by Terry Grosz
“You be right as rain,” said Martin. “We both came to this valley after our real parents were killed off in the Wind Rivers by the Gros Ventre many years ago. Our stepparents were killed in this here valley some years back as well by a band of Lakota.”
“Them that was responsible have bones that are now scattered to the four winds,” Jacob added. “Since then we was trapping and meat hunting in the land of the Arapaho far to the south. Realizing we are not getting any younger, the two of us decided to go west and see what those new lands have to offer. Coming to the fort, we hooked up with our old friend Jim Bridger and found a wagon train going west that could use our help. We need two good wagon drivers who might know the country about to be traveled, so here we are.”
“Well, Jim be right. The two of us have been wanting to go west and see what is over yonder. But we felt we was gettin’ too old and never would get that chance. Sit down and let us jawbone over just what you two are trying to do and when,” said Dave.
The four men spent the next two hours getting to know each other. As Jim had suggested, the sight and contents of a jug of good liquor aided the flow of the conversation considerably.
Jacob and Martin found that they liked the two reserved brothers more and more as they talked. It appeared that Dave and Jerry were intrigued by the prospect of going west with a gang of folks who could more than defend themselves. Soon the stories flew, and Jacob and Martin lost track of the time until the jug was empty and the brothers realized the sun was setting.
“Gentlemen, we need to get cracking and get back to our wagon train and let them know of the changing events since we saw them last,” said Jacob.
“What be you men’s thoughts? Any hankering to throw in with us on the trip to the west?” Martin asked hopefully.
Jerry and Dave looked at each other, and then Dave said, “When would you folks be gettin’ under way?”
“Just as soon as we replace some livestock, patch up our wagons, and get provisioned,” replied Jacob.
“Be three, maybe four days at the most. Have to keep our eyes on the mountain snows closing down the passes in the Sierra Mountains and make sure we get there before that happens,” said Martin.
“Count us in,” said Jerry as Dave nodded in agreement.
“Oh, by the way, me and Jerry have been as far as the Humboldt afore most of our party got kilt off and me and my brother got run back to where we came from by the Paiutes,” Dave said casually.
Jacob and Martin looked at each other and then grinned huge grins beneath their massive beards.
“That be great! The two of us have never been past Fort Hall. If you two have been to the Humboldt, that will be a great help to us as we guide the wagons west,” Martin exclaimed.
“Well, that won’t be no problem,” said Dave.
“After that we will just follow the tracks left by the many others afore us,” said Jerry with a smile and a bit of unsteadiness from too much of Jim’s hard liquor.
“Won’t be the first time any of us have gone into the great beyond partially blind,” said Jacob with a look of relief.
The four men shook on the deal and agreed to meet three days hence for a planned departure on the fourth day of the week.
That evening Jacob and Martin could hardly contain themselves over the information they had for the folks of their wagon train. On the way back from their visit to the Halls, the brothers could hardly get over their good fortune. They now had two more experienced mountain men to provide security and help lead the way to the Humboldt River and Sink. They had drivers for their two wagons, and the four men had gotten along very well. Jacob and Martin had decided to have all their folks load up on supplies at the fort and replenish their existing livestock with oxen from Jim’s reserve herds. They would pay Jim with credit from their furs and some of the gold nuggets from their cache. They had listened to Jim and now understood that taking a group of people west meant undertaking a lot of responsibility. They would see to it that before they left the fort, their wagon train would be well supplied with provisions and outfitted with fresh livestock.
That evening after supper around the central fire, the women and children melted back into their wagons and chores while the men going west gathered around the campfire for the latest news. When everyone was accounted for, Jacob rose and addressed the group.
“Men, my brother and I will lead you to California! We have never been there ourselves, but with Jim Bridger’s directions, help from Dave and Jerry Hall, who are two old mountain men, and a well-marked wagon trail to follow, we feel it will not be hard to reach California.”
For a long moment the men wishing to proceed west smiled. Then they jumped up and began slapping each other on the backs as they excitedly talked about the adventures and new lives that lay ahead.
Jacob continued, “First of all, starting tomorrow all of you with horses pulling your wagons will meet with Jim Bridger. There you will acquire four oxen with one extra for each of your wagons in case you lose one to an accident, becoming foot sore, or the fever.”
There was a nervous murmur from the men. Sensing their concern and speaking for all of them, Rich Grosz rose and said, “That will be impossible for most of us. For the most part, we have used the last of our monies just to get this far. None of us have the resources to change our animals from horses and mules to oxen at this stage of the trip.” The other men mumbled their concerned agreement.
“That will not be a problem. Jim Bridger has a concern that horses cannot safely pull our wagons over the next thousand miles eating what grasses they can find in the western desert facing us. Oxen can eat just about anything and can pull heavier loads, so oxen it will be. As to your concerns, me and my brother will pay for the additions to your stock trains. We will also keep our old stock because we will need them to assist along the way and to pull our plows and ride once we get to California.”
The men sat silent, thunderstruck by Jacob’s generous words.
