by Karen Baney
As he came up for air, a splash of water assaulted him in the face. Wiping the water from his eyes, he saw a grinning Hawk darting away. Laughter surrounded him. As he looked around he saw Jed, Hawk, and Covington making a ruckus in the river. Seems they had the same idea.
The iciness of the water seeped into his bones, warning Will it was time to leave. Wading back to the edge he caught the tail end of a conversation between the three young men.
“Where’d you get those scars,” Covington asked. The earlier joviality died with the abrupt question.
“From the Apaches,” Hawk’s quiet voice replied.
“There’s too many scars on your back to have all come from them,” Jed said, with an edge to his voice.
As Will began to dress again, thankful for the warming sun, Hawk’s face hardened. “They were very cruel to me. Didn’t like half-breed Kichai any more than the white men.”
Jed muttered something Will could not hear.
“They tortured me!” Hawk shouted back. “They hated me. They whipped me for entertainment.” Standing square shouldered blocking Jed from Will’s view, he added, “Don’t you get it? I’m not one of them. I hate them as much as you do.”
As Hawk turned towards the river bank, Will took note of the shame covering Jed’s face. Both Jed and Covington stood there in silence for several minutes before either headed back to the bank. As soon as Hawk was dressed, he hastened away from the other two young men, walking along the river.
“Way to go, Jed,” Covington smarted off as he pulled on his last boot.
“I didn’t know,” came the sheepish answer.
“So what’re you gonna do about it?”
Slapping his hat down on his head, Jed replied, nonchalantly, “Dunno.”
“You’re something else,” Covington said, throwing his hands up in the air. “Did it ever occur to you that the two of you have more in common than anyone else in camp? If it were me, I’d try apologizin’ then make him my friend.”
Will silently agreed with Covington’s sage words, still going unnoticed by the two men. As much as Jed and Hawk fought, they were the most alike. If only Jed would lose that chip on his shoulder, the two might become friends.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Jed kicked the dirt with the toe of his boot. When Covington walked away, Jed stood there for several more minutes, deep in thought. Then he turned in the direction Hawk took, leisurely strolling along the river. Maybe Jed would take Covington’s advice after all.
Picking up his filthy clothes, Will headed back to camp. He tossed them in a pile for Snake to wash.
Grabbing one of the empty water barrels, he rolled it down towards the river. Once full, he rolled it back up the gentle slope and heaved it into the back of the wagon, before finding the next empty one.
On his way back to the wagon, a cloud of dust to the east caught his attention. Leaving the barrel, Will grabbed his rifle and checked the ammunition in his revolver.
“Boys, ready your weapons!” he shouted. “Covington, ride out to Ben. Tell him we’ve got company. Hawk!”
When Hawk came running, Will continued, “Saddle up a horse. See if you can’t figure out who our visitors are.”
Hawk nodded. Sliding his rifle into the sheath on his saddle, he rode off in the direction of the dust cloud.
“Watcha thinking, boss?” Whitten asked.
“They’re moving fast, whoever they are.”
“Indians?”
“Don’t think so. Seems they would be a bit more covert,” Will replied. He had no doubt the visitors saw the bright white canopies of his supply wagons. Not to mention the large herd of cattle. They would be hard to miss in this flat open land.
He surveyed the camp and nearby river for a good place to take cover, just in case the riders were hostile. Not many options. The bank was too shallow of a slope to provide any cover. While a few short trees littered part of the bank further upstream, they were too small for a major offensive. The only other option would be hiding behind the wagons.
“Whitten, you and Owens go hide in those trees. Snake, Jed, stay close to the wagons. If something starts, take cover there,” Will commanded.
As he propped up his leg on the crude bench by their small table, he waited for Hawk to return. Covington and Ben rode in.
“Don’t know if they’re friendly or not,” Will informed Ben.
Just after Ben dismounted, Hawk returned. “Military.”
