Winter Crossing

by James E Ferrell

  “It’s headed in the right direction. I should be able to git a horse in the next town. When it passes beneath us, we will jump on the top and grab hold of somethin’. Then we will make our way to the rear of the train,” Nolan directed.

  “I’ve heard tell there is a feller always in the caboose of these trains with a pot of coffee brewin’,” Jericho said.

  “I shore hope so. This weather is gittin’ bitter cold and I’m in need of a new coat,” Nolan said.

  The train crept along the incline, working hard to get to the top where Nolan and Jericho waited. Finally, the train passed and they jumped aboard the roof of the middle car. Once over the top, the train picked up speed. The increased swaying made walking along the roof difficult. Stooping over for balance, they made their way jumping from one car to the next. On the caboose, Nolan swung down onto the platform and took the packs Jericho handed down to him.

  It was early morning when Nolan opened the door of the caboose and stepped inside. A man sat in an overstuffed chair sleeping soundly with his feet propped up against the stove railing. A potbelly stove sat in the middle of the car, giving off a hint of warmth. Stepping over to the man, Nolan removed a pistol that was lying in his lap while Jericho opened the stove and stirred the ashes before adding firewood. The fire was almost out. The temperature inside the car was practically freezing. Looking around, Nolan found a tin of coffee, and in a few minutes, the two sat anxiously waiting for the water to boil. Nolan opened his pocket watch and said, “It’s three AM. I could use a nap myself.” The railcar rocked and swayed as it made its way along its mountain path. Occasionally, the train crossed a high meadow or valley only to return to the slow progress through the mountain range. Before the sun came up, the conductor woke to a warm caboose permeated with the smell of frying bacon and coffee.

  “What the--” he said, jumping to his feet and looking around for his gun.

  Hunkered down next to the potbelly stove, Nolan held up the pistol and said, “You lookin’ for this?”

  “Where did you two come from?” the conductor asked.

  “We got on back a-ways. Got plum tired of walkin’ and needed a cup of coffee really bad. Seen you war well supplied, so I figured you would like a good breakfast when you woke,” Nolan replied.

  “This is highly irregular. I don’t know what the line would say about you gettin’ aboard,” the conductor replied.

  “Best not tell them seein’ they might fire you fer sleepin’ on the job. Besides I war on the last train through here and never got to finish my ride. I wuz chunked off by some mean fellers that didn’t like my company,” Nolan said.

  The conductor rubbed his chin and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Well, the railroad will surely want you to get your money’s worth. What did you say your name was?” he asked.

  “I didn’t say, but it’s Nolan Tolivar. This here feller is Jericho Dawson,” Nolan said.

  “Hmmm, seems I’ve heard that name before,” the conductor said.

  “You come through Nichols yesterday?” Nolan asked.

  “Yep, sure did, and there was quite a-goin’s on back there,” the conductor said.

  “You don’t say,” Nolan said.

  Jericho slid a tin plate filled with bacon and bread in front of the conductor and refilled his coffee cup.

  “I heard this fella rode into the Barbaro camp and rescued a captive white woman and made off with her with the whole Indian nation on his tail,” the conductor said.

  “That’s so,” Nolan said, casting a side glance at Jericho.

  The conductor continued, proud to tell the story. “This fella done killed the chief’s son and the whole tribe done chased him and the woman across a mountain range and had them plum surrounded. This fella killed the chief and got plum away with the woman. Huh, that ain’t all--he done it with an arrow stickin’ in his back! They rode into town a while back, just big as you please. He is a rootin’ tootin’ hero, that’s for sure! Not many men could do what he’s done and live to tell about it. Seems he gave his word to the woman’s children he would go get their ma, and he did it,” he said.

  “Wait a minute,” Jericho said. “This feller had an arrow stickin’ in his back?”

  “Yep,” the conductor said. “The lady drove it clean through with a rock the size of a cannonball and nursed him back to health. That’s one rootin’ tootin’ pair for sure. Nobody in Nichols is goin’ to trifle with that woman I kin tell you for sure!”