“Now for the next thing. My brother and I will inventory your wagons to see what you have and what you might need. All of us will carry several barrels of flour, cornmeal, bacon slabs, axle grease, oxen, horse, and mule shoes, extra rope, additional leather to repair harnesses and reins, extra wheels, and the like. Those lacking what we feel you will need will meet with Jim Bridger and provision up to the standards we set. Those supplies needed to top off your loads will again be paid for by me and my brother. Once we leave this area, things we will need for everyday living and traveling might be a bit sparse to acquire along the trail. I know Fort Hall is over the horizon, but that is at the end of the supply route. They might not have much of anything in the way of supplies. So we need to make sure that once we leave this place, we can make it to California on what provisions we are carrying,” Jacob stated flatly.
By now the women from the wagon train had gathered behind their men, after hearing their concerned murmurings. Jacob could see Amanda smiling at him through the crowd and almost forgot what he still had to say. Overcoming his distraction, Jacob continued, “As I said earlier, we will be adding two more men to our group. They are the Hall brothers, longtime mountain men living nearby who also want to see the west afore they pass over the Great Divide. They have been as far west as the Humboldt River and Sink, which is on our way. They will be driving our two wagons and will provide even more security with their Hawken rifles, not to mention their partial knowledge of the way west.”
Rising and standing beside his brother, Martin said, “We will be leaving in four days. I would suggest the women get their washing done for the following week on the trail and their baking and bean soaking as well. For you men, I suggest all of you have Chris Grosz examine and repair any of your firearms. And you, Chris, any spare gun parts you are lacking, I suggest you see Jim Bridger and get what you can from his stores. Whatever you come up with, tell Jim Bridger we will square that with him afore we leave. If any of you need some heavy lifting done and are unable to do so, get ahol
d of Rich, Mark, Otis, or Marv Clary. We are also fortunate to have a doctor on this trip. Howard, I would suggest you go and see Jim as well and provision up with whatever salves or medicines you may need for the trip from whatever he has in the fort’s stores. We will pick up those expenses as well. Once on the trail, my brother will ride point, and I will ride alongside and at the rear of the wagons in case we have any problems. As you did before you got here, we will walk many times along the way to reduce the weight and rest our stock. Those folks who are driving their teams and are concerned with the livestock changeover will find the oxen much easier to control. They move more slowly and do not frighten near as easy as horses and mules. I expect the men to be armed at all times and either walking alongside the wagons, driving their wagons, or riding their livestock close at hand.
“The young boys in the group who are able will be responsible for our horse and mule herds and must be alert at all times. Several armed men will be chosen each day to ride with the herders because we will have a very tempting herd of animals in the eyes of the Indians.” With that he stepped back, aware that Kim was looking at him intently, causing him to blush and, like his brother, almost forget his words.
“We will leave at daylight every day unless emergencies befall us. I am hoping to make between ten and fifteen miles per day. If we are successful in that endeavor, we should be able to stop around four in the afternoon, build our fires, and cook our suppers. If anyone has any concerns, they are to let either me or my brother know as soon as possible. We are also to treat our livestock well. Without them we will not make California before the snows close the passes. In case of Indians, we will circle the wagons, and me, my brother, or the Halls will go forth to parley to see what they want. Under no circumstances will anyone fire on an Indian unless his life or the lives of his loved ones or his neighbors are in danger,” Jacob said, surprising himself with the tone of command he was taking on.
Jim Bridger, standing at the edge of the crowd of folks who were not moving on but who stood there listening, smiled. Yes, he thought, their folks would have been right proud of these two young men.
***
The next morning, while the folks in the wagon train were getting fitted up with their new oxen, Martin and Jacob, having a final personal chore before them, left the group in Jim’s trusted hands. Riding out to the old homestead and then to their parents’ graves, the two boys slowly dismounted. Putting a few wilted flowers they had picked along the way on the now almost indiscernible gravesites, they said their final good-byes. Then, without another word, they mounted their horses for a final time at their old homestead and rode silently back to the fort.
***
Day two of the preparations found the fort a living mass of energized people. Jacob and Martin were busy inspecting the conditions of the wagons and the supplies they carried. If any needs were discovered, the wagon owners were dispatched to the fort to address those concerns. Soon Jim Bridger’s storerooms in the fort were looking a bit barren in some places, and still the frantic pace continued.
Taking time out of their day, Jacob and Martin collected the stores they would personally need for the trip, adding a dozen sacks of oats and grain, gun wadding, extra primers, blankets, several tanned buffalo robes, whetstones, axle tools, and the like. Then they met Bridger behind the fort and selected the wagon he recommended. The three of them soon took apart the old remaining wagon, keeping several wheels for replacement for their new one. Jim then led them to a small corral by the edge of the fort. Standing there were ten of the best-looking oxen Jacob and Martin had seen. They were huge and in very good condition.
“There you be, lads, the pick of the litter,” Jim proudly proclaimed.
Jacob and Martin could not have been happier with Jim’s surprise.
“I am having my men build the tack necessary for those oxen along with some extra sorts for the trip ahead,” Jim continued with a proud smile.
The boys were overwhelmed at the man’s far thinking generosity.
“Jim, we can’t thank you enough,” said Martin as Jacob nodded in agreement.
