by Al Lacy
Soon they were drawing near Salina. Norma pointed off to the edge of town. “Look! A wagon train!”
The other three looked to see the wagon train, which was parked in a circle just outside of town on the south side.
“Folks from the east heading for a new life out West,” Ralph said.
Deena found herself wishing she was traveling in one of the covered wagons.
They drew into town, and moments later Ralph parked the wagon on the street in the business section of Salina. Rex hopped out and helped his mother down from the seat while his father climbed out.
Ralph paused at the tailgate and set firm eyes on Deena. “You stay there, girl, and like you were told, keep your bonnet low over your face and don’t talk to anyone, y’hear?”
Deena nodded.
“Rex will be watching you,” Ralph said. “If you disobey, he’ll tell me. And you’ll get another beating like last night. You want that?”
“No.”
Ralph stepped up to Norma. “All right, let’s go.”
As they moved down the street, Rex looked at Deena from where he stood beside the wagon. “I’m gonna sit over here on this bench in front of the hardware store. I’ll be watchin’ you every minute.”
Deena gave him a cool stare.
Rex crossed the boardwalk and sat down on the unoccupied bench.
Moments later, Deena’s attention was drawn to a group of people moving together along the boardwalk. She could tell by what they were saying to each other that they were from the wagon train that was parked outside of town.
She heard one woman remind another that the wagon train would be pulling out at eleven-thirty. Deena glanced at the clock in front of the Salina Bank building across the street. It was nine-forty.
The wagon train group moved on down the street and a few minutes later, Deena noticed three teenage girls coming along the boardwalk. One of them spotted the blond boy on the bench in front of the hardware store. “Hey, there’s Rex!”
All three hurried toward him, and as Rex saw them coming, he rose from the bench to meet them. His attention was fixed, however, on the pretty redhead in the middle. “Hello, Bonnie.” Then he greeted the other two. “Hi, Lulu, Charlene.”
All three replied at once, and Rex and Bonnie struck up a conversation while Lulu and Charlene observed. Deena noted that as Rex was occupied talking to Bonnie, he shifted position every few seconds until his back was toward the wagon. As the conversation went on, he remained fixed in that position.
The constant stream of people who passed by on the boardwalk was between Rex and the girls and the wagon.
Deena’s heart pounded as she told herself her opportunity had come. She would slip out of the wagon on the street side and make her way to the wagon train at the south edge of town. She would find a woman in the wagon train and explain her plight. A glimpse of her welts and stripes would show she was telling the truth. Certainly, that woman and her husband would take her with them in their covered wagon and help her escape the Dexters.
She checked Rex’s position. It was the same. He was totally wrapped up in his conversation with the pretty redhead. People were still moving by, and for the most part, blocking the view of the Dexter wagon from where Rex and the girls stood.
The prospect of escape pumped adrenaline throughout Deena’s body. She was completely unaware of the pain and stiffness as she went over the side of the wagon bed and dropped to the street. Moving in a crouch, she kept the bonnet low over her face and her head tilted down in case someone among the relatively few in the Salina area who knew her would recognize her.
Deena quickly moved between the Dexter wagon and the next one behind it and made her way along the boardwalk, filtering into the crowd. She paused for a moment and looked back. Rex was still occupied with Bonnie.
Pressing on, she turned the corner and headed down a side street in the direction of the wagon train. Up ahead, she saw some of the wagon train people she had seen before. They were carrying full shopping bags and heading the same direction. Ignoring her pain, she hurried up behind them and followed close, unnoticed.
When the group reached the wagon train and moved inside the circle of wagons, the desperate girl went in as part of the group, still unnoticed.
Deena’s mind was spinning. The women were all collected in one spot, talking about items they had bought in town. The men also were caught up in conversation. There were children laughing and playing just outside the circle.
There was no woman at that moment that Deena could single out, but she knew someone would recognize her as a stranger to the wagon train soon if she just stood there. She decided it would be best to climb into one of the covered wagons and wait till whatever woman was attached to it showed up.
She looked around and spotted a covered wagon that appeared to be unoccupied at the moment. She hurried to the wagon. Making sure no one was inside or watching her from within the circle of wagons, she climbed over the tailgate. Dropping quickly to her knees, she noted cardboard boxes placed in a line along one side, clothing piled in one corner, a couple of wooden chairs next to a small round table, and a cot that was against the side opposite the cardboard boxes.
She looked down at one of the boxes and saw lettering on its top. It read:
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Parker
General Delivery
Crown Point, Indiana
So these people are from Indiana, Deena thought. I sure hope Mrs. Parker has a soft place in her heart for teenage girls … especially one who has been beaten with a belt. Mr. Parker too, for that matter.
Deena heard voices outside, drawing near. She decided to hide under the cot. Going down on her stomach, she scooted under the cot and lay on her side with her back to the side of the wagon bed.
Holding her breath while her heart pounded in her chest, she heard the people talking as they passed by the wagon. She breathed a sigh of relief and began to come up with a plan as to how she would let the Parkers know they had an uninvited rider in their wagon.
