Romance in Time: An Oregon Trail Time Travel Romance

by Susan Leigh Carlton

  Maude’s eyes narrowed and her lips were pursed. “But we’re three days out of Fort Laramie.”

  “That’s what Mr. Watson said.”

  “The reverend and I’ll pray over it. He will provide an answer. In the meantime, you just lie down in the back. I’ll pour you some water.”

  She swallowed the bad tasting water, and lay back with her head on one of the sacks of flour. She closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come as the oxen plodded along, and the packed wagon swayed from side to side.

  Chapter five

  Thomas

  Cattle are the dumbest animals in the world. And they stink. I probably smell as bad as they do. Thomas’ day had started before sunup; it was late afternoon and he was bone-weary. The drive had started in Denver City two weeks earlier, and would end in Wyoming, God willing and the cooperation of the weather.

  “There’s water about three miles ahead,” Josiah told his son. “I reckon we’ll bed down there.”

  “Yes, sir,” Thomas acknowledged. “I’m ready.”

  The cattle caught the scent of the water and sped up. The four cowboys hired for the drive spread out on both sides to keep them together. “We’ll stop here and cross in the morning. Let’s get them bedded down for the night.”

  The cook dug a pit and started a fire to reheat the beans for dinner. “I’m only going to put out one rider on the herd tonight. Curly, you take the first two hours, then Thomas, and I’ll take the rest. By then, we should be ready to roll out.”

  Thomas wasn’t surprised to see his father take the long shift. He worked harder than any of the hands and expected his son to hold up his end. Using his saddle for a pillow, he curled up in his bedroll and was asleep in five minutes.

  It seemed as if he had just fallen asleep when he felt Curly shaking him. He awakened instantly, upended his boots to dump anything that had crawled inside, and pulled them on his feet. “How are they?” he asked Curly.

  “They’re quiet. I reckon they’re as tired as we are.”

  Thomas saddled his horse and began his watch. There was a full moon and thousands of stars twinkling in the sky. He decided not to awaken his father for the last shift and took it himself instead.

  The five hundred head of cattle remained quiet throughout the night. Thomas saw the glow of the fire when Lem began preparing breakfast. He rode back to the camp where the cook poured a tin cup of coffee for him. “Thanks Lem.”

  “You should have woke me up for my turn,” Josiah said, joining with him.”

  “It was quiet and you needed the rest.”

  “I’ll have time to rest when we get home.”

  “I’m going back to camp. I hope we have beans for breakfast. I dearly love beans.”

  Thomas rode away as his father snorted. He unsaddled his horse, watered and fed him. He would be on a different animal today. Horses got days off; cowboys didn’t.

  Two days later…

  Sophronia was at the door to greet them when they finished taking care of the horses. She embraced her son. “I’m glad you’re both home safe. It hasn’t been the same with you gone. Look at you. You’ve lost weight in the past two and a half weeks. “

  “It’s good to be back. It’s been a long trip. I’m looking forward to sleeping in a real bed again,” Thomas told his mother. “Being away makes you appreciate it more.”

  “Sophie, you’re a sight to see after looking at the hind end of cattle so long,” Josiah told her. “You’re a lot prettier than any one of them.”

  “Thank you, I think. You both stink. I’ll put some water on so you can take a bath.”

  “Ma, you’re not planning on beans for dinner are you?” Thomas asked.

  “He’s done nothing but gripe about Lem’s cooking for two weeks,” Josiah said.

  “I figured you’d be back today or tomorrow, so I baked some apple pies,” she told them.

  “I’m ready for a slice right now,” Thomas told her.

  “Not until after you’ve had a bath,” she told her son.

  “I’ll fetch some water,” he said.

  “How was your trip?” she asked her husband.

  “Hard. I don’t think I could make the trip from Ohio again. I’m getting old. Three nights ago, that boy didn’t wake me for my turn riding herd. He said I needed the rest more than he did.”

