Winter Crossing

by James E Ferrell

  “Now what a paradox. From the beginning of time until this very day, each of us has to choose what we will do with the Messiah, the Savior, Jesus the Christ. There is no--such--thing as a neutral choice. Today, from a man who was chief of sinners, one you have never seen before, has presented the gospel message to you. Can you plead ignorance on Judgment Day? I guess not! For you, this verse in Joshua 24:15 should ring true, ‘Choose this day whom ye will serve.’ ” Moving back and forth, the big man dressed in black continued.

  “Whether you like it or not, you are making a choice each and every day of your life. It’s just that simple. If you have never submitted your life to Christ, then you are lost and destined for hell, just as the Good Book says. Today ladies and gentlemen, you choose whom you will serve. My name is Timothy Curry. I am the Bull Curry that rode with Doctor Daniel Black and Tanner Jones. They introduced me to the Lord as I rode with them. I have been called to preach the one true message we are all reborn to proclaim. Now you know me and the message I was born to preach.” Stepping back behind the podium, he lay down his Bible and again turned to the congregation. “I will always make myself available to discuss the Bible and salvation with anyone at any time. I understand there is a wedding to perform today, so we will conclude this service with prayer. All who would like to attend the wedding may stay.” Saying that, Pastor Bull Curry stepped away from the pulpit.

  A lanky middle-aged man stood and walked to the front of the church. Deacon Stevens saw him coming and a frown crossed his face. “Mr. Curry, I’m the head of the elders here. I must say I respect your candor and straight forward way of discussing your past. I am not so sure you will be a good fit for our congregation here in Nichols. I would like all of the deacons present this morning to meet me out back and we will discuss your fitness for the pastor of our church,” the elder stated.

  “As you wish. I will conduct the wedding and after that you can give me your decision,” Bull said.

  Nolan leaned over and whispered to Nora, “Looks like your preacher showed up and he is a big feller. I think I’ve heard about him. He rode into the panhandle town of Limon, Texas, drivin’ a herd with Doc Black and Tanner Jones. It just so happened the Hawks brothers were in the process of robbin’ the Limon Bank. I understand the Hawks’ family reunion wuz not very big last year.”

  Nora and Nolan were married and shook hands with everyone leaving the church. “Now that wasn’t so bad was it?” Nora asked.

  “Well, it looks like I won’t be a-goin’ back into the hills lookin’ for the buffler and beaver anymore. So, we better decide what direction we will be a-goin’,” Nolan said with a smile.

  “My folks have a ranch in Eagle Valley. We can start ranching if you have a mind to,” she said.

  “Well, as soon as Elam and the children’s ma git here, we can start east for your old home place then,” Nolan said.

  They had not noticed a well-dressed man wearing a Derby hat following them from the church. “You don’t really expect a trapper will be able to get her away from a tribe as mean as the Barbaro, do you?” the voice from behind them asked. Nolan turned to see a short man with a cigar who had been walking along behind them. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Shiver. I represent the Pinkerton agency on behalf of Mrs. Mira Bonner. Mrs. Bonner is the grandmother of the children. I heard you call them Danny and Mary. I have been looking for them for months. I was about to call it quits until you rode into town a couple of days ago with them in tow. Mrs. Bonner has been notified and is traveling by stage and train to take possession of her children.”

  “We are staying right here with Mrs. Nora and Nolan until our mother gets here. We don’t want to go with Grandmother!” Danny interjected.

  “You will do as you are told young man,” the Pinkerton Detective said.

  “Mister, you won’t be a-doin’ the tellin’. Now you have had your say. You can move along,” Nolan said.

  “Just so you will know, the sheriff has been notified. You better not try and leave town with the children,” Shiver lifted his hat and bowed slightly. “Ma’am, congratulations to you both on your wedding day.” That said, he walked away down the street.

  Danny was upset and started talking excitedly.

