Winter Crossing

by James E Ferrell

  “My husband taught me to shoot. Who took off my clothes?” she asked.

  Elam turned red and was ready to bolt for the door when she said, “I am glad you were wise enough to take care of my wounds or I might have had a bad infection by now.” He knew she was trying to clear the situation and make him feel that he had done the right thing.

  Elam never looked in her direction, for he knew she was not dressed and had only the buffalo robe over her.

  “I want to go to the river and bathe. Is that all right?” Tillie asked.

  “Wrap yourself in that blanket and we will go. There is backwater over thar behind those big rocks whar you can bathe,” he said.

  “I will stand watch fer you. After you finish, you can watch fer me,” Elam said.

  A few minutes later, Tillie laid the blanket down and stepped off in the cold water. It took her a long time to get used to the chill, but finally, she was submerged. She lay in the water, her aching bones protesting. For most of an hour, she lay there.

  “Are you still back there guarding me?” she asked.

  There was no sound and suddenly she was frightened. Quietly she slipped from the water and picked up the pistol and blanket. Making her way around the edge of the pool, she came to a large rock. Hearing the sound of water splashing, she stepped around the rock and pointed her gun. Elam stood waist-deep in the water with a razor in one hand and a mirror in the other, his face lathered. He was shaving his beard. Embarrassed, he backed into deeper water. The two stood looking at each other and Elam finally broke the silence. “I wish you wouldn’t point that gun at me so much,” he said.

  “You have a mirror and soap?” she asked.

  “I would have told you bout’ the soap and mirror, but you wuz already in the water. I didn’t think you would want me a-comin’ round from whar I wuz a-watchin’,” he said.

  “I would not have recognized you without your beard. You’re younger than I am,” Tillie said. With a shave, Elam looked to be much younger and she was shocked.

  Elam chuckled as he washed the soap off his razor. “I be older than I look. Asides’ I have been on my own since I war jest about Danny’s age!” he exclaimed.

  Tillie pulled the robe tight against the early morning chill. “I guess we are as old as we have to be out here in the wilderness.” For a minute, the two looked at each other. Tillie’s voice broke as she said, “Elam Franklin, I thank God for you and what you have done for my children and me. I have never met a man so much a man as you, whatever your age is!” she said with a smile.

  “Whar is your husband, ma’am?” Elam inquired.

  “My husband?” Tillie had forgotten she had mentioned her husband had taught her to shoot. “He is dead. He died a long time ago. We left the day we buried him and have been on the run ever since,” she said.

  “Runnin’ from what?” Elam asked.

  “Running from an evil woman that’s after my children, and a life of unhappiness I want to leave behind,” Tillie said firmly.

  “I didn’t mean to be a-meddlin’. When most folks say they are a-runnin’, usually they are a-runnin’ from the law,” he said.

  Elam was ashamed that he felt as he did. “I meant to give you this soap a-fore you got in the water, but I needed a shave. Maybe you better come out here and git it. Your back will need a good cleanin’ today, and now could be the only bath we git for a long time,” he said naively.

  Tillie looked at him for a moment. “I’m going back to the pool. You can bring me the soap when you are through with it. I can wash my back today,” she said with a smile.

  Elam was profoundly embarrassed and turned away from her as he said, “Yes ma’am, I should figure you kin wash your own back, I ‘pologize.” A few minutes later, he appeared with the soap and some clothing he intended for her to wear.

  After she bathed, she slipped on the shirt that Elam had left for her and it almost reached the ground. There was no way she could travel like this. Holding a pair of his pants up with one hand, she called for him, “Elam, you may come back here now and get the soap and buffalo robe.”

  Not looking at her, he moved around the rock and gathered the items. They walked back to the cabin where Elam broke the silence. “You can’t travel like that. Them clothes will be uncomfortable and chafe you. I have some deer hides on the back wall of the cabin. We can work some lard in the hides and make them soft,” he said as he explained that he had been in many Indian villages and knew how to make Indian clothing.

  Tillie stepped in front of Elam and stopped him with one hand as she held the loose clothes up with the other. “I fear I have hurt you and that is something I never intended to do. It’s just that under the circumstances, I didn’t think it was proper for me to get in the water with you,” she said.

