We Were There at the Oklahoma Land Run

by Jim Kjelgaard

  CHAPTER SIX

  _Mindy_

  It seemed to Mindy, who did not even move, that somewhere she had seenall of this before. Cindy, always so quick to think and act, wouldnaturally be the one to take her father's desperately needed gun to him.Alec, running toward the picket line to get Pete Brent's sorrel pony,would of course try to find Cindy and bring her back.

  Then Mindy realized why it all seemed familiar. It was because, in sucha situation, her brother and sister couldn't possibly have done anythingelse. But try as she would, Mindy could not even imagine herself doinganything so spirited and daring.

  Alec bridled the sorrel pony, leaped on him bareback, and wheeled himpast the Simpson wagon. "I'll find her, Mother!" he shouted as he spedtoward the border.

  Alec was gone, and Mindy saw a great crowd of running men with, here andthere, a rider dashing among them. Occasionally, like a white sail inthe distance, she saw the white cover of a wagon.

  Mindy swallowed hard, and never before in her life had she felt suchawful fear. Her father had gone into no one knew what danger. Cindy hadfollowed him, and Alec had followed Cindy. Therefore, Cindy and Alecwere in danger too. At the same time, though her heart was torn for herfather, brother, and sister, Mindy knew that she must not give way tofear.

  "That child certainly acts fast," said Granny Brent.

  Mrs. Simpson said, "Cindamine was always headstrong."

  "Maybe, but I'd call this quick thinking," Granny said. "Well, Johnwon't get his message now. I do hope he doesn't worry."

  And before she could stop herself, Mindy heard herself saying, "I'lltake the message to the telegraph station."

  Mrs. Simpson arched surprised brows. Mindy looked only briefly at hermother. She knew how Mrs. Simpson felt, because she herself felt thesame way. But if she looked too long at her mother's face, the tearsthat were in her heart might leap into her eyes. That must not be.

  "Do you think you can do it, Miranda?" her mother asked.

  "I'm sure I can," said Mindy, who had to be sure because she dared be noother way. There was something to be done. Since those who normallywould have done it were no longer here, those who were had to take over.Neither Mrs. Simpson nor Gramps or Granny could ride. That left onlyMindy.

  "There isn't any saddle," said Gramps.

  "I'll ride bareback," Mindy said.

  Gramps said, "Pete's horses aren't very fast."

  "It's only two miles," Mindy pointed out.

  "You'll be careful?" asked Mrs. Simpson, and Mindy knew that her motherwas making a mighty effort to remain calm.

  "I'll be very careful," Mindy promised.

  "If you're going to ride," Mrs. Simpson said, "you had better put onsome of Alec's outgrown clothes. You'll find some in Cindamine'scarpetbag."

  "Shall I write the message and the address to which it's going?" askedGramps.

  "No," said Mindy, who remembered every word. "I'm to send it to Mr. JohnBrent, care of Dasher and Brent, 816 Fourth Street, New York City. I'mto say, '_The Run is on. Pete gone. All is well_.'"

  "That's right," Gramps said. "Here is some money to pay for thetelegram."

  Mindy took the money and went into the Simpson wagon. She foundunderwear, blue jeans, and a shirt exactly like those Cindy was wearing.Mindy removed her own clothes and put them on, shivering a bit as shedid so. It seemed perfectly fitting and natural for Cindy to wear suchgarb, but other girls wore dresses. However, without a side saddle, onecould not ride very well while wearing a dress, and she must ride.

  When Mindy stepped out of the wagon, it seemed that she had suddenlybecome as big as a house and that everyone was watching her. Shebreathed a sigh of relief because her mother, Granny, and Gramps werenot in sight. As fast as she could, Mindy skipped over to Pete Brent'spicket line.

  She was a little puzzled. Cindy, who seemed to think it was somethingunusual, had told her she was the only person ever to pet Pete's Thunderpony, and Mindy did not understand what she had meant. Gramps had saidthat Pete's remaining horses, the big work team and Thunder, were notvery fast. But if Thunder wasn't fast, his looks and the way he usedhis feet belied everything Mindy knew about horses.

