Sam shrugged. “I’m not surprised, considering the lack of vegetation. The dry makes me appreciate my home that much more.”
They all chimed in with their agreements, talking over each other as Arnold poured coffee. Each ate their meal without much chatter, hunger keeping them quiet. After Sam had swallowed his last bite, he said, “I can wash up.”
Feminine voices caught everyone’s attention. Lucky was the first to stand, dropping his dishes in the bucket for washing. “You know, boss, I can clean up if you want to stake out the animals for better grass.”
He joined in with Joe, Lefty, and Arnie in grinning at the young man’s eagerness. “That’s a good idea. Arnold, you can bring the shovel to dig out fresh water from a spring or two. Joe, you and Lefty can bring our laundry, and Lucky can get the dishes.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Lefty replied and followed the older man to the back of the wagon.
Sam took the horses first to the first spring dug. Others from their group were there, already washing everything but themselves. He grinned at the thought of bathing in the frigid water. A spit bath of heated water sounded much better. Bringing the oxen down to drink next, he saw that Scamp already munched on the reedy grass growing in the mushy soil.
As Sam approached the springs, he saw the Warrens, all three of them, doing their chores. Marie washed dishes, while the twins seemed to wash clothes. How long had they been on the trail? Yet, those two acted like they’d never scrubbed laundry before now. He’d seen Marie with the other ladies on washday. She seemed competent enough.
He nodded a greeting to them as he walked past and upstream. After all the recriminations he’d heard them give her, they acted more like children than Marie ever did. Sam turned his back on them while letting his horse drink and staking out the oxen. An idea coming to mind, he acted as if he were a little frustrated, then eased his way back to the Warrens.
“Good day, sir!” boomed Charles. “Lovely morning.”
Hester threw the end of a sheet at him saying, “Help me wring out this mess.” He gave her a frown and began twisting the cloth in the opposite direction from her.
Sam smiled as he settled down near Marie to wash their dishes. “Good morning, Mrs. Warren.”
“Good morning.” She stopped scrubbing the pan long enough to smile at him. “The decision to rest a day has improved everyone’s mood.”
Before he could reply, Charles interjected, “What you need, Granville, is a woman.” Not even looking at Sam, he reached down and threw the end of a sheet at Hester. The wet cloth smacked against her, splattering water everywhere. Over her laugh, he added, “You’d never have to wash dishes again, my man.”
Marie gave Sam a weak smile and glance before returning to her chores. He knew she’d learned of his prior engagement. Her hair unkempt from last night’s sleep and her focus on the task both stirred him as he stared at her. “You’re right. I do need a woman, don’t I?”
Charles winked at him. “My advice is to get a gal from a poor family. She’ll know how to care for you.”
A flash of anger crossed Marie’s face at Hester’s laugh. Sam felt as if he was missing a key piece of information. Wanting to know more, he asked, “Oh? I’d always had my sights set on a woman of means.” He glanced at Mrs. Warren and saw how the expression on her face didn’t change.
“Ha! No, you don’t, young man.” Charles barked, giving the folded sheet to his sister. “Don’t get me wrong, a woman of means is a wonderful thing. I love my wife.” He turned to Sam and Marie. “But even she will tell you, losing our servants left her helpless as a babe.”
She stopped washing dishes long enough to glare at him. “I’m hardly helpless, Charles.”
“Don’t be silly, my dear.” He shook the water from a dripping shirt. “Maybe not now, but at first I thought we’d all starve from your cooking.”
“You’re right about that; I did need to learn.” She straightened while holding the bucket of clean dishes. “We’ve yet to starve, so maybe there’s hope for me, yet.” Giving Sam a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she added, “My husband is right. Find a woman who is better than I am in taking care of her man. If you’ll excuse me.”
Marie walked to the camp, her steps seeming measured. Sam frowned as his eyes followed her over part of the distance, knowing she was angry just from the set of her shoulders.
Hester said, “Oh look, Chas, you’ve angered the poor little thing.” Her voice seemed to carry more amusement than censure.