  Nolan responded, “Hold up, boy! We need to git somethin’ to eat then you can tell Nora and me all that’s on your mind.” Picking up Mary, Nolan led off down the street. “Don’t you kids fret none. You will be with your ma even if I have to go git her myself.” A trace of doubt crossed Nolan’s face and he couldn’t hide it. He knew all to well that no less than two thousand Indian braves were living in that tribe. Nolan knew it was an impossible task Elam had taken on and realized that even now, the two were probably dead. He wished he had known how Elam intended to steal their mother away. He looked longingly at the mountain pass that led back into the wilderness. Nolan hoped that God had heard the prayers of the children because Elam needed all the help he could get.

  C14 Almost Free

  Behind them, the race had been short-lived as the braves’ horses faltered and fell or came to a standstill. Before them, the noise intensified as the water circled the funnel as it began to fill from the torrential downpour. “Ride straight into the water, Tillie!” Elam yelled over the noise.

  “Elam, we’re going to drown!” Tillie yelled back as she began to pull back on the reins. Behind them, the Indians were sending arrows at the fleeing riders.

  Elam slapped the rump of the little mare and grabbed her reins. “We got to go in now, or in a few minutes, it will be too late!” he yelled. Elam dug the spurs into the big gelding. “This is our only chance, back there we have none,” Elam yelled. Suddenly Elam raised his hands and whipped the hesitant horses which sent them at full speed into the raging water. Instantly horse and man were separated, gasping for the last breath of air before the whirlpool pulled them down, disappearing into utter darkness.

  Tillie held her nose and mouth as the strong current held her in its terrifying grip. Whirling and flipping, she was sucked down into darkness. Her body slammed again and again on the chasm’s smooth sides. The swift, swirling water pulled the horses deeper and deeper. The complete darkness and force of the current created in Tillie a panic like no other. Closing her eyes, she visualized the faces of her children and bit her lower lip to hold her breath. In the direction she was being pulled, a grey light began to appear. Almost instantly, she was against the bottom of a smooth limestone floor, her head above water shooting along with the current. Blinding light appeared from the sunshine as she exited the inside of the mountain along a downward limestone watercourse that ran for a mile down the backside of the mountain. The angle of descent changed and Tillie began to slow. The broad stream of water emptied into a wide shallow river. The limestone bottom was so smooth it was hard to keep her footing. The terrifying event had turned into a fun ride of a lifetime. The swirling whirlpool formed a waterway that ran down and through the mountain and along several thousand feet of a limestone river bed on the other side. For a long time after she stopped moving, Tillie sat with the water washing around her as she looked around, stunned from the adrenalin flow and exertion.

  The packhorse stood spraddle legged a few yards from her in knee-deep water with the pack hanging below him. Behind her, a voice said. “That was quite a ride,” Tillie visibly shaken turned to see a slightly skinned up but intact Elam sitting in the water behind her, a flushed and pained look on his face.

  “Are you okay?” they both asked at the same time. Tillie rubbed her skinned cheek and said, “If I hadn’t had these leather britches on, I would be mighty skinned up, but that was fun. I would like to do that again sometimes without the horses, of course,” she said, laughing. She noticed Elam didn’t laugh or smile. “How did you know we would make it out alive?”

  “I didn’t, but the water rushing into the funnel choked off the water flow, and once inside, it got shallow,” he said. It will take days for the water in the lake to finally drain through the funnel
. I saw your children ride down into the funnel on dry land and figured the water had to dump us out somewhar. I didn’t want to ride into that swirlin’ water but didn’t see anything else we could do. Now we are a good forty miles away from the war party. They would have to cross the mountain to get to us, even if they knew whar we war.” With a panged smile,Elam caught his breath.

  “You saw my children ride into the funnel?” Tillie asked.

  “Yep, on a great red horse! I thought I wuz seeing things. That wuz the first time I had ever seen them,” Elam said.

  “If we are safe, I would like to sleep for a while, then I want to go to my children. Elam, are you alright?” Tillie asked.

  “Well, a-fore you go a-makin’ plans, you better look at what’s stickin’ in my back. One of them braves got lucky--I’m a-thinkin’,” Elam said. Suddenly he leaned forward and threw up.

