Mama's Bible

by Mildred Colvin

  He pointed toward the far side of the gathering where a small group of men, both white and Indian, were clustered together. They passed a jug of whiskey from one to the other, laughing and talking in loud voices Katie couldn’t understand with the music and other voices drowning them out.

  Katie glanced at her father. He stood with his arm around Mama as they visited with another couple. To her knowledge, he had not taken a drink since the night he lost their home. If no other good came of his folly that night, at least he had given up alcohol. And gambling, too.

  “Those men are being noisy.” Susanna stirred and leaned against the tailgate, getting closer to Jason.

  “I don’t think they’ll get out of hand, though.” Jason patted Suzy’s fingers curled over the end of the wagon. “Mr. Colton is keeping a good eye on them.”

  “Have you seen Tommy or Rachel?” Katie asked.

  Jason nodded. “A while ago. They were sitting by a campfire reading.”

  “Reading?”

  “Yes, they had a Bible and seemed very interested in it.”

  Katie stared at Jason. He looked serious. Rachel must have done some hard talking to get Tommy to read a Bible with her. He put up with Mama’s Bible reading out of respect for their mother. Still, if Tommy had become attracted to Rachel, he might suffer through another Bible reading just to be with her.

  A distant rumble shook the sky and Jason straightened.

  Katie turned to see what had captured his attention. A couple of men were apparently in the middle of an argument. Her heart dipped. Why did grown men become so stupid when they drank whiskey?

  One held his fist up before the other. Their faces were twisted with anger, and they appeared to be hurling insults at each other.

  “I think I’ll walk over that way and see if Mr. Colton needs any help.”

  As Jason started away, Katie called to him. “Please be careful, Jason.”

  He flashed a wide grin her way before striding toward the ruckus that was becoming increasingly louder. How like Jason to step in and try to help! Katie watched him, admiring the way he walked without hesitation into a situation where he could get hurt just because it was the right thing to do.

  A streak of lightening flashed across the sky, followed by another touching the far southern horizon. Scattered rain drops fell. Indians and whites both moved toward shelter. Katie watched Jason until he stood with a few other men in a semi-circle around the two fighting men. Katie recognized her father beside Jason.

  “Looks like a storm is brewing.” Katie startled at her mother’s voice. She turned to watch her climb into the front of the wagon and began securing the canvas covering against the promised storm.

  “Mama, a couple of men are fighting.” She turned back to see one of the men take a swing and miss the other.

  “I’m sure it won’t last long. There’s nothing like a good drenching rain to bring a man to his senses. Look how the wind’s picking up. Help me get these end flaps down before we get soaked. We need to make some more room for Dad and Tommy, too.”

  Great drops of rain splattered against the canvas as Katie moved to help her mother. A strong puff of wind caught the canvas and jerked it from her hands. She grabbed it as a jagged streak of lightening cut across the sky, followed immediately by a loud clap of thunder.

  Mr. Colton’s voice rang out. “You men go on and take care of your wagons. We’re about to be caught in a downpour.”

  When the two men didn’t respond, Mr. Colton and Jason grabbed one by the arms while Jeb Larson and Katie’s father grabbed the other. Within seconds a drenching rain fell on them, and just as Mama had said, the fight ended as quickly as it started.

  Katie caught the canvas and held tight as she secured it. Tommy stuck his head in and grinned. “You all need some help?”

  Their father climbed in behind him. They finished securing the wagon for the night. Katie wondered at Tommy’s cheerful attitude. She wanted to ask about his time spent with Rachel, but didn’t dare with the entire family so close. She promised herself that the first chance she got in the morning, she would find out what was going on between her brother and her friend.

  Chapter 11

  The driving rain lasted until early the next morning and dampened more than the men who had been so intent on a fight the night before. Soaked bedding would have to be aired as soon as possible to keep it from molding.

  Mr. Colton delayed their departure one more half day to allow for drying. Katie pulled the three mattresses out and leaned them against the wagon. “Thank goodness they’re only wet on the edge.” She ran her hand over the last one as she had the other two. They wouldn’t take long to dry.

