“I knew you would be back begging me to help you, even though you resisted me before,” he sneered.
Laura raised her voice so all could hear. “If you think I am here to beg for anything, you are sadly mistaken. I have brought eggs and butter to barter because this is a trading post, isn’t it? Do you want my business or not? How long would you be in business if no one came in here?”
Tuffy’s face turned bright red. “All right, let’s see what you brought.”
Hank placed the baskets on the counter. Tuffy looked through each one before Laura handed him her list. He grumbled as he walked off to fill it.
When he returned, he began to add the supplies up. Grabbing a stub of a pencil and a piece of brown wrapping paper, Laura began noting all the supplies and adding up the figures. “What are you doing?” Tuffy roared.
“I am adding the amounts of what I brought and subtracting it from the total of the goods I got from you,” she replied.
“Do you think I would cheat you?”
She stared at him long enough he knew the answer to his question. “Abner entrusted me to come to town with what little we have. I want to make sure I do it right.”
Muttering under his breath about prissy women, Tuffy continued adding the columns until they both agreed on the total.
When they finished, Hank headed outside to load her purchases on her packhorse.
Tuffy asked, “So when do I get the ranch? We all know you and Abner will lose it because you can’t make the payment.”
Laura gave him a level stare. “Can you show me the books and how much we owe you? The full balance.”
He opened the account book “I don’t know why Abner doesn’t take care of his own business instead of letting a female do it for him.”
Tuffy showed Laura their total.
She reached into her pocket and laid two rocks on the counter. “Are these worth anything?” Tuffy held them, turned them over, and laughing at her said. “These are worthless river rocks.”
“Well, what about these,” she asked quietly as she laid the two gold nuggets down in front of him.
The silence in the room was deafening as Tuffy and nearby customers stared at the golden nuggets. The others moved closer. Tuffy gaped at the larger nugget and then at the smaller one. “Where did you find these?”
“I want to know how much for them. Then I will tell you.” Laura motioned for Cora to come closer.
“I will have to test and weigh them before I know.” He glared at her and then Cora.
“I’ll wait.”
He scurried over to his chemicals for testing ore and his scales. Weighing each one, he wrote down some figures. Laura watched him closely as he rubbed one of the nuggets on black cloth, leaving a golden smear. When he dripped a few drops of cyanide on it, the smear began to dissolve. As he turned around, he almost ran over her in his haste and excitement. “These are almost pure gold. Where did Abner find them? Are there more?” He asked as he slipped the nuggets into his coat pocket.
“How much, Tuffy?” Laura asked loudly.
Blowing out a sigh, he said, “Enough to pay your debt with lots left over.”
Laura cast Cora a pleased grin. “Do you have enough money to pay me the difference?”
“Let me give you credit for the difference.”
“No, I want the money, and I want it today. If you can’t pay me then I will take the nuggets and go to Denver. I will pay you what I owe you when I return.”
Hatred flamed in his eyes. “Can you give me until the afternoon? I’ll have your money then.”
“Well, I’ll wait until just after lunch. Give me the nuggets and when I return, we will close our deal.” She eyed him. “In case you’ve forgotten, they’re in your pocket.”
Angrily throwing the nuggets down on the counter in front of her, he stalked away from her.
Laura and the other women rushed outside excitedly. Laura had bested Tuffy at his own game. Now they returned to Cora’s to celebrate. But Hank slipped into the woods behind the trading post to keep an eye on Tuffy.
Settling into a seat in Cora’s dining room, Laura couldn’t believe how her luck had changed. “I couldn’t have managed without all of you. Thank you so much.” Tears of joy and relief washed over her.
As they set plates of bread and cheese on the table, Hank returned to tell the women he’d watched Tuffy sweating and cursing as he dug up money he had buried.
After they had eaten, they returned to the trading post where a crowd had gathered. From the cheerful comments thrown their way, word had spread about the gold and about a woman getting the best of Tuffy Sawyer.
Tuffy gave Laura a hateful glare as she approached him.
She ignored his attitude. “Are you ready to complete our deal?”
Biting hard on his stinking cigar, he said, “I have the rest of your money if that is what you are asking.”
“I want to see the books and our account marked paid in full. Then I want you to give me a receipt and the balance in cash.”
“Where are the nuggets?” he bit out.
Placing them on the counter, she was careful not to touch his greedy hands.
When the transaction had been completed and her ranch safe and secure, Tuffy demanded the location of the find.
“Oh, it’s an interesting story. This morning, I stopped at the creek outside of the settlement to water the horses. That’s when I saw the shiny rocks. I wondered if they could be gold.”
“Are there any more?” Tuffy demanded.
“If I had seen any more, don’t you think I would have picked them up, too?”
Suddenly, the wood floor rumbled under the stampede of the crowd out the front door. Only she and her friends and a red-faced Tuffy remained.
“You will be sorry for this, you damn bitch,” Tuffy yelled. She had no doubt he would get even with her if he could.
The women and Hank hurried out of the trading post back to Cora’s where Laura had left her horses. Hugs and kisses were exchanged before Laura mounted her horse and, trailing her packhorse, waved good-bye to Cora and the girls.