  A look of fear crossed her face as she worked her way against the current to the place where he sat. “Oh, Lord, no!” she cried, looking at his back. Working her way around to his front, she put her arms around his neck and wept. “Elam, I don’t know if I love you or if it’s just gratitude for saving me, but you have been a sweet moment in my life and I can’t stand to lose you. You just got to be alright--you just got to make it!”

  “I’m a-gonna’ take it as love. I don’t plan on a-dyin’, but you got to do the fixin’. Ain’t nobody else here to help you, girl. You just got it to do. Now git me out of this water before I pass out and drown!” Elam said weakly.

  Helping Elam to a standing position, she guided him to the sandy bank. “Go and gather up our belongings a-fore they git away downstream. You got to do some cuttin’ a-fore I lose too much of my strength. This thing shore is beginnin’ to annoy me,” he said.

  Tillie gathered the items that were floating and removed the heavy pack from the horse. She ran about getting everything together as he had told her to do.

  His face flushed as he crawled over to a half-buried log that lay along the water’s edge. “This ought to do,” he said as he lay across the log in a kneeling position, trying to find a spot that would relieve the pain in his back.

  Tillie dragged the heavy pack up on the bank and secured the horses before running back to his side. His eyes were wild as he tried to smile at her.

  “Lord girl, you are something to behold! Jest when I find heaven on earth, I done got myself kilt!” Elam said.

  Tillie broke into tears as she said, “Please don’t ever say that. I don’t want to lose you. Just promise me you will be okay!” Elam’s eyes grew large looking and his face paled. Tillie went around the log and fell to her knees in the sand. “Elam Franklin, I want you to listen to me. I don’t like that kind of talk. If you die, then I die! I cannot make it out of here without your help. You just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it.”

  “First things first,” he said weakly. His head had been lying on the log, but he lifted it and looked around, scanning the countryside. “Good,” he said. His words began to slur. “Tillie, you take a-bearin’ on that mountain top. Now--look at the position of the sun. That mountain peak is due north two days' walk. Now listen, iffin’ I don’t make it, you got to go it alone,” he said.

  Taking his face in her hands, she kissed him again and again—salty tears streaming down her face. “Elam, I can’t make it without you,” she wept.

  “I don’t believe that for a minute. Little Danny don’ tol’ me about you bringin’ them all the way from Hunter. All by your lonesome.” His voice became soft and almost in a whisper. “Don’t cry now, girl. You must listen to me. I have the knowledge to keep you alive. You must be prepared to go on without me. That are just the way it is. I am prepared to die, but you must git back to them kids. The Lord knows they need you, morin’ anything.” With great pain, Elam eased his hand across her tear-soaked face. “Tillie, the moment I held that sweet Mary in my arms and felt her sobs in her sleep, just a-sobbin’ for her ma, I knowed what God had born me for. If you git back to them children, then I will have done somethin’ worth a-doin’ in my life. I’m an ignorant man but am a-knowin’ what is worth livin’ and dyin’ for. I have no regrets,” Elam said.

  Tillie broke down and sobbed heavily, trying to speak. Elam placed his finger against her mouth and said, “Now you listen! I want you to head straight for that mountain peak. When you reach the foothills, turn right. That will be east, right into the mornin’ sun. You will need to ride east for a week. That should git you out of the Injun lands. Then turn south, keep the mornin’ sun on your left shoulder. If you git lost, stay put till the sun comes up each mornin’ then start walkin’ south again. Look for a mountain which has two fingers stickin’ up. Thar be a river thar called the Crazy Woman. You follow that river upstream and you will find your children. Within three weeks, you will be with your kids. Just you be a-keepin’ your head and become wilderness smart. You know how to shoot better than me. There be plenty of berries and fish to catch on the way so you won’t starve.”

  “Elam, I will remember and do as you say, but you are going with me! Now tell me what you want me to do to get that arrow out of your back,” Tillie said.