  Jericho sat speechless, looking at the conductor and back at Nolan.

  Nolan smiled back and added, “That feller must be a real ringtail tooter!”

  The conductor lit his pipe and added, “It’s told this fella done jumped off a waterfall that reached into the clouds to get away from the Indians and then went back to rescue the woman.”

  “You don’t say,” Nolan said, looking at Jericho. “What might his name be?”

  “Wall, I don’t remember, but he is a mighty big man,” the conductor said.

  “That shore sounds like my young friend Elam Franklin. The way he be a-carryin’ on,” Nolan said.

  “That be the man! By cracky! A real hero and Indian fighter for sure!” the conductor exclaimed.

  “Did you see them?” Nolan asked.

  “No, sir, they were gone when the train got to town,” said the conductor.

  “You be a-knowin’ whar they be a-headed?” Nolan asked.

  “Wall, that is another story. When they showed up in Nichols, the evil grandmother done beat them to town and stole the children and left on a train.” The conductor continued, “They left town to intercept the train somewhere down the tracks,” the conductor said.

  Jericho shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs. “This be the spinnin’--est yarn I done ever heard spun,” he said.

  “Well, sir,” the conductor said further, “The two of them was not waitin’ for the next train, figurin’ they are too slow for their likin’ and left Nichols on horseback. But for my money, the train is a darn sight safer than a trek through the wilderness.”

  Nolan walked out on the platform while Jericho sat listening to the conductor’s version of the story. He stood on the platform with tears in his eyes, his heart flooding with joy for the children. Nolan had never given up hope believing God would answer the prayers of the children. For a long time, he studied the night sky contemplating his life and how he had been living it. He remembered the sermon of the pastor Bull Curry and how it had drilled deep in his heart. From now on, he would never doubt God, no matter the outcome. ‘There is a time for most folk who will give The All Mighty opportunity and this was Nolan’s moment.’ He remembered his late wife pouring over her Bible years ago and a peace came over him about the eternal destination of his sweet wife. Now he straightened up; all conflict resolved in his life. He could put her to peace and get on with living. Wiping his eyes, he went back inside the caboose. “The train the children be on, whar would it be now?” Nolan asked the conductor.

  The conductor looked at his pocket watch, and said, “Would be in Lancaster. Their schedule should have got the train there about an hour ago. It’s a good three hundred miles by rail, crossin’ the mountains a full day shorter. The train will layover for a day and load freight. Then head north to the end of the line.”

  “Whar be the end of the line,” Nolan asked.

  “That’s Mountain Junction,” the conductor said.

  “How far we be from the next town?” Nolan asked.

  “We’re about one hour out of Bald Ridge,” said the conductor.

  Nolan looked at Jericho, who was working hard on a thick piece of bacon with his gums. “Jericho, do you know the country he is a-talkin’ about?” he asked.

  “Reckon I do, Pilgrim. What might you have on your mind?” Jericho asked.

  “I want to git ahead of that train,” Nolan said.

  “They got a five-day jump on us, and the only way to catch up is to cross the high mountains on horseback--horses we don’t h
ave,” Jericho pointed out.

  “Jericho, with hosses and a pack mule, could we cross the mountain range and be waitin’ fer the train on the other end?” Nolan asked.

  Jericho scratched his chin and studied for a minute. “We can be in Mountain Junction in three days from tomorrow night, for I know a high pass through them mountains,” Jericho said.

  The door to the caboose opened and Bull Curry stood looking at Nolan. “I was looking for a cup of coffee and the last person I expected to see was you, Nolan. What are you doin’ on this train?” Bull asked.

  “Well Parson, I got chunked off the last train; now I am a-tryin’ to ketch up to the children again!” Nolan stated. “See here, Jericho! This here be the preacher that done married me and Nora.”

  Jericho looked at the man standing before him that Nolan called Parson. He had a set of pistols and a face scarred from years of battle. “So, you be a preacher?” Jericho said, half asking and half thinking out loud.