“Come back to see us real soon,” Cora yelled.
As she crossed the creek where she had planted the gold, men were already panning for gold. She heard one shout, “I found a nugget!” She grinned.
It had been an eventful day with everything going her way. The money from the two nuggets was a small fortune, and she had so many more, she could take care of herself for the rest of her life. She was no longer a pauper.
When she reached her cabin late in the evening, the shadows were growing longer. She had been careful to watch her trail as she came home, since everyone in town knew she carried money. She unloaded the packhorse and grabbed the lantern then took the horses to the barn to feed them. As soon as she locked up the chickens, she hurried for the security of her cabin. Bolting the door and then the shutters on the windows, she let out a loud yell of happiness and relief. After putting away her supplies, she sat down at the table to count her money. But what was she to do about the rest of her treasure-trove? What could she do with them? She could not go back to Tuffy with more. She sat for a long time deep in thought.
When she went to bed, she said her prayers thanking the Lord for helping her and asking Him to continue to guide her in making the right decisions about the new wealth He had given her. She went to sleep hugging the paid-off ranch receipt and dreaming of Jim and Rowdy.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning beamed bright and sunny and so did Laura’s mood. She had not seen or heard from the Wilsons since she last visited. Hoping the problem they were having with the bear had been resolved, she saddled her mare and loaded the packhorse with some extra supplies. The family was probably out of basics like sugar, flour, canned goods, fresh eggs, and butter. She had been careful with her meat supply since the men had left, but if the Wilsons needed anything it would be meat. Taking a freshly cured elk ham from the smoke house, she packed it in with all t
he other supplies.
Nearing the cabin an hour later, she called out, “Hello in the cabin!” She did not see any activity, and the place appeared deserted. The door opened a crack and a weak voice called out, “Who is it?”
Laura dismounted. “Matthew? Is that you? I have come by to check on you all and to bring you some supplies. Please come out.”
The youth and his two younger sisters emerged onto the porch, peering around nervously. How drawn they were. “When have you last eaten?”
Shaking his head, he blushed. “The bear killed my pa several weeks ago when he went out to hunt for us. It tracked him down and got him. We heard him yelling but we were too afraid to go out of the cabin to help.” Tears ran down his face. The two little girls began to cry, too.
“I am sorry for your loss. Has the bear continued to come back?” She glanced anxiously around her.
“No, ma’am. We have not seen or heard him since he killed Pa.”
“If you’ll help me with the supplies, I will make you something to eat.” She laid her long rifle over her arms and stood guard while he carried the food into the cabin. Just because the bear hadn’t been back in a while didn’t mean he wouldn’t show up, especially when she was unloading food.
Inside the cabin, the overpowering smell of unwashed bodies, feces, urine, and fear assailed her. Fear had a powerful odor as well as being contagious.
Their mother lay on the dirty bed with the youngest child suckling at her breast. Her nipples were bleeding from the child’s attempts to nurse. It was apparent she had not had any water or nourishment for some time. Her face was pale and her eyes closed, sunken as if she were dying.
Laura began giving orders. “I will have you all something to eat soon but you have to help me help you. I cannot do it by myself. Do you understand?” She stared into the eyes of each child. Knowing the mother would be of no help, she asked Matthew to take the other children outside to bring fresh water from the spring.
“You want us to go outside so the bear can eat us too?” Matthew squeaked.
Laura would have to take a different approach. Picking up her long rifle, she laid it across her arms. “This is my bear gun. I keep all bears away from my place with it, and I can do the same thing here. It is big and loud, and it brings down a bear anytime I aim it at one. I will be watching you with it cocked and ready. Do you understand?”
The children bolted for the door, seeming to be more frightened of her than the bear, except for the youngest little girl who came back to Laura, motioning for her to lean down. Laura knelt and the girl whispered, “Are you an angel?”
“The Lord hears our prayers and always sends someone to help in our darkest hours. I have been sent here to help you and your family,” replied Laura, remembering when she had a visit from two special angels on horses.
She turned to the other children, who lingered inside the door. “I didn’t bring any food prepared to eat, so I will have to cook it. I need lots of water hauled from the spring to clean the pots and dishes before I can begin. I will need wood as well. Will you all help me? I will be watching you with my bear gun from the porch as you bring the buckets of water. Okay?” They nodded, then darted outside and grabbed the buckets stacked on the porch.
She stood on the porch waiting with her gun as each child carried a bucket of water inside. She gave the children a drink of fresh water as their mother noticed Laura for the first time. She beamed as if she had seen an angel also, as she mouthed to Laura, “thank you.” Laura nodded.
Soon, she had water heating and the frying pan scrubbed. She filled it with bacon, set coffee to boil and slid a tray of biscuits into the oven. With Laura’s insistence, Matthew had gotten brave enough to go to the woodpile for more wood and he began to help Laura. When the biscuits were almost ready, she scrambled a dozen eggs and asked the children to please wash up for the meal. They stood motionless, gazing in horror at Laura, as if she had grown horns.
“What’s the matter?” Laura asked.
“We ain’t done that in a long time. We just want to eat now,” said the middle girl.