  “That was some party we had last night, wasn’t it?” Tommy walked up behind her.

  She swung to meet him with a frown. “One we could have done without.”

  Tommy’s blue eyes twinkled above his smile. “Maybe, but it’s one night I’ll never forget.”

  Katie stared at her brother. “Did something happen between you and Rachel last night?”

  “Rachel?” A puzzled frown crossed Tommy’s handsome face.

  “Yes, Rachel.” Katie tried to keep from raising her voice. Surely, he knew what she meant. “You were with her last night, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah.” He looked at Katie. “You think that—” A smile stretched his lips until he broke out in a laugh. “Always the romantic, aren’t you?”

  Before she could think of a good retort, a serious expression crossed his face. “What happened, little sister, was I became a new man last night. Your friend has been talking to me, explaining things to me. Ever since we were at Chimney Rock. All those things Mama’s been saying all these years finally came together for me. Rachel prayed with me and now I have peace inside like I never dreamed was possible. Maybe you should think about doing the same.”

  He started away and stopped. “Oh, Jeb wants me to go back out on a scouting trip. You can take care of the cows, can’t you?”

  Katie nodded and stared after her brother as he walked away whistling Amazing Grace.

  Tommy didn’t like church music.

  ~*~

  Katie slumped in the saddle. She was hot. She was tired. And she was thirsty. After the party at Fort Laramie, they’d been forced to ration their food so she was also hungry. They were in buffalo country, but all she ever saw of a buffalo were chips scattered here and there in the sand. She amused herself by thinking of a huge buffalo steak with some of her mother’s fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy. Her stomach growled.

  It grumbled again, only this time she didn’t feel it. The rumble continued and she realized it wasn’t her stomach, but something in the air. It sounded more like distant thunder. Except, this thunder kept coming and the sky was as clear and blue as any she’d ever seen.

  Star’s nostrils flared, and she whinnied in fear. The cattle, too, acted nervous. Something was terribly wrong, but Katie had no idea what it was. Fear moved through her body sapping her strength so that she clung to the saddle.

  The ominous rumble grew louder by the minute. Katie’s heart pounded. At a sudden shout behind her, she jerked around. Clay rode his horse furiously toward the wagons. He came toward her shouting something she couldn’t understand. She only recognized the fear it brought. As he galloped past, she finally heard.

  “Buffalo! Stampeding this way!”

  Tommy followed him. He reined Midnight in, causing the big black horse to lift its front legs and prance to the side. Tommy yelled above the bawling cattle and the growing thunder of a thousand buffalo. He pointed to the side. “Get the cattle out of the way.”

  Jeb raced past. “Get those wagons moving.”

  Mr. Colton rode alongside the wagons urging the drivers to pick up the pace. He encouraged them. “We can outrun the stampede.”

  For precious moments, Katie froze while she took in the sudden burst of activity. What would happen if they couldn’t get out of the way?

  Drivers all along the li
nes grabbed their whips and lashed at the oxen, yelling in excitement.

  “Katie, I can’t help you.” Tommy rode into her line of vision, and she focused on him. “Can you do it?”

  Mr. Colton rode past shouting. “Move your cattle to the south side of the wagons.” He repeated every few feet so all those working with the animals heard.

  Katie kicked Star causing her to rear up, front hooves fighting the air. As she came down, Katie yelled at the top of her lungs and was relieved to see the cows take off in a run with Star close behind them.

  Katie scarcely saw where she was going as hooves and wagon wheels turned the train into a huge cloud of dust. Wagons creaked in protest while the oxen ran from drivers pushing them beyond their endurance. Women and children ran with all their might after the wagons, trying to keep up.

  Still, the horrible thundering of the stampede came ever closer, filling Katie’s heart with fear. How could they possibly get out of the way when the buffalo were running faster than they were?

  “Haw.” Katie yelled and allowed Star to take the lead in forcing their cattle into position, still pushing them forward as fast as they could run.