  Elam had not been able to look at Tillie; instead, he busied himself, watching the surrounding country. “Miss Tillie, you don’t owe me no ‘pology. I didn’t mean nothin’ by what I said. I am an ignorant man. I never wanted to do anythin’ but be in the woods while I wuz a-growin’ up. I war on my own with no ma to learn’ me to read and write since I wuz young. I don’t know how to treat women folks. I ain’t never touched no woman cept’ you in my whole life,” he said.

  For a moment, Tillie was stunned at the simple honesty of this man. She put her hand on Elam’s face and looked into his eyes for a long time. “I see wisdom and courage in your eyes. I feel kindness and gentleness in your touch. I don’t see an ignorant man but a wise man far wiser than any man I have ever known. I appreciate your gentleness.” Grinning, she added, “I am surprised and delighted to see such a handsome face under that beard. If you would like, I will teach you to read and write.”

  Returning the smile, Elam said, “That could take you a mighty long time since I ain’t never even opened a book!”

  “Sure you have! You have read much more than I, even though I have read many books. Most people can only read books about people like you. Elam, you have lived a life that others only dream. I will teach you to read and write so you can tell others about what living in the wilderness is like,” Tillie said.

  Elam smiled and felt weak from the power that the blue eyes held over him. “We best be a-goin’. You need clothes and we can’t stay here much longer,” he said.

  By early morning Tillie was dressed in clothing made of deer hides sewn together by strips of leather. Elam was fascinated by her beauty and could not take his eyes off of her. “Elam, you better get your mind on getting us out of here and not be watching every move I make,” she finally said.

  Elam grinned and finished packing all the belongings he could put on the packhorse. Taking the pack outside, he secured it to the horse the chief’s son had been riding and took everything else of value to a small cave he had found on the mountain behind the cabin. Everything he wanted to take, he packed.

  He looked around the valley and sighed, hating to leave his valley, but the safety he once had was gone. The Indians would not let up until they found them. Even though Elam had come back for horses, he had found a treasure more valuable in Tillie. He had fallen in love and could not think of anything but her. Storing the last of his possessions, Elam stepped from the cave and stood on the side of the mountain, scanning the valley. “I will one day make this valley my home,” he sighed. Suddenly he realized he had been very foolish. A smoke signal rose in the sky from across the valley. No more than ten miles away, Indians were signaling for those around them. They had tracked them. Once inside the valley, they would find his cabin. He was angry with himself as he ran down the mountain in a rush. Bursting in the cabin out of breath, he stood looking down the barrel of the pistol once again. “Woman, one of these days, you are going to shoot me iffin’ I don’t git scalped by those Indians out thar first!” Elam exclaimed.

  Tillie’s face lost all color and fear and dread snapped her like a whip. They both ran from the cabin. Within a few minutes, they were racing the horses across the valley. The ground slowly started to cli
mb and the horses began to labor from their effort and the altitude.

  “We better give these horses a breather. You think you could walk a bit?” Elam asked.

  “I’m okay now. The rest has done wonders for me,” Tillie said.

  They walked along together for a few miles, steadily climbing out of the valley. Elam was ever watchful and said little.

  “You want to tell me what you are upset about?” Tillie asked.

  “I wuz not being watchful and almost got us killed,” Elam stated.

  “You were taking care of me,” she said.

  “I am taken by your beauty and have been acting like a love-sick fool!” Elam said pointedly.

  “Elam, you sure say just what’s on your mind. I’m afraid I am partly to blame. I have been enjoying your attention, but maybe we better try and get out of here before you start courting me,” she added.

  Elam blushed again. “Well, iffin’ you are going to teach me to read and write, I will be a-courtin’ you for a long time,” he said with a grin.

  “For now, just keep your eyes open and your wilderness wits about you,” she said.

  The sun was almost overhead as they crested the mountain pass that led out of the valley. They rested to check their back trail and then headed west, . In the valley below, smoke rose from a distant fire. “They have found my cabin. That was my first home and the only bed that ever fit me,” Elam said sadly.

