"Thanks for the soup, Mother," Joseph says, lying back exhausted. "My leg hurts," Joseph cries.
"I'm going to check the bandage, Joseph. I need you to be brave for me."
"I can't be brave," Joseph cries. "It hurts a lot."
I watch Elizabeth loosen the restrictive bands where Joseph's leg has swollen tremendously.
"That should be a little better," she says. "I will come check on you again after I clean these dishes."
"Do you want to hear a story?" Ty asks as Elizabeth gets up with the dishes.
"A story?" Joseph's eyes light up. "Is it about Indians?"
"Sort of," Ty says. "It is about Nephites."
"Sure," he almost cries again as he remembers his swollen leg.
"This story is about the stripling warriors."
[88]
"Hey, I've heard that story. Will you read that one?"
"Sure," Ty says. He opens Henry's Book of Mormon to the end of the book of Alma and reads about the two thousand courageous young warriors who fight valiantly and are protected by God. Before Ty finishes the story, Joseph is sleeping.
Of course, being Saturday, George, Ty, William and I haul several buckets of water each from the stream, and everyone except Joseph gets a bath. Elizabeth supplies warm water, heated over the fire. After a week of dirt and sweat, I am ready for a bath. Elizabeth takes my clothes to wash, and I borrow a pair of pants and a shirt from William while my clothes dry over night. Ty does the same and I snicker at him because he looks different in William's shirt.
Henry offers the family prayer before dinner. He asks God to bless Joseph that he would recover from his snakebite quickly. He gives thanks for the gospel, for our family and for our food. He then asks a blessing on each one of us individually. He asks that William's faith might be strengthened. I do not remember what blessing he requests for the other members of his family, but for me he asks that my mother be comforted while I am away. I think that is a great blessing and in my heart I ask for that, too. Then he asks that Ty would receive a testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. Again, in my heart, I also ask that for Ty.
We eat dinner, and mostly we do not talk. I think everyone is concerned about Joseph, but do not want to say so out loud. I keep trying to have faith that he will overcome the venom, and I know he will.
I crawl into my blankets and so does William, George and Ty. Thomas heads back to the wagon train. I think I fall asleep as soon as my head rests on the blanket.
Chapter Sixteen
The Letter
Sunday, July 8
"Run!" the younger boy whispers. "Sioux!" We run and the younger boy follows. We get about three yards and a Sioux warrior lands in our path. White and black paint streak down his ferocious face. Racing red paint zigzags up his muscular shoulder as he elevates the coal-black tomahawk. Tethered feathers float skyward with strings of black hair as the Sioux snatches the younger boy by his long blond hair.
The boy screams, "It hurts. It hurts."
The tomahawk swings, severing the boy's scalp. The boy screams. I bend over and vomit out of fear.
The boy half screams and half cries. But the scream is farther away. The scream is from Joseph.
I am awake now and my eyes are open, but the night is dark. I cannot tell what time it is, but it feels like just after midnight. I hear William and George roll over and I know they are awake, too.
Joseph cries out. It is more like a scream. "It hurts. My leg hurts." He cries again and then I hear him vomit.
"I know it does, Joseph," Elizabeth says softly. I hear her pull Joseph close to her. "This is the worst part," she soothes. "Tomorrow will be better."
"I want to be better now," Joseph cries, ending with another scream of agony.
"Here is some water, Joseph. I want you to drink some of it. Water helps you to fight the poison. Water helps your leg to get well."
"Okay," Joseph cries.
I can't help him right now, so I try to sleep, but while Joseph cries I don't sleep.
I see Elizabeth get up, but I hear her more than I see her. She heats some of last night's supper over the remaining coals. We had bread and a potato with venison gravy and she brings some for Joseph.
"Mostly I want you to sip some water," Elizabeth says softly. "Here is a potato from dinner, though, if you are hungry."
Joseph cries, then stops, then cries again. He's eating the potato, I think.
"I'm cold," Joseph whines after a few minutes.
