Authors: Nancy Radke
He was gone, vanished while I was
getting supplies. Now a man doesn't do anything without leaving tracks or
somebody noticing, so I commenced askin' around in hopes of finding him right
off. But no one had seen him go. Fortunately, the men of our train had decided
to rest over one more day, so it gave me time to look for him.
Now the fort wasn't a big place
and there weren't that many horses about. I looked first for Trahern and then
for Comfort, but didn't see hide nor hair of either. What had become of them?
I knew I was acting like a wife,
a-fretting and getting myself all worked up over a man and his doings when he
had probably given no thought to me and my feelings. Worrying makes a body want
to do something, anything, rather than just sit like a pickle, so I gathered my
rifle and that new pistol and mounted one of the mules and took a long ride
around the place, checking depressions and ditches; anywhere's a man's body
could be hid. I found nothing except some rabbits so shot one for meat.
By that time it was growing dark
so I rode back and tied my mule with the others, skinned the rabbit and had
supper. Still no Trahern. No word either. For the first time that bed felt
empty and I had difficulty falling asleep.
The next day I struck pay dirt. A
man rode in from the northeast who said he'd seen a man dressed in black
broadcloth, riding a long legged bay horse with two white stockings. He
described Trahern exactly, even to the way he sat his saddle. It looked like
I'd been deserted, but although reason said I'd been left, pride said I hadn't.
I asked the man for more
information, but he had none; except to say that Trahern was traveling swiftly.
"The road had forked; I didn't get close enough to speak to him and he
wasn't waiting for me. He was headed east along the Platte."
Was he traveling swiftly to get
back to me sooner or to get away from me? Why had he ridden off without a word?
I thanked the stranger and walked
back to my wagon. The mules were rested, ready to go. Trahern had Uncle Dem's
rifle and pistol, leaving me with my Sharps and two pistols. I could continue
on if I wished, hiring a man here to drive for me. But the desire to go to
Oregon had left. I could go on to Ogallala, leaving word for Trahern that I'd
gone ahead. Then if he came back, he could follow and find me. If not, I'd at
least be at a town.
I pondered this through the second
day he was gone; finally seeking out Web for advice.
"He'll be back, Mally. Don't
you worry, none. He had something to do."
"What? Do you know what it
is?"
"I'm not sure, but he
might've got wind of the men who robbed him."
I'd forgotten about them.
"How long ago was he robbed?"
"Three weeks ago; a week
before the Indians got him. Three men shot and robbed him, took his money, guns
and horse and left him for dead. He walked as far as the trail, had just
reached it and was waiting for some wagons to pass by when the Indians jumped
him."
A shudder went through me as I
imagined him out on the prairie, alone and unarmed. He wouldn't have been able
to defend himself. He'd walked for a week, then been tortured by savages before
he was rescued. No wonder he'd been in such bad shape when I married him.
"I'll wait here then."
"You do that. If it was those
men, it might take him awhile, but he'll be back."
Comfort was a goer, a fast moving
horse and Trahern had our best weapons. If those three didn't ambush him, he
had a chance.
I had no real knowledge of the man
I had married although what I'd seen so far gave lots to admire. I had to take
Web's word that he would probably come back here, so I stayed behind the next
morning as the other's left.
There were plenty to tell me I was
a fool and to urge me to continue on with them. Even Hedda urged me to go,
saying that Trahern could catch up easily enough. This I knew, but I also knew
that our marriage was at best on slippery ground and a man like him should be
waited for. I wanted him to find me there when he got back. If he was wounded
when he returned he’d need help; not to discover that he'd married a flighty
wife without any wait in her.
Besides, in the short time we'd
had together, I'd gotten used to having him around and I missed his homely
face.
The fort was just a cluster of
buildings and the men around there often drunk. I slept lightly, my pistol by
my side, loaded and ready. My knife handy, too. If Trahern came back at night
he had better make himself known or I'd be without a husband by my own hand. I
debated that, but he knew I was handy with weapons; so could only hope he would
call out. I didn't trust any of those men when they were drunk.
Also, Calvert Smith had stayed
behind, pulling his wagon in close to mine, saying it needed work on it. I
trusted him even less. He was always around, watching me and had approached me
several times with offers to help. I thanked him each time, but refused. Web's
warning had made me wary of the man. I kept my guns handy, my knife in its
sling.
Trahern didn't come the next day
nor the next. I used the time to straighten up the wagon and repair the harness
and my clothes. I picked apart one of Aunt Edith's long, full dresses and had
enough material to make myself a nice looking dress. Calvert stopped by several
times, but I told him I was too busy to chat.
Each day wagons would stop, sometimes
two trains would come in less than a day apart. Some were headed for Oregon,
but many of the folks were California bound. Most were looking for land or a
new beginning and were tradesmen and builders, but there were others looking
for gold, an easy stake and quick money to be had off those who did work.
The latter bunch was a shiftless
lot, some meaner than a cross-eyed skunk. Calvert had begun to mingle with
them. I wished he had gone on with the train. His presence did my mind no good.
He had done no work on his wagon that I could see; and neither had Joe Peters.
Then one morning I awoke to find
his wagon had left with a departing train. Now I could breathe easier. He'd
grown more and more surly and less and less pleasant as each day had gone by. It
felt good to be rid of him. He had hung around too much for my liking.
Now if only Trahern would return
or send me word. There was not much grass left near the fort. Each train was
having to herd their stock farther and farther away. They were willing to take
mine out with them, but I didn't like to be beholden. There was no one left
this day except me so I tied my mules to the wagon wheels after I'd taken them
down to the river to drink.