“Blue coats?” Ben asked.
“Yup. Riding at a fair pace. Not too hard, though,” Hawk answered, sliding down from his mount.
“Well,” Ben replied, “Let’s hope they’re friendly to a bunch of Texans.”
Will hoped so, too, for there would be no way to conceal their origins once he spoke with his distinct drawl.
For nearly a half hour, Will waited for the military group, realizing then the distance had been deceptive. At last, the group sent one rider ahead.
“Howdy,” Will greeted the rider, keeping his guns close, but maintaining a peaceful posture.
The young man, still atop his horse, returned his greeting. “The captain wants to know if we might be able to join your camp for the evening.”
“Be fine,” Will said.
The scout thanked Will, before riding to report back to his captain.
A few minutes later, camp buzzed with activity. The captain and his ten or so men joined the camp. Snake started preparing supper. Jed, Hawk, and Covington hung around the younger military men, excitedly plying them with dozens of questions. Ben and Will sat at the table, offering the captain a brief respite.
The short captain took the offered seat, setting his forage cap aside, running fingers through his dark wavy hair. “Didn’t expect to run into you,” Captain Jarrett said, “for a few days yet. The commander at Wingate said you’d been through awhile back. Less there’s another Texas rancher driving west of here.”
Will hesitated, not sure how to take the comment. “Moving cattle can be slow at times.”
“What brings you out here,” Ben asked.
“We’re scouting for possible locations for a fort. Looking for something around where the Walker Party settled near Granite Creek.”
“A fort, eh?” Ben said, rubbing the salt and pepper beard gracing his chin.
“The governor should be arriving in a few months,” Jarrett replied, “along with a number of settlers. General Carleton adamantly insisted we be ready to protect the territory’s newest citizens.”
“Protect them?” Will asked.
“From the Apaches and Navajo. They have been causing all manner of trouble to the south. Raiding farms. Murdering all the inhabitants, including women and children. Generally making things pretty difficult for new settlers.”
Taking a swig of coffee, the young captain continued. “General Carleton wants to make sure the start of the governor’s tour of the territory is as uneventful as possible. So, we have come ahead of time to get familiar with the land and the natives—to be prepared for the worst.”
“Good to know there’ll be some military nearby,” Ben stated.
“Where abouts are you headed?” Jarrett asked.
“Granite Creek area,” Will replied. “Looking to find some good cattle land. Settle down and start a ranch.”
Jarrett looked intrigued. Thoughtfully, he rubbed his chin. “You know, food and other supplies have been nearly impossible to get into this territory, especially enough to supply the California Volunteers posted throughout. With the recent drought in Sonora, some of our contracted food supplies are not showing up as promised.”
Will raised an eyebrow, wondering why Captain Jarrett shared this information.
“A rancher, like yourself, would do well if he decided to supply beef to the military and could guarantee a regular supply.”
Keeping his face devoid of the excitement welling within, Will nodded. “How soon do you think the fort will be established?”
“Probably not until n
ear the end of the year. We have the next month or so to scout the area before we select a site. I’ll need to make a trip back to Wingate before the final selection is made.”
That would give Will ample time to make it to Granite Creek, select some land and get established before the new fort would need a steady supply of beef.
“Might you be interested in such a proposition, Mr. Colter? Can I pass your name on to my commander?”
“Sure,” Will said, recognizing the wonderful opportunity before him. “Like I said, I’ll be settling near Granite Creek. When you folks get the fort established, send word there and I’ll come out and meet with you to discuss terms and the like.”
The rest of the evening, Jarrett talked of Colonel Kit Carson’s escapades against the Navajo. Jarrett seemed to think things would escalate in the coming month. Since they were almost out of Navajo territory, he assured Will they should see little trouble from them.
As the captain and his men prepared to retire for the night, Will sat on the ground near a small campfire. Accustomed to riding all night, he was not the least bit tired. If they could just make it the rest of the way to Granite Creek without trouble, he would be pleased. Then he would pick out a nice patch of land and settle down.
