The Whippoorwill Trilogy

by Sharon Sala

  Alice had been subdued and tearful.

  “I don’t know as how I’ll ever be able to thank you people for your help,” she said.

  “Thanks aren’t necessary,” Letty said, and gave her a quick hug.

  Eulis had stayed in the background of the conversation, leaving the women to work out the issue on their own, but once the decision had been made, it was Eulis who taken shovel in hand and headed for the edge of the clearing in the back of their house to dig a grave.

  Letty watched him walk away and was struck by how life always managed to come full circle. Back in Lizard Flats, before they’d begun their religious odyssey across the territories, Eulis had dug plenty of graves. In fact, if one ever got dug, he was the man who did it—and all for a bottle of whiskey. But today, it was to ease a grieving mother’s pain.

  The man made her very proud.

  The drizzle was soft against Eulis’ face as he walked into the trees. Except for the sound of water on the leaves, the forest was silent. He walked slowly, searching the area for a place that seemed proper. It seemed a good idea to dig near a big tree. Even if this child would never grow to climb a tree, or see the sunshine or take relief in the cool, dark shade, it seemed right to lay her to rest here where she might have played.

  He chunked the shovel into the earth, testing to make sure he wasn’t digging into roots. Eulis grunted with satisfaction as the shovel sank easily into the dark, wet earth. He began to dig.

  T-Bone had followed Eulis to the edge of the clearing, and once Eulis stopped, the pup trotted off to do his own exploration. Every so often, Eulis heard him bark, but other than the sound of spade to earth and the raindrops on the leaves above his head, the place was silent.

  He couldn’t imagine Alice Mellin’s distress or sadness, but he knew what it was like to lose his family. He knew how empty and afraid he’d felt when his own had been killed. He’d lived with the fear and loneliness ever since—until Letty. She strengthened him without anything but her faith and presence.

  One hour passed and then another, until he’d managed a decent opening, and was just cleaning up the corners of the grave site when T-Bone appeared.

  “Woof.”

  Eulis looked up and grinned.

  “Hello, to you, too,” he said.

  T-Bone whined a couple of times, and then offered another woof.

  “Yeah, I hear you, but there’ll be no squirrel huntin’ today.”

  T-Bone wagged his tail one more time and bounded off into the woods.

  Eulis glanced back down at the grave, then shouldered the shovel and started back to the house. He was going to have to use his horse to bring the coffin up here. It was too slick and muddy to take the wagon down, but he figured he could tie the little coffin onto the saddle, and lead the horse down the path that stretched from the back of the house.

  He was halfway across the yard when T-Bone came running out of the trees. It took Eulis a few seconds to realize the pup had something in his mouth.

  “Hey, T-Bone. Come here, boy.”

  Now that the pup had Eulis’ attention, he had no intention of giving up his prize. Every time Eulis got close, the pup darted just out of reach. Finally, Eulis had enough. He was tired and wet and still had a baby to bury. Whatever it was that T-Bone had dug up, he could have.

  Finally, he picked the shovel back up and went to the house, but he was too wet and filthy to go inside. Instead, he stood in the open doorway calling Letty’s name.

  She soon came running. Concern etched her face as she saw him.

  “Eulis! You’re soaked clear through. Come in and get some dry clothes.”

  “Not yet,” he said. “I’ve yet to go get the baby. Reckon I’ll go now while I’m still wet, instead of goin’ later and ruining another set of clothes.”

  Letty frowned. “I don’t want you to get sick.”

  He grinned. “Letty. It’s me, Eulis. Remember? I’ve passed out and slept in worse weather dozens of times. Remember when them kids back in Lizard Flats doused me with sorghum molasses after I’d passed out drunk. I woke up with ants biting me all over. And the night I passed out in the snow. And the day—”

  Letty rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, okay, I get your point. So, do you want me to go with you into town?”

  “Naw… I’ll just tie the coffin onto the saddle and walk it up.”

  “What about a preacher to say words?” Letty asked.

