Winter Crossing

by James E Ferrell

  The next day Danny rose early and saddled the horses before waking Mary. The pack was the hardest to get ready. He still had not mastered the art of packing the gear where it sat well on the animal and would not hurt its back. He had been intent on getting the pack right and didn’t sense the danger until suddenly the horses shifted, and the crunch of a boot heel startled him.

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  Mountain Junction sat alongside the Frio River, its wharf teeming with commerce. Behind the town, a new railhead was having a definite effect on the local economy. The city, with all its influx of people, was busting at its seams. It was into this rugged frontier town that Elam and Tillie Franklin rode on a cold October day. The past year in the wilderness had changed Tillie. Once a petite female, seemingly helpless and timid, the months in the wilderness had made her independent and bold. To those who had known her back in Hunter, she would have hardly been recognizable. Tillie would never again sidestep trouble. She had found the love of her life in Elam and never ceased to explore in him any characteristic that was God-honoring or that she could cultivate with a little prompting.

  Elam was rough in mannerism as most frontiersmen were, but not in a bad way. She saw great potential in him and their relationship. Their journey to the rail station went mostly unnoticed except for the curious who were not used to seeing a woman dressed like a mountain man. Even her small size carried a competent look.

  The station was quiet, not expecting a train until late evening. Elam talked with the station manager and returned to where Tillie was anxiously searching the street. “The wire is down and the station master has no way of a-knowin’ iffin’ the train will be on time. It should arrive around six this evenin’. Thar is a-boardin’ house over thar. Why don’t we git a room? I will put the hosses in the stable for tonight. We have a few hours to kill. A good bath and rest in a real bed is mighty appealin’,” Elam said.

  “It’s going to break your heart if all the rooms are full, isn’t it?” Tillie chided.

  With a crimson flush across his face he said, “Yes, ma’am, it would be mighty disappointin’.” Elam left the horses at the livery and walked down the busy street to the boarding house. Across the street, he noticed three men occupying chairs along the boardwalk. His wilderness mind took note of the men and their appearance. These men were hunters waiting for someone.

  The Pinkertons had positioned themselves in the middle of town and had watched every one that came in. “I told you that he was buzzard bait. Tolivar is nothin’ but dry bones picked clean by the wolves,” a short Pinkerton man said.

  “I agree with Bart. Let’s ride. I don’t particularly want to be here when that old bat gets off the train,” the other Pinkerton man said.

  “We are still on her payroll. I got to let her know we war here and see what she wants us to do now,” Shiver said. Adjusting his Derby hat, he leaned the chair against the building wall and closed his eyes as he rubbed his sore face and cringed, remembering the lightning speed and the pain that followed. His face would be long-time healing from the blow. One thing for sure, he would not get within arm’s reach of Tolivar again--if he did show up. “You two just take it easy. I think I will catch a nap. Tomorrow we will leave this place and head south. I want to be off this mountain before it turns cold,” he said.

  The day passed slowly and while the Pinkerton men wiled away the hours, Tillie and Elam lay in each other’s arms in the boarding house. As evening approached, the noise from the busy street was too much for Elam. He eased himself away from his sleeping beauty, stopping for a moment to admire her slumbering form before him. His love deepened each time he gazed on her lovely face or took her in his arms.

  For Elam Franklin, life had changed. Only a few months earlier he had been a loner in a wilderness land. Now he lived a purposeful life with all the happiness a man could want.

  At the far end of town Nolan pulled his horse up and looked along the buildings. “Jericho, why don’t you ride in ahead of us. The Pinkerton men knows both of us. They are easy to spot. One is wearin’ a Derby hat and a-wearin’ a set of matchin’ black eyes and a broken nose. I figure the grandmother to be a cautious type, thinkin’ I jest might be alive. She doesn’t want the children to see me and must have sent her hired thugs to stop that from happenin’. I’m just goin’ to make shore this badge is visible for all to see when I ride in. Be on the lookout for Elam and Tillie; shorely, they will be here by now,” Nolan said.

