Out of the Crucible

by Marian Wells

  She left Daniel’s side and strode toward him. “Well, I guess I’ll be doctor,” she said crisply; then biting her trembling lip, she added, “Sit down and let me see what can be done.”

  His dark frown fled. “Ma’am, I think it’s just a flesh wound. It sure burns, and I lost some blood, but—”

  Daniel paced three steps and returned. “Better attend to the matter at hand. Mind if I just set that rifle aside?”

  The man tensed and then, as if the last of his strength fled, he slowly eased himself down on a rock. Daniel took the gun and propped it against the nearest fir tree.

  Hands on hips, Amy studied the man while she questioned Daniel, “Shall we build a fire?”

  “No!” both men exploded.

  Astonished, Amy looked at Daniel. He tried to grin, saying, “How many guests can you handle?”

  “We need hot water.”

  Daniel retorted, “We need to find water and shelter.” Now he faced the man. “Are you absolutely certain you don’t wish to be returned to your unit?”

  The weary face turned toward them again. It had begun to remind Amy of a cornered animal, wounded and held at bay. Daniel spoke gently, “We want to help. Believe it or not, the war we’re fighting doesn’t involve guns.”

  The night shadows were deepening as the man hesitated. Finally he stated, “Absolutely.” Giving a weary sigh the man said, “Name’s Matthew Thomas. They call me Matt.”

  “Daniel Gerrett and my wife, Amy.” The words were terse and Amy waited, guessing more would follow. “You make it hard for a fellow—”

  “To trust an enemy? Parson, I just don’t have a clear enough head to sort it out. After I was shot it was easier to run than think. Let me get my strength and then I’ll be off. Don’t want to cause problems.”

  Amy’s words crowded in over Daniel’s. “Problems? You are neither friend nor foe. You’re an injured man.”

  And Daniel was saying, “Seems right now the thing I want most is to give you a hand.” He paced to the horses and back. “The rest we can forget about. If you want to talk some time in the future, well, I’ll oblige you by listening.”

  Amy heard his sigh. Under the fir trees the shadows hid their faces from each other, but Amy sensed the sympathy building in Daniel. For a time the only sound was the restless stomping of the thirsty horses.

  Daniel moved to untie the horses. “Surprises me the horses didn’t break loose with all that commotion.” Amy watched as he struggled to untie the leather reins.

  Matt said, “There’s a stream down over the next slope.”

  Daniel nodded, saying, “Guess it’d be wise to water ’em and come back. Camping next to a stream is asking for visitors.”

  Daniel took the jug from Amy, adding, “Might be a little fire will pass notice tonight. We need the light. The odor of black powder’s still heavy in the air; that’ll help hide the smoke.” He stopped, and Amy bent her head to listen. The muffled pounding was horses, and they seemed to be coming closer.

  Dryly Matt said, “The Feds are going home. If they’d stayed at Fort Union, we could’ve had the place.”

  “You’re sorry.” The iron in Daniel’s voice surprised Amy.

  The man’s voice was soft, muffled. “No.”

  By morning the man was flushed with fever. Amy watched him shivering and moaning in his blanket beside the fire. With a worried frown, she looked up at Daniel. He said, “It isn’t that serious yet. A flesh wound like that is bound to have a fever.”

  “We need to get him to a doctor,” Amy said anxiously. “It’s a terrible wound, and I don’t know how to care for him.”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Daniel murmured. “I don’t think we’ve seen the last of the fighting.” He looked down at her. “Amy, one thing that’s significant. About the folks. The fighting isn’t taking place in town, so I’d say they’re still safe.”

  “We can be grateful for that.”

  She touched his arm as he asked, “Will you be all right if I leave you with him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think I need to do as much scouting around as possible. Seems to be the only way I can get a handle on what’s happening.” She nodded and sighed. Daniel bent down to kiss her, saying, “If there’s no activity today, and our man is well enough to travel, then tomorrow we’ll head over the pass and north.”

  “North? Mother and Father—”

  “Amy, we have a prisoner.”

  It was late afternoon when Daniel returned. He glanced at the man still shivering beside the fire before he dropped down beside Amy. She looked at his sober face. “You’re very tired.”

  He nodded and said, “Went down to Apache Creek. I guess it was what you could expect—dead horses, fresh graves in the meadow. No sign of either army.”

  The man on the blanket stirred. Turning his face he said, “Don’t think they’ve pulled out. They’ll hold their own and call for reinforcements.”

  Daniel’s voice was full of regret as he addressed Matthew. “The losses must have been heavy, from the signs.”

  “I expected that,” he muttered, turning his face away.

  Daniel’s hands hung limply between his legs as he continued to watch the man. Amy spoke softly. “I cooked some beans and rice with jerky, but he wouldn’t eat.”

  With a sigh, Daniel got to his feet and said, “Amy, I know of only one thing to do. Unless we ask the Lord to intervene, this man’s not going to make it. He needs a doctor’s help. I’m fairly certain he has a bullet in there.”