“She’ll get over it and will be pawing at me again to –” he stopped, looking at Sam. To him, he said, “My wife is temperamental. Furious one minute, loving the next. I’m not worried. She’s a good woman.”
He eased back as if going to care for the animals. “I’m certain she is. Excuse me, please. I have stock to tend.”
Hester held out her arm for him to take with his free hand. “We’ll walk back with you, Mr. Granville, and you can tell me what you’re looking for in a wife.”
Pushing aside his desire to flinch away, Sam intertwined arms with Miss Warren. “You flatter me, ma’am, in thinking a woman would tolerate me.”
“Oh, silly.” She smacked his bicep in a playful way. “I’m sure any girl would love your attentions.”
He gave her Scamp’s reins, glad she let go of his arm long enough to take them. She followed him to the oxen as he double-checked their ties. Hester’s interest in him worried Sam. Did she have scurvy? Maybe mountain fever or some other insanity causing illness led her to believe he’d welcome her flirting. He didn’t protest, not wanting to start an argument, and gave her a wan smile. “Thank you. I appreciate your confidence in me.”
Frowning and loaded down with their laundry, Charles went to the opposite side of Sam. “Tell me. What do you think of all this prospecting in the gold fields down south?”
“You mean California?” Sam glanced at Hester, her expression seeming sly to him. They neared the Warrens’ wagon, and Sam wanted nothing more than to be free of the older woman’s cloying grip.
She tapped his arm. “Of course, silly. There’s lots of money to be made there. We’d have servants again and not have to rely on ourselves and Marie to do everything.”
The Warrens rolling hundreds of miles away from him? He smiled at her, hoping to hide the dread in his heart. “Haven’t you heard by now? The gold is about gone. It’s been, what, nearly ten years since word first reached the states. It’s all been mined out by now.” Looking ahead, he saw Marie at their wagon and fear spread through his insides. If they branched off, he’d likely never see her again. Sam couldn’t let that happen. “You’re too late to make any real money.” Now within earshot of her, he fought the urge to take her in his arms and never let her go. “Oregon Territory is set to take off; the money is there instead.”
Marie looked from one man to the other and Hester let go of Sam’s arm. As Charles set the dripping laundry on the tailgate, he said, “I know you’re biased, being from there and all. That’s excusable. We’ve changed our minds about Oregon, however, and will take any advice you have on getting us to California. I’d like to split off at the Parting of Ways unless you’re going to Fort Bridger for supplies.”
Chapter 6
Marie’s heart thudded hard in her chest. She looked at her husband to Sam and back again. “California? But, I thought we’d all settled on Oregon. You had plans for a shop and everything.”
Excitement evident on his face, Charles said, “Have you heard the latest numbers? Far more people live-”
“Six times the amount,” Hester interrupted.
He nodded to his sister. “Six times more live in California. Think of the money to be made there.”
“You intend to mine for a living?” Marie ranked panning for gold equal to digging and refilling a hole in the ground repeatedly.
Hester laughed. “No, of course he doesn’t.”
Charles joined in with his twin, the scorn evident in his tone. “Me, a miner? Don’t
be stupid.”
“Now look here…” Sam stepped forward. “Considering the vast number of gold hungry settlers to California, it’s a legitimate question.”
“Not when it’s my wife doing the asking, young man. She should know better than to assume I’d be grubbing around in the dirt like a common laborer.”
“Enough!” Marie raised her hands. “It’s not stupid to suppose you’ll be digging during a gold rush, Charles. I’m just now hearing of this and am more than a little surprised, that’s all.” The lie slipped easily from her lips. She prayed her face didn’t betray the horror she felt at leaving Sam and her friends. Before she could stop it, her lower lip quivered a bit. “What you’re saying makes sense, of course.”
“Makes sense,” Hester snorted. “That’s rich.”
“Hessy,” her brother interjected, holding up a hand to quiet her.
She paid him no mind and put her hands on hips. “Do you understand how six times the population means six times the amount of money to be made there rather than in Oregon? California is close to being a state, too. It could be decades before Oregon follows.”