  Eulis held out his arms and grinned.

  “Won’t I do?”

  Letty sighed. “But we already buried that part of our lives.”

  Eulis frowned. “What would you have me do, plant the baby without saying a single word?”

  Letty shuddered. “I guess you’re right. You say the words over that baby’s grave, Eulis, and I’ll be proud to stand beside you when you do.”

  “Tell Alice I’ll be back soon.”

  “We’ll be ready,” Letty said.

  Eulis winked at her, then stepped off the porch and headed for the small shed where the horses were stabled.

  Within a few minutes, he had his horse saddled and was headed down the mountain into town. His heart was heavy with regret for the circumstances that had ended the little baby’s life, and sad for Alice Mellin who was still legally bound to her brute of a husband.

  Milton Feasley was trying to sweep the latest collection of mud from the front of his store, when he looked up and saw Eulis Potter riding in from the south end of town. He paused, watching the tall, homely man and thinking to himself that Potter was damned lucky. That wife of his was something of a hellcat, but she was pretty as she could be—and tough. Lord, but that woman was tough. He’d been part of the crowd that had watched her take a bullwhip to George Mellin. And just the other day, she’d stood down that nest of women right here in his store who’d judged her and found her wanting. He’d also heard that she took in Mellin’s wife. It was generous of her, but the way he looked at it, she could afford it. Then just this morning he’d heard someone say the Samuels family had drowned in the flood, except for their little girl, Katie. The gossip was that Letty Potter had taken in the child, as well. He wondered what Eulis thought about all those strange women settling in at his fancy new house, then waved as Eulis rode past.

  “I got them blankets put aside for you just like you asked!” Milton called out.

  “I’ll pick ’em up later,” Eulis said, and continued down Main Street toward the livery stable.

  Milton wondered what the Potters and Alice thought about the judge turning George loose, and then decided it wasn’t any of his business to pass on the news.

  The street was a quagmire of mud. The ruts that weren’t rained out were a good foot deep, and full of water. Even the smelter at the far end of town had shut down for the simple fact that it was impossible to pull a loaded ore wagon through this mess. But the arrival of the stagecoach yesterday had been a delightful surprise. It meant the freighters shouldn’t be far behind.

  Milton gave the sidewalk a last sweep with his broom, then went inside. It didn’t pay to stay out long, what with so many idle people lingering inside his store. Most were pretty hard up, and he didn’t trust them not to pocket his goods without paying.

  He was busy filling the banker’s list when Eulis rode back past the store, so he didn’t see the little coffin tied to the back of the horse. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have given it much thought. Life was hard. Some lived. Some died. It was just the way it was.

  Eulis met Robert Lee at the far end of town. Robert Lee had come in to purchase some coffee and salt. With mining at a halt all over, he was at loose ends, too. But when he saw the tiny coffin tied to Eulis’ saddle, his smile died.

  “What’s goin’ on?”

  “I’m takin’ this baby girl up the mountain to bury. Her mama is stayin’ with us for a while.”

  Robert Lee’s voice softened.

  “What happened to her?”

  “Starved to death,” Eulis said shortly. “
Her Daddy is the man Letty took a bullwhip to.”

  An odd expression spread over Robert Lee’s face, but Eulis didn’t notice.

  “I heard somethin’ about that man today,” Robert Lee said.

  “Like what?” Eulis asked.

  “That judge they were waitin’ for came in on the stage and told Sheriff Ham to let him go.”

  Eulis frowned. “Gawd… don’t go and tell Letty. She’ll have a big enough fit when she finds out on her own.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  “I reckon I’d better be gettin’ on home,” Eulis said. “Still got to have a buryin’ for this little one.”

  Robert Lee glanced at the tiny, rough-hewn coffin, and then looked up the mountain. He wouldn’t let himself think past a baby’s funeral. No need torturing himself about the woman who lived up there.

  “Mind if I tag along?” Robert Lee asked. “Just to pay my respects to the mother and all?”

