Cora put the scissors back in her basket, and Dawn relaxed a bit and helped get the dress off. It had been slightly used but clean and serviceable when she’d been given it. Now it was stained, ripped, and filthy. Some of the doe skin stuck to her back, and Cora spoke through the opening in the wagon’s back, asking someone to bring her water. The dress was soaked off, and when Dawn saw all the blood on it, her stomach churned. She was lucky to be alive.
Cora kept Dawn covered except for the area she was working on. It was such a courtesy that Dawn’s good eye grew moist. There hadn’t been any privacy for her in a long time.
“Am I hurting you too badly? I’m trying to be gentle, but I have to clean your wounds. Did they burn you?”
She nodded. “They put sticks in the fire and when the tip caught fire they took it, blew out the fire most of the time and then put the stick on my skin. Most of the time I didn’t scream; they respect a person who is strong. I’m not strong, though. I just wanted to stay alive.”
Cora’s eyes widened.
“I shouldn’t tell you all of this. I would have been very happy not to know a thing about the Lakota.” Her gaze wandered to the rear of the wagon. She could hear muted voices just on the other side of the canvas. “Those men outside won’t come in, will they?”
“No, you are safe,” Cora said. “My husband, Harrison Walsh, owns this wagon, and Luella and Declan use it as their own. Declan, Heath, and Zander are men my husband hired to drive his livestock across to Oregon. They are respectful and kind men. They’ve all been through their own tragedies. They would never harm a woman.”
“I don’t feel very trusting.” Oh, how she wished she could control her shaking voice.
“I don’t blame you.”
Dawn hissed as Cora washed burns in sensitive areas. She closed her eyes and did what she always did lately.
Lord, I don’t know how to thank You. I’m away from Kills Many, but You know that. You were with me and I know You guided Swift Eagle in finding me. I don’t know anything about these strangers, and I’m afraid. I’ve been afraid since the first cry I heard on that awful day. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I have faith.
“I need to turn you onto your stomach.”
Dawn nodded and turned over. It was a position that was hard to fight from. She wished she had her knife but Kills Many had taken it. Deep breath after deep breath didn’t calm her. Her muscles refused to relax. Being so tense made the pain worse.
Chapter Two
“Go back to the wagon, Heath!” Declan yelled from a top of a paint. “You’ll end up hurt. Go make sure she’s all right.”
Heath wanted to speak in denial, but he didn’t want to lie. He slid off the horse he’d been riding, and Declan took the reins.
“Cora and Luella could probably use some help,” Declan said before he left with both horses.
True they probably needed water hauled, and he knew the women were making more than the normal amount of bread while they had an extra day at Independence Rock. Many were washing clothes too. There were other things he could do besides bake and wash.
The sun was beating down on him but there was a nice breeze. Anything was better than the sand they’d been traveling through. He looked at the Sweetwater River and longed to dive in. Perhaps later he’d have a chance.
There wasn’t anyone outside of the wagon and he glanced inside. Cora was tending Dawn’s back. He quickly looked away. It must have been worse than anything living with those people. Would she act like one of them? Even before Zander had mentioned it, Heath had heard a woman was better off dead than to live with the Indians. That she was no longer respectable or allowed in polite company. If that was truly the case, what a shame for the poor girl.
Cora started to climb down from the wagon, and Heath hurried over and helped her down.
“Well what do you think?”
“Think?” Cora snapped. “She’s been through such evilness; I think she’s a strong survivor.” She gave him a strange look. “She is hurt and it looks as though she hasn’t eaten a full meal in years. She was tortured and beaten, and I can’t imagine coming through such a thing. I haven’t heard most of the details, nor will I ask her. If she wants to talk about it then I’d be happy to listen, but it’s her business.”
“I think it’s all of our business,” Della, the good Minister Paul’s wife remarked. “I brought a Bible for her. She needs to renounce the devil.”
A crowd had started to gather and gasps hissed through the throng as many of them nodded.
“I do believe it is by the sheer will of God that she is here. We don’t need any salacious details. She is here to heal and decide what she wants to do after that. If I hear one word against that poor girl you’ll have me to answer to,” Cora said in a loud, strong voice.
Heath stood shoulder to shoulder with Cora portraying a united front. Cora’s threat that anyone would have to deal with her was a bit laughable seeing as she was almost too nice. He glowered at the crowd, hoping they got the message that they would have to go through him as well. Most turned and left except for a few of the women.
“You’ll need to keep her away from the others for her own safety,” said Sue Bandor, Cora’s friend.
“We’ll protect her,” he declared.
“I know you will,” Sue Bandor assured him.
Della handed the Bible to Cora. “Can you give this to her and let her know both the minister and I are here for her? No questions asked. I’m sorry for what I started out here. I should have thought before I spoke. My first words should have been ‘how can I help?’”
Cora took the Bible and hugged Della. “None of us have been in this situation before. We are forever learning.”
Della beamed as she left.
“If that’s a taste of how people are going to act, we’re not going to be very popular around here,” Heath said.
“I never was. I need to get back to Essie. I’m sure Luella will be up soon.”
