Beneath a Dakota Cross

by Stephen A. Bly

  “Oh?” Yapper Jim raised his thick, bushy eyebrows. “What kind of skills did you have in mind?”

  “Cookin’ for one. There ain’t no one who can make better sausage gravy than Louise Driver.”

  They had finished their second cups of coffee when the March sisters descended the stairs, followed by Dacee June Fortune. She wore a green-and-white silk dress and white lace-up boots.

  A choir of “Merry Christmas, Miss Dacee June” greeted her.

  She ran over to Big River, threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “Merry Christmas, Big River Frank.”

  Then she hugged and kissed the next man. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Edwards!”

  Yapper Jim was next to receive a hug, a kiss, and a greeting.

  Then it was Quiet Jim’s turn. His face turned deep red, but he hugged her tight.

  “We figured it was time for you to open presents,” Big River announced.

  She held up her necklace. “Did you see the gold locket Daddy gave me? It has a picture inside of it of him and Mamma on their wedding day. He was quite handsome back then.”

  “I wonder whatever happened to him,” Yapper teased.

  Thelma Speaker tilted her chin higher. “Many discerning women consider him handsome still.”

  The March sisters and the five men sat in a circle while Dacee June sat on top of the big crate to open her presents.

  There was an ornate silver clock from Big River. A china rose vase from Grass Edwards. A throw quilt, a dress, and a hand-embroidered apron from the March sisters.

  Quiet Jim wouldn’t let her open the plain, big brown envelope until after she opened the large crate.

  “It’s so big!” Dacee June squealed. “I don’t know how to open it.”

  “I reckon your daddy has a crowbar around here,” Yapper instructed.

  Brazos worked for a moment to pull the nails out of the top, then lifted the lid.

  Dacee June yanked back a packing quilt and shouted, “It’s … it’s a pump organ. Daddy, look, it’s my very own pump organ. It’s what I always, always wanted!”

  “All four of us chipped in to buy it.” Yapper’s tone was unusually soft and gentle. “It was Quiet Jim’s idea.”

  “This is the very best present in the whole world!” Dacee June exclaimed. “I think I’m goin’ to cry.”

  Brazos looked away and wiped back tears from his own eyes. “You boys did yourself proud. I can’t believe you snuck that to town without me knowin’. Maybe I’d better inspect all the crates that come in.”

  “Oh, Daddy, open it all the way. I want to play it. My very own organ! It’s the only one in town. I think I’m the luckiest girl in the entire world.”

  Brazos pulled the sides off the crate.

  Quiet Jim handed the big, brown envelope to her. “Now, you can open this, Dacee June.”

  She ripped into the envelope and yanked out the contents. “It’s a hymnbook and sheet music … lots of sheet music!”

  “I been sort of savin’ that up for years, waitin’ for a special event.”

  “Quiet Jim, that’s your music collection, you don’t have to …” Brazos tried to protest.

  Quiet Jim sounded almost forceful. “Ever’body knows it’s Dacee June who makes these Black Hills joyful. Now she’ll be able to add music to her smile.”

  “We’ll begin lessons immediately,” Thelma announced.

  “Do you know how to teach organ?”

  Thelma browsed through the sheet music. “Certainly. I didn’t spend two years at the conservatory in Memphis learning to sew.”

  Louise sashayed towards the organ. “Now, dear sister, you’re sewing isn’t all that bad …”

  Brazos finished opening the crate. “It even has its own stool, Dacee June.”

  “We wanted the best,” Quiet Jim added.

  Brazos shook his head. “You boys shouldn’t have spent so much money on her. I don’t know what to say.”

  “We didn’t give it to you, Fortune,” Grass instructed. “So you really can’t say nothin’ at all.”

  “Dacee June is about all the family I’ve got left …” Quiet Jim rubbed his rough, calloused hand across the top of the polished, cherry-wood pump organ.

  An icy blast of air roared through the front door as a short man bundled in a blanket coat stumbled into the store, his beard and eyebrows covered with frost.

  “Partner, come over by the fire. You look like you’re frozen,” Brazos called out. The man gave a stiff nod and shuffled toward the stove. Quiet Jim had a cup of coffee poured for him by the time he reached the others.