  Amy slipped her hand in his, nodding as she pressed her face against Daniel’s sleeve. When they knelt beside the man, he opened his eyes. His voice was slurred, tinged with bitterness as he said, “Do you think your God answers prayers for the enemy?”

  “Maybe He doesn’t see you as right or wrong, even good or bad, just a human in need of help.”

  “Saint or sinner? Parson, aren’t you failing in your duty? I thought preachers were to press the sinners to confession before they prayed for their bodies.”

  “If you have a need to pray for forgiveness, that’ll be the first consideration; otherwise, we’ll get on with asking Him to touch the fever and help us get you out of here.”

  In the morning, when Daniel rolled out of his blankets, Matthew was sitting on a log by the dead ashes of yesterday’s fire. He lifted a pale face as Daniel came to build a fire. “Sitting here, listening to the birds, makes man’s intrusion on this earth a profane thing.”

  Daniel threw him a quick glance as he knelt to pile pine cones and bark. “I don’t have that kind of book learning. I just go by the Bible, and that indicates man is more important than the rest of God’s creation. Important enough for God to give first-place consideration to him.”

  “Then you think God will forgive this other kind of profanity?”

  “You mean the fighting? Why don’t you just say the killing that’s going on between brothers? A fellow told me a while back that the Confederate is just as God-fearing and certain he’s in the right as we are. After listening to him, I had to admit had I been born and raised in the South, I’d likely feel that way, at least in the beginning.”

  Matthew looked startled. In a moment he said, “The surprise is that you northerners fight in good conscience.”

  Daniel straightened and protested, “But I wouldn’t keep—”

  “You’re feeling better.” Amy stood beside the crackling fire, trying to shake the wrinkles out of her gown. “I hope you will eat today.”

  Matthew blinked. “Why, I do believe I would like something. The need to be up was bigger than my analysis of the situation.”

  While Amy wondered if he was referring to their prayer, Matthew continued. “It’s humbling to have your enemies care whether you are well enough to eat their grub.”

  Amy went to prepare the cornmeal gruel, feeling nearly comfortable with the morning and with the sight of the two men sitting on the log talking.

  The bubbles w
ere exploding on top of the yellow sea of porridge when she dropped her spoon and turned. Matt and Daniel were listening too. “The Army?” she asked slowly.

  “I think so,” Daniel replied.

  Just as slowly Matt added, “Sounds like it’s coming up from the Johnson Ranch. That’s our forces.” Amy eyed the rifle leaning against the fir tree, and Matt turned a crooked grin her direction as he said, “Don’t worry. I’m done with fighting. I just want to slip out of the territory as soon as I have the strength. That is, if you’ll let it happen.”

  Amy looked at Daniel, remembering he had called Matthew a prisoner.

  Daniel got to his feet, saying, “We’d better eat that cornmeal porridge while we can. Could be we’ll be in the middle of the second installment of this battle.”

  For Amy the day was suddenly dimmed; even the busy chirping of the birds seemed diminished. They ate quickly and in silence. By the time they finished the last of their breakfast, the pounding hooves had passed.

  Thoughtfully, Matthew spoke. “I heard just two shots, not enough to add up to a battle. Now those horses are at a full gallop, riding like they have business on up the mountain.”

  While Amy washed and repacked the dishes, Daniel brought fresh cloths to dress Matthew’s wounds. She heard him murmur, “Certain you can sit a horse today?” She turned away as Matthew groaned and nodded.

  Daniel came to her, saying, “Let’s head out. You and I can ride together and Matt can use your horse. Fella, hope you don’t mind a sidesaddle.”

  “Daniel, we can’t ride toward the pass.”

  “I know. It’s Las Vegas for us.”

  As they mounted the horses, the distant crack of gunfire began. Daniel hesitated and his arm tightened around Amy. When the second round began, Matthew winced. “Might be best for us to stick to the trees,” Daniel muttered.

  Matthew nodded. “I’d suggest we push straight south from here. We’ll avoid the road and come out somewhere on the other side of Johnson’s ranch.”

  Daniel gave him a quick glance and Matthew explained, “That’s headquarters for us.”

  “I’d been warned to avoid the place,” Daniel muttered. “But I don’t want to spend the day wandering around in the mountains, either.”

  “We can pick up the Indian trails just up the canyon from the ranch,” Matthew offered. With a wry twist to his smile, he said, “I’m not certain how long I can keep my nose out of the dust.”

  Daniel nodded and nudged the mare with his heels as they turned to follow the line of trees.

  The sun was directly overhead when the sound of rifle fire faded into a dull distant boom. Amy noticed the terrain seemed to be changing. They halted on the edge of a rocky bank overlooking the Apache Creek, trying to get their bearings.

  Daniel pointed to the thick brush covering the low land. “Might be a good idea to cut up the slope behind us. We need the cover of the trees.”

  Matt nodded and fell in behind their horse.

  Daniel murmured, “As soon as we get around this hill, let’s stop and rest.”