  “You don’t look old, just experienced,” she said. “It’s been lonely around here; it’ll be good having you in my bed again.”

  “This is good, Ma,” Thomas said, finishing his second slice of pie.

  She laid her hand on his. “You need a wife.”

  “Whoa, where did that come from?”

  “You’re twenty-three. It’s time you got married and gave me some grandbabies.”

  “Have you got someone picked out already?”

  “No, but I did hear about something that you could look into. I ran into Mabel Carnes at church the other day and she introduced me to her brother. He found an advertisement in a newspaper from a woman looking for a husband. He’s written to her several times.

  “I could never do something like that. There’s no telling what you might wind up with.”

  “I don’t know of any comely young girls around here, and if I hear of you visiting the fancy girls, you can look for a new place to lay your head.”

  “Ma, you don’t mean that.”

  “I do mean it. With their miner customers they are likely diseased.”

  “They have other customers besides miners.”

  “How is it you know so much about them?”

  “Son, this is something I should have told you long time ago,” Josiah said, “never argue with a woman, even if you win you lose.”

  “I’m going to bed,” Thomas said. “Wake me day after tomorrow.”

  He hugged his mother, “Night, Ma. It’s good to be home. Thanks for the apple pie.

  “Night, Pa.”

  “He needs a wife,” Sophie said.

  “There’s not a lot to pick from around here. I’m going to go on to bed. You coming?”

  “I’ll be along after I clean up.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  He wasn’t. He was sound asleep.

  Chapter six

  Fort Laramie

  “Miss Sanders, You still do not remember how you got where we found you?”

  She shook her head.

  “We’ll be getting to Mesa Wells tomorrow, and I plan to lay over there for a couple of days to give the stock some time to feed and recover some from their sore hooves,” Caleb Watson said. “With any kind of luck, there will be someone there who can take you back to Fort Laramie.”

  “Where are you going, Mr. Watson?”

  “Oregon City.”

  “I see. I certainly don’t want to go that far. Not at this time.” As soon as the word was spoken, something clicked in her mind.

  Impossible. There’s no such thing as time travel. Is there? It would explain everything. Einstein’s theory of relativity hinted at it. Doctor Hicks at OSU believed it. Even Stephen Hawking believes it is possible. I had better keep this idea to myself or these people will really think I’m loony.

  Two days later…

  “Miss Sanders, there are three wagons turning back. It will take them about six days to reach Fort Laramie. They’ve decided to return home and have agreed to take you if that is your wish. In my opinion, they are good people who decided the ordeal of going through the mountains would be too much for them. Do you want to take advantage of this?

  “We could find a place for you with us, if you like. We’re about three months from Oregon City, but the toughest part is still ahead of us.”

  “Mr. Watson, I do appreciate your kind offer, but I believe it would be in my best interest to return and see if I can find my way home.”

  “I understand, and wish you luck. I’ll introduce you to your benefactors.”

  Six days later, the three-wagon caravan reached Fort Laramie. Abby had visited the fort in her own
time, but it had looked nothing like the muddy mess before her now. The walls appeared more formidable, and visitors had to be let in by a guard, as opposed to walking in. She asked the young officer at the gate where she might find the commanding officer.

  “Ma’am,” he said, removing his blue hat, “Colonel Hays is in his headquarters, just over there past the sutlers and the blacksmith.

  She drew glances and stares from the people she met on her way to see the colonel. “May I be of assistance, ma’am,” the orderly asked, staring at the beautiful but strange appearing lady before him.

  “My name is Abigail Sanders, and I would like to see the colonel on a private matter if I may,” she said.

  He went into the private office, and returned. “Ma’am, the colonel will see you now.”

  “Thank you for seeing me, Colonel.”

  “What can I do for you, Miss uh…? Sanders?”

  “Just listen to me and don’t brand me as crazy until you hear me out.”