  “It’s plum near, clean thru’ me, and that be a good thing. If it had hit anythin’ important, I would be dead by now. Reach your hand inside my shirt and you will feel a bulge high on my left side. That is the head of the arrow and it’s about an inch shy of a-comin’ out the front. It warn’t’ that deep till I slammed into a wall in the water, and it darn near pushed it clean thru me. Now go over thar and pick up that big rock and bring it over here,” Elam directed.

  Tillie turned to see a rock the size of a man’s head sitting on the river’s edge. Giving him a puzzled look, she got up and retrieved the rock.

  “While I be a-lyin’ across this here old log, you got to hammer that arrow through till the head is a-stickin’ out,” he said.

  “Elam, there has to be another way!” Tillie pleaded.

  “Girl, I shore have been a-thinkin’ on that very thing and don’t see nar’ one. Now, you hit hard and fast, or I will be a-passin’ out,” Elam said.

  “What do I do when I get it through the front?” she asked.

  Elam’s speech was labored now as he struggled to maintain his position over the log. “I want you to take my knife and cut the arrowhead off. Then git behind me and pull it out. If I pass out, then all the better. Git it out before I come to again.” She hesitated for a moment and he said, “Girl, this is the wilderness. If you don’t have the stomach for what needs to be done, then you and I will shorely die. Now git it done.”

  Tillie stood over Elam’s back as he lay across the tree trunk and raised the rock over her head. With one swift blow, she struck the protruding end of the arrow. Elam sucked in a breath and she knew the pain was excruciating. Reaching into his shirt, Tillie could feel the arrowhead pushing tightly beneath the skin. “I almost have it out. Just one more blow,” she said.

  His eyes were dull from the pain. Tillie was unsure he had understood her. Again, she raised the rock determined to finish the job this time. One more time and the arrow split the skin and the head came completely through. Taking his sharp knife, she made quick work of cutting the head off the arrow.

  “Okay, I’m ready to pull it out now,” she said. Too weak to speak, Elam signaled for her to continue. Tillie stood over him and placed a foot on his back. She grabbed the shaft and with a deep breath, she clenched her teeth and pulled with all her might. It came loose and she staggered back, holding the blood-soaked shaft.

  Elam lay motionless and it was all Tillie could do to get him bandaged to stop the blood flow. Night came and Tillie slept from sheer exhaustion. Now awake, she lay listening to the sound of the water rushing across the limestone creek bed. Reaching over, she felt of Elam’s forehead as he lay next to the log shivering from a fever. He had not moved from the position she had left him in. Getting up, she gathered firewood and pine needles in the dark to make a fire. Taking his flin
t rock, she worked for the better part of an hour before she got the pine needles to catch.

  A week passed. The weather took on an autumn look. Leaves began to turn and a cool wind began to blow from the north. Tired almost to the point of exhaustion, Tillie moved about the crude camp. Beside the fire, a pile of driftwood lay ready for use. She had not been able to move him, so she had built everything around where he lay. River rocks had been piled high around the log, and a campfire was close enough to him to keep him warm. She covered him in his buffalo robe.

  Elam opened his eyes and watched her as she sat on the log feeding small pieces of driftwood into the fire. Besides the dull ache in his chest and a raging thirst, he knew he was on the mend. “Haven’t you gotten any sleep yet?” his raspy voice asked.

  Tears of joy streamed down her face as she said, “I have been taking care of you.”

  “You have done a good job. I think--I will make it.” He drifted off again and she buried her face in her hands and wept. Exhausted but relieved, she lay down beside him and covered herself with the robe. A large hand took hers and squeezed. “I didn’t think I would make it,” he said weakly. The warmth of his body cut the chill she felt and instantly she was asleep.

  Days later the wind blew hard. Thunder echoed across the mountain tops and Tillie looked up from her reading. Bewildered, she stood, her face covered by her unkempt hair. She searched the mountains for rain clouds and then her head turned on the smiling face looking up at her. “You are getting some color back in your face. What little I can see of it for that beard,” Tillie said.

  Elam nodded his head and indicated the Bible she was holding in her hand.