  Across the mountains, the faint sound of a train whistle could be heard. The sound stirred Tillie and her eyes opened for a moment. The sound came again. This time her mind was more alert and she sat up abruptly. “Elam, where are you?” she called.

  Elam was sitting in a rocking chair across the room. “I’m right here, Tillie. I heard it, too. It will be a long time yet till the train pulls in the station, so don’t git in a big rush,” he said.

  Tillie jumped from the bed and quickly dressed. Moving to the mirror she combed her hair. “Why are you just sitting there, Mr. Franklin? We need to be on our way down to the station!”

  “I just be a-watchin’ you gittin’ all up in a tizzy and enjoyin’ it,” he replied.

  Across the street, the three Pinkerton men didn’t pay the old trapper much attention as he passed along the street. Stepping down from his horse, Jericho led his mount and the packhorse to the watering trough. Loosening the cinch on the saddle and pack, he took up a shotgun and walked along the boardwalk, coming to a position a distance away from the Pinkerton men just as Nolan and Bull entered the far end of the street. Cradling his shotgun in his arms, Jericho watched as the first Pinkerton man took notice of Nolan and Bull and said, “Shiver, you better wake up! Your worst fear has just rode into town with that big preacher from Nichols.”

  “I was sure hoping he wouldn’t show up,” the man with the busted hand said. “Shiver, that preacher looks to be a mighty big cud to chew. I ain’t so sure we can handle the two of them. Besides I’m nursing a busted gun hand.

  “You two better stop the back walking. There’s three of us and only two of them,” Shiver said.

  Across the street Tillie finished combing her hair and turned to Elam and asked, “Well, do I look okay?”

  Elam smiled a boyish smile, speechless; he nodded his approval. “Well, we better head for the station. It’s time to show grandmother what a tough wilderness woman looks like,” Elam said.

  Nolan walked his horse down the street and turned to face the Pinkerton men. “Hello, Shiver. I wuz aimin’ to see you again and I wuz kinda’ hopin’ you would be wise enough to head for someplace other than here,” he stated.

  “I came here to meet you, Tolivar. I figured you were the kind to hold a grudge. Plus I don’t like riding around looking over my shoulder,” Shiver said. “Why don’t you just turn your horse around and ride out. The children done got over you jumping off the train like that. I can promise you the old grandmother will make it worth your while. Besides, she is the only next of kin them children have anyway.”

  “Not so,” Nolan said. “Their ma is here with Mr. Elam Franklin. They are mighty disappointed you done brung’ her children way out here.”

  The three men looked at each other. “You saying the mother of them kids are alive?” Shiver rubbed his chin and thought. ‘The mother would make this a different matter. This might not be a good thing to push.’

  “That’s zactly what I’m sayin’. So,you might be wise to leave this little party and head home,” Nolan said.

  “Preacher, are you backing his words?” Shiver asked Bull.

  “I didn’t ride all this way through these cold mountains for nothing. The name is Bull Curry,” Bull said.

  With that revelation, the situation got tense as the Pinkerton men found themselves between a rock and a hard place. Across the street, Elam and Tillie stepped from the hotel and instantly recognized the men setting the horses. Tillie started to call out, but Elam understood the situation and grabbed her hand. Taking up his rifle
, the two stepped to the side of the men facing each other and Elam said, “A-fore any of you fellers up and start makin’ fireworks you might like to know that this is the children’s ma. She is here to collect her children. I don’t know what your interest is in this matter, but I am tellin’ you now after the dust settles this lady will have her children.”

  The Pinkerton men were fierce. None of the three knew fear and were not willing to back down. They had not noticed the old trapper who now stood almost beside them with a double-barrel shotgun pointed at them. Breaking the silence, Jericho said, “Well, I’ll be a lop’ eared Jackrabbit, if that ain’t Elam Franklin in the flesh! I been a pinin’ to meet you in person, seein’ I been out thar in the wilderness with that flappy’ tongued Nolan Tolivar fer plum nearly a coon's age. I’m plum worn down to a frazzle from listenin’ to his waggly tongue night and day.” His shotgun barrel never wavered from its position on the three Pinkerton men. They realized they held a weak hand and this old man had stacked the deck.