  “Name’s Curry, most people just call me Bull,” he said.

  A light went off in Jericho’s eyes, and he asked, “You the Bull Curry what rode with Doc Black and Tanner Jones down Texas way?”

  “That would be me. A person can’t ride with Daniel Black for very long without gettin’ in a passel of trouble and hearing a good sermon to boot. Daniel Black cut a bunch of arrows out of my back and introduced me to a better way of life. God is responsible for the rest.” Bull turned to look at Nolan and said, “Nolan, after you left Nichols, Elam showed up with the children’s mother. They were exhausted, but Tillie insisted they leave the next morning cross country, trying to get ahead of the train you and the children were on. Of course, that was after I married them,” Bull said with a wide grin.

  “After you what?” Nolan asked.

  Jericho shook his head and looked at Nolan. “This preacher is the marrinest’ feller I done ever hurd of-- I’m plum ashamed of my talkin’ jackass story!” he said with a grin.

  “They were not inclined to have company on their honeymoon. I agreed to follow on this train and catch up to them at the end of the line. Mrs. Nora Tolivar decided she was not going to be left behind and she is also on this train.” A slow smile began to cover the preacher’s face as he watched the astonished look on Nolan’s face turn to surprise. “I left her in the third coach while I came looking for a cup of coffee,” Bull said, smiling.

  Nolan cleared his throat and brushed the front of his ragged clothing, and said, “Now ain’t I a sight to see? All chewed up like I wuz sent through a meat grinder.”

  “Well, Miss Nora will be so shocked to see you, I suspect your appearance will largely go unnoticed,” Bull said. Nolan left the caboose as Bull poured himself a cup of coffee and chuckled. “Now, there goes a mighty happy man.” Bull settled down in a chair and sipped his coffee while looking Jericho and the conductor over. “Gentlemen, we need to have a talk. Do either of you know what a divine appointment means?” Bull asked.

  Jericho scratched his whiskers and eyed the preacher out of his good eye. “No, Parson, I reckon I don’t. Iffin it has anythin’ to do with gittin’ hitched, I ain’t interested,” Jericho said.

  C19 Slow Moving Train

  The train was moving along slowly and had a gentle sway from side to side. Danny was glad for the motion that had rocked his sister to sleep. He sat next to the window with Mary lying across his lap. Her blanket was shielding her eyes against the glare of the lamp that hung above their seat. Her sides still heaving from the crying she had done since she found that Nolan was not on the train.

  The children had searched the train from top to bottom when Nolan had disappeared. The busted faces and hands of the detectives told Danny all he needed to know about where Nolan must be. Stepping back to where the Pinkerton men sat, Mira fastened her gaze on the three.

  “You three fools have ruined any chance I had of winning the children over. Why didn’t you just wait until I had the children safely home and away from that barbarian?” she asked.

  “Mrs. Bonner, Tolivar braced us and we had to defend ourselves,” said one of the men.

  “I don’t believe you for a minute! I intend to inform your supervisor of such unless you do as I say from now on!” she said firmly.

  Mira Bonner's wrath was more than the detectives could take. One at a time, they got up and left the car headed for anyplace away from this old woman. Strolling back down the car, she stopped next to the seat where Danny was sitting. “Children, why don’t you come with me to the dining car and have something to eat. You have to be starving. I will see to Mr. Tolivar when we get into the next station. I am sure he is alright,” she said with syrupy sweetness.

  “What can you do, Grandma? They done killed him and threw him from the train,” Danny cried. Mary had awakened and this declaration started her crying again.

  “Danny, look at what you have done. You must refrain from getting Mary so upset,” Mira said.

  “Grandma, you are a mean woman and I will never trust you again. We will run away first chance we get and go find mother!” Danny exclaimed.

  “Be reasonable, Danny! Your mother could not have possibly gotten away from those savages. You must face the fact that she will never be coming back,” Mira said bluntly.