Settle down. The words stirred something deep within Will. Soon, he would have his own ranch—the dream he had since childhood—the one he put on hold after his mother passed, so he could help his father. Finally, that dream was in sight.
Chapter 13
Fort Union
November 9, 1863
Drew pulled the wagon to a stop, setting the brake. He jumped down and rounded to the other side to help Hannah down. Once her feet landed safely on the ground, he set about unhitching the oxen. Taking off his hat, Drew ran his hand through his hair. The weariness failed to leave him. Since Lieutenant Harrison’s recovery, Drew thought he might leave exhaustion behind, but that was not the case. Once he returned to his own wagon, worry hounded him throughout the nights, keeping sleep away. Each town they passed added to his worry.
A few days ago the train passed through a town where several sheepherders had been attacked by the Navajo. The Indians stole over six thousand sheep. The newly unemployed herders spent the afternoon drowning their misery with alcohol. They shared their utter hopelessness with anyone who would listen. Drew found it hard to witness—broken men at their wits end. How was this affecting Hannah?
Returning from the oxen grazing grounds, Drew set up the tent. His poor wife continued to look pale with dark circles under her eyes. He suspected she slept poorly most nights, especially since Mr. Richmond’s gruesome tale. The slump of her shoulders said a great deal about how this trip drained her. He longed to ease her burden, though he had little left to give.
After setting up the tent, Drew stepped inside to wash up before supper. The governor requested he and Hannah join the government officials and General Carleton for the evening meal. He wasn’t sure why they took such an interest in him, but welcomed the opportunity to learn more of their plans for the territory.
Once Hannah freshened up, they joined the governor’s party. General Carleton and several other military officers joined the meal as well. General Carleton wasted no time in asserting his views regarding the government of the Arizona Territory.
“Governor Goodwin, have you given consideration to the capital location?” the general asked.
Governor Goodwin replied, “We will be touring the territory before making the final decision. I understand the largest population center is in Tucson.”
The governor’s reply confused Drew. Though the governor never specified a location himself, many of his party stated on more than one occasion they were headed to the Walker settlement near Granite Creek. What sort of game was the governor playing?
“Yes, Tucson has a sizable population. However, a good portion of the town is sympathetic to the Confederacy. Not the best place to locate the capital for a new Union territory,” the candid general replied. Drew caught the steely look in the man’s gray eyes. General Carleton left him with the impression that he would not back down from any challenge.
The governor replied with some perturbation, “While I agree, to a point, the location of the capital needs to be somewhat populated.”
Drew chewed the boiled potato in his mouth slowly. Turning his head towards the governor, he caught a glimpse of Hannah. Her gaze lowered and she seemed rather intent on the food on her plate. Was this discussion upsetting her?
Mr. Richmond commented, “La Paz has a significant population.”
Heart soaring a bit, Drew thought it would be nice if La Paz was the capital, since that is where he and Hannah were headed.
“Yes, but it is also in the far western end of this vast territory,” rebutted Secretary McCormick. “Not a suitable location for the capital.”
General Carleton further asserted his position on the matter. “Governor, I know you have considered the Granite Creek area where the Walker Party and others have settled.”
The general continued, “I believe that location makes the most sense. It is populated mostly by mid-westerners and Californians, thus having strong ties to the Union. It also is centrally located in the territory. Reports from the first scouts to the area indicate the climate is excellent and the landscape is suited to a variety of industries.” The general turned his displeased face towards Mr. Richmond. “A place like La Paz is mostly suited to one thing—mining. What will the town do when the mines run out?”
“You are correct that we have considered the area, General,” Goodwin replied. “But, from what I understand there is a minimal population there, not more than a few hundred men, if that. If we are to locate the capital there, we would have to convince settlers, such as Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, that this is an ideal location to live. Is the Indian threat contained enough to ensure safety for the settlers?”