“Well, you and your family will not get a bite of food until you wash up and wash up well,” said Laura in a loud and commanding voice.
The children ran for the water bucket to wash their faces and hands and smooth back their hair. When they returned to the table, Laura grinned sweetly at them to let them know they pleased her.
“Please be seated, but I will serve you a little at first. I do not want you to eat too fast. It will make you sick. I know it will be hard to do but you are all strong and very brave. See what you have done today to help your family? I will say a blessing for the food and pray for your family to heal from its grief over your pa’s death. Bow your heads now.”
After she had served the children, she took a plate of food to their mother, who had not moved from the bed. Helping her to sit up, Laura fed her a bite at a time. She continued to make her drink water to replenish her body. Mrs. Wilson fell asleep before she had finished the last of the eggs.
When Laura returned to the table, the children had eaten all their food and begged for more. “I will give you more if you drink your cups of water first.” Then she gave them a bit more food, encouraging them again to eat slowly so they would not get sick.
After they had eaten, they seemed more energetic. She asked Matthew to get more water because she wanted to start a stew cooking for supper. He jumped up to do it, but refused to go out without her on the porch with her gun. She agreed. He managed to carry two buckets of water by himself. “I’m proud of you for helping your family.” He beamed.
When she had the water and meat in the large stew pot heating in the fireplace, she told the children they would accompany her to their garden. She could see the fear of going outside again written on their faces. Picking up her bear gun, she opened the door for them. They walked slowly outside as if she was forcing them to their deaths.
“Where is your garden?” Laura asked as she rounded the corner of the house. The girls ran ahead, pointing to a weedy plot. “Let’s see if we can find anything for the stew.”
As long as she was near them, they managed to keep from fleeing back to the house, but they continued to cast fearful glances around. No vegetables had been planted and the garden had gone untended. However, she did find young onions from last year’s planting. She gathered enough for the stew.
Noticing the barn reminded Laura to ask about their livestock.
“Well, the bear killed the milk cow one night and scared the horses so bad they ran away,” answered Matthew.
When they returned to the cabin, she opened her bag of medicines to fix a strengthening tea for the mother.
By late afternoon, she had accomplished a number of tasks for the family. She had fed them and now had a stew simmering in the fireplace for their supper. Their mother had revived quicker than Laura had expected. “You saved my family. How can I ever repay you?”
“Mrs. Wilson, I am so thankful I came when I did. I will be back tomorrow to check on you and the children. One thing I do want to ask you to do is not to allow your baby to nurse anymore. I think he drew poisons from your weakened body. He looks to be about two years old and can eat with the other children. He will be stronger for it. Will you do that?” Laura did not want her to lose what little strength she had gained. The mother nodded with relief on her face.
Laura mounted her mare and waved as she headed home. The day was gone, and it was getting dark. She was not as brave as she made out to be in front of the children about the gun and the bear. She became jumpier, seeing bear shapes materialize behind every tree as she made her way into her darkening valley. By the time she reached the cabin area, she was riding at full gallop as if a band of demons were after her.
Getting to the barn in half the time it usually took her, she unsaddled the horses, fed and watered them, closed up the chickens, and arrived at the cabin as the sun dropped below the western mountains, casting everything into
total darkness.
Chapter Fourteen
Laura returned to the Wilsons several more times during the next week. The family had grown stronger mentally and physically. Mrs. Wilson cleaned herself, her children, and her home, expressing gratitude to Laura for all her help and concern. Matthew had gotten back his courage to begin hunting for the family again. On his first hunting trip away from the cabin, he found their horses in a meadow, grazing peacefully. He brought back a large turkey as well. Because of his newfound courage, he could provide for the family.
“Laura, I need to talk with you about an important matter. Will you come in and visit with me for a few minutes?” Mrs. Wilson asked as soon as Laura had ridden in. She sat Laura in front of the fireplace. “I have not asked about your husband and you have not mentioned him. Is something wrong?”
Laura, caught off guard by the question, did not respond right away. “He’s had a difficult winter and is not well. He has not left the cabin for long periods. That’s why he has not been able to help me with you and the children.”
“Well, I did not want to be nosy, but I have a proposition I wanted to put to him about buying this place from me. I want to take the children and go back to our family in Georgia. I didn’t want to come here, but my husband insisted. It hasn’t been easy from the beginning, and it has gotten worse.” Her voice broke.
Laura could not believe her ears. Now that she had money, she realized she could buy land all around her ranch. “We would be happy to buy this place from you, but are you sure you want to go back to Georgia? I have heard things back there are not the same since the war. So much has changed. If you are determined to go, what would you want for your place?” She looked around at the run down cabin.
“We bought 320 acres for fifty cents an acre. I would be happy to get half that much so we can get out of this hell hole,” Mrs. Wilson answered vehemently.
“Let’s make a deal. I need your help now. I need to go to Denver for a few days. If you will allow Matthew to care for my animals while I am gone, I will pay him twenty-five cents a day until I get back. I will pay you one dollar per acre for your land if you’ll sign over the place to me no questions asked.” She looked Mrs. Wilson in the eye. “Do you have the deed and the survey of the property?”
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