  “The hardware isn’t open today,” Brazos said, “but you’re mighty welcome to warm up by the fire.”

  For a moment he just let the steam of the coffee melt the frost off his face. Then he backed away. “I could be a little frostbit,” he mumbled. “Better not get too close.”

  “You just come to town? I don’t believe we’ve met,” Big River Frank announced.

  Quiet Jim tossed a wool blanket over the man’s shoulders.

  “This ain’t a good storm to be out in. It can kill you if you don’t be real careful,” Grass said.

  The man took a small sip of coffee and glanced at each face. “One of you named Fortune?”

  “That’s me,” Brazos admitted.

  “I came across the prairie with your freight wagons.”

  “But they were supposed to wait this storm out,” Brazos said.

  “They didn’t make it to town. They broke down yesterday at Cherry Creek Crossing, up by Owl Butte. They sent me on ahead to get help.”

  Brazos shot a glance at the other men in the room. “I can’t believe Gustin tried to make it in this storm.”

  “This Gustin fella wasn’t with them. It’s them boys of yours that was drivin’ the wagons,” the man announced.

  “Boys of mine?” Brazos choked.

  “Robert and that tall one … Todd,” the man replied.

  “Todd?” Dacee June shouted. “Todd came to Dakota?”

  The man nodded and took another sip. “You got anything stronger than this?”

  “There’s nothin’ in the world stronger than Brazos’s coffee,” Yapper Jim declared.

  “I don’t have any liquor, if that’s your bent,” Brazos added. “If my boys were driving the wagons, why didn’t one of them come in to get me? It’s not like them to send someone else to do the work.”

  “Todd said he wouldn’t leave the freight, and Robert said he wouldn’t leave that Jamie Sue.”

  “Jamie Sue? That kid of yours brought my Jamie Sue out in a storm like this?” Grass protested.

  “Your Jamie Sue?” Louise countered.

  “I mean, Robert’s Jamie Sue,” Grass corrected.

  “A Chinook blew in last week,” the man continued. “It was almost springlike. I reckon they decided to make a run for it while the weather was good. But the Chinook didn’t last two days before it cooled off.”

  “They should have gone back to Bismarck,” Brazos asserted.

  “Them boys of yours were dead set on havin’ Christmas in Deadwood.” The man surveyed the room. “Is there a saloon open in this town?”

  Big River Frank pointed towards the door. “Ever’thing’s open on the lower side of town.”

  He turned towards the door. “Well, I’m going to find the nearest one. I don’t intend to spend Christmas Day sober.” He pushed his way back out into the storm.

  “What are we going to do?” Big River asked.

  “I’m going to bring my boys in,” Brazos announced. “Even if we abandon the freight, we’ve got to save some lives.”

  “Count me in,” Big River declared. “I ain’t no good at sendin’ a friend out on his own.”

  “We all have to change clothes,” Quiet Jim reminded them.

  “I ain’t got no big plans. I might as well tag along,” Yapper offered.

  “Let’s take a wagon,” Grass suggested. “Might be we have to transfer a load.”

 
; “Let’s take it full of firewood,” Quiet Jim suggested. “We might need to thaw them out before we make a run back for the hills. There’s never enough wood out on that prairie.”

  “Quiet Jim’s right. We’ll meet at the livery in fifteen minutes,” Brazos ordered. “Bring ever’ buffalo robe and wool blanket you can round up.” The four men grabbed their coats and scurried towards the door. Brazos turned to the March sisters. “If you gals would look after Dacee June, I’d appreciate …”

  “I’m going with you,” Dacee June insisted.

  “Not in this kind of storm, darlin’.”

  “You promised!”

  “I didn’t promise to kill you in a storm.”

  Louise slipped her arm around Dacee June’s shoulder. “Your daddy’s right. You can’t go out in this.”

  Dacee June pushed her way free and scampered to her father’s side. “Daddy, I’m going with you!”

  “I said, it’s a killin’ storm, darlin’.”

  “That’s exactly why I have to go. What if something happens to you? What if something happens to Robert or Todd … or all three of you? Don’t you see?”