  Taking a bridle from Pete's harness rack, Mindy went to the picket line.The big work horses pricked their ears up and snorted softly. Thunderdanced happily forward to meet her. Mindy looped the bridle reins aroundhis neck to hold him, and she slipped his halter off. She put the bridleon, and Thunder took the bit willingly. Mindy grasped a handful of hismane and vaulted to his back.

  _Mindy vaulted to his back_]

  Thunder danced gallantly, ran in a little circle just to show he coulddo it, then responded perfectly to the reins. Mindy guided him down thedirt road leading to the telegraph station. She knew the road, it wasthe one on which her father had brought her to the wagon.

  For the first mile she held Thunder to a walk, and she did not look toeither side. She still felt big as a house, and it seemed to her thateveryone on the border must be looking and laughing at this girl whowore a boy's clothing and sat a horse astride. Then she began to feelmore at ease.

  Of course, dresses were the only proper garments for girls. But it wasastonishing how much more freedom of movement a boy's clothing allowed,and nobody seemed to be laughing. Mindy began to steal glances at whatlay about her.

  Again, and in an unbelievably short time, the border had changed. Thereweren't nearly as many people as there had been, for most of the men hadjoined the Run into Oklahoma. Many wagons had gone, too. Most of thepeople left behind were women, children, and older people who werewaiting for their men to stake claims and then send for them. They wereall too deeply occupied with their own thoughts and troubles to giveMindy more than a passing glance.

  She felt more and more at ease. Mindy touched Thunder with her heels.

  The pony shot ahead, scarcely seeming to touch the earth as he did so.Mindy forgot that she was wearing a boy's clothing. For a while, so fastand wonderful was the ride, she almost forgot the dangers facing herfather, Alec, and Cindy. Then she saw the depot in which the telegraphstation was located and drew Thunder to a walk.

  At least ten trains were moving slowly into Oklahoma. There were facesat every window of every car. Men clung to the platforms between thecars, and as many men as could find room there were sitting on the topsof the cars. Even as Mindy watched, a sack came sailing through an openwindow. A moment later, the man who had thrown his provisions out jumpedthrough the same window and landed on his feet. But another faceappeared at once. Plainly, there were as many people in each car ascould possibly be squeezed into such a conveyance.

  Mindy stopped Thunder at the little station. The agent in charge lookedtired, but he smiled when he saw Mindy.

  "Hello there, young lady," he said.

  "Hello," said Mindy. "Gee! That's a lot of trains!"

  "There were fifteen," the man said. "All of them made up at ArkansasCity, up in Kansas. But they came the sixty miles through the CherokeeStrip to line up at the border just before noon."

  "Where are all the people going?" Mindy inquired.

  "Most of them are headed for Guthrie to stake city lots," the man said."But some are jumping off to stake homesteads all the way between hereand Guthrie. What can I do for you, young lady?"

  Mindy gave the man her message, paid for it, and thanked him. MountingThunder, she rode at a swift clip back to the Simpsons' wagon. Lookingvery worried, her mother met her.

  "Mindy!" Mrs. Simpson exclaimed. "Thank God! You're all right!"

  "Why, of course, Mother," Mindy said.

  "We thought you'd take a work horse!" Mrs. Simpson said. "The one youtook is an outlaw!"

  "Outlaw?" Mindy questioned. "Why, Thunder's the gentlest pony I eversaw!"

  "Only with you then!" said Gramps. "Pete has all he can do to handleThunder when he's saddled, and you rode him bareback! Nobody else in theworld could have done that! You certainly have a way with horses!"

  Mindy patted Thunder's neck. "He knew I'd never hurt him
, so he wouldn'thurt me either." She looked around the camp, then asked the question shehad hoped she'd not have to ask. "Didn't Cindy and Alec come back?"

  "Not yet," said Mrs. Simpson.

  "Don't you worry, Mother," Mindy said. "They'll come." But even as shespoke, she wished she could believe it herself.