Oregon Destiny

by Rachel Wesson

  When he returned, Jones flashed him a grateful smile. He had recovered his composure and continued with his story.

  “The tribe was hungry. With the increase in emigrants, there was less food to go around. Shoshone survive by living off plants and animals and by fishing. What was once plentiful became scarce. I was curious about the white man's world. Some Canadian trappers used to visit the camp and one, Alberto, asked me to travel back with him. He was going to Mississippi to see the world as he put it. I left with Kateri's blessing. We knew she would not be welcome in the white man's world. I could bring back money to use at the forts. I had other reasons for wanting to go back East.” Jones looked across the river into the distance. “That was the last time I saw my family.”

  “They died?”

  “They were murdered.” Jones' pain ravaged his face.

  “Mitchell?”

  “He was the cause. He is more responsible than the soldier who pulled the trigger.”

  Chapter 9

  David's confusion must have been obvious as Jones explained. “Mitchell is what is known as a land pirate. He wants wealth but is not prepared to work for it. Instead, he steals it from those who are weaker than himself. From what I learned, at first, he sold emigrants false claims. But there was too much work in that. Instead, it was easier to dress up like an Indian and lead an attack on a wagon train. He tried not to leave survivors but in the last two attacks, he failed. For a while his strategy worked. The soldiers were ordered to put down the so called Indian rebellion. They attacked our camp when the men were out hunting. It didn’t matter there were only old men, women and children left behind. They killed everyone.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Nothing you can say. When I led my first wagon train back, my brother-in-law was waiting for me. He told me the full story. Mitchell had recruited a number of Indian braves who he plied with cheap booze. He worked on their hatred of white people so there were Indians in the attacks. The ordinary Shoshone people were not responsible but that didn’t matter to anyone. What did Price say? The only good Indian is a dead one.”

  “Price doesn’t speak for all of us. How was Mitchell found out?”

  “I brought him in. I wish I had killed him when I had the chance. I convinced my Shoshone brothers the white man would take his revenge on Mitchell. The captain at the fort promised me he would hang.”

  “Yet he didn’t.”

  “He won’t get away the next time,” Jones vowed.

  “You can’t go after him. They will hang you for murder.”

  “They will have to catch me first. That man has almost fifty lives on his conscious, not including those white people he killed”—he spat on the ground—“he has to pay.”

  “I know you tried the right way before, but why not try again? Captain Weston was helpful last time. He might know how to get Mitchell put away or hanged.”

  “The army isn’t interested in Mitchell and other men like him. You've seen their reaction to Indians. It is only a matter of time before the Indians who have lived here for centuries will be a part of history. The newspapers back East are full of stories of Indian attacks.”

  “But they have been helpful to us.”

  'That’s not going to make the front page of any paper. Bad news sells, my friend.”

  “But what of Becky? You cannot make her a widow before she is even twenty.”

  Captain Jones's eyes clouded over with pain. “Becky will never be my wife. I don’t have anything to offer her.”

  “But what of your plans for a horse ranch? I thought you wanted to settle in Oregon. I thought you had some horses already.”

  “I do and I did but that was before Mitchell. He changes everything.”

  “So are you giving up on the wagon train families as well as Becky?”

  “Of course not. I made a promise to get you all to Oregon. I always keep my word,” Jones responded angrily.

  David stood up. It was time to get back before Eva got worried. What he heard had shocked as well as angered him. He hated injustice more than anything else in the world. But he wasn’t about to let his new friend make a huge mistake. If he killed Mitchell now, it would be cold blooded murder.

  “I expected more from you, Jones. This Mitchell man already destroyed your life once. Now you mean to let him do it again?”

  David didn’t wait for an answer but mounted his horse, turned it back toward the wagon train and rode off leaving Jones sitting at the river. Alone.

  Chapter 10

  He stared at the river for ages after David left. He couldn’t really blame his friend for getting angry. It wasn’t his family who had been murdered. He closed his eyes seeing his wife as she had been that last day. She'd stood smiling, holding the baby in one arm and little Crawling Bear's hand in the other. Crawling Bear was crying. He hadn’t wanted him to go but he had promised the boy he would bring him back something special.

  He opened his eyes sensing he was being watched. His Indian brother, Paco, stood nearby waiting. He embraced him, both men holding on to each other for a long time.

  “I saw you with white man. I waited for him to leave.”

  “He is a friend, a good man, named David. Thank you for coming, Paco.”

  “I got your signal. Why do you need to see me?”

  Jones smiled. His wife's brother had always been a man of few words. To outsiders it may seem like he wasn’t happy to see him but they were close friends. Closer than most brothers.

  “I saw Mitchell—Black Heart Devil.”

  Paco’s eyes blazed with hatred. “I heard whispers he was at Fort Hall but none of my men have seen him.”

  “I saw him.” He flexed his hand, the scars on his knuckles evidence of the fight he had with Mitchell.

  “Yet he still lives?” Paco scowled.

  “I know you want him dead. I do too. Not just for Kateri and my children but for her sister too. I know it hurts you to be the only one left.” Scott coughed as his voice was shaking. “I couldn’t kill him in front of all those witnesses. I have a job to do first. I must take these people to Oregon. Then I will deal with Mitchell.”