  “That’s an odd way to begin,” he said, narrowing his eyes.

  “It’s an unbelievable story I’m going to tell you. I’m from Zanesville, Ohio. I graduated from Ohio State University as an engineer. I have been visiting my grandparents on their ranch near Laramie.”

  “Which ranch would that be, Miss Sanders? I’m familiar with the ranches in the area.”

  “Not Fort Laramie, Colonel, just Laramie.”

  “There is no town named Laramie. There are a fair number of tents down where the railroad will come through, but I don’t know that it has a name.”

  “There will be a town there named Laramie. Just plain Laramie. Anyway, I was driving my car back from visiting Fort Laramie. Lightning struck a tree by the side of the highway and momentarily blinded me. I swerved and lost control. I had a sensation of flying, and then I was standing in the middle of a road filled with ruts from numerous wagons. Caleb Watson and Jack Calhoun rode up. They didn’t believe me either. I came back here with three settlers who are returning home. They can verify the circumstances of finding me. What they don’t know, nor do I, is how I came to be there.”

  “You said you lost control of what?”

  “My car. A red Subaru. It’s easier to show you than to explain. May I have a pencil and paper?”

  He handed them to her. With rapid strokes, she drew a sketch of her Subaru. She pointed to the front wheels. “These wheels are driven by the engine under here.” She drew an arrow pointing to the hood. “The car is steered by the driver using the steering wheel. Here.”

  “Miss Sanders, I’m going to be honest; I have never seen such a contraption.”

  “I’m sure you haven’t. Colonel, I was born in 1993. What year is it now?”

  “Why, it is July 10, 1865.”

  “That’s what I’m asking you to believe. I would bet you’ve never seen clothes or shoes like these. I am convinced that what happened is I traveled back in time. I don’t know how or why, but I believe it to be the case.”

  “That is an incredible story,” he said. “I don’t see how you can expect anyone to believe it.”

  “Indulge me. May I?”

  His brow furrowed, but he nodded his head. She went to the map hanging on the wall. “This is Ohio. The pin you have here is where we are. I flew into the airport at Laramie, about here. How long would you say it would take to travel that far?”

  “Three months, weather permitting.”

  “I flew from Columbus to Chicago and then to Laramie in less than six hours.”

  “How did you accomplish this impossible feat?”

  “In an airplane.” She turned the paper over and sketched a Boeing 737. “This is a jet airplane. It flies over five hundred miles in an hour’s time.”

  “Miss Sanders, I’m going to ask the post surgeon to examine you.”

  “Fine, but don’t show these sketches. The car will be invented just after 1900. The first airplane about the same time.”

  “Colonel, were you in the war?”

  “No, unfortunately, I was stuck here for the duration.”

  “On July 3, 1863, General Lee was defeated at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He surrendered to General Grant in May, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. Colonel, I am not crazy.”

  “You certainly tell an interesting story, I’ll give you that.”

  “Are you married?”

  “No, I am not.”

  “Is your surgeon?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, he is, why?”

  “If his wife is on the post, I’d like to show her something I can’t show you.”

  “If you’ll accompany me, I’ll take you to the good doctor.”

  Chapter seven

  Doctor Turner

  “Doctor Turner, Miss Abigail Sanders. She has an unusual story to tell, and I’d like for you to hear it and examine her and then report to me.”

  “Yes, sir. Miss Sanders, come with me, and I’ll have my wife join us.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you Colonel for listening to me.”

  “All in the line of duty. You’re in good hands.”

  He left to return to his office. Doctor Turner introduced his wife, Cora to Abby.

  “Doctor Turner. I’m not crazy, but I’m sure my story is unlike any you’ve ever heard. Would you and Mrs. Turner try to keep an open mind until I finish?”

  “Yes of course.”

  She finished the narrative. “Miss Sanders, you are quite right. I have never heard such a story. I would like to examine your head for bumps or injuries.”