  With her cows in position, Katie glanced around to see what was going on. Tommy galloped past on Midnight toward the north side of the wagons. He pulled his rifle from its sheath as he went. She lost sight of him in the billowing cloud of dust, but moments later she heard a command ring out.

  “Ready, fire!”

  A volley of rifle shots filled the air and Star danced to the side. Katie quickly had her under control, but she couldn’t control her rapidly beating heart. Had the men shot the buffalo? Surely, there were too many to shoot. If every bullet found its mark there would still be a thousand more of the crazed beasts coming. Loud bellows filled the air even above the bawling cattle. Surely, that was the buffalo. They must still be stampeding.

  A shout went up from the men. Their voices grew in volume as their yells swept throughout the long wagon train. Happy, victorious shouts vibrated through the cloud of dust until she wanted to laugh and add her voice to theirs. Surely, the train had been saved. She was sure of it when the wagons began slowing to a stop. She slowed, too then Tommy emerged from the slowly settling dust.

  He rode up beside her, a wide grin on his face. “We did it. Jeb said they would turn if we shot into them, and they did. I think I hit one.”

  Katie stared at him as her heart rate changed from fear to excitement. “How on earth could you tell? If a bunch of men shot into a bunch of animals, how would you know if your bullet went wild or killed one of them?”

  Tommy laughed. “I have no idea, but I still think I hit one.”

  Katie laughed, too. It felt good to laugh after the tense and dangerous time they had just gone through.

  She and Tommy drove their exhausted cattle into the center of the night ring that slowly formed well away from the still stampeding buffalo. Katie felt sorry for the oxen as they looked almost dead on their feet after the hard run. She took care of Star while Tommy cared for Midnight then they walked together to their wagon.

  Mr. Colton stood in the center of a circle of men. His voice carried to Katie as she walked past. “We’ll camp here today and tomorrow. The animals need a rest. I don’t know if the counts in, but there’s at least a dozen buffalo to butcher. Let’s get busy, folks, and have us a community supper tonight. Each family should bring a dish to go with the meat.”

  Voices raised in agreement, and Katie’s heart leapt at the thought. She looked at Tommy. “It’ll be a party.”

  He laughed. “Yep, and you never miss a party, do you?”

  “Not many.” She didn’t mention the Indian party at Fort Laramie that she’d chosen to miss. The Indians had devoured their food. None of them would have much to contribute tonight, but with so much meat who would care?

  Rachel ran toward them. “Are you all right?”

  Tommy spoke for him and Katie. “Sure. How about you?”

  “I’m fine.” She rubbed her arms as if she were cold. “I was really frightened for a while. I’m glad we’ll have some meat now.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Tommy grinned. “I think I shot one of the buffalo.”

  Rachel’s eyes brightened. “Really? That’s wonderful.”

  Katie looked from Tommy to Rachel. If they knew she was there, they sure didn’t act like it. Why they refused to admit the attraction they shared for each other was a mystery. She shook her head. “I’m going to check on Mama.”

  As Katie stepped toward the wagon, her mother stepped down the ramp from the back and opened the box on the side. She lifted out a frying pan.

  Tommy nodded toward her. “There she is. She seems all right.”

  Katie sighed. “She probably is, but I wish she’d rest once in a while. She never stops working.”

  “I’d better go help my mother, too,” Rachel said. “I’ll see you later at supper.”

  As Katie worked beside her mother, she could still hear the thundering of the stampeding buffalo. Two hours later, the last buffalo disappeared over the far horizon. So many large and dangerous animals could have done damage to the train. Lives could have been lost if not for the quick actions of everyone working together.

  That evening, Katie sat to eat with Rachel and Tommy on a quilt spread on the ground. When she saw Jason heading toward them, her heart raced. He stopped at the edge of the quilt and smiled. “Got room for one more?”

  Tommy moved closer to Rachel, leaving a spot beside Katie. Jason grinned at her and sat down just as Mr. Colton asked everyone to stand.

  “Let’s bow our heads in prayers.” After a moment, he began. “Father God, we thank You for protection today and for the meat You have provided. Bless it and those of us gathered here tonight in Your name we pray.”