"Here is another blanket," Elizabeth says. "There. Is that a little better?"
"Yes, but my leg hurts a whole lot," he cries again.
"Try and be brave, my son," Elizabeth answers. "It will start to get better tomorrow."
"I'll try, Mother."
"You rest now. Try to sleep."
I hear some cries, but the warm potato and the blanket bring drowsiness and Joseph sleeps. So do I.
I wake up when the sky is still twilight. William is getting up and so is George. I push the blankets off me and sit up to pull on my shoes. I check my newly washed clothes. They are still fairly wet. Probably won't dry all the way until the sun is up, I think. Ty is already up and I look around to see if he is in camp. Through the spokes of the wagon I see him sitting against a rock reading Henry's scriptures.
"Will you and Ty go check the horse and oxen?" William asks. "George and I will get a small fire going so we can cook breakfast."
"Sure," I say. I am always happy to cooperate when it involves food. Food is good.
"If you see any firewood, bring it back. We may be here longer than we planned."
"We can do that," I say, standing up.
"And watch for snakes." William looks me in the eye and nods. He does not need to say any more. I know what he is thinking. He is worrying about Joseph and does not want to worry about me, too.
I gather up Ty and together we set off to check the horse and oxen. They are only a short distance away, so I know it will not take us long.
"Why do you think we have to check on the stock every morning and evening?" Ty asks, obviously annoyed that his reading was interrupted.
"I guess to make sure that the horse and oxen haven't wandered too far off, or that the hobble didn't get caught on a stump."
"There they are," Ty says, pointing.
All the animals seem fine and content to graze and swish flies with their tails.
"I heard Joseph cry in the night," Ty says as we walk back to camp. "Do you think he will get better … I mean, soon?"
"I hope so, Ty. I hope last night was the worst. If it was, he will make it."
We get back to camp and see that Joseph is awake. "How is Joseph doing?" I say more to Elizabeth than to Joseph.
"He woke up and vomited," Elizabeth says as concern flashes across her eyes for an instant. "But look," she pulls the blanket up off his leg. "The swelling around the bite has gone down a little."
"That is great!" I say, this time mostly to Joseph. "You are getting better."
Joseph manages a fleeting smile, and coughs. "My leg does not hurt so bad now, but my stomach hurts and it hurts when I breathe."
"That means that you are tougher than poison," I say laughing.
"I am tougher than poison," he agrees, wincing a little. "But poison is pretty tough, also."
Elizabeth tucks the blanket around him and hands him a cup of water. "Drink this slowly," she says.
Joseph sips on the water until it is gone, then leans back and closes his eyes.
Elizabeth takes the cup. "I will bring you some warm soup and a scrambled egg," she says.
"An egg sounds good," he smiles with his eyes closed.
"Where did we find eggs?" I ask William as he walks by.
"We didn't find them, exactly," William says. He points to Thomas.
Thomas laughs at my surprise. I did not know he had returned.
"I made a trade at a ranch close to here," he says. "They have eggs to trade and I know Joseph likes eggs."
> "I do like eggs," Joseph says still lying back with his eyes closed.
Elizabeth brings Joseph some scrambled eggs which he devours with enthusiasm. A few minutes later, after our morning prayer, we all enjoy eggs, bacon and grits.
"We will hold our church meeting in about twenty minutes," Henry announces as George finishes and stands up. I check my watch out of habit, I guess. A watch is not of much use in 1866 Colorado. The only time schedule here is regulated more by the sun than by any timepiece.
In this case, though, church starts when the breakfast dishes are done. We all gather around Joseph's bed so he can attend, also.
Henry starts our meeting like he always does, testifying how he one day hopes to hold the priesthood and that he is very blessed to be baptized. He reminds us that we meet each week on Sunday to remember Jesus Christ and to worship God.
I see George roll his eyes and I know it is because he has heard this speech week after week his whole life.
