‘Emma is probably the nicest girl I have ever met,’ he said, honestly, ‘but there could never be anything more than friendship between us. She will find someone who works at something more rewarding than mining – and that’s what I am … a miner.’
‘I think you are destined to be something more than that,’ David Connolly said unexpectedly, ‘as I am certain Marshal Berryman would agree. I overheard him saying as much to Senator Schuster earlier this evening. He believes you have the temperament to one day become a great Marshal …’
Emma’s return brought that particular conversation to an end and, shortly before midnight, Olga Schuster, perhaps fearing her girls might be Cinderellas, gathered them together saying it had been a very trying day for them all. Ignoring the protests, from Emma in particular, that they were no longer children, she ushered them off to bed.
Emma’s protest had been to no avail, but she succeeded in turning her back on her mother for a few moments and holding Wes’s hand tightly while saying ‘Goodnight’ to him. When she had gone he realized, guiltily, that he had still not told her he would be leaving early the next morning.
When the girls and their mother had gone inside the house, David Connolly, John Schuster and a couple of other young Kentuckians announced their intention of going to the billiard room. Wes was invited to join them but Aaron was beckoning to him from across the terrace. Making his apologies to the others, Wes went to join his friend.
Old Charlie was seated beside Aaron and, although seemingly out of place among the well-dressed company, the buckskin-clad plainsman did not appear at all ill-at-ease. Sitting back comfortably with a glass of whisky in his hand, he was saying little, preferring to listen rather than talk.
Wes too remained as a listener until one of the Kentuckians asked him, more from politeness to bring him into their conversation than with any particular interest, what had brought him to America?
When Wes replied that he was on his way to Harmony, in Missouri, to join an uncle in the mines there, another of the group asked, ‘When did you last hear from this uncle of yours?’
‘The letter would have been written quite a few months ago,’ Wes replied, ‘I didn’t make up my mind to come to America for some time after I received it then needed to make the arrangements for travelling.’
‘I think you’ll find things have changed a great deal on the Missouri lead mines since the letter was written.’ The man who had asked the question said, adding, ‘I have a business interest in one of the mines and was there only ten days ago. A great many German miners have been coming into the mines in recent years and are now in enough strength to begin flexing their collective muscle. They have formed a “Union” of miners and begun action to have their pay raised. They walked out on their employers for a while and there was a great deal of trouble when Cornish miners were brought in to take over the work – I believe you are from that part of England?’
When Wes confirmed that he was, the Kentuckian shook his head, ‘The Germans eventually won the day and are back at work now – but they have never forgiven the Cornish miners. Indeed, there was so much trouble between the two that most of the Cornish have moved on elsewhere. I suspect your uncle was probably among their number.’
This was disturbing news for Wes. He had come all this way on the assumption that there would be work for him at Harmony. There had been no hint in his uncle’s letter of impending trouble with other miners.
‘It doesn’t sound like good news,’ he admitted, ‘but having come all this way I need to go there to find out what is happening and, if my uncle has moved on, where he is now. He’ll certainly be on a mine somewhere. Like me, mining is all he knows … but perhaps the trouble with the Germans didn’t extend to all the mines around Harmony?’
‘It didn’t in the beginning,’ said the Kentuckian, ‘but I think you’ll find it does now. This “Union” of theirs has a stranglehold on every mine in the area. It’s become so bad that I intend selling my interest there – but the way things are looking I doubt if I’ll be able to find a buyer.’
Wes agreed with the Kentuckian that his prospects for work at Harmony was a cause for concern, but until he went there and learned what was happening he could not change the plans that had brought him all the way across the Atlantic from England.
CHAPTER 21
Wes and Aaron were up before most of the house guests the following morning but, early as they were, Emma was already downstairs waiting for Wes.
She greeted him accusingly with, ‘You never told me you were leaving early this morning. Mama mentioned it to me when we were on the way to bed. I crept downstairs after the others had gone to sleep, hoping to speak to you, but you were with papa and his friends. If I had come down this morning and found you were gone I would have been very unhappy.’
‘I knew my going would make you unhappy but there had been enough unhappiness in your life for one day, so I said nothing.’
It was no more than a half-lie. He had thought that if he told her he was leaving so soon there would have been an emotional scene and he would have found that hard to deal with.
‘Would you have just ridden off without even saying “goodbye”?’ Emma was only slightly mollified by his words.
‘No. At least … I was going to leave a note saying how much I had enjoyed your company and to say I wished we had met in happier circumstances.’
This was the truth. In fact, he had already written the note. It was in his pocket and he had read it four or five times before leaving his room. He was glad he would not now need to give it to her. He had been unable to make up his mind whether it might give her false hope that he really did care for her and was likely to come back one day – perhaps when he had made more of a success of his life.
He was also aware that the note would make it clear to anyone reading it that he had received only a very elementary education.
Thankfully, she seemed to accept his excuses and the arrival of her mother with an announcement that breakfast was ready to be served put an end to that particular conversation.
Emma sat next to him at the breakfast table but her mother was seated on his other side and the conversation was centred on Aaron’s appointment as US Marshal for the Territories and what it was likely to entail.