For the first time in days I left
the wagon and went into the small store there at the fort. I looked over the
goods displayed, but with no intention to buy. I was pondering what to do.
Should I plan to leave with
the next train? I'd be better off in Ogallala. I could get a job
there—maybe—until I heard from Trahern. Web had said to stay, but
it would be a week tomorrow; how long should I stay? A month? Two months? I
couldn't stay here in winter. Should I try for Denver? That was bigger. But if
I couldn't find a job, there would be no rabbits to eat and eating in hotels is
the most expensive thing a body can do.
I knew nothing about cattle or
picking a site for a cattle ranch. It would do no good for me to scout for one.
I could cook though, and I could make doughnuts. I had made some one night for
Trahern and we had everyone on the train coming by.
About that time another wagon
train came into the fort area and I looked the people over. None of these folks
had the wherewithal to buy, but the same might not be true in Denver. Of course
in Denver, there would be restaurants and other people who could make
doughnuts.
A tall young man stepped into the
store, pausing in the doorway, his eyes moving slowly from person to person. He
was a handsome figure of a man, broad of shoulder and with a carriage that
hinted of a military background. He looked directly at me for a moment, with
green eyes that showed a questioning interest, before looking away.
He came a step toward me,
hesitated, then walked over to where the storekeeper was helping a lady fill
her order. I turned to look again at the sewing goods displayed.
The needles, thread and yarn were
tempting, but I had Aunt Edith's sewing goods and so didn't need them.
"Mrs. Trahern? Ma'am?"
It took me a minute to realize
that whoever was speaking was speaking to me. I looked up to see that tall
young man standing at my side, his broad-brimmed hat in his hand. He had light
brown hair, needing to be cut, bleached in streaks by the sun. How did he know
who I was? I'd never seen him before. Or had I? He looked somehow familiar.
"Yes?"
"I've a message for you,
ma'am. From your husband."
At last! Relief swept over me
revealing how worried I really had been. "Is he all right?"
"Yes...at least he was when I
left him."
"Where was that?"
"Fremont. Just this side of
Omaha."
That far?
"Did
he say what took him?"
"Yes, ma'am. He didn't want
to worry you none, but he found out the men who robbed him were camped just
east of here. He took off after them but someone tipped them off he was coming.
He had to chase them all the way down the Platte."
"And did he catch them?"
"He did. Two of them. He's
got most of his outfit back and has one more to take care of. He said he'd be
back. You can leave word where you'll be...here or at Ogallala: he'll check
both places till he finds you."
"Thank you."
"He sent the horse and
weapons back for you. He's got his own now and wanted you to have them."
"Oh...he did? Did you bring
them?"
"Yes'm. And some other
things. If you want to step outside ma'am, I'll turn them over to you."
We stepped out into the bright
sunlight and walked over towards the trees where he'd left his outfit. There
was a large jumble of wagons and people, for it was a very long train and they
hadn't pulled up into any kind of formation. Did you come in with this group,
Mr...?"
"Courtney. Yes, I did."
I stopped walking and he stopped,
too. Now I had him placed. That handsome face and long stride; I should've
known right off.
The man of my dreams
.
He'd filled out a bit, grown a
mustache, his shoulders broader and chest deeper, but he was a Courtney all
right. And even more handsome than when he’d left the mountains. An imp of
mischief rose in me; I couldn't help wanting to tease him, he was so serious
and respectful.
"Courtney," I said
slowly, as if pondering deeply. "You must be Gage Courtney."
His eyes focused sharply on mine.
"You heard of me?" he questioned, puzzled.
"You got you a brother name
of Razzel."
"Yes. You know Raz?"
"And another brother,
Paralee."
He was looking deeply perplexed,
his mouth open in amazement, and I could hardly keep my face straight.
"That's right! You know my brothers? How?"
"I know all eight of you. And
I also know a fine old lady in the hills you boys all left behind who deserves
better from her sons than that."
By now he was completely
mystified. "Who are you?"
I wasn't going to tell him. Let
him guess. "You still riding that Tennessee Walker?"
He placed me then. "Mally?
Mally Buchanan?"
"Mallory Buchanan
Trahern," I announced. It did sound imposing when spoke all out.
"Well, I never!" He
stepped back and opened his eyes wider. "You were such a skinny little
thing. Always following me about and begging to ride Gray Lady." He looked
pleased to see me again, and the shy, respectful, hesitant manner left him to
be replaced by a wide grin of welcome.
"Do you still have her?"
"No. She took a
bullet—one meant for me—in my first battle. Mally! Well, I
swan!" He shook his head in wonder, although why he thought he was the
only one to come West was beyond me. Or was it just that he hadn't recognized
me?
He turned to continue towards his
horses. The ground was hot, the heat coming up through the soles of my boots,
so I was glad to move. I could see Comfort up ahead, with saddle and saddle
bags, the rifle in a scabbard. "Are you sure Trahern didn't need any of
this?"
"He was worried about you,
Mally. He wanted someone looking after you. If I'd have known who he married,
I'd have told him not to worry."
Was that a compliment or not?
"Have you known Trahern long?"
"Yes. We fought against each
other in the war, but before that we traveled together a time or two." We
were near the horses now, away from people and he added in a lowered voice,
"Trey sent some money; he didn't want you to be without. I'll give it to
you inside your wagon."
Money? But his had been
stolen....
"He got it back from the thieves?"