  Brazos stooped over and hugged the tear-streaked girl. “She’s right. Live or die, we’re doin’ it together. Go put on two sets of long johns and ever’ wool garment you can find,” he instructed.

  “Brazos Fortune, we simply cannot let you …” Louise Driver began to lecture, but stopped when Brazos raised his hand.

  “Did you and me get married sometime in the past couple of weeks?” he asked her.

  “Of course not!” she snapped.

  “Then it looks like you got no say in this matter.”

  “Dear,” Thelma said, “I believe that is the same argument we used on him last fall.”

  By the time they pulled out of the livery on the lower side of Deadwood, all the passengers were burrowed into the pile of firewood that covered the back of the freight wagon. The wood was covered with a tarp, and the combination took the passengers out of the wind and the snow, if not the bitter cold. The road, hastily built only six weeks prior, was lined with tree stumps. Now the ground was frozen solid, but come the spring thaw and mud season, there would be no way to get a wagon into Deadwood.

  At the moment, Brazos’s only concern was a party of pilgrims trapped in the arctic storm.

  The five men took turns driving the rig pulled by four blanketed draft horses who seemed neither to be bothered by the grade or the cold. Dacee June kept several blankets pulled over her head in her woodpile cave.

  With Big River Frank at the reins, Brazos crawled in beside her.

  Her round face peeked out from under the covers. “I got so many clothes on, I can’t move. If I don’t let a little air in here I’ll break out in a sweat and catch pneumonia.”

  The canvas tarp that stretched over them shadowed an already dark day. It seemed like sunset, even though it was not yet noon.

  “You boys all right?” Brazos called out, as the wagon jostled along.

  “It’s like spendin’ the winter livin’ with beavers, that’s what it’s like,” Yapper Jim hollered.

  “I’ll take the next shift,” Grass shouted. “I’m gettin cramps in my legs back here.”

  “Quiet Jim? Are you all right?” Brazos called.

  “He’s asleep,” Yapper shouted back.

  “A man who can sleep anywhere, anytime—that’s a gift,” Brazos sighed.

  “Daddy, I’m really excited about seeing Robert and Todd. It’s like having the whole family together on Christmas. Except for Samuel, of course.”

  “Well, I hope they found some shelter and built a fire. If you don’t have a fire, this kind of storm can deceive you.”

  “What happens?” she said.

  “It can make you so cold you fall asleep and never wake up.”

  Her drooping eyes popped open wide. “I’m not going to sleep.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean in here. Bundled up in here there’s no worry. In fact, I think I’ll rest my eyes.”

  “I’m going to keep mine open.” She whispered, “Daddy … I sure do like my pump organ. But it must have been expensive. Why did they buy me such a wonderful gift?”

  Brazos leaned his face near her bundled ear and whispered back, “Darlin’, these men think of you as their own daughter. You’re the only family they have this Christmas. They have more money than they’ve seen in a while and no children to spend it on. Enjoy it, darlin’, because they certainly enjoyed buyin’ you things.”

  “I just might be the luckiest girl in all the world. I can’t imagine a better Christmas!”

  Brazos huddled down next to Dacee June. I can, sweet darlin’. He closed his eyes. She’s happy, Sarah Ruth. I’m truly glad she’s happy.

  It was on Brazos’s third turn to drive when Owl Butte came into view. He searched for a plume of smoke. He spotted one to the east of the butte. Cherry Creek was frozen solid and was no obstacle to cross. Just past the creek he spied the two freight wagons. They were lined up in a steep draw, hidden from the horizon and protected from the wind. The fire was tiny and only two men huddled near it.

  “There they are,” he called out.

  “Can I see, Daddy? Can I come see, please?”

  “Keep that blanket around your shoulders and come on up.” He glanced back at the tarp-covered load. “Big River, you and the boys might as well wait ’til this wagon stops rollin’.”

  Dacee June snaked out from under the canvas and onto the cold, wooden bench next to Brazos. He tossed the buffalo robe that he used for a lap blanket over her legs.

  “It’s Todd and Robert by the fire!” Dacee June yelped.

  “You can see that far?”

  “Sure. Can’t you?”

  “I can’t make out who it is … my specs are in my pocket.” In fact, I can’t tell if it’s two women or two men.