“I’d like to make as much as I can.” Charles smiled, giving Marie’s upper arm a reassuring squeeze. “Maybe one day, after we’re wealthy again, we can move north.”
“Why would we do that?” Hester interrupted. “She’s been complaining the entire way about how cold it’s been. I doubt moving north will solve her problems.”
Marie patted Charles’ hand, pulling it from her arm and giving him a squeeze. “We’ll do what you think best, dearest. No need to quarrel, Hester.” She struggled to ignore the ache in her throat. “You just took me by surprise is all. I’ll be fine.” Marie smiled at Sam. “I suppose I’m the only one caught unaware?”
“No, this is news to me, too.” Addressing Mr. Warren, he asked, “If you had said something earlier, I could have put the word out you needed guides there. As it is, I don’t know anyone going that direction.”
Charles shrugged as if unconcerned. “We could go on ourselves.”
His face grim, Sam said, “It’s possible. You’ve all had enough experience out here to know some of the dangers.” He looked at the ground, kicking a rock with the toe of his boot. “I’m not fond of the idea. You’d be out there alone.” He glanced at Marie before staring at Charles. “If something happened, it might be a while before anyone came by to help.”
“That’s a foolish thing to say.” Charles stretched out his arms as if to embrace the empty plains. “Since when have we ever been alone? I’ve seen a plethora of people we passed and pass by us every single day since we left Missouri.” He shook his head, smirking. “I think we’ll be just fine without your so called protection.”
“Even if the worst happened, my brother can handle it. He can handle anything.” Hester retorted.
“Thank you, dearest,” the older man said to his sister. “I appreciate your confidence in me. Too bad Mr. Granville and my wife don’t agree with you.”
“Your abilities aren’t being called into question, sir.” Sam crossed his arms.
“Oh no?” Charles retorted.
Sam gave them a tight smile. “No, sir. There’s a reason for the phrase ‘Safety in numbers.’ Accidents, illness, attacks by animals or humans are all dangers best dealt with by a group.”
“I suppose you and your group are the only people able to keep any of us safe. I guess we’ve learned nothing in these past few months.”
“No one’s saying that,” Sam countered.
Charles’ voice grew louder with each word. “Yes, you are. You think I can’t care for my own wife and sister.”
“Fine. I can see I’m wasting my time in arguing with you all.” He tipped his hat. “I have chores to do. Excuse me, please.”
Waving him away, Charles turned to Marie. “He’s a hotheaded young man, isn’t he?” Before she could answer, he continued, “Never mind that. We’ll do fine on our own and link up with another and better group going south.”
“I’m certain you’re right, dearest.” She rubbed at a corner of her eye. “I’m rather thirsty, so if you’ll excuse me as well.”
“Of course, sweetheart.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for being agreeable.”
“You’re welcome.” She felt anything but agreeable. To leave her friends in a few days broke her heart. She’d had plans on living in the same community as Ellen and Jenny. Marie helped Hester with draping clothes over the rope stretched across a couple of wagons. Keeping busy, she poured her energy from anger into the chores. Her sister in law chatted about the change in plans, but Marie couldn’t listen. Instead, she mused over her reluctance to leave Sam.
She nodded at something Hester said while leaving and letting Marie do the rest of the work. After picking up each item, she twisted, uncurled, and draped the last few dresses. She straightened her back, stretching. On the other side of the camp, her friends also hung their washing out to dry. She smiled and returned Jenny’s wave, wanting to visit but not wanting to cry in front of her and Ellen. Instead, she found the pail and made a pretense of visiting the springs.
Taking a detour, Marie climbed up an embankment and sat. She watched the activity in the various camps. Each group tended to keep to themselves. For a while, she tried to avoid searching for Sam but gave up after spotting him talking to someone from another group. He drew her attention like a lighthouse on a foggy night. She smiled at him wearing a clean shirt even on a laundry day when no one else did so. How he kept it white in the camp's dust was a mystery. Maybe he had a gaggle of washerwomen obeying his every order. She smiled when imagining a herd of females all batting eyelashes at the man while scrubbing his clothes. It's a wonder he wasn't already married several times over. Sam glanced up at her, and she averted her eyes in case he saw her staring at him. She’d taken living near him in Oregon City for granted. The thought of never seeing him again bothered her in a way that hurt her stomach.