  “It could be worse. We could be in that cabin while it burned,” Tillie said. Tillie watched his countenance fall as he watched the smoke rising across the valley. “I started with a Conestoga wagon and six fine mules. They are gone and I’m wearing deer hides. I’ve lost most of my hair, but I have my life, my kids, and a new friend in you. I feel I am the richest woman alive!” Tillie said.

  Elam thought about what she had said for a moment then turned his attention back to the direction they were traveling. “Miss Tillie, you see through the small things whar the important things be a-layin’,” he said.

  Dark clouds began to form in the west and rumbling echoed across the mountains. “We better mount up and make some distance. They are coming fast and will try and run us down a-fore dark. I know a place whar we can hide,” Elam said.

  C11 Safe Haven

  By noon, Nolan and the children stood on a mountain pass, watching the valley below. It had been twelve hours in the saddle since they had left Elam and started their climb out of that valley to safety. In a few days, he would have the children out of harm’s way and among a community of rugged frontier folk. For now, he watched the distant valley for a sign that Elam had been able to get the mother away from the savages. He knew the likelihood of Elam succeeding was small, but the prayers of the children gave him hope.

  Nolan took the field-glass from his eyes. With a grin, he looked at the children. “Danny, you see them smoke signals out thar? They be a-sayin’ thars trouble. I’m a-bettin’ Elam done snatched your mother and them savages are all confused as to the direction they went. Thar be a smoke along the river so Elam wouldn’t be a-comin’ this away. I reckon he done took to the hills whar he knows the lay of the land. Them skins won’t be a-wantin’ to go into the thunderin’ mountains unless they are mighty mad. You just keep on a-prayin’ for your ma, cause’ she is in good hands now!” he said.

  Nolan stood and watched the smoke for a long time, noting the locations. Speaking mostly to himself as he scanned the valley, he said, “They is a-lookin’ in all directions now. Elam is a smart boy. He is a-goin’ back to the mountains and that be zactly what I would do in his shoes.” Taking one last look at the smoke signals coming from the valley below, he swallowed hard and chuckled, mostly for the sake of the children. Nolan turned their mounts back along the mountain trail and headed for safety.

  Danny and Mary chatted excitedly about the prospect of freedom for their mother. Nolan pulled at his hat brim as he led the way along an imaginary path that existed only in the mountain man’s mind. It made him happy to have built the children’s spirits up; now, a flash of doubt crept in. He sighed and hoped he would never live long enough to regret it. “We gonna’ be clean out of the territory by nightfall. By tomorrow you kids will be a-sleepin’ in Miss Nora’s bed. Then you will be a-gittin' some real motherin’, jest like you war in the arms of your own ma,” Nolan said.

  ααααααα

  Nichols Township was booming. Not only was the fur trade and timber a thriving business, but the train was delivering cattle. The railroad was on the far side of Muleskinner Pass, which would soon change the face of Nichols in the not too distant future.

  Nolan walked the big paint gelding down the main street, followed behind by a packhorse laden with pelts and the children riding Red. Everyone stared at the appearance of the children and the big mountain man. On the sidewalk, a lone figure dropped his cigarette into the horse trough and walked along the boardwalk, getting a good look at the children.

  Uttering a sigh of relief, Nolan stepped down in front of the town’s main eatery and helped the children from Red. “I hope you kids are mighty hungry cause you are fixin’ to be gittin’ a lot of vittles shoved your way,” he said. The three walked slowly through the main dining room. It was apparent that the past few days had been stressful. Even little Mary was quiet, clinging to her brother’s arm. Except for an old couple sitting in the corner, the dining room was empty as they walked to the kitchen door. Unaware of the three standing in the doorway, Nora stirred a large pot of soup.

  “Nora, I have come a-callin’ back from the wild country,” Nolan said.

  Upon hearing Nolan’s voice, her face took on a warm smile, and before turning, she closed her eyes, and her face slowly lifted in a heavenly thanks. Turning swiftly, she said, “Nolan Tolivar, I—" her voice trailed off as her eyes took in the tired and dirty children at Nolan’s side. Mary slowly slid around behind her brother, holding his leg.