  “I wonder where Jamie Sue is? Maybe she’s in one of the wagons. Look, Todd’s wearing Robert’s army hat.”

  Brazos reined up and stopped the wagon.

  “Time to get out?” Big River Frank called out.

  “No!” Brazos barked. He spoke softly to Dacee June. “Are you sure that’s Todd wearing Robert’s hat?”

  “Of course, I’m sure, Daddy. I know my own brothers.”

  Brazos rubbed his mouth with his gloved hand. “Get your guns cocked, boys, something’s wrong here.” He started the team forward. “Stay under the tarp until the shootin’ starts, or I say ‘Now!’”

  “Shooting? Daddy, it’s Todd and Robert.”

  “Dacee June, you get back under …” He put his hand on her shoulder. “No, that would signal them that we’re suspicious.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know. But Robert never, ever would let his brother wear his army hat. It’s against regulation. Somethin’s wrong. Darlin’, without showing your hand to the freight wagons, reach down and pull up your shotgun. Keep it under the buffalo robe. If shootin’ starts, dive back into the woodpile and only use the shotgun if it’s an emergency.”

  With his right thumb, Brazos cocked the huge hammer on the Sharps carbine that lay in his lap.

  “I’ve got the gun. Now what?”

  “Do you see any guns next to Robert and Todd?”

  “No.”

  “Neither do I. I taught them better than that. Somethin’s very wrong here. I need you to make believe everthing’s OK and wave and greet your brothers.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t let them know we’re on to it. Pretend like it’s a school play.”

  The wagon was now within fifty feet of the column of smoke. He could see the raw, red faces of his sons.

  “Hi, Todd!” Dacee June yelled. “Hi, Robert! Merry Christmas! You’ll never guess what I got for Christmas. Daddy got me this wonderful locket with his and Mamma’s picture. The Jims, Big River, and Mr. Edwards got me a pump organ. My very own pump organ! Mrs. Speaker is going to teach me how to play and everything.”

  That-a
-girl. I do believe you could talk a mamma bear out of her cub, young lady.

  “Merry Christmas, li’l sis,” Robert called back in what struck Brazos as a flat monotone. You’re coverin’ somethin’, boy. You never could keep things from me.

  Todd tipped the army hat, then placed it back on his head.

  I see the hat. It is strange.

  “Got word you boys needed a little help.” Brazos could feel the frigid air burn his mouth and throat.

  Neither son left their stance to come to the wagon. Todd stood an inch or two taller than Robert. His broad shoulders, square, whisker-covered chin, and blue-gray eyes always brought comparison to his father, but Brazos knew that never in his life had he been as handsome as Todd.

  “Hi, li’l sis. Didn’t know Daddy would be bringin’ you out,” Todd called out. His voice sounded nervous, flat.

  Brazos parked the wagon twenty feet short of the fire, so he could study both freight wagons. The way the rigs were parked he couldn’t tell if anyone, or anything, was on the far side of the wagons or not.

  “Dacee June’s just like a wart.” There was no humor in the tone of Brazos’s words. “No matter how hard I try, I can’t get rid of her.”

  “Daddy!”

  Robert rubbed his mustache with the palm of his hand, holding out all four fingers and his thumb.

  Five of them? Or maybe four … should I count the thumb?

  “Robert, where’s Jamie Sue?” Dacee June blurted out. “We thought she came out with you.”

  Two gun-toting men burst out from between the wagons, with two hostages in front of them. A small, middle-aged man with a woolly, flapped bill cap pulled down over his ears … and Jamie Sue Milan. “She’s right here with us, Fortune,” the man with the shotgun said. His black and purple wool muffler was wrapped around his neck and up over his mouth, his hat pulled low.

  Two other men with Winchester ’73 carbines posed at each end of the freight wagons.

  That only makes four. Robert signaled five, I think. I wonder if they meant that the fifth one was the one who came to town. “Do I know you?”

  “You do now. What do you have under that canvas?”

  “Firewood,” Brazos reported. “I didn’t know you had anything to burn out here.”

  “Well, that sure is nice of you. That way it will take the corpses longer to freeze.”