When asked what help he would have to bring law and order to such a vast and notoriously violent area, Aaron cast a glance at Wes before replying.
‘I was hoping I might persuade a certain young Englishman to come there and give me a hand, but he sees his future in mining and not in law enforcement, so I guess I will just have to manage as best I can.’
‘Perhaps it is not too late for him to change his mind.’ Silas Schuster had been listening to the conversation and he added, ‘Judging by what was said last night there is little future in the lead mining industry – especially for an Englishman.’
‘That’s quite true,’ Aaron agreed, ‘So I’ll keep a job open for him, just in case.’
Wes merely smiled and said nothing. He felt he had already made his views quite clear to Aaron.
Emma had taken in what was being said and, before everyone had finished eating she rose from her chair and going to where her father sat, whispered in his ear at some length.
As she whispered, he first frowned, then looked thoughtful and eventually nodded, whispering something to her in reply.
A delighted Emma kissed him on the cheek before hurrying to her mother and whispering in the ear farthest away from Wes.
Her mother arrived at a decision in a much speedier manner than had her husband. When she too nodded, a jubilant Emma hurried from the breakfast room, leaving her father to apologise for Emma’s rudeness to the others seated at the table, saying, ‘I am quite sure you will excuse such bad manners when the reason for it is revealed and you will not have to wait for too long.’
When Emma returned to the breakfast room some minutes later she was carrying something wrapped in a coloured cloth. Bringing it to the table
and flushed with scarcely contained excitement, she stood by Wes’s chair and addressed all the guests at the breakfast table, saying, ‘As a great many of you will know, it would have been poor dear Harrison’s birthday next week and, because he had worked harder than anyone to help restore the Schuster plantation to its former glory, Papa and Mama wanted to buy him something special as a present. We all discussed what it should be and when we were agreed, Papa had something especially made for him in Connecticut and shipped here. Sadly – very sadly – Harrison never saw it….’
Here Emma’s voice broke and it was a few moments before she recovered sufficient composure to continue, ‘I have had a talk with Papa and Mama and they both agree it would be appropriate for the present to be given to the man who shot his killer – and who one day might become a Deputy United States Marshal and put the present to good use. We all believe Harrison would have approved.’
Turning now to Wes, she said, ‘It is something I am certain you will enjoy owning, Wesley, but I hope you will never need to use it! Does that sound contradictory…? Well, when I give it to you, no doubt you will understand what I mean.’
When she lifted the towel from the present that had been bought for Harrison there was a gasp of admiration from those seated about the table as she handed Wes a Colt.45 calibre revolver, nestling in a soft leather holster – but this was no ordinary revolver. The gun-metal blue of the steel contrasted with a tooled ivory butt to make it a beautiful, if deadly, weapon.
Taken aback, Wes expressed disbelief, ‘This is for me? But … it’s beautiful!’
Glancing up he saw Emma looking at him expectantly and, rising to his feet, he kissed her. As she coloured up, he said, ‘It’s a present that Harrison would have truly appreciated. I echo Emma’s words and hope I am never called upon to use it – but, if I am, I will try to use it in a manner that would have had Harrison’s approval. Either way, it is something I will always treasure … always. Senator … Mrs Schuster … Emma, thank you very much indeed.’
CHAPTER 22
Riding away from the splendid mansion with the Schuster’s present affixed to his belt, Wes looked back when they were almost out of sight of the house and saw Emma still standing outside the impressive entrance of the mansion. He waved and received an immediate and energetic response.
Wes was in the company of Aaron and Old Charlie. The mountain-man had not put in an appearance for breakfast and when Wes asked him about his absence, Charlie replied, ‘I’ve never been able to get along with the fancy ways folks like the Schusters have of eating – nor with their manner of living, come to that. I slept in the stable, close to my mule, and got coffee and grub from the kitchen. That way I could use just my knife and fingers to eat without upsetting anyone.’
Remembering his own confusion when confronted with an array of cutlery at the first meal he had taken in the Schuster mansion, Wes said, ‘They do seem to use far more knives, forks and spoons than I’m used to. If Emma hadn’t been there to help me I’d have made a fool of myself at eating times.’
‘You’ve got time to learn fancy ways, boy … I ain’t and Aaron tells me the girl has taken a shine to you,’ Old Charlie commented, ‘Says it’s because of her you’ve got that fancy six-shooter you’re carrying. Can you use it?’
‘Aaron taught me how on the boat from New York,’ Wes confirmed, ‘Although I used a rifle against the river pirates.’
Aaron had been listening to their conversation and now he said, ‘He’s better than average with a rifle, Charlie, and knows how to point a pistol and pull the trigger but he wouldn’t stand a chance against most men who carry a handgun.’
Ejecting a stream of tobacco juice to one side of his mule, Old Charlie said to Wes, ‘Until you can handle that gun better than anyone you’re likely to meet up with, I suggest you keep it tucked away, boy. Men wearing fancy guns are targets for those who like to think of themselves as “gunmen” – and a great many of ’em really are handy with a gun.’
