wagon and looked after the livestock. Fiona did the cooking, the laundry, and taking care of the children. The excitement over Rose’s death and Fiona’s kidnapping was old gossip. Especially after several little happenings drew people’s attention.

  A few days after things were back to normal someone noticed a great black mountain off to the right. Everyone whose attention was drawn to it was fascinated. There was something unusual about it and a few of the immigrants were overcome with panic. This became fear when Zeke tried to hurry the wagons forward. He explained the threatening moving mountain was actually a buffalo stampede. As the mass advanced swiftly toward them the ground trembled. As it grew closer they realized they couldn’t out run the beasts. With wild snorts, noses almost to the ground, and tails flying in midair there was no turning this herd. Nobody could estimate how many animals there were, but they seemed to be innumerable and they made a deafening noise. People prayed, some cried, and others stood transfixed.

  As is their habit, when stampeding, the buffalo did not turn off their course and it was a fact that any wagons in their path would be destroyed.

  Clint grabbed his horse and put Fiona in front of him with Hope in her arms. He pulled Joey up behind him and headed straight ahead as fast as he could make the horse go. Other men did the same thing. Their only goal was to get out of the line of advancing animals because they knew the consequence if they were to be caught under the hoofs of the giant herd.

  Climbing a knoll about a mile ahead of the wagon, Clint reined his horse in and turned to look at what was happening. He took a quick breath when he realized they were out of the line of danger.

  “All right, folks. You can relax. We’ll be fine.”

  They dismounted and stood together, watching the buffalo below.

  “Oh, Clint,” Fiona said. “I hope none of our friends get hurt.”

  He put his arm around her shoulder. “Most of them did the same thing we did. Look around.”

  She did and saw several families standing near them. She gave him a weak smile. “I think I need to sit down.”

  “Wait a minute.” Clint took the blanket from behind his saddle and spread it on the ground.

  Fiona was shaking as she sat down. She pulled Hope to her chest and closed her eyes. Clint reached over and put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. He put his other arm around Joey, who had dropped at his other side.

  “Do you think anybody will get killed?”

  “I don’t know, Joe
y, but I hope not.” He smiled at the boy. “At least we know we’re all safe.”

  “I’m glad you made our family safe,” Joey said.

  “I’ll always try to keep our family safe,” Clint said as he looked at Fiona.

  Her blue eyes were searching his face. “Really?” she whispered.

  “Really,” he said with feeling.

  “Joey,” a little girl’s voice called.

  “Hey, Susie.” Joey pulled away from Clint and stood. “Want to come sit with us?”

  “You come sit with me,” Susie said.

  “Can I?” Joey looked first at Clint then Fiona.

  Fiona looked at the Fritzes and nodded to them. “Okay, Joey, but stay where we can see you.”

  Clint looked at the herd below. “I wonder how many buffalo there are in that stampede.”

  She shook her head. “Looks like thousands.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  “Did everyone get away, Clint?”

  “I don’t think some of them tried.”

  Fiona shivered and he pulled her tighter to him. “We have to think positive, Fiona. Maybe the herd will miss the train.”

  “Oh, how I hope it does.”

  Clint watched her for a few minutes. He wanted to ask her something, but he wasn’t sure how to approach it. He decided to dive right in and take a chance on what she would say. “Fiona, I’ve noticed you’ve been deep in thought in the last few days. Have I done something to upset you or said something I need to explain?”

  “Oh, Clint, I’m sorry if I’ve given you that feeling. You’ve been wonderful. You’ve taken better care of us than any man should be called to do with strangers.”

  “I don’t consider you strangers, Fiona.”

  She smiled. “I don’t feel that way about you either. I think my thoughts have changed because the reason Joey and I were running to Oregon has changed. My only goal when we left Independence was to get away from Luther Markin. Since he’s no longer a threat, I don’t feel the need to... I mean I don’t feel the urgency to get away. Not the way I did anyway.”

  “I understand. Since Rose’s death things have changed for me, too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Rose was the one who insisted on Oregon. She wanted to get away from Carver and her father and she didn’t want any of her family to ever know about her baby. Now that’s no longer a possibility.”

  “So you meant it when you said you didn’t plan to tell her mother about the baby?”

  “Yes, I meant it. As I said before, as far as the world is concerned, Hope is my child. I want her and everyone else to always believe that.”

  “I hope you’ll always want me to be a part of her life, too.”

  “Of course I do, Fiona. You’re the only mother Hope will ever know.”

  “Thank you, Clint. I know I didn’t give Hope birth, but I feel she’s mine the same way I feel Joey belongs to me.”

  Clint started to say something, but someone shouted, “I see the end of the heard. It’s going to pass by the train.”

  When they got back to the train they discovered a few straggling buffalo had demolished one wagon and two were overturned. The rest were either shoved around or knocked enough to throw the supplies to the floor or through the canvas.

  A few people who hadn’t headed for the knoll were hurt, mostly by falling items in the wagons or near the camp. One child’s arm was broken and one man had a broken leg, but fortunately no one was killed.

  Clint and Fiona found their wagon slung around, but intact. They climbed inside and Fiona grabbed Clint’s arm. “Look.” She pointed to Hope’s bed.

  Three crates had fallen on it and it was completely flattened.

  “If she’d been in it...”

  “No, Fiona. She wasn’t. She was safe in your arms.”