“I’ll just sit right here.” As he watched her walk away, panicked thoughts flooded his head. Could they really leave her with him? He couldn’t think of a thing he could do to help her. Maybe she wouldn’t need anything. Maybe she’s sleeping. Should he go and wake Luella? He sat and tried to stay still. A groan of pure misery came from inside the wagon. He was familiar with that sound. He’d heard it often from the starving and dying people in Ireland.
Before he knew what he was doing, he’d climbed into the wagon.
She took one look and put her hands out in front of her as if to defend herself and almost screamed. It looked as though she swallowed her scream instead.
“Ah, lass, I’m sorry I scared you. I’ll leave, I just heard your pain and wanted to lessen it.”
She sighed, which he took as a good sign, and then she put her hands at her sides on top of the blanket.
“Would you like some water?”
“Luella said there is willow bark tea?”
He smiled. “You’re in luck. I actually know how to make it. I don’t know if you remember, but I carried you to the wagon last night. I’ll get your tea.” Heath climbed back out. Hopefully, one of the women would be by and could take the tea into the wagon.
As he prepared to brew the tea, he considered what he had made out of Dawn’s appearance. It was going to take a while before all the swelling went down. Her hair looked lighter, but he wasn’t sure. She smelled a lot better.
Luella stepped out from the tent and smiled at him. “Where’s Cora?”
“She had Essie to feed. Dawn would like some willow bark tea. I was just about to make some more.”
“That’s nice of you. Tell you what. I’ll make the tea if you’ll hunt up more firewood and make sure the water barrel is filled.”
“Firewood and water, I can do that.” Heath walked a ways to find wood. Seeing the Turney girls, Mona, Jane, and Cindy took him by surprise. All three turned crimson when they saw him.
“Being careful out here I hope?” he
asked.
“We’re just talking,” Mona explained.
“Actually you can probably answer a few questions for us,” Jane said as she stood. She put her hand on her hip and tilted her head giving him some type of smile.
It took him a minute but he realized she was trying to look like an appealing woman. She was fine without the pretense.
“Does she bite?” Jane asked.
His eyes opened wide. “What? Do you mean Dawn? No, she does not bite. Where’d you get an idea like that?”
Cindy jumped up. “It’s well known that she is nothing but a wild animal and shouldn’t be around people. You do have her tied up, don’t you?”
“Where did you hear all this? And no, she’s not tied up.”
“There have been meetings. Everyone is talking about her,” Mona explained.
“I, for one, side with the majority. We want her left behind,” Jane said with a firm nod.
“Then it’s a good thing that Captain London is in charge. It could happen to you, you know. You’re here in the woods without protection. It’s not a good idea, especially since an Indian brought Dawn to us. They’re in the area. She was captured and hurt. She needs our help. Aren’t we supposed to help each other out, or is that just on Sundays?”
Lorelei’s jaw dropped. “You’re one to lecture. I don’t think I’ve seen you at any Sunday service this whole trip.”
“I have wood to gather. Have a serious thought to your safety.” He stalked away from them, picking up wood as he went. It was going to be a tough fight to keep Dawn with them, even though most were good folks. People were just scared of what they didn’t know.
Lord, You know I don’t go to Sunday services. I guard the camp instead. I figure we’re on good terms. I ask for Your help in tolerance and patience and anything else I need, to not punch anyone. You led Dawn to us, and we will take care of her. I know it won’t be easy but we can do it with Your help.
With an armload of wood he walked back to the wagon. He tensed when he saw the crowd that had gathered. Pushing his way through he set the wood down and put a few pieces on the fire. “Did you get a chance to make the tea?” he asked Luella, ignoring the rest.
“Yes, she’s drinking it now. Her wounds are looking better.” She glanced at the people closing in around them. “I don’t like this many people crowding in on us.”
No, he didn’t either. “Folks, it’s time for you to go back to your wagons,” he called out. “We would appreciate some privacy.”
“Heath, we have a right to know if the little heathen is going to slit our throats in the dark of night. She might be some sort of spy for the Indians,” Davis Bird said.
Heath had thought Davis to be a nice enough man, but now… “This is not the place to show your displeasure. Captain London is in charge.”
“I have some chains we could put her in!” one man shouted.
“Chained outside for us all to see. She needs to be guarded. She might try to run. Who knows what she learned living with the Indians?”
“I won’t feel safe until she’s gone!”
“I say we make the rules and leave the captain out of it!”
Heath put his hand on his gun. It was like some kind of mutiny. Luella scrambled into the wagon and came back out with a shotgun. She pointed it in the air and shot. Without saying a word, she just leaned against the wagon.
It wasn’t but a few minutes before Declan, Zander, Harrison, and Captain London rode to the wagon.
“Make way!” the captain shouted. “What’s going on here?”
“Sounds like mutiny to me, but with Luella on our side I’m not worried,” Heath said.
“We want the prisoner chained up outside with an armed guard. When we leave tomorrow we want her gone,” Davis Bird explained.
The men immediately got off their horses and stood next to one another creating a solid line in front of the wagon.
Captain London scanned the crowd, and many glanced away. “Luella, you’ve spent time with Dawn. Has she harmed you?”