Even while staring at the mountainous horizon, she saw Sam leave the group and walk toward her. She smiled, hoping for a chance to talk with him. Smoothing her skirt, she glanced down in time to see him distracted by Uncle Joe’s greeting. He spoke with the older man for a little while before following him to camp. Disappointed at the missed opportunity, she sighed. Marie picked at the graveled ground beside her. Every so often she’d find a small rock and toss it, idly wondering how to change Charles’ mind. Only one thing worked in convincing him of anything. She had to find a way to persuade him of how Oregon seemed prosperous.
“Good afternoon!” Ellen said, easing her way up the slight incline, Jenny following her.
“Hello, how are you both? Finished washing?”
“For now.” Ellen sat down beside her.
“Me too.” Jenny settled in on Marie’s other side. “We heard you’re going south instead of with us.”
Marie swallowed the growing lump in her throat. “Yes, I heard that, too.”
“You can’t!” exclaimed Jenny. When Ellen nodded her agreement, she continued, “I’d planned on having you both over for sewing and church.”
Blinking back tears, Marie said, “Charles has figured California is more profitable.”
Ellen hugged her. “Doesn’t he know land is free in Oregon, and the territory is on the brink of statehood?”
Jenny patted Marie’s back to comfort her. “Wouldn’t we have heard by now?”
“I’m not sure. Anything not from one of the forts would probably be a rumor,” said Ellen as she let Marie go, allowing Jenny to step in to hug her.
“Lucky told me Mr. Granville was, how did he put it, acting like a horse with a burr under his saddle.” Jenny let go of Marie and patted her back a couple of more times.
Ellen leaned forward to ask Jenny, “Did he say why?”
“Only that Mr. Warren brushed off his advice and laughed at him.” The ladies both looked at Marie before Jenny added, “Or so Lucky overheard. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop
, I’m sure.”
“In a group this small, it’s difficult to not overhear everything,” Marie reassured her. “Most men think their way is the only way.”
The other two women nodded. The three sat for a moment, watching the activity below them. In the quiet, she struggled to find a way to enlist the other girls’ help. “I’d prefer to go north with everyone else, not south, and need to help Charles change his mind.”
“You’ve been married long enough to know how to tell him what to think, haven’t you?” Ellen said with a wink.
“His latest plan has been such a surprise, I’m not sure how to convince him.” Marie shrugged. “Yelling never works, threats don’t, and a favorite dinner might at times.”
Jenny frowned and picked up some small stones to throw. “That doesn’t leave us much else.”
“Maybe some feminine wiles?” Ellen began skimming rocks, too.
“Not with my husband.” Seeing their disbelieving looks, Marie added, “After a certain age, those wiles cease working so much. Trust me, it’s a problem for wives everywhere.” Shadows from the wagons stretched toward the east since they’d sat down. She suppressed a sigh. “I suppose everything is dry, considering the heat and wind today.”
Smiling at her, Ellen said, “This isn’t too bad. We wouldn’t have sat here so long on a rainy day.”
Jenny laughed and also got up as the other ladies stood. “We would be clean, too. I so miss the rain, don’t you?”
Marie retorted while leading the way back to camp, “Very much. I’ve had as much wild desert beauty as I can stand.”
Simmering beans and rice greeted her as she neared the Warren campsite. Her sister in law sat nearby, stirring the pot.
Without looking up, Hester said, “Good, you’re here and can watch this for me. I have mending to do.”
Marie sat as the other woman moved away. She heard her rustling around in the wagon before leaving the area. After giving the dinner another stir, she went to the cart and retrieved Sam’s guidebook. It was where she’d left it, in her pillowcase, safe. She went to the pot and checked the simmering. Satisfied, she sat to read everything possible about California. She rechecked every road to the gold fields then reached over to stir the food again. Seeing it ready so soon, she slipped the guidebook in her pocket and stood to find the others.
Undesirable Page 14