  Eulis smiled, pleased that Robert Lee would think of that.

  “That would be just fine. The mama’s name is Alice Mellin. She’ll be real honored you wanted to come.”

  Robert Lee fell in single file behind Eulis’ horse. The silence between them was one of reverence. There was nothing to be said that was more important than the little box riding on Eulis’ saddle. The absence of bird song and squirrel chatter only enhanced the gravity of the procession.

  About halfway up, the drizzle stopped. An easy breeze appeared, slipping lightly between the water-laden leaves, sending a shower of droplets flying to the forest floor. As it continued to blow, the thick gray layer of rain clouds seemed to thin, then dissipate, as they blew faster and faster across the sky.

  When they were about two hundred yards from the top, T-Bone came to meet them. He barked once, and then fell into step beside Eulis, trotting quietly beside him all the way to the house.

  To Eulis’ surprise, all of the women were sitting on the front steps. Eulis took notice of the fact that Letty was even wearing a dress, and realized that she was determined to have this funeral as proper as she knew how.

  Robert Lee tried not to stare, but he’d never seen Letty in anything but men’s pants and shirts, and seeing her all soft and feminine like this made him weak at the knees. The only thing that helped him maintain composure was the seriousness of the day.

  When the men came to a stop, Alice stood up. Her face was streaked with tears, but her expression was stoic.

  Eulis nodded at her, then caught Letty’s gaze. Without saying a word, she knew he was pleased with the way she had dressed.

  Robert Lee was speechless. Before, he’d been taken by her intensity and strength, but today was the first time he’d seen her and thought “woman.” He decided his wisest strategy would be to pay his respects to the grieving mother, meet the little girl they’d taken in, and say hello and goodbye to Letty, all at the same time.

  He tied his horse to the hitching post. With Eulis holding one side of the horse’s bridle, and Robert Lee the other, they walked the horse with the tiny coffin to the back of the house where the grave had been dug.

  Alice took Katie’s hand.

  “Will you walk with me?” she asked softly.

  Katie nodded solemnly. She knew what dying meant. She’d witnessed her whole family’s demise. For the first time since her arrival, she met Alice’s gaze without flinching.

  Together, they walked off the porch and fell into step behind the horse.

  Letty brought up the rear, unable to look at the little coffin without remembering those few precious moments when she’d held Baby Mary in her own arms. Her heart was aching for the waste of it all, and could only imagine what Alice was feeling.

  When they reached the grave-site, Robert Lee held the horse while Eulis untied the coffin. Then together, they took a rope and lowered it into the hole.

  It wasn’t until the little box was resting at the bottom that Alice started to cry—softly, but steadily—shoulders shaking—clutching her belly as if remembering she’d held her baby there far longer than she’d ever held her in her arms.

  Katie looked nervous, and leaned against Alice, then ducked her head and closed her eyes.

  Letty’s throat was burning, as were the tears at the back of her throat. She knew if she ever let out a sob, she’d never be able to stop crying.

  Robert Lee saw her distress, and had to walk away into the trees to keep from putting his arms around her.

  Eulis cleared his throat and began a simple eulogy.

  “Lord… this here’s Baby Mary Elizabeth Mellin. She didn’t have much of a chance here on earth, but I reckon she gave her Mama a lot of joy. We don’t want to give her up, but we’re a trustin’ that You know what You’re doin’, so here she is. And… if You don’t mind… Baby Mary’s Mama is in need of some of Your strength. Amen.”

  “Amen,” Letty echoed, then swiped at her face with both hands, angry that she’d lost control of her emotions.

  Eulis picked up the shovel and began covering up the grave. No one spoke. No one moved. It took far less time to put the dirt back, than it had to dig it out. He was tapping the back of his shovel over the small mound of earth when Robert Lee re-appeared, carrying a small wooden cross.

  He handed it to Eulis without looking up, and stood with his hands in his pockets and his gaze on the ground.