  “Yes, she is! Just you wait and see! We want to go back to stay with Miss Nora until she comes,” Danny responded.

  “Miss Nora is nothing but a common cook and the proprietor of an eatery where coarse people come to eat. So, get it out of your head that you will be going back there. You better remember what the judge said. I am your only next of kin and you are legally mine,” Mira said firmly.

  Danny lapsed into silence. He never won an argument with his grandmother. From now on, he would say nothing to her and be ready to escape with Mary when the opportunity presented itself. He noticed Mary had gone back to sleep. He covered her with her blanket and turned away from his grandmother.

  Reaching over their heads, Mira trimmed the lamp and said, “Okay, I will go to the dining car by myself. We will talk when you have cooled down and can control your temper.”

  Danny watched her make her way down the center aisle of the car headed for the dining car. She turned at the door and looked back at him. He quickly turned and stared out the window at the countryside passing by. The train was going too fast to jump and besides, he wasn’t leaving Red or his sister when he made his escape. He would wait. When an opportunity arose, he would leave with Red and Mary.

  In the dining car, Mira Bonner sipped on a cup of coffee and considered Danny’s attitude, ‘He will be hard to handle, just like his father. But I will break him down and take away that wild spirit. It will take a while, but once he is dependent on all I can give him, he will come around to my way of thinking.’

  Gilbert Shiver came to the dining car and sat across the table from Mira, drumming his fingers on the table, waiting for her to acknowledge his presence. He hated the uppity way she treated him.

  “Mr. Shiver, do you think that barbarian died when you threw him from the train?” she questioned.

  “Now what makes you think we would do a thing like that?” he asked.

  “Because that is exactly what I would have done had I been in your shoes and capable of doing so,” she replied. “There are two children up there who think you murdered their friend. Who, by the way, was a duly sworn-in Peace Officer and that should concern you greatly,” Mira stated with a glare.

  Shiver twisted uncomfortably in his chair and looked around the room and said, “I don’t think a person could survive a fall like that. I saw him disappear below grade into the darkness. I’m betting he is buzzard bait right about now.”

  “If he is alive, what would you think he would be doing right now?” she asked.

  “Now Mrs. Bonner, that ain’t very likely,” Shiver said.

  “Answer my question,” Mira said with a tone of agitation.

  “If Tolivar is alive, then I’m in serious trouble. He would be walking, crawl
ing, or riding through hell to get ahead of this train and be waiting for us on the other end,” Shiver said nervously.

  “Then, Mr. Shiver, you better be making plans to face him again. I have a feeling that he is not out of my life yet. I want you to make sure that he never gets close to the children again. Mind you, keep your distance from the children and me. At the next stop you and your men leave the train and make sure this problem doesn’t surface again,” Mira said.

  “I don’t see how he could have lived from a fall like that,” Shiver said.

  Mira crossed her arms and looked at the smaller man with disgust in her eyes. “Mr. Shiver, you are in my employment. I am trying to get you to think far enough ahead so you might live to make your next birthday. You just said ‘if he is alive’ you are in serious trouble. If it were me, I would not hesitate to make sure he is dead,” she said.

  Shiver rubbed his chin and considered leaving the comfort of the train. As if she was reading his mind, she said, “This is a slow-moving train. You can ride ahead by horseback and remove any confrontation we might have and I will make it worth your while. Your supervisor does not need to know. This could be the start of a long and prosperous relationship for you, Mr. Shiver. Now make your plans and we will no longer see each other. I will tell the kids I have dismissed you and ordered you off the train,” Mira said.

  Gilbert Shiver hated to be dismissed like an underling and started to protest.

  “Mr. Shiver, I don’t expect to see you after the train stops for water in the morning. I will bid you a good night,” and with that, she got up and walked away. The conversation was over.

  Gilbert Shiver sat and considered his options. The money was too good to quit and he had a boss to answer to, at least for now. He hated to leave the warm train, but they would get their mounts ready and leave the train at the next stop.