Revenge Requires Two Graves

by George Emery Townsend

  Chapter 20

  Ida Potts

  It was well after dark when John, Larry, and Ray, walked into the light of their dinner fires. Most had already eaten and some were even fast asleep. It had taken a lot of work and thought to get all the wagons into the space allotted them on the plain. The Potts wagon wheel had broken and blocked several wagons from getting into position, taking much longer than it usually would have. The Potts had traveled all the way from New York without any trouble with that wagon until it was pitch dark in the narrow alleyway which all of the wagons had to get through. Ray didn’t know the Potts family. He did, however, have what he considered to be the privilege of talking with young Ida Potts during one of the nightly campfire gatherings. The boys collapsed around the pot of stew that was left simmering over the fire. One of the ladies nearby spotted them and scolded them for helping themselves after having worked so hard. She filled three plates high and placed a couple of large slices of homemade bread on top. With a cup of coffee and plates in hand, they didn’t speak for another twenty minutes, their plates were licked clean, much to the delight of their fine hostess, and their cups were re-filled with cowboy coffee, thick, dark, strong, and hot.

  “Did you boys hear the news?” asked their hostess as she began to collect their dishes.

  “No Ma’am, what news would that be?” asked Larry.

  “Mr. Woods told us we’d be held up here for a couple days waiting our turn to enter the trail because of some poor weather. So us ladies decided we’d set up a dance. You three are invited,” she said with much enthusiasm.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” all three of them said in unison.

  “What’s wrong, don’t you like dances?” asked the hostess who held the look of someone who just lost a family member.

  “Well yes, I guess so, it’s just that, well, hell, none of us can dance, Ma’am. Pardon my language Ma’am,” explained Larry as he looked away, embarrassed.

  “Why, you boys don’t have to worry about that, you’ll get the hang of it. You just have to jump in there and have fun,” smiled their hostess as she poured more coffee. Ray was deep in thought. He wasn’t sure if he was distracted from having worked so hard during the day or from the thought of dancing with Miss Morgan Adams. Leaving the eating area to prepare for bed, Ray passed by the Potts' wagon. Once more Mr. Potts was quick to thank Ray and the others for helping them with their wagon wheel. Ray noticed a small group had gathered around the Potts' campfire as Mr. Potts motioned for Ray to come and share some coffee. Ray sat alongside the Potts' young daughter, Ida. She was quick to smile and loved to chatter away.

  At age 10, like so many other children, Ida Potts had already walked half way across this great country on foot. It didn’t seem to have slowed her down a bit and she had told every one of her family’s plans of starting a new home up in Oregon. They wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather and more rainfall for the type of crops they hoped to grow. Ida would talk to everyone around the campfire about how she was going to help her Ma and Pa build that ranch. Ray could see how her energy and excitement radiated in her eyes. When it was time for bed, one could not help but feel a little more excited about what was to come.

  -CKS-

  The evening of the dance came quicker than the boys had hoped as they stood on the edge of a makeshift dance floor. Each was wearing the new Sunday going to meeting clothes they had bought at the general store. People were dancing in the middle of the floor holding hands, smiling, laughing, and having more fun than they had had in months. Ray could hardly recognize some of the people as their faces had transformed from tired and trail worn, to illuminated by smiles filled with joy. At first Ray hadn’t wanted to come. But now he hoped this happy scene would never end.

  Up at the end of the dance floor standing on several stacked boxes were a couple of men with fiddles. Another man stood with a round looking guitar Ray had never seen or heard before. They were playing a fast tune and calling out dance steps to the excited dancers. Ray felt like a kid standing next to a cold lake wanting to join the others in the water, but afraid of the shock upon entering the water. Just then he felt a tug on his sleeve. Looking down he saw little Ida Potts in a pretty pink dress, right hand holding the seam of the dress, and with a confident smile.

  “I don’t believe I have a partner for this dance, Mr. Ray,” came a small voice that sounded like it had a frog in it. She always called him Mr. Ray. Ray guessed it was because she didn’t know how to address someone that wasn't as old as her parents or as young as her.

  “Why Miss Potts, I would consider it a pleasure,” Ray said as he bowed and took her arm in his and they walked out onto the floor. “Miss Potts, I have to warn you that I don’t know the first thing about dancin’.”

  “Me either, but it looked like everyone was having so much fun, I had to jump in,” laughed Ida.

  They joined hands and with arms stretched straight out, began to dance in circles around the floor. Ida laughed and laughed, and then she stopped suddenly looking up at Ray, “you like Morgan Adams, don’t you Mr. Ray?”

  “Well I don’t know where you got that idea, Miss Potts.”

  “I may be just a child but I see things. I like to watch people. I don’t think Miss Adams’ beau is very nice, I hope you become her beau,” Ida declared.

  And with that she began to twirl Ray around and around again.

  They reached their starting point after several rotations of the floor when Ida stopped suddenly again. “You know Mr. Ray, I believe I have taken up quite enough of your time. I should share you with the other pretty girls.” Ida released Ray’s hands, curtsied, and stepped beside him. She then proceeded to take John’s hands, dragging him out onto the floor. Ray bowed back as John complained about leaving the safe hiding spot he had found for himself off the dance floor.

  Ida spun around once with John, looked back at Ray, and tossed her head in the direction of the stage, before continuing to swirl with her laughing partner.

  Ray looked in the direction she indicated. There, standing alone, was Morgan. He quickly looked back at Ida. She was smiling back at Ray as she swirled John around the dance floor.

  Ray began to pull in all the courage he could muster. He began the long walk across the floor. Within forty feet of her, he caught her eye. Did he detect a bit of a smile? He thought as his confidence began to build. There it is again. She looked at him, looked away, and then looked at him again, as if she was waving him to her side.