‘I won’t be going anywhere looking for trouble,’ Wes declared. ‘As for wearing it … I’ve only got it on now to please Emma. I’ll take it off when we get a little way from the house.’
Nodding his approval, Old Charlie cut a piece from a twist of tobacco using a knife he carried in a sheath on his belt – but which Wes thought would not have been out of place in a butchers’ shop. The tobacco safely ensconced in his cheek, he said, ‘Keeping it out of sight is a good idea … at least, for now, but Aaron tells me you’re on your way to Missouri mining country, around Harmony. If you’re looking to keep out of trouble then you’re heading in the wrong direction. You won’t need to look for trouble there – it’ll come and find you for sure. A friend of mine from way back is County Sheriff there, least, he was when I last met him, but he was born and brought up in America. So many German miners have come in during the last year or two they’ll be wanting one of their own to take on the job. It’s certainly not the place for an English miner. From what I’ve heard they’ve all been forced out and gone to find work farther West.’
‘I’ve heard the same,’ Wes admitted, ‘but I wrote and told my uncle I was coming out to him at Harmony and in the last letter I had from him he said he was looking forward to meeting me there. He might, or might not still be around waiting for me, but if things are as bad as you say and he’s moved on, he’ll have left word of where he’s gone. So I really have no alternative but to go there and find out.’
Old Charlie shrugged, ‘You must do what you think is for the best – but you’d do well to put that fancy gun out of sight before you get there lest someone takes a shine to it.’
On the way to the river, Wes learned a great deal about Old Charlie and the adventurous life he had led. Some of the details came from anecdotes told by Aaron of the days when the old mountain-man hunted food to feed Union soldiers who were engaged in fighting Confederate irregulars, or Indians – sometimes both – on the plains of the Western frontier.
The old man was quite happy to reply to the many questions put to him by Wes about the things he had seen and done, but he rarely volunteered information.
Nevertheless, before they arrived at the river Wes had learned that Old Charlie, now in his sixties, had been born on a desperately poor homestead in the mountains of South Carolina, one of a great many brothers and sisters. He had helped his father to scratch a precarious living until he ran away at the age of sixteen to go trapping with a party of Frenchmen in the Rocky Mountains.
Later, he became a buffalo hunter on the Great Plains, was a guide to some of the wagon trains heading for new lands in the West, then hunted for meat to feed both Union and Confederate armies in the 1860s.
In between such varied activities Old Charlie alternately fought Indians and lived, apparently quite happily, among them.
He was now heading west once more, this time to the mountains of Colorado to try his hand at the one thing that seemed to be missing from his adventurous life – prospecting for gold.
Much of his life story was already known to Aaron, but Old Charlie had been able to fill in one or two gaps in his knowledge and Aaron asked now, ‘Trying something new is fine, old-timer, but what happens if you’re successful and strike it rich? Will you go back East and live out the rest of your years in luxury?’
Charlie spat out juice from the latest wad of tobacco, but this time it was a gesture of disgust. ‘I wouldn’t go back East if I found a nugget as big as a tepee! The East ain’t for me – especially not the cities. There’s so many folk packed into ’em that there’s not enough air to go around for everyone. Breathe in and all you get is what someone else has just breathed out!’
Wes did not know how accurate Old Charlie’s description was of city air, but he was inclined to accept it. During the short time he had spent in New York he had thought there was a taste in the air and it was not pleasant.
‘What would you do if you suddenly struck it rich?’ he asked.
‘I’d buy myself a young Indian wife
– a Pawnee, perhaps. They’re good homemakers and have been taught how to grow food to fill a man’s belly. Then I’d take her to part of the Territories where settlers haven’t yet reached, get me a piece of land in good hunting country, and have a few hogs and maybe a cow. I might do that anyhow. It’s about as much as any man could want when he gets to my age.’
Wes thought it a simple enough ambition but wondered what a young Indian woman would think of such an arrangement. He could think of no young woman of his acquaintance who would be happy to cut themselves off from others in such a way, even with a younger man. He doubted whether an Indian woman would be any different.
CHAPTER 23
When the trio eventually reached the Missouri Belle, Anabelita was greatly relieved to see Wes. After greeting him warmly, she said, ‘Lola and I were expecting you last night and feared something might have happened to you both.’
Pleased that she had missed him, Wes explained, ‘There wasn’t time to make arrangements to get back here after the funeral, so we had to leave it until today – and we’ve brought an old friend of Aaron’s along with us.’
‘Is he an army friend?’ Anabelita asked, without any particular interest.
‘No, he hunted for Aaron and his soldiers during the war. He’s quite an old man who seems to have done all sorts of things but he doesn’t care too much for the company of others. He’s been a trapper, a buffalo hunter, fought with Indians – and now he’s on his way to Colorado to look for gold.’
‘Searching for gold in Colorado’s not likely to suit a man who likes to be on his own,’ Anabelita commented. ‘Half the world must be there doing the same thing … but forget Aaron’s friend – forget everyone else for a while. I really have missed you, Wes. I’d show you how much right now, but you’ll need to wait until tonight. The captain’s back from St Louis and Lola and I are helping make an inventory of everything left on board that can be used again.’
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