We sing an opening hymn and Grandpa Brettle offers the prayer. Henry stands and smiles, "I have told you many times how much I love the Book of Mormon."
Annie covers her mouth and whispers, "At least a thousand times."
"I see many of you reading from my scriptures throughout the week, but lately I see Ty with his nose in my book. As you know, I will share my scriptures with anyone who wants to read. Today I would like to invite Ty to tell us about something he has read recently in the Book of Mormon. Would you do that for us, Ty?"
"Actually," Ty says, standing hesitantly and turning to face the Cottle family. "Henry asked me yesterday, so I have thought about some of the stories that I have read. Because Joseph, who I have come to really like as a friend and a brother, was recently bitten by a poisonous snake, one story in particular sank into my heart.
[89] Both Alma and Nephi comment about it, but the story comes from the book of Numbers in the Bible. Apparently the Israelites spoke out against the Lord, and so the Lord sent fiery flying serpents among the people and many of the people died. Moses was told by the Lord to make a fiery serpent and put it upon a pole, and anyone who was bitten just had to look at the serpent on the pole and he would live."
"The strange thing is that some people would not look at the serpent on the pole, because it was too easy, and so they died. So, you see, the serpent on the pole is symbolic of Jesus Christ, and those who have faith in Jesus Christ and look toward Him, will live. It is faith …"
Ty swallowed hard and for a moment he could not speak.
"It is by faith … in Christ that we are saved. That is the story."
Ty sits down and rubs his eyes slowly one at a time.
"Thank you, Ty," Henry says. "I love that story, too. Anyone else have a favorite story?" Henry looks around at each member of his family.
"Teancum," Joseph blurts out, then coughs deep in his chest.
"Would you like to tell us the story, Joseph?" his father asks.
"I was hoping that maybe we could read it," Joseph squeaks. "I don't remember it very well."
"I think it is in Alma near the end," Henry says, picking up his Book of Mormon and flipping it open. "Yes. Here it is. Who can tell us what is going on at this point in the story?"
I raise my hand and Henry nods at me. "Teancum is a great Nephite warrior and the Nephites are at war with the Lamanites."
"And doesn't Teancum sneak into another guy's tent?" Annie says.
"That's right," Henry says. "Who would like to read it?"
"I would," William says.
William reads about the Lamanite army ferociously fighting the mighty Nephite army, and at night both armies camp and rest because they are so exhausted. But Teancum does not sleep. Instead, he sneaks into the tent of Amalickiah, the Lamanite king, and kills him in the night, then sneaks back to his own camp. In the morning the Lamanite army is confused and retreats.
"You can be sure that Teancum had faith in Jesus Christ," Henry concludes.
We sing a hymn that I do not know very well, and George offers the closing prayer.
"How's your leg doing?" Annie asks, scooting up close to Joseph.
"It's getting better," he says, pulling up the blanket. He coughs, wheezing as he gasps more air. "The swelling has gone way down already." Joseph pokes his finger at his leg and whines. "It only hurts a little, now. My chest hurts way more. Especially when I cough."
"I know," Annie sympathizes. She coughs, too. "Do you think you can play marbles?"
"Sure, if we play next to my bed. I have to keep the blanket around me. Mother says."
I look around and see Ty sitting in the sunlight just past the wagon in which we had hidden almost two months ago. He motions to me with his head to come join him. He has a small piece of paper that George had given to him and I can tell that he is writing.
"A letter to Sarah?" I ask, a little surprised, pointing to the paper with my finger.
"Yes," Ty laughs. "I thought I would try it … you know … just in case."
"Just in case, what?"
"Just in case we don't make it back to our time. Back to Arizona. It's her birthday next week … I mean, was her birthday … I mean it will be in about … a century … never mind."
"What are you going to say?" I half smile. I want to write to Lyn, but can not think of the words.
"Well … " he hesitates.
"If it is personal, you don't have to read it," I say quickly. "I just can't think of what I would say to Lyn if I wrote to her."
"Here's what I put."