  Ray was almost walking on air when Jack Smoot stepped up to her from her right handing her a drink. She looked in Ray’s direction one last time. Then she took Jack’s arm and turned and walked away. Ray made a quick about face and headed for the hiding spot John had created. He traveled no more than a couple steps, when a tug on the back of his coat stopped him. He turned and standing there with a determined look on her face was Little Ida Potts.

  “No sir, you go after that girl. Didn’t you see the way she was looking at you? She likes you Mr. Ray. Now, you’ve fought Indians and evil men, I think you can handle one pretty lady, don’t you Mr. Ray?” said Ida with a sly smile.

  “Ida, are you a forty year old woman in a ten year old body? I’ve never met anyone like you before. But I’m not sure you understand what’s going on here. What about her beau?”

  “Oh, Mr. Ray, she doesn’t like that fella anymore. He let her down in that Indian Camp. Her eyes have fallen onto you.”

  “Good gravy, Miss Potts, are your parents aware of how involved you are in other people’s lives?”

  “They don’t care, Mr. Ray, as long as I’m not botherin’ them all day.”

  “Well I sure can understand that, Miss Potts.”

  “Call me Ida,” she said smiling.

  “Of course, Ida,” Ray said, returning the smile.

  “Now go get her before I take a hot branding iron to your backside,” snapped Ida.

  “Okay, okay, I’m going,” said Ray as he walked past her and headed in Mo
rgan’s direction.

  There she was, standing next to an older, distinguished looking gentlemen and a woman of equal grace. Quickly at his side was his little cupid. “That’s her Pa,” stated Ida. “He has a lot of money. I think he is in textiles. The lady there is Morgan’s mother. They are a little stuffy but go be charming.”

  “He’s in textiles? Where did a little kid learn to talk like that?” Ray said shaking his head in disbelief.

  Ray worked his way around a few people and entered the Adams’ space.

  “Good evening, Mr. Adams, my name is Ray Cooper. I would very much like to ask your permission to escort your daughter to the dance floor.” He saw Ida out of the corner of his eye giving him a nodding smile of approval.

  With an unnecessary clearing of the throat, creating an air of superiority Mr. Adams spoke, “Young man, I am quite aware of who you are. My wife and I have wanted to thank you for what you did at the Indian camp for our daughter. If you hadn’t stepped in to help Jack Smoot protect her, who knows what might have happened.”

  It blurred out of Ray’s mouth before he thought, “Helped Jack Smoot?” Regaining his composure Ray continued. “I mean, yes of course, helped Jack Smoot. Yes Morgan was very lucky he was there,” Ray said with a level of sarcasm not missed by the expression on Morgan’s face.

  “Yes, my boy, the least we can do is allow you a single dance with our daughter,” said Mr. Adams as he placed Morgan’s small hand into Ray’s up turned palm.

  Ray had not missed the emphasis on “single dance” either. But he didn’t care at that moment. He had Morgan’s warm soft hand resting in his. The walk to the dance floor was magical. He stopped in an open area and swung her out in front of him. Ray felt like a knight in shining armor. Unfortunately he danced like a knight in heavy armor. He managed to step on her feet no less than eight times. At one point he almost knocked her down when he spun her out and pulled her back into him.

  Finally Morgan had had enough, “Ray, thank you for the dance, but I don’t believe my feet can take any more abuse. I can hardly walk and my arm feels like it’s been pulled out of it socket. Can we sit out the rest of the song, please?”

  “Oh yes, of course, I’m so sorry, I guess I just wanted to dance with you so much, that I forgot I was no dancer.”

  “Well I’m very flattered, and you’re right, you’re no dancer. But why me? Why did you want to dance with me? There are many other girls here who don’t already have beaus.”

  “Not like you, Morgan.” It felt good to finally say it, to get it all out and off his chest, to confess his love at last. “Ever since that first night I stumbled into you out in the bushes, I knew.”

  “You knew what? That you saw me naked and you thought you could just take me or something?” started in Morgan on the defensive.

  “Morgan, I know we couldn’t have gotten off on worse footing. But I know you’re the only girl for me. I think I love you Morgan.”

  “You think you love me? Only girl for you? Ray, I have a beau and my parents would never permit us to be together.”

  “Do you love Jack, Morgan?”

  “What do you mean, do I love him? I told you he was my beau.”

  “But do you love him? That’s all I’m asking, do you love Jack? If you say you love him, I’ll leave you be and never bother you again. But if you don’t love him, then I intend to make you my wife. Now, do you love him?”

  Over Ray's shoulder Morgan spotted Jack approaching with his usual group of followers. They were young boys who worshipped Jack and would do anything he asked to gain his favor. Morgan worried that if Jack thought something was going on between her and Ray that Ray could be in danger. Without thinking further she spoke the words, like a knife slicing through his heart, “Yes, Ray, I love Jack.”

  Ray stood for a few moments trying to understand, trying to make sense of what it meant. This was not the way it was supposed to end. He knew in his heart she was the one chosen for him. He looked deep into her eyes, trying to see a hint, a sign that she had lied, but saw nothing. Just a sympathetic smile and a small push on his side by a very small hand.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Ray. Come on, I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” said little Ida Potts.

  Ray walked away from Morgan and did not look back. His dream dance was over as quickly as it had started.

  Ida and Ray walked over to where John, Larry, Richard and Laurie stood.

  “Folks,” stated Ida. “You need to take Mr. Cooper over to the fire and get him a cup of coffee. He just got the big push off by that no good Morgan Adams. Come on.”

  Ida started corralling them, forcing them into the direction of the dinner fires.