Chapter 22
Our Day Off
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Quincy gave the boys a welcomed day to rest. Ray was using his time off to reflect on Miss Morgan Adams. Sitting next to the river with his feet soaking in the chilly water, he came to the conclusion that he just could not figure out women and shouldn’t even try.
Suddenly a branch snapped, bringing Ray out of his daydream. He turned to find Jack Smoot and his tag-a-longs standing behind him.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Ain’t this the fella that was dancing with your girl last night, Jack?” asked the boy standing next to Jack.
“Yes, I believe you’re right. Hello Ray. Now I can’t believe you didn’t already know that Morgan was spoken for. I’m going to give you a little piece of advice. Stay away from Morgan or else.”
Ray rose to his feet to face the group, “or else what Jack, you gonna hide in the hut again while someone else fights your battles?”
Jack looked quickly to his right then to his left to see if any of the others understood what Ray was saying. From their look of blind loyalty he knew he was safe.
“I don’t need anyone else fightin’ my battles for me, but if you want a job done right, why not have help. GET HIM BOYS!” laughed Jack.
The first boy in received a right cross from Ray as a welcoming gift. But there were too many and soon they had control of Ray on the ground. All he could do was try to cover up, as the blows seemed to come from everywhere. Ray felt a boot connect with the back of his head – it dazed him a little. Then a couple of fists made contact with his face, followed by several more boots to his ribs. That was about the time he entered the quiet world of darkness and passed out.
It was already starting to turn dusk by the time Ray regained consciousness and slowly began to open his eyes; at least as open as he could get them. They were mostly swollen shut. The first thing he thought of was how he had wasted most of his day off, passed out. Trying to move he felt sharp pains from several parts of his body. He called out a couple times but the sound of the river pretty much washed out his voice. So he slowly rolled over onto his stomach and eased himself down into the water. Fortunately it wasn’t that deep or moving that fast. The shorelines were mostly bare because what trees had been there had been cut down for firewood. He let the flow of the cool water take him as he kicked his feet. His legs were about the only part on his body that didn’t hurt. Once he drifted to the other side of the river he grabbed onto the shallow bank. He pulled himself up out of the water and began to crawl like a snake toward the campfires. Thankfully he saw Laurie heading towards him with a bucket for water, and called out to her several times. Hearing her name she stopped and looks around for the whereabouts of the sound. Because it was dusk and Ray was laying flat on the ground it took her awhile of searching before she saw him. She immediately called out to Richard to come help as she went running toward Ray’s side.
“Take it easy Ray,” said Laurie as she felt his chest.
“Are you hurt bad, Ray?” asked Richard as he knelt down beside Ray, with a very concerned look on his kind face.
Laurie told Richard to go get John and Larry and have them bring down something they could carry Ray with over to the fire.
Richard obeyed immediately and headed for the wagons.
“Just lay easy Ray, helps coming,” was the last thing Ray heard before he passed out again.
When Ray awoke he was comforted to realize he was all tucked in safely inside Laurie and Richard’s wagon. He heard a familiar voice. “How is he?”
“He’ll be all right, no thanks to you and your beau. You know he’s only tried to be nice to you since he met you and all you’ve done is spit in his face. Why don’t you do him a big favor and go back to your wagon and your precious Jack. You deserve each other,” demanded Laurie, sounding like a mother bear protecting one of her young.
Hearing that defense boosted Ray’s spirits some. However, it didn’t change anything. He still was hopelessly in love with Morgan and if he thought it was what she wanted he would have called to her to come in. Just then the flap on the end of the wagon opened and Laurie’s face popped in.
“Well, look who’s decided to join the living,” smiled Laurie.
Ray decided not to make a comment about what he had just heard and acted as though he just woke up. “Hi Laurie. How long have I been out?”
“A full day, and Quincy said he was going to dock your pay,” laughed Laurie. “You gave us quite a scare, Ray Cooper. What happened to you? How’d you get hurt?” asked Laurie already confident that she knew exactly how Ray came by his injuries.
“Well I was sittin’ on the other side of the river when all of a sudden I was jumped by seven or so angry ducks. I must have been sittin’ right in their nest and it made them blood thirsty mad. Well, I’ll tell you, I fought hard but those ducks over-powered me and I soon succumbed to their assault,” Ray finished with a smile.
“So you’re not going to tell me are you?”
“I just did.”
“Okay, you stick to your story and I’ll stick to mine,” said Laurie, in a bit of a huff.
“What do you mean your story?” Ray asked.
“Well Jack Smoot has been bragging around that he whooped you in a fair fight. But everybody on the train knows that isn’t true. There is no way that tinhorn would be able to whoop you unless he had help, and that’s just what he had. Now you tell me I’m wrong,” demanded Laurie.
“I won’t tell you one way or the other. Out here a man ain’t a man, unless he stomps his own snakes.”
“Is that my lazy good for nothin’ scout I hear? Is he about ready to get out of bed and go back to work yet?” called Quincy from outside the wagon.
“Hey, Quincy, yeah I’m ready to get back into the saddle and I’m sure Laurie will be happy to get me out of her hair.”
“Oh, Ray Cooper, sometimes you just make me so mad I could bust a fry pan across your head,” threatened Laurie as she jumped off the back of the wagon.
Sticking his head into the back of the wagon, Quincy laughed as Laurie marched off. “We got the go ahead by the Army to pull out in the morning. Do you think you’ll be able to take point? I know you ain’t a tracker or know the route. But from here on all we gotta do is keep goin’ west. Stay on the trail, cross a few rivers and follow the trains ahead of us. We’ll be in Salt Lake in no time.”
“I’ll be ready Mr. Woods.”
“Thanks boy, you’re turning out all right, you know that? I’ll have John and Larry take turns at point with you. I don’t want anyone out there alone. We’re headin’ into Sioux country and one of the fiercest Chiefs around Red Cloud.”
“I’ll be in the saddle at first light, Sir,” Ray promised.
“Okay. See you in the morning,” and just like that, Quincy’s face disappeared out of the wagon.
Revenge Requires Two Graves Page 23