  “Maybe we should deal with Mitchell for you. You have other priorities.”

  Paco’s tone was like a spark to his anger.

  “It’s not like that,” he spat back.

  His friend’s eyes narrowed making him rein in his anger. He tried to speak rather than snarl. “I made a promise and I always keep my word. Once the families are safe, I will handle it.”

  Paco shrugged his shoulders.

  “You cannot go after Mitchell, you know our people will pay too high a price,” he continued.

  “Our people? Do you still feel that way?” Paco asked, his tone suggesting he was mildly curious but the expression in his eyes speaking the truth.

  “Of course I do. We are brothers.”

  “It is good to know you still feel this way.” Paco stared at him for a few minutes. “I heard your friend ask you about a woman. A white one.”

  Jones turned away from Paco. He didn’t want his brother-in-law to see the emotions on his face. It was too late.

  “You love this woman. Do not lie. I can read your face as always brother,” Paco put his hand on Scott’s back. “Kateri would not want you to live alone forever.”

  “Yes…I love her. But it is not that simple.”

  “Why? She does not want to share your blanket.”

  He laughed out loud at the thought of asking Becky to share his blanket. She would probably jump at the chance to live with the Indians for a while. She was always eager to shock people and try new things.

  “No, she would if I asked. But she is young.”

  “How old?”

  “Seventeen summers.”

  “That is not young. She is woman and ready for a man.”

  “Not in white man’s world,” he corrected. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter what age she is.”

  “Because of Mitchell?”

/>   “Yes. Kateri will not rest until he pays for what he did.”

  “Kateri or He Who Runs?”

  He squirmed, not only because Paco had used his Shoshone name but because his question had hit the mark as usual. Who was he seeking vengeance for? Himself or his family? His wife had been a peace-loving woman. She hadn’t wanted any part in the killing of whites even those who treated their people with little respect.

  “Kateri believed for every white man who dies, a hundred Shoshone would die in his place,” Paco reminded him.

  “That is why you cannot kill Mitchell. I am a white man.”

  “But your world doesn’t see you as white, do they?”

  Chapter 11

  Although he knew his brother-in-law often saw things others didn’t, his perception surprised him. He stayed silent waiting for Paco to explain.

  “I heard whispers but also spoke to Alberto. He told me of the issues with your family. They refused to believe you were Scott Jones, son of Matthew Jones.”

  He couldn’t argue. What Paco was saying was true. His father’s brother had refused to accept him. His uncle Jerry insisted his entire family had been murdered in the massacre. Jerry said he would have him arrested if Scott kept insisting he was his nephew. His uncle was wealthy and had a lot of power in the small town. Jerry seemed to think he was only interested in his father’s money but Scott wasn’t. He’d been looking for a family. Jerry had thrown him out on the street. His aunt had been slightly kinder but when she heard Scott had grown up with Indians and had a family, she too had turned her back.

  “You are right. They didn’t believe me. They don’t matter.”

  “But their rejection has increased your hatred of Mitchell. You blame him for taking both your Indian family and the rejection from your white family. Your friend says you should not let him ruin your life again. I think he is right.”

  “He is wrong as are you,” he growled. “I will not stand by and let Mitchell live.”

  “So now you are the all-powerful one? You are in charge of this man’s destiny?”

  Frustrated, he refused to answer Paco and instead, turned to go back to his horse.

  “He Who Runs, cannot run away from his own head.”

  “What would you have me do?” Scott twirled around, his voice full of emotions. “Don’t you know how much I want to marry Becky and have some children who grow up in safety on our horse ranch. But Mitchell being alive changed everything.”

  “It is not Mitchell, it is you.” Paco stared Scott down. “Keep your promise. Help the white people finish their journey and then set up your horse place. Your horses are in fine condition. My son, Walking Tall, looks after them very well.”

  “Please thank him for me. If I can get away, I will come visit with you over the next few days. I would like to see Winona again too.”

  At the mention of Paco’s wife’s name, his friend’s face grew pained.

  “What is it?”

  Scott sensed Paco’s grief although the Indian’s face remained impassive.

  “Winona is sick. Our medicine man does not know what is wrong,” Paco said in a voice choked with emotion.

  “I may be able to help. There is a white woman in the wagon who is good with medicine. Will I ask her?”

  Paco looked at him in silence, his expression doubtful. Scott couldn’t blame him. The Indians had little experience of white people being helpful. But typical of Paco, his worry was for Scott rather than himself.

  “How will you explain? You have not told these people your story.”

  “No, but I will, if it will help Winona. She was very good to me.”

  “She is fine woman and I do not wish to lose her. But I do not wish to create trouble either. There are many in our camp who do not like the white people. Chief tries to keep them in line but they are young and he is old.”

  “You sound ancient but you are only thirty summers.”

  “In my people, I am an old man.” Paco’s resigned tone worried him. Kateri’s brother had always shared her hope and optimism for a peaceful future.

  “Will I ask her?”