Glancing over at Hannah, Drew saw her eyes widen at the mention of Indians. She looked positively frightened.
“The Apaches are a nuisance throughout the territory,” General Carleton conceded. “While we need to deal with the threat they pose, my primary focus is on removing the Confederate rebels in the west. I have a minimal number of troops to commit and most of those will be strictly for protection of the settlers. Certainly not large enough numbers to mount an effective campaign at this time.”
“What would you propose we do then to remove this nuisance?” asked Secretary McCormick.
“Once you arrive, speak with the locals,” the general said. “See if a militia of volunteers can be raised to deal with the problem. Those that have been in the area for more than a few months have suffered from the Apache raids and will be eager to mount an offense against them.”
The conversation continued on, with the general pressing the governor to settle near Fort Whipple, several miles north of the Walker settlement. After another hour of heated discussion, Drew and Hannah took their leave.
On the walk back to their camp, Hannah remained quiet and distant. Drew suspected the conversation upset her. It concerned him as well. While the governor seemed to lean towards following the general’s suggestion, Drew still faced several doubts. For weeks he thought of changing their destination to Granite Creek. Would the population be large enough to support a doctor? Would he be able to provide a safe home for Hannah in town? Was there even a town there?
One thing became very clear to Drew through the course of the discussions—their new home was dangerous and far from the idyllic image of his mind, whether they settled in La Paz or in Granite Creek. He supposed when he first read the article about the Arizona Territory, when he was in the comfort of his clinic in Cincinnati, he failed to think of how dangerous the untamed land might be. Nothing in the article discussed the Apaches or their brutal attacks on settlers. Nothing described the dangerous wildlife or harsh conditions of the wilderness. All of this was to be a grand adventure to get to their new home, which he envisioned as similar to the one they we
re leaving. Reality painted a far darker picture.
The five days of travel between Fort Union and Santa Fe left Hannah thankful they finally arrived in the small city. Weary from weeks of nightmares, she longed for a respite from traveling. The sense of foreboding stayed with Hannah ever since Mr. Richmond’s story of the beheaded Indian woman. Then, when General Carleton mentioned the savage attacks of the Apaches at supper earlier in the week, Hannah grew even more fearful. She could not shake the feeling that something catastrophic was going to happen.
Why did they ever leave a safe and peaceful home? Thomas. Oh, if only he had not robbed that bank. Hannah would be safe and happy back in Ohio, working by Drew’s side in his clinic.
No, instead, she travelled uncivilized lands—under the constant threat of attack from wild animals or wild men. Starvation, something she had not thought possible until passing through Trinidad, piled on to her lengthening list of fears. What of the Confederate troops rumored in the western territories? Would they pose a threat to her?
She longed for Drew to change his mind about settling in La Paz. She would much rather settle in Granite Creek. The governor’s men seemed to think that was where the capital would locate. Betty and Paul would be there. She did not want to live in some booming mine town with only one hope for an industry. She wanted to live somewhere that would thrive and grow. And feel like home.
Hannah shifted in the wagon seat, scolding herself for such sorrowful thoughts. Glancing at Drew, he seemed oblivious to her darkened mood.
As they wound down the mountain into the valley of Santa Fe, Hannah pushed her fear aside for the time being. Despite the dangers and fears of this journey, Hannah never tired of the varied landscapes and structures. As they neared town, she counted at least six tall churches, all magnificent in size and with noticeable crosses on their rectangular spires. They weren’t really spires, not like the churches back home. They were more like towers. The light color of the church exteriors provided a stark contrast against the bright blue sky. Numerous flat roofed adobe houses littered the streets. Unlike the plank wood houses from back home, these were made with bricks of straw and mud. None stood more than one level. Several houses left their doors propped open. When Hannah looked inside, those houses were packed with a large number of people sitting on the floor. She wondered if the houses were typically so full.