  “Thank you for getting us away from here, Clint. You kept my children and me safe.”

  She turned and he enfolded her in his arms. “I’ll always try to keep you and the children safe.” He kissed the top of her head. “Always, Fiona.”

  * * * *

  It took two days to repair the wagons and repack the supplies before the train could continue. The family who lost everything had other relatives traveling on the train and they took them in. The injured were cared for and life was once again normal. Clint was able to build Hope another bed.

  They were on their way again and Joey had permission to gather buffalo chips with Benny as long as they stayed close to the train. Fiona fed Hope and put her in the new bed Clint had made. This one was placed safely on the other side of the wagon away from the crated goods.

  Climbing onto the seat beside Clint, she asked, “Do you mind?”

  He laughed. “How many times are you going to ask me that question?”

  “As many as you tell me you don’t mind.”

  “Well, I don’t mind. I think it’s nice to have you here beside me.” He reached over and patted her knee.

  She grabbed his hand and held it. “Since I’m here, what would you like to talk about?”

  “Zeke says we’ll reach Fort Laramie by camp time tomorrow night.”

  “Oh, is that important?”

  “I think so. I’m going to send the letter to Rose’s mother. Zeke said he’d try to inform Luther Markin’s family of his death. I think that would be better than if you or I did it.”

  She smiled at him. “I agree.”

  “Can I ask you something, Fiona?”

  “Of course. I don’t think we have secrets, do we?”

  “Not any I know of.” He turned toward her. “How bad do you want to go to Oregon?”

  She shrugged. “I guess it’s as good a place as any to start new. Why? Don’t you want to go there?”

  “If you and Joey have your mind set on Oregon, we’ll go there.”

  “If there’s somewhere else you’d rather go, Clint, I won’t hold you to the promise to help me raise Hope. I can do it.”

  “I wouldn’t think of deserting you.”

  She was thoughtful for a minute. “If you don’t go to Oregon, where would you like to go?”

  “I have a little ranch in Texas. I sure would like to get back there sometime, but it doesn’t have to be now.”

  “I see.” Fiona didn’t want to question him further so she changed the subject. “Will we be able to buy some new supplies at Fort Laramie?”

  “Sure. Are we low on something?”

  “A few things. You drink a lot of coffee.”

  “Maybe if you didn’t make such good coffee, I wouldn’t drink so much.”

  She laughed.

  Their chatter continued until the sun began to sink westward. Zeke called for an early camp and the wagons circled.

  Benny invited Joey to spend the night with him and after a supper of stew and johnnycakes, he gathered some of his things and headed to the Watson wagon. Fiona cleaned the dishes and asked Clint to watch Hope when she went to the private area. Though she knew she had nothing to fear now, since her incident with Markin, she was still leery about going alone. She saw Hannah head that way and joined her.

  When they were away from the wagons, Hannah said, “May I ask you something, Fiona, and will you keep it between us?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’ve noticed the trip is really tiring Mama and Daddy. Sarah and I have talked about it and we’re both concerned that the hardest part is before us.”

  “Really. I thought we’d been through the hardest.”

  “It has been hard, but the mountains can be treacherous. We’ll be getting to them before long. I’m not sure if we should go on.”

  “Oh, Hannah. I thought we’d always be neighbors and friends.”

  “I know. It would be hard to say goodbye to some people, but...”

  “I understand. You have to do what is best for your family.”

  “I only wanted to mention it to you in case we decide to turn back. We haven’t mentioned it to Mama and Daddy.”

/>   “I hope we can travel to our new home together, but I understand if you decide to go back. And I promise I won’t tell anyone, Hannah.” Fiona reached out and hugged her friend.

  “Thank you.” She returned Fiona’s hug. “Now we’d better get back. After your incident, the folks get nervous if any of us are out here very long.”

  “I know what you mean. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear Clint calling my name at any time.”

  “You’re so lucky, Fiona.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The way Clint looks after you. It’s easy to see he loves you a lot.”

  Fiona stopped in her tracks. Hannah’s words stunned her. Could they be true? Could Clint care for in a way which meant more than friendship?

  Shaking herself back to reality, she knew her friend was wrong. Without answering, she followed Hannah back to the wagon.

  Chapter 32

  It was after midnight when Hope woke, wet and hungry. Fiona changed the diaper, fixed a bottle, then hugged Hope close as she fed the precious baby. She was still amazed at how motherly she felt about this child she hadn’t given birth to. Yet, she knew she couldn’t love her more if she’d come from her own body.

  Thunder rolled in the distance and her thoughts moved to the weather. She was glad Joey was spending the night with Benny. Sarah would keep them dry in the wagon. She then thought of the man sleeping in the tent next to the wagon and wondered if he’d stay dry.

  Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away. Clint was a man who could take care of himself. He’d proved that on more than one occasion. He sure didn’t need her to worry about him.

  By the time Hope was fed and had gone back to sleep, the rain was pelting on the canvas above her head and lightening and thunder surrounded the campsite. She tucked the blanket tightly around the baby and blew out the lantern she’d lit. As she lay down she heard a noise at the end of the wagon. Though she knew she didn’t have anything to fear, thoughts of Luther Markin crossed her mind and she froze.

  She relaxed when Clint’s voice said, “I’m checking to see if you and Hope are all right.”

  “We’re fine.”