  Paco thought deeply. Finally, he nodded. “Come tomorrow night. It will give me time to prepare our people, and also, to tell Chief about Mitchell. He will not be happy.”

  Scott stayed silent. What could he say? The Chief was right to be angry.

  “I will meet you at the place of the two rocks. I will also ask my brothers to keep watch on your train.” At the question in Scott’s eyes, Paco explained the reason for vigilance. “In case Mitchell decides to follow you. Your people will not see them.”

  “Thank you, my brother.” He embraced Paco. “Please ask your brothers to look for second white man. His name is Bill. He is this tall and has long whiskers. He has a mean heart too.”

  “Why can’t you collect white man with good hearts?” Paco was teasing but they both knew he was trying to reduce the tension. Having Mitchell to contend with was bad enough without adding another enemy to the mix.

  “I will see you tomorrow. Until then, keep well.”

  He watched as Paco left as silently as he came. Now he had no choice but to tell Becky his history. He doubted Hughes or Mr. Thompson would allow Johanna to come to the Indian camp alone with him.

  Chapter 12

  “Becky, Ma says not to be late for dinner this evening.”

  “I won’t, Johanna, but what’s so important?”

  “Captain Jones wants to speak to us. I have to go, I promised to spend some time with Carrie and Sarah.”

  Johanna walked away quickly leaving Becky standing staring after her. Why did Scott want to talk to her family? She finished her chores and went to find her ma, but she didn’t know what Scott wanted either. There was no sign of David. Pa thought it might have something to do with the trail as he had asked Rick to be there too. But if that was the case, why were the other travelers not included?

  He couldn’t be asking her pa for permission to court her. Could he? No, because he would do that in private. But what did he want? She tried to stay busy but nothing could distract her mind. It was driving her to distraction.

  Eva waited until late afternoon, when Captain Jones told them to put up camp, to tackle David. He’d been in a funny humor since he’d come back from scouting with Captain Jones. Some of the men decided to go fishing but she asked David to stay behind with her. She indicated he should come into the wagon so they could talk in private.

  “What is the matter with you? If we were back in Virgil, I would think you had lost a dollar and found a penny,” she asked rubbing his back.

  “Sorry, Eva. I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Share it with me. We are married. That’s what couples do.” Eva moved closer to him her arm caressing his neck. She knew he liked it. He said it calmed him down. “Is it the trip ahead? Are you worried the oxen might not make it?”

  “Some of them certainly won’t but it’s not that. I can’t tell you, Eva.”

  Her stomach tightened. What was so bad, he wouldn’t share it with her?

  “It is not my secret. I would tell you if I could but you have to trust me. In time, you may come to find out. Until then, I promised not to say anything.”

  “Has this something to do with Captain Jones?”

  “Yes.”

  “Him and Becky?”

  “Eva, I said I couldn’t tell you.” David took her in his arms, kissing her on the neck. “I will share when I can, but for now, I can think of better things to do.”

  Eva let him draw her closer, his arms tightening around her, holding her pressed hard against him.

  “Like what?” Eva whispered before she dissolved into giggles as his stubble tickled her.

  “Maybe this…”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  Sometime later, Eva tried again.

  “Becky is worried about Captain Jones. She said he was acting differently toward her.”

  “I think we will all find out soon enough. I am not going to
break his confidence, darling. No matter how much I love you.”

  Eva knew she had to be content with that. Having known David for years, she knew better than to test his loyalty. Once he gave his word, it was for keeps. She just hoped he was doing the right thing staying silent.

  Someone knocked against the wagon. “Ma asked me to come get you. Captain Jones wants to speak to Pa and the family.”

  “Not the whole camp?” Eva asked through the canvas as she fixed her clothes.

  “No, just us. I have to get Sarah and Carrie settled. I will see you in a few minutes.”

  Johanna had gone before she got a chance to ask her if she knew why they were meeting. She looked to David but judging by his expression he was as confused as she. They hurried to make themselves decent before heading toward the family campfire. Eva’s cheeks flushed at the teasing look her ma gave her. Nobody else seemed to notice, thankfully, as all eyes were on Captain Jones.

  Chapter 13

  Johanna was standing studying her but Becky pretended not to notice. She rebraided her hair, staying silent. Johanna sighed. “I thought you would change into something a little more becoming, Becky?”

  “And show him how I feel, Johanna? Not likely. He either accepts me the way I am or not at all.”

  “Becky, darling, don’t be so spiky. I was only making a suggestion. It’s obvious how you feel about him, you have been on tender hooks all day.”

  “What could he possibly want to talk to Pa about?” Becky couldn’t help asking. Did her twin think he was going to propose too or had she gone completely mad?

  “You will soon find out. He is here.”

  Becky took a deep breath before following her sister out of the tent. She took a seat avoiding looking at Scott in case he saw the desperation in her eyes. She wanted him so badly.

  “Thank you all for taking time to sit with me. I have a favor to ask and it’s a big one,” Captain Jones spoke to a point above their heads not looking at anyone directly. Becky had to sit on her hands, she wanted to jump up and hold his. To offer him support.