"Dear Sarah,
I hope I am there in person to wish you a happy birthday. Currently Jared and I are in Colorado, in route to Utah. We are traveling with the Cottle family by wagon. I know. It sounds incredible, and I hardly believe it myself. So much has happened that I cannot write it all on this small paper, but it all started when Franky kidnapped Jared and me and set our car on fire in the desert. Anyway, I look forward to seeing you again. Happy birthday.
Your friend,
Ty Smith
P.S: I have read almost the entire Book of Mormon. I feel in my heart that it is true."
"Wow!," I exclaim. "That's really incredible!"
"I know," Ty says, twisting his smile into a look of doubt. "She won't believe a word of it. She'll think I'm nutso. I'm sure she already thinks that. Who am I kidding?"
"No! I mean 'wow' that you feel that way about the Book of Mormon!" I chuckle. "That means that miracles can still happen!"
"Like the miracle of getting back home?" Ty asks.
"Yes. I don't know exactly how we will pull that miracle off, but now I know it is possible."
"So you will work on locating the spirit pouch?" Ty asks with renewed hope.
"Yes, I will." I walk away and sit down by Annie. She is telling Joseph how she is going to bump his marble right out of the circle.
"You missed last time," Joseph reminds her in self defense.
"I know," Annie scowls, coughing a couple of times. "But if I get your duck out this time, then I win."
"Not if your taw goes out, too," Joseph says with a cough, also.
"You both sound like you've picked up a bad cold." I state, trying to sound concerned.
"Yeah," Annie says, aiming her marble. "I've had a cold before. It won't last long." She shoots her taw, but it hits a bump in the dirt and veers to the side, stopping only an inch from the edge of the circle. "Oh, no!" she says.
"You missed again," Joseph yells, but his exuberant cheer is cut short by a spree of coughing.
"You haven't won yet," Annie says. I can see a competitive fire in her eyes.
Joseph aims carefully and sends his taw rolling. It collides squarely with Annie's duck and bumps it decisively out of the circle.
"I won! I won!" Joseph yells. He coughs, then yells again.
"Okay," Elizabeth says. "It's time for all children who have been bitten by a snake recently to get some rest."
"You mean me, Mother?" Joseph whines.
"Yes, my Josep
h. I do mean you," she says, pointing to a pile of blankets. "Anyone who was as sick as you needs extra rest. Pull a blanket around you and I will bring you some venison stew as soon as I get it done. Meanwhile, I want you to lie down and close your eyes."
"Ah, Mother!"
Elizabeth points to the blankets, and Joseph reluctantly crawls into bed, wincing a little as he pulls the blanket over his sore leg.
"Annie."
"I know. You want me to help you." She gets up slowly and drags herself to the cooking area.
Joseph gets venison stew a short while later, and we have stew and biscuits for dinner.
During the night I hear Joseph and Annie cough. I feel sorry for them. Coughing until your muscles ache and your throat burns is painfully unpleasant. I know the illness will torment them, and us who must listen to them suffer, but then their bodies will triumph and return to health once again, so shortly I drift into a solid slumber until the dawn.
Chapter Seventeen
Willow Springs
Thomas arrives in camp early enough to see me crawl out of my warm blankets. He brings more eggs, which I am glad to see. Before long Elizabeth calls everyone to breakfast and to my surprise Joseph limps over to a wooden box near the kitchen and sits down next to Annie. He pulls a blanket up around him and smiles.
"You can stay for the prayer," Elizabeth says sternly. "Then you go climb back into bed."
"Aah, Mother," Joseph whines, but his voice is gravelly and he coughs with a dry wheezing sound.
Elizabeth raises an eyebrow and gives him that 'I-am-the-mother' look.
"I'm feeling much better, Mother," he says, stopping to cough again. "My chest hurts a lot from coughing, but my leg is mending really fast."
"Nevertheless," Elizabeth says, "You need the rest. I will bring some breakfast to you."
Henry calls on George to offer the morning prayer.
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