As she thought on it, she decided it would be best to stay concealed until the wagon train had left Salina and had gone several miles further west. Once they had heard her story, it would be more difficult to turn around and take her back to Salina—if they still had a mind to—than to keep her with them at least until they reached their destination out West.
After another hour or so, Deena could tell that the rest of the wagon train people were arriving from town. She figured it had to be getting close to eleven-thirty. She grew tense when she heard the voices of a man and woman as they drew up behind the wagon. They were talking about the bargains they had found at the stores in Salina.
Deena pushed her head toward the edge of the cot to get a glimpse of them, and saw the man drop the tailgate. She guessed that he might be in his late thirties. She pulled back when he picked up two grocery sacks, placed them in the wagon, and shoved them as far forward as he could. They came to rest against the cardboard boxes on that side of the wagon.
Suddenly there was another voice. It was an older woman, who said, “How are you feeling, Valerie? Was the walk into town too much for you?”
“No, Greta, I did all right.” She paused. “But I will say that I’m glad I can rest now.”
The older woman warned her not to get too tired, and as Deena listened to the conversation, she learned that Valerie Parker had been ill the past several days on the trail and had spent much of her time in the back of the wagon, resting on the cot.
Suddenly the deep voice of the wagon master was calling for the wagons to get ready to roll.
“Okay, sweetheart,” said Brian, “let’s get you inside. I want you on that cot for the rest of the trip today.”
Deena peeked and watched the man lift his wife and place her in the wagon. He then climbed in behind her.
While Deena’s nerves felt like they were going to snap, Brian helped Valerie lie down on the cot and put a pillow under her head, making sure she was comfortable. H
e then hopped out and closed the tailgate. “See if you can get some sleep, sweetheart.”
“I’m sure I will,” Valerie responded.
Deena heard the man climb into the seat, and less than a minute later, the booming voice of the wagon master filled the air. “Wagons ho-o-o!”
Brian put the team in motion as the wagon train pulled out.
Deena lay under the cot, barely breathing. The rocking and bumping of the wagon shot pain through her wounds and sore muscles. She clenched her teeth at times, but managed not to cry out. After a while, the trail seemed to smooth out some, and she relaxed her stiff body.
She had caught a glimpse of Valerie Parker’s face when her husband lifted her into the wagon, and she looked like a kind lady. Maybe I’ll be all right. They seem like nice people. I’ll just have to reveal myself at the proper time and hope for the best when they hear my story. My stripes and bruises will certainly back up what I say.
Deena adjusted her body carefully and found, if not a comfortable position, at least a tolerable one.
As the miles rolled slowly by, Deena found herself tensing up again as she contemplated revealing herself to the Parkers and having to convince them how desperately she needed their help. She tried to remain calm, but felt a tension growing within her.
I’m frightened, yes, she told herself, but not as frightened as I would be if I was still with the Dexters. This has just got to turn out all right.
Back in Salina, Ralph and Norma Dexter were in the general store, carrying some packages from purchases made in other stores when they met up with neighboring farmer Will Dutton and his wife, Althea.
“Howdy, neighbors,” said Will Dutton. “Nice to see you.”
“You too,” said Ralph.
Looking around, Althea asked, “Rex and Deena not with you?”
Norma shook her head. “Ah … no. Deena developed an upset stomach on the way into town. She’s lying in the back of the wagon. Rex is with her.”
“I’m sorry to hear she’s sick. I hope she gets better quickly.”
“I’m sure she will. You know how kids are.”
“Yes, we sure do, since we have four of our own.”
“Well, honey,” said Will, “we’d best be on the move. Lots to do while we’re in town. See you later, neighbors.”
The Duttons moved on.
The Dexters completed picking up what items they needed and headed for the counter. They had just paid the clerk when Norma saw her son come through the door.
Rex rushed up to them. “We’ve got a problem.”
Looking around, Ralph said, “Grab some of these sacks, Rex. You can tell us outside.”
As they were passing through the door, all three bearing sacks, Norma said, “Rex, you shouldn’t have left Deena.”
“Yes,” said Ralph as they moved outside. “What did you leave her for?”
“That’s the problem, Pa. I didn’t leave her. She left me.”
Ralph’s features darkened. “You mean she’s outta the wagon?”
“Yes, and I don’t know where she went.”
“Oh dear,” said Norma.
Ralph glowered at his son. “You were supposed to be watching her!”
“I was, Pa. Bonnie and a couple of her friends came by, and I was talkin’ to them right there on the boardwalk. Somehow Deena got away without my seein’ her.”
They were heading in the direction of the wagon.
Ralph swore under his breath and set angry eyes on Rex. “You were supposed to keep her in that wagon!”
Norma took a deep breath. “Oh, now what are we going to do? What are we going to tell the people who see the bruises on her face?”
“Why not tell them the truth?” said Ralph. “No one would blame me for smacking her for talking back to me like she did. Whoever sees her ain’t gonna see the stripes under her dress. We’ll put this stuff in the wagon, then split up and find her.”
As they moved hurriedly along the boardwalk, Norma looked through the windows of the shops and stores to see if she could catch a glimpse of Deena.
She bit her lower lip. Oh, what’s Ralph going to do this time when he gets his hands on her?