“No need, boys. That is the very least I can do for the kin of some of my best friends afore them damn savages killed them. This is nothing more than they would have wanted of me, and so be it,” he said quietly. “Besides, some years back a mountain man and close friend named Harlan Waugh left me a pile of credit with one of our rendezvous traders. That was afore he and his son went after several other bad seeds who had kilt his kin. He never returned from that chore. But afore he left, he told me to use the credit he had left me to open up a trading post when my bones got so brittle that I could no longer tolerate the cold trapping waters, and my back could no longer bend enough to trap beaver. In return for his generosity, I am passing along some of his kindness to you two boys, sons of mountain men.”
“What about the low stock of your remaining supplies?” Jacob asked.
“Our folks have about cleaned you out,” added Martin.
“Not to worry. I have my annual supply train coming sometime next week or the week after, and with that, I will be set for what winter has to offer. You boys did me a favor cleaning me out of my old stocks, so don’t worry none about ole Jim,” he said with a grin.
***
Day three found the air around the wagons smelling of lye soap and the delicious aroma of baking bread. Dave and Jerry Hall showed up, trailing a pack string loaded with their belongings. Soon their belongings was stowed in one of the boys’ new wagons. Dave and Jerry were introduced all around to the folks in the wagon train during the evening meal. In the process, Jacob and Martin had a chance to talk to the two young women they found so intriguing. They also discovered that Martin Jones and Rich Grosz watched Jacob and Martin like hungry hawks would a mouse when they were around their girls. It was clear that the two fathers were interested in the well-being of their young ladies and very suspicious of the two mountain men or any male suitors, wagon masters or not.
That evening come suppertime, the entire wagon train turned out for a celebration heralding the next day’s adventure on the trail west. For that evening’s supper there were fresh trout caught in the streams on the valley floor fried in bear grease, deer and pronghorn steaks smothered in wild onions sizzling in cast-iron frying pans, homemade bread and biscuits, thick, rich gravy, rice pudding cooked in a cast-iron pot, apple pies, and hot coffee to round out the fare. Out came a fiddle handled by Marvin Clary and a banjo strummed by Otis Barnes, and soon the night air fairly hummed with activity as many of the folks began dancing. The dust rose high from all the flying feet and swirling long dresses as the dancers lathered up the celebration. Finally it became necessary to bring pans of water to wet down the earthen dance floor to settle the dust created by the many happy, flying feet and whirling dresses.
Jacob, Martin, and the Hall brothers sat at the edge of the group watching and smiling at the mass of folks oblivious to the perils that lay ahead on the worst part of the trail yet to come. They all would be facing about four more months’ worth of tough traveling if everything went well. And that didn’t include hostile Indians, alkali dust, hordes of mosquitoes, endless hot sun, bad water, disease, accidents, lack of firewood, weather, and everything else that might trouble a body.
Jacob spotted Kim working her way toward Martin. She said something to Martin that made him blush—then up on his feet he went with Kim into the swirling mass of dancers.
Martin looks like a bear cub playing with his feet, thought Jacob as he laughed at his brother’s clumsy attempts at dancing.
Then it was his turn to look funny as well. Amanda, with her dad’s approval, worked her way through the crowd and, standing in front of Jacob, held out her hands, beckoning for him to stand. Jacob found himself just as clumsy as his brother when it came to dancing. He felt like a millipede, he had so many feet, all going in the wrong direction.
When he stepped on Amanda’s feet for the tenth time, she stopped, laughed easily, and
said, “I will teach you how to dance on this trip if you and my dad will let me.”
Jacob mumbled something he couldn’t remember the next day and was glad to sit down. After all, he was the wagon master. But my, how his heart was beating! In fact, it hadn’t beaten that fast during any of the close escapades he had had during the earlier years of his life.
Chapter Eighteen
The Way West and a Surprise of Unusual Dimensions
Dawn the next morning found the air around Fort Bridger full of dust and filled with the noise of cracking whips, barking dogs, yelling men, creaking wagons, and a meadowlark calling softly off in the distance. In the middle of all that chaos moved Jacob and Martin, keeping things organized and moving. As the sun rose and quiet returned to the valley, they found fifteen wagons in a line and ready to go. Off to one side stood a smaller group of folks watching with downcast faces and heavy hearts. They were the ones who for various reason were returning home, beaten by the hardships of the westward journey.
“Wagons, ho,” yelled Jacob as he turned his horse toward the northwest and Fort Hall.
Standing nearby, watching that moving mass of humanity, stood Jim Bridger, who had been a towering mountain man in his time. The sight of the caravan heading out and the departure of his two friends from long past, who he suspected would never return, made him feel as if time was leaving him behind. The fur trade that he loved was almost gone, as were many of its participants. The great herds of buffalo were disappearing, or at least had been run off by the noise and smell of humans, as were the bighorn sheep and lordly elk. The tribes of Indians were getting harder and harder to live with in light of the mass of humanity invading their lands, and meetings between the settlers and the native peoples were now often turning deadly. The number of wagon trains coming to his fort annually was diminishing because those travelers had discovered shorter routes, and his body was telling him it was time to slow down, rest, and reflect on the storied past.