  It was Bull Curry that gave them a way out. “Why don’t we all just go down to the train station? I’m thinking seeing this pretty lass united with her children after what they have been through will be a mighty nice thing,” Bull suggested.

  Shiver was not a foolish man and his men had lost heart seeing the impossible odds. “Ma’am, I would have never thought it possible a person could be snatched from a tribe of savages like that. I’m sure you and the children have gone through enough. Tolivar, you were right and I was wrong. I am offering you my apology for the unjust way we treated you. If you are not a forgiving man, then this matter can be taken up later between the two of us but I am hoping my apology is enough,” he offered.

  Nolan started to say something when Bull cleared his throat and looked at him and said, “Nolan, that took a mighty big man to up and say that in front of all these folks.”

  “Well, I don’t know,” Nolan said. “I guess--I suppose forgiveness is the thang’ a newborn Christian ought to do. Other than a few scratches, I’m no worse for wear.”

  Bull Curry didn’t miss the last statement and a puzzled look crossed his face. “Nolan, later I would like to talk to you about that. As for the difficulty you experienced at these fellows' hands, from the looks of these three, you might have fared a lot better than them,” Bull said. In the distance a whistle heralded the arrival of the train and Bull added, “We better get down to the train station. This is one reunion I do not want to miss.” With the tension gone the small party made their way down the street, followed by Jericho with his shotgun still cradled in his arm.

  Tillie and the men stood along the platform. No one was talking as the train pulled into the station. A conductor jumped from the train and ran into the station almost before the train stopped. It was apparent something was wrong but before anyone could ask, Mira Bonner stepped from the train, her face usually stern and guarded was now pale and somber. Her self-assured manner was gone and now she was faced with a situation she couldn’t control. For a minute she searched the crowd seeing everyone but seeing no-one. Her eyes locked on Tillie and for a moment there didn’t seem to be recognition then she stiffened as if she had seen a ghost. Instantly she walked over to Tillie and said, “I would never have believed it was possible! Thank God you are alright!”

  “Where are my children, Mira?” Tillie asked.

  Mira fumbled with a fur hand warmer and had a hard time controlling her emotions. “They must have gotten off the train at the last stop. When I found they were missing, I had the train stopped and it backed into the town. People there had seen them, but no one saw them leave. I came here to get the Pinkerton men to go back with me and find them.”

  “Mira, the children wanted to be away from you so bad they braved the cold just to get away!” Tillie said.

  Stung by the remark Mira Bonner turned away from Tillie; her shoulders slumped from the heavy burden she was carrying. A gentle hand helped her onto the train and as she turned to thank him, she looked into the eyes of Nolan. “You were right. Your Mister Franklin did rescue Tillie. I am glad to see you are okay,” Mira said.

  Nolan politely nodded as she disappeared into the train. The moment had been tense when the two women met and embarrassing for the men who stood about the platform. Nolan was first to break the silence. “It’s too late to travel by hosses tonight, but some of us can start back tomorrow mornin’,” he said.

  Immediately everyone was united and the confrontation of earlier forgotten. “We can travel by night on this train. All that is needed is to get it reloaded with tinder and we can start back now,” Bull said.

  Leaning out the window the ticket master said, “I wish it were that easy. There is another train behind this one. They would run smack dab into each other but just in case I want to be ready. I need a few of you fellows to help the conductor load the tinder box with wood.”

  “Can’t you telegraph the last station and tell them to hold that train?” Bull asked.

  “That’s the problem. The lines are down somewhere between the Yellow Rock Station and us. This weather looks like we are in for a blue norther’ and if that hits, we will be stuck here until they clear the tracks,” the ticket master replied.