  Two lines formed, one on either side of several makeshift tables that had been put together with odds and ends of furniture and boards.

  With her plate fuller than she remembered seeing it in several days, Katie sat again on the quilt between Jason and Rachel and ate her supper. They talked about the stampede and other things on the trail until Tommy gave a laugh.

  “Rachel is giving me mean looks so I’d better say something before I’m in all kinds of trouble.”

  Katie looked at Rachel. A flush stained her lightly tanned cheeks. So something had been going on between those two, and Tommy waited until now to tell. Katie leaned forward with an expectant smile. Tommy couldn’t find anyone better than Rachel.

  “Last night something special happened to me.” Tommy looked at Jason and his eyes sparkled. “I’ve already told Katie.”

  Katie sent a frown toward her brother. He hadn’t told her about him and Rachel.

  Jason grinned. “Let me guess. You found Someone special who was not lost, but who has been looking for you all your life because you were lost.”

  Tommy’s laughter rang out, and Rachel smiled. Tommy said, “I never heard it put that way before, but yes, that’s exactly what happened. I’m glad you understand.”

  Katie looked at the other three. Had they lost their minds? She didn’t understand a word they said. Then she remembered her brother’s words.

  All those things Mama’s been saying all these years finally came together for me last night. Rachel prayed for me.

  Katie’s heart sank. Tommy had come to Christ just as Mama said everyone must do. Nothing had happened between Rachel and Tommy after all. Katie looked at Rachel’s glowing expression. The poor girl. Rachel loved Tommy. How could she look so happy when he didn’t return her love?

  Then from across the crowd of people, quick, toe-tapping music lifted above every other sound and tired as they were, couples moved into a cleared area to dance. Katie watched them, knowing that she would not be dancing that night. Rachel and Jason didn’t believe in it. Tommy probably didn’t either now. At least Mama would be happy.

  She was tired, anyway. She sat on the quilt, listening to the music and to the others talk. Rach
el turned and looked out at the gathering. “So many people just in our company. Ours is only one of many wagon trains that go west each year. I wonder why so many face the dangers and hardships to make this trip.”

  Jason shrugged. “Many reasons. Probably as many as there are families here tonight. Why don’t we each tell our story and see what we can learn?”

  Katie’s heart sank. She wasn’t proud of the events that led to their father’s decision to join the train and didn’t know if she wanted to share them.

  Rachel said, “Why don’t you go first, Jason? Tell us why the Taylors would leave their farm and start over so far from home. And you, too. Why did you come with them?”

  Jason smiled. “There’s not much story to tell. We’d had a couple of bad years weather wise on the farm. Mr. Taylor had been hearing of this wonderful land in the northwest and wanted to go. I guess I have a bit of an adventurous nature because I liked the idea of starting over in a new place where I could have land of my own. I love the Taylors as if they were my own parents, but I do want my own land. This may not be an easy way to get it, but once we’re there, it’ll be free.”

  Tommy nodded. “I imagine most people here would have a similar tale to tell. The pull of the free fertile land in the Oregon Territory is strong.” He looked at Rachel. “You’re next.”

  Rachel smiled as sadness crept into her large brown eyes. “Uncle Joseph was without doubt the greatest man I’ve ever known. He was also a slave on the plantation where we lived.”

  Katie forgot the dance as she listened to Rachel’s story.

  “Another slave got sick one day, and Uncle Joseph tried to help him by doing his work. The owner became very angry and ordered my pa to whip both of them. When Pa refused, he got some other men to help. They tied Pa to the fence where he could see, but couldn’t stop them, and they beat the other slave to death.”

  Rachel choked and wiped tears from her eyes before she went on. “Uncle Joseph passed out so they stopped. They let my pa go and told him we had to be gone from the plantation by sundown the next day. They also told him he had to bury the two slaves. To make a long story short, Uncle Joseph didn’t die that night. We couldn’t leave him there alive, so we put him in our extra wagon in a swinging bed that Pa fixed for him so he wouldn’t be bumped around as we traveled.”