  “Nora, this is a-goin’ to take a lot of explainin’. Sit down at this here table and I will do my best,” Nolan said.

  For a long time, Nora sat looking at the children while Nolan explained the circumstances. Every time she smiled at Mary, she hid behind her brother, peering around at the pretty woman with flour on her chin. “I can only imagine what these poor darlings have gone through. It was sure a blessing you were there to help them,” Nora said.

  “Nolan, if this don’t beat everything. These kids are worn completely out.” Signaling a waitress, she continued, “Beth, bring these kids some of the soup and the fresh bread I just took out of the oven. Nolan, you are the most unpredictable man I have ever met. As soon as they have eaten, then take them to my house so we can get them cleaned up and in a good warm bed. They can stay at my place until their ma gets here. They must have been scared to death the whole time. I am glad you had the good sense to bring them here, with you not knowing a thing about children and all.”

  “Now Nora, slow down with that talk! You know I raised a fine boy of my own!” Nolan protested.

  “Nolan, who is going to care for these children until their ma gets here?” Nora asked.

  “I don’t plan on a-leavin’ their side until their mother shows up with Elam Franklin, and that’s a fact. So, you kin be a-doin’ all the motherin’ that you want to do,” he said.

  “Now who might this Elam Franklin be? I have no recollection of that name in these parts,” she asked.

  Nolan slapped his knee for the children’s benefit and squinted his eyes at the pretty lady. “Do you children hear that?” he said with a big guffaw. “This har’ lady don’t know who Elam Franklin be! Wall, he be jest the greatest Injun fighter that ever thar lived. Able he is to sneak right up among a bunch of savage Injuns’ that be meaner than a grizzly bar with a toothache and snatch these children’s ma right out from under thar noses. So, what do you think of that, Miss Nora Smith?” Nolan said to the delight of the children.

  Danny laughed with glee, his heart rising with the hope that Elam Franklin was all that Nolan was mak
ing him out to be. The light-hearted talk made Mary smile and she chuckled at the big man's story. Nolan saw the effect he was having on the children and continued.

  “Once I hear tell Elam Franklin snuck into an old war chief’s tent what had been a-chasin’ him all over the wilderness. The chief wuz asleep, and Elam spent the night sleepin’ right next to the chief durin’ a snowstorm. The next mornin’, he woke the chief and thanked him for the hospitality a-fore he left. Wall, that chief wuz so surprised he made Elam a member of the tribe!” Nolan said with a wink to Nora.

  Nora rolled her eyes at the kids and laughed.

  “Now you children git some vittles while I sell my furs and git myself a bath and shave. Miss Nora, I will return for my supper shortly. Will you be so kind as to dine with me tonight?” Nolan said with a bowing gesture.

  “Well Mister Nolan Tolivar, since I have been a-waitin’ for you to come a-callin’ for near on half my life, I just think I might!” Nora said with a smile and small curtsy.

  “Waiting for me, she says! Now that be interestin’ talk for shore,” he said.

  That evening a new Nolan Tolivar sat in the dining room of the eatery. His beard was gone and his hair neatly trimmed. He sat thumbing through a paperback when Nora came to the table. His eyes softened as he looked up from the book with an approving smile across his face. “Miss Nora, I have been a long time in the wilderness and seen a sight or two, but you are the loveliest if ever I saw any a-tall. I’ve been too long in the wilderness without sight of you,” he said.

  Standing, he pulled a chair back from the table for her. “I see you haven’t lost your manners while you have been living among the savages,” Nora said. “Did you find what you were looking for this time?”

  Circling the table, Nolan seated himself and looked across the table at her. “When I left you, I went deep into Injun country. I went back to the very spot whar the wagon train lay in ruins. For these months I stayed thar. Tappin’ and a-tryin’ to reason in my mind why I didn’t handle things differently. The problem is, I can’t change the past or resurrect the lives lost because of me. I found no way to change or rectify what has happened. Then Elam and the children came into my life. It wuz then I decided I must make what’s left of my life count for good. Nora, I want to help the kids and their ma if I can,” Nolan said.