  Letty had been touched by Eulis’ words, and the tenderness with which he’d spoken, but when Robert Lee came back carrying that small cross, she looked past her own tears to the ones on the gunslinger’s face.

  The tiny cross was fashioned from two small limbs tied together with rawhide. The ends of the cross had been whittled to small white points, as had the end Eulis pushed into the ground.

  Eulis gave the cross a final tap with the shovel, then stepped back to eye his work.

  “There now,” he said.

  It was over.

  Chief

  The rains ended with the burial. Two days later, the sadness Letty had felt at the funeral occasionally caught her off guard, although her emotions were nothing to Alice’s grief. She knew Alice was devastated, but she gave no outward sign of it. In truth, the arrival of Katie Samuels to the family had been a lifesaver for Alice. She’d transferred her motherly instincts to Katie without a hitch, giving Katie the stability she so desperately needed.

  Yesterday, they’d received word that the furniture they’d had the carpenter make was ready to be picked up. Eulis had taken the wagon into town and loaded up the hand-made cots, as well as the table and benches. They were nothing like the fancy pieces Letty had ordered, but they would do to tide them over until the real stuff arrived.

  Last night, it had been a small piece of heaven to have the cots to sleep on, rather than the floor. Sitting down at a table to eat seemed the ultimate in luxury.

  Eulis had also called the miners back to work and resumed his routine.

  The flood waters were receding, which was a huge relief to all, including the banker, Amos Trueblood, who was thankful not to have to move the money and gold.

  Dr. Warren and his wife Mildred gave up their tent and went home to their simple life. The water damage was minimal, with only minor repairs needed inside.

  After Baby Mary’s funeral, Robert Lee had exiled himself to the cabin. He’d had some uneasy nights of sleep, which had resulted in taking extra precautions in guarding the mine. He didn’t know what was happening, but every day he felt an impending feeling of doom. It was something he knew better than to ignore.

  Now and then Eulis thought about telling the women about George’s release, but they didn’t ask, and he figured the more time passed, the better off they’d all be when they heard he’d been set free.

  T-Bone continued to sleep inside at night, and never strayed far from the house during the day. Wherever Letty went, T-Bone wasn’t far behind. Only now and then did he disappear into the trees, and when he did, often came back with something in his mouth, which he promptly buried near
the back steps. No one paid any attention to his comings and goings, which was unfortunate, because T-Bone was the only member of the Potter family who knew they were no longer alone on the mountain.

  Letty lay in their bed, watching Eulis dressing for the mine. He thought she was still asleep. She didn’t let on that she wasn’t. It gave her time to study the man who was her husband without scrutiny.

  He wasn’t a handsome man by any means, but he was sure and steady, and she owed him her life. She thought of the day she and Eulis had exchanged their own vows while snowed in at their cabin. If she had it all to do over again, she wouldn’t hesitate.

  Eulis pulled his shirt over his head and began tucking it into the waistband of his pants as he turned around. When he realized Letty was not only awake, but watching him dress, he grinned.

  “Good mornin’, wife.”

  Letty pushed back the covers and smiled back as she sat up.

  “Good morning, husband.”

  “That has a right nice ring to it,” he said softly.

  Letty smiled as she sniffed the air.

  “Alice is cookin’ breakfast.”

  “Yeah, I been smellin’ it for some time now.”

  “Are you still sorry I hired her to cook?”

  Eulis’ grin widened.

  “I ain’t right sure how to answer that without gettin’ myself in trouble. If I say yes, then you’re gonna think I like her cookin’ better than yours. If I say no, then you’ll most likely feel obliged to make changes, which are unnecessary as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Good answer,” Letty said, and then laughed. “Pour me a cup of coffee when you get down there. I’ll be right along.”

  “Sure thing,” Eulis said, and winked at her before he left the room.

  Letty dressed quickly, choosing a clean pair of pants and a shirt and quickly braided her hair. She sat down on the side of the bed to pull on her boots, then stomped each one firmly as she stood. A quick trip to the outhouse and she’d be ready to face the day.