“No, she’s a gentle soul.”
“It’s all for show,” Davis Bird insisted.
“She didn’t harm me when I talked to her,” Heath said. “In fact she’s afraid of us, and I’m sure your hostility isn’t helping. Without going into any detail, she has many wounds that need tending. I’d say that she had a very hard time.”
Captain London stood on a crate. “There will be no mutiny. There will be no chaining or tying up the young lady. There will be no guard, and we will not leave her behind. We are her people and we need to take care of her. She was not captured by any fault of hers, and praise the Lord she was strong enough live through her ordeal. Now if anyone is interested in making a dress or knitting some socks or a shawl for her, let me know. I’ll see what I can rustle up for you. Meeting over.” He stepped down his face disgruntled.
“You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, Heath. Can’t really say that I’ve seen this side of you before.”
Heath’s face heated. “I’ve always had my brother. We didn’t know a soul when we came to America. I can’t imagine doing it myself. Besides, everyone needs a helping hand don’t you think?”
The captain smiled and gave Heath a slap on the back before he went on his way. The heat didn’t subside. Heath was very aware of Declan’s and the other two men’s perusal.
“I’ll sleep under the wagon tonight,” Heath said before he left. He laughed to himself knowing they probably stood there with their mouths hanging open. There was no shame in helping another.
* * *
Dawn stared at the wagon canvas as she listened. That one man had been very nice to her, but could she trust him? No. No, the only one she could trust was herself, and at times she wasn’t so sure of that. She couldn’t always trust herself to be strong at all times.
She’d grown up in a settlement and married the man of her dreams, her best friend since they were toddlers. Their daughter, Patricia had been born almost nine months to the day after their wedding. She’d been the sweetest girl. She hadn’t had much hair but what she did have was a blond color. Her father, Lincoln had doted on her. Dawn and Lincoln hadn’t been married a year before Lincoln was shot dead and then Patricia was killed a few hours later.
Dawn squeezed her eyes shut trying to keep out the memory of her sweet child’s death. No matter what happened over the last months it couldn’t compare to what they did to her innocent baby.
Pushing up the long sleeve of the soft nightgown she wore, she studied her arm. It was covered in knife wounds and burns. Some were older than others just as some were deeper than others. She’d endured and survived. There had been many times she wondered why she kept going? There was no one waiting for her. It had been almost unbearable to hear a baby cry. She often talked to God and He was her only link to sanity.
Now she was here.
Lord, I hope this is the path You have chosen for me. People don’t want me here, but there is a family, actually two families that act as though they are willing to protect me. Bless Swift Eagle for bringing me here. I have no doubt this will be hard, it already is. I wish I could trust, but I just can’t.
Luella crawled into the wagon and smiled. “I have a Bible for you. It’s a gift from the preacher’s wife, Della. If you don’t want it or don’t believe, that’s fine.”
Dawn took the Bible and held it to her chest. “I will treasure this. I don’t belong anywhere, do I?”
Luella blinked in surprise. “Why do you say that?”
“I heard the people outside.” Dawn couldn’t quite meet Luella’s eyes. “The Lakota didn’t really want me, and now my own people don’t want me either. It was hard to hear. I belonged to Kills Many’s wife . She didn’t believe in sparing the rod or asking me to do something first. She always had a switch nearby. I wasn’t the only one she hit. She took great joy in hurting Kills Many’s sister. I guess some people have meanness in them. When Swift Eagle found me that was the first time in months
that I hadn’t been hit and burned.”
“I’m so sorry, Dawn. It must have been hard to bear it. You are a strong woman. We want to give you time to heal and we’ll take it from there. Don’t you worry. There is enough food. We’ll start off with a small bit of food so you don’t get sick. I’m going to make flapjacks with bacon. I can make you something else. Cornmeal mush might sit better.”
“I’d like a bit of bacon with a flapjack. Food was either bountiful or there was none. They didn’t save or ration. They ate until the food was gone and their stomachs were over filled and many did get sick. I was never given enough to be full.” A sigh slipped past her lips. “I know I’m an inconvenience, and I’m sorry.”
Luella put her hands on Dawn’s arm. “Don’t be sorry at all. I’ll get busy making breakfast. I’m sorry Heath was in here.”
“There is gentleness inside of him. I don’t think he even knows,” Dawn said.
Luella smiled and crawled to the back of the wagon. A man with big strong arms lifted her down. Was that her husband? Dawn sighed. Lincoln was very much like that. She could hardly remember his voice and it scared her. She’d have to live on the memories of their days together for the rest of her life.
* * *
Heath sat longer at the fire than he usually did. The sun had gone down a bit ago, and Luella and Declan had retired to the tent. They’d been giving each other long looks and big smiles while at the campfire, so Heath was just as glad when they left him.
He’d been assured by Cora that Dawn was sleeping. Dawn read the Bible for hours. He never once heard her complain or ask for anything. He had helped to hang extra blankets for privacy when the women bathed. Dawn took hers first, and he thought he heard her laugh, a light and uplifting sound.
Dawn’s Destiny: Romance on the Oregon Trail Book 3 Page 2