  Elam and Tillie stood on the platform discussing the situation when a short and somewhat plump station manager came up to them. “Folks, if there was some way to let the oncoming train know, we could head back.” Removing his hat, he wiped his bald head. “We can only hope that by now there is a telegraph crew out walking the line. Ralph will continue to try and raise Yellow Rock Station, but by tomorrow noon, the train will be passing through there and there will be no way to signal her,” the ticket agent said.

  Nolan sat on the boardwalk. His disappointment in not seeing the kids etched on his face. “Hey feller, what’s that doohickey over thar?” Nolan asked.

  The older man oiling the iron wheels on the dining car pulled his pipe from his mouth and looked in the direction Nolan was pointing. “You mountain men don’t know much about trains do you? That’s a handcar or a pump trolley. You see, two fellers stand on it facing each other and pump that handle up and down and the handcar just goes down the track,” he explained. Picking up his oil can he began to oil the iron wheels again.

  “Iffin’ a feller had a notion to ride that handcar back to the last station could he do it?” Nolan asked.

  “You better think twice. Going down the mountains would be mighty frightful. It's mostly downhill all the way, but there are some hills to climb. You have to be going fast enough to get up the grade or you might have to pump mighty hard for a mile or two. The weather will be murder in a few hours. Once you start down, there won’t be any turning back,” the oiler said.

  Nolan sat looking at the cart for a long time deep in thought. “Has anyone ever tried to go down the mountain on this thing?” he asked.

  “Sure, that’s what its fer but it’s done in the summer months. The men that do it know what they are doing. If someone was able to find the downed telegraph wires before noon tomorrow, they could signal the train to stop,” the oiler said.

  “I shore hate the thought of them kids out in the cold. I figure we can handle this little--old--cart for a ride downhill,” Nolan said.

  The weather was heavy on Tillie’s mind as she sat in the dining car of the train thinking of her children out in the freezing night. “My son turned twelve years old alone, lost in the wilderness. I haven’t seen him and my baby girl in months. We were almost together and now this!” she said.

  Elam sat a cup of coffee in front of her and said, “Tillie, you know Danny didn’t just take off into the wilderness. He knows the danger of cold nights. Besides, he would never have left with Mary unless he had it all planned and plenty of provisions. They are snug and hunkered down for the night, that I am shore of,” Elam said.

  Mira stood for a long time at the door to the dining car before she mustered the courage to enter. Walking to Tillie’s table she said, “Tillie, I want you
to know I feel terrible about this whole thing. I don’t guess it will do any good to apologize, but whether you accept it or not, I have to try and beg your forgiveness.”

  For a time, Tillie looked at Mira before speaking. “I can’t imagine all the hurt you have caused in your life. The lives you have ruined, including your son and Uncle Buck. Now the two people we love the most may be lying dead out in this wilderness all because of you. I just can’t understand it. Tell me why you caused all this to happen? What drives a person to act as you do?” Tillie inquired.

  Mira had no time to answer as Nolan stepped into the dining car and they stood face to face. Mustering her courage, she said, “Whether you believe it or not, I did not instruct the Pinkerton men to throw you off the train.”

  “That don’t matter now. We have to find the children,” he said. Addressing Elam who sat by Tillie, he continued, “Elam, I have an idea you and I might be able to git the wires up so this train can go back down the track.”

  Mira noticed Elam for the first time. “You are the man that took Tillie away from the Indians,” she said.

  “I am and married her to boot!” Elam said, smiling.

  “Let me know what you are planning,” Tillie called after the two men as they left the dining car.

  “You married him?” Mira asked.

  “I did! He is the man I always wanted Phil to be,” Tillie said. “Mira, if you want to sit down you can. It will be a long night and I doubt there will be any sleep for any of us.”

  Mira took a chair and motioned the porter for a cup of coffee. “I didn’t see it at first, but now I know that Danny had changed. He was more self-reliant than boys his age and I see you have changed as well. You and Danny have grown to be more like Buck was. I guess it is a good thing that you took Danny away from my influence. Now neither of you will ever be happy back in the city again,” Mira said.