  “Feel free. Keep in mind, it has been ten days since I was found by the wagon train.”

  “There are no signs of any injury that I can see. You don’t appear to have amnesia since you know your name.”

  “Doctor, I know a lot more than my name. May I have a few minutes alone with your wife? I would like to show her further proof?”

  “Yes, I’ll leave you while I attend to other duties.”

  “You have probably never seen such clothing as I’m wearing,” she told the doctor’s wife. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I would like to show you my underwear. It will either convince you or add more to the mystery.”

  She removed her blouse and said, “This is a brassiere, but is called a bra. It gives support to a woman’s breasts. If you look at the back, you will see a tag that says ‘34B’. The B is the cup size and the 34 is my chest measurement. The tag may also have a date on it, but I haven’t examined it that closely. There is another tag giving laundering instructions.”

  She slid her slacks down to reveal her panties. “These are called panties or underpants. The band has elastic to hold them up. My shoes are also quite different from yours.”

  “I am astounded. You are quite right. I’m certain these garments cannot be found for purchase. I am particularly interested in the piece you called a bra. The high bodices of my dresses are not comfortable. I’ll let Jim know we’re finished.”

  “I fail to see how it might be possible, but if you are from another time, you must have seen great strides in medicine.”

  “Indeed, there have been. I hesitate to mention some of them, because sometimes they boggle my mind and I’ve seen them and read about them in the newspaper.”

  “I would dearly love to travel to the future and participate in some of them,” he said, a wistful look in his eyes. “I’m not ready to say I believe everything you’ve said, because as a doctor I like to see evidence of injury and you have none. I do believe in miracles, because I’ve seen them happen with no plausible explanation.

  “Cora, what do you think?”

  “I don’t know how it could possibly come about, but I believe her. The undergarments she showed me are not of our time.”

  “Miss Sanders, have you made any plans about where you will stay and what you will do?”

  “I have not.” Her shoulders slumped; she looked at her hands, and twisted the bracelet on her wrist. “I’m willing to work, but what I’m trained to do, isn’t done h
ere.”

  Cora looked at her husband. “Jim and I would be pleased to share our quarters with you until you devise a plan.”

  “I would be grateful. I can help you care for your patients. I have no formal medical training, but I am happy to do what I can, and I’m a fast learner.”

  “It’s settled then. Let’s go see the colonel,” Doctor Turner said.

  Colonel Hays’ Office

  “Miss Sanders, if you’d give the doctor and me a few minutes…”

  “Of course. I have nowhere to go and no means to get there if I did.”

  “Jim, what do you think?” Colonel Hays asked.

  “Don’t ask why or how, but Cora and I believe her, even though we know it is impossible. She has no visible injuries, her heart is sound, and she responds sensibly to every question. She is incredibly intelligent, We’ve decided to let her stay with us. She’s willing to help out in the hospital; I think she will be quite valuable to us.”

  “She could disappear tomorrow, just as quickly as she appeared,” Colonel Hays said.

  “That may be true, but I don’t think she’s planning anything like that.”

  “I would like to keep this close,” Hays said. “Lord knows what might happen if word got around. We could have another Salem witch-hunt on our hands. She seemed pretty discreet about it, specifically asking to talk to me privately.”

  “Cora will get her dressed in some proper clothes, so she won’t draw so much attention.”

  * * *

  “Abigail, that blue dress looks nicer on you than it ever did on me. I need to go to the general store. Why don’t you come along, and I’ll introduce to Horace, the storekeeper?”

  “Thank you, Miss Cora. I’d like that.”

  “Horace, this is Abigail Sanders. She is staying with us and will be helping out in the hospital. Abby, Horace Fenton.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sanders. If there’s anything I can do to help you, let me know.”

  “Go ahead and help these gentlemen,” Cora said. “I’ll show Abby around.”

  Benson turned his attention to the two men. “Morning. What can I do for you gents today?”