Suddenly, Norma realized what had happened. Deena had found the opportunity she had been looking for and took it. I hope this time she’s successful.
Still looking through the shop and store windows, Norma made a pretense of searching for the girl, but secretly she was hoping against hope that Deena had somehow made her escape and that they wouldn’t find her.
Rex said, “Pa, maybe Deena will think it over and be waitin’ at the wagon.”
“I sure hope so. She’ll pay if she is. She’ll have more bruises than ever when I get through with her.”
When they drew up to the wagon, there was no sign of Deena.
Good girl, thought Norma.
They placed their packages in the wagon, and Ralph gave orders to his wife and son so the family would search in three directions. They would meet back at the wagon.
It was nearly two o’clock when the Dexters met at the wagon, having covered every store and shop without finding Deena or anyone who had seen her. Norma had resolved that if she found the girl, she would encourage her to make good her escape.
Ralph said they would get in the wagon and drive all over town and see if they could spot her. They would ask people in every block if they had seen her.
It was almost four o’clock. The Dexters had covered every street with no sign of Deena.
Trying to appease Ralph, Norma said, “Maybe for some reason she walked home.”
Ralph guffawed. “I doubt that, but we’ll see.”
He galloped the team all the way home, but when they entered the house, Deena was nowhere to be found. Ralph’s anger had him breathing heavily as he told his wife and son the only thing they could do now was to go back to the town marshal’s office and report her as missing.
They quickly unloaded the goods from the wagon and galloped the wagon back to town.
All three entered the office of Marshal Garth Yeoman. His two deputies, Bud Nolan and Thomas Long, were there with him.
With his wife and son beside him, Ralph reported their foster daughter as missing, explaining that they had searched the town over and could not find her. They also went home to see if she had gone there, but she had not.
Marshal Yeoman said, “Ralph, my daughter Melinda is Deena’s age, and in different stores in town, the two of them have had private conversations. On several occasions, Melinda told my wife and me that Deena was very unhappy in her foster home. She has probably run away.”
The Dexters were inwardly upset to learn that Deena had been telling people she was unhappy.
Ralph cleared his throat. “Well, Marshal, Deena’s been having a difficult time adjusting to farm life. She’s a city girl, and it’s been pretty tough on her. That’s all she’s been unhappy about. Can you help us find her?”
Yeoman said, “You didn’t knock on every door in town, did you?”
“No. We just covered every store and shop and drove up and down all the streets, asking people if they had seen her.”
The marshal rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Maybe Deena has gone to some family in town, told them a sad story, and asked them to hide her. Since she is so unhappy, she might be able to persuade someone to take her in and shelter her.”
Deputy Thomas Long said, “Marshal, I’m thinking about that wagon train that was parked outside of town last night and this morning. It didn’t leave till eleven-thirty. Maybe Deena went to the wagon train and was able to persuade one of the families to take her with them.”
Yeoman nodded. “Anything’s possible. You and Bud get on your horses, catch up to that wagon train, and see if Deena is among them. In the meantime, I’ll organize some townsmen to knock on every door in town, and I’ll have some others make a circle on horseback within a fifteen-mile radius of the town. I’ll have them knock on every farmer and rancher’s door.”
&nbs
p; “Marshal, we really appreciate this,” said Ralph.
Yeoman smiled thinly. “We’ll do everything we can. Give my deputies and me a description of Deena. I’ll pass it on to the two groups of townsmen, since everybody doesn’t know her.”
Norma set soft eyes on the marshal, knowing she must appear to be siding with Ralph. “Thank you so much, Marshal. And you too, Deputies.”
Yeoman nodded. “I just hope we find her, ma’am.”
“Marshal,” said Ralph, “I’ll give you and your deputies Deena’s description, then Rex and I will take Norma home. We’ll come right back to be in one of those search parties.”
Yeoman nodded. “Fine, Ralph. Shake a leg, though. I’ve got to get this search in motion.”
Chapter Eighteen
Ralph Dexter pulled the wagon to a halt in front of the house. Rex hopped out of the wagon bed and helped his mother down from the seat.
When Norma’s feet touched ground, she turned and looked up at her husband. “Ralph, if you find Deena, please, please don’t beat on her.”
A scarlet flush started at Ralph’s shirt collar and moved up his thick neck. “She’s gonna get what she deserves,” he said through his clenched teeth. “C’mon, Rex. Get in.”
Rex climbed up onto the seat and looked back at his mother as his father snapped the reins and put the team to a gallop.
A shaky hand went to Norma’s mouth as she watched the bouncing wagon move up the lane toward the road. “Oh, Deena, wherever you are, don’t let them find you. Go, honey. Go!”
The sun was lowering in the western sky, and it was almost time to put the train in a circle as wagon master Lester Corbin was trotting his horse back along the line of covered wagons. His attention was drawn suddenly to two riders who were coming from the east at a full gallop.
Corbin kept his horse moving toward the rear of the train and had just passed the last wagon when the riders drew up. He instantly saw the badges on their vests.
“Something I can do for you, gentlemen?”
“I believe your name is Les Corbin, sir,” said the lawman on his left.