  “I’ve been watching Matt,” Amy whispered. “I’m afraid—”

  When Daniel stopped in the shade of the trees, Matthew moved his horse closer, saying, “There’s dust hanging over that valley. I’m guessing there’s a bunch coming through. Maybe we’d better wait.”

  “I’ve been watching too,” Daniel admitted. “But I’ve about lost hopes of seeing who it is. They just dropped behind that bluff.”

  Amy had been looking beyond Daniel as he talked. Now she gasped, “Daniel, I think I see some men on the top of the bluff. Look!”

  “I’m looking. Horses, and blue uniforms.”

  As they watched, the line of blue grew across the top of the bluff. For another moment the line was motionless, and then like a fall of blue water, it washed over the brow of the hill and plunged down the incline. For a time there was only the thunder of hooves. Now shouts filled the air. Abruptly they heard the deafening roar of cannon.

  As the sounds continued, the three watched the distant fringe of trees. Finally Daniel shouted, “Let’s move higher! I can’t believe my ears.”

  Matthew plunged ahead and they followed. From their new position, they could see the ranch stretched out below. In the distance was the ranch house and barns. In the foreground they saw a milling mass of animals and a huge circle of wagons.

  As they watched, smoke began rising above the trees. Amy looked from one vast column of smoke to the other. “Daniel, what has happened—what are they burning?”

  “Wagons! There are burning wagons and stock spread all over that ranch. Those fellows have been shooting horses and mules. Look at that, Matt. What do you make of it all?”

  Slowly, heavily, the man replied, “Supply train. I’d heard there was one stationed at Galisteo. I wonder why General Pyron brought it in here.” He turned to face Daniel. “That’s a loss the Confederacy can’t afford. I have a feeling you Yanks have won this round of the fight.”

  Amy had been watching the road below. She poked Daniel’s arm. “Look, there’s a man leaving on horseback.”

  “Heading up the mountain,” Matt added. “That’s one of our men.” Slowly they dismounted and settled down to watch.

  All afternoon the glow of the fires was visible in the clearing while a pall of smoke spread over the valley below. Finally Daniel went to spread blankets for Matthew. Soon he was asleep. Amy came to Daniel, whispering, “What do we do now?”

  “Camp here until morning and then go into Las Vegas,” Daniel said heavily.

  Chapter 13

  Daniel and Amy moved away from the sleeping soldier and settled down to wait. By late afternoon, Matthew joined them as they watched the ranch. As dusk fell, the fires began to die down. Just before darkness took over the valley, they saw a movement in the trees between them and the ranch. Daniel murmured, “There’s someone on the road.”

  They saw a lighter shadow and heard the sound of hooves pounding across stone. There was a sharp crack of a whip and they saw the desperate dash up the road. Matthew spoke heavily, “Another one made it out.”

  Amy blinked at the tears in her eyes as she watched the rider’s dash for freedom. It was the despair in Matthew’s voice that reached her. For a moment the barrier between North and South was gone as Amy looked after the fleeing soldier. “Poor lad,” she murmured.

  During the night Amy lay wide-eyed and bleak, listening to the sounds of movement on the road beneath them. As horses pounded up the hill while others passed down, Amy sensed Daniel’s sleeplessness too. She visualized those blue and gray uniforms, some moving slowly, while others galloped through the dark. Occasionally, she heard a song sung in a heavy monotone. The sounds continued throughout the night, and Amy guessed Matthew slept no better than she and Daniel.

  In the morning they saw Matthew’s ravaged face, and Amy listened to Daniel’s terse comment. “It would have done them no good; you couldn’t lift a rifle.”

  Under the shadow of his silence they packed up and prepared to leave. But when they rode out from under the sheltering trees, a rifle was pointed at them. “You’re under arrest. As an enlisted man of the United States Army, you are in my custody until I hand you over to my commanding officer. I am obligated to warn you, if you attempt to flee, I shall shoot.” The rifle wavered slightly as it pointed at Matthew.

  “I am an elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church—”

  “’Tis a good story, sir,” the youth said gruffly, moving the rifle Daniel’s direction. “But I’m not blind. I recognize a Confederate uniform when I see one. The lady can go, but you must come with me.”

  Amy shook her head violently and said, “I’m staying with my husband.”

  The soldier shrugged and motioned them forward. “Let’s get going. It’s a long ride.” Instead of turning down the canyon toward Las Vegas as they intended, the rifle nudged them forward, up the mountain toward the north.

  Amy looked over Daniel’s shoulder and blink
ed at the tears in her eyes. “Never mind,” he murmured, “we’ll just trust God to work it all out according to His plan.” He squeezed her tight.

  “Mother and Father?”

  “We’re all in His hands. Amy, I guess I’ve never been in so tough a spot. One where I couldn’t do a thing to help out the Lord. Guess now’s as good a time to start as any.”

  “Start?”

  “Learning what it really means to trust. We’re powerless to do a thing for ourselves.” Amy nodded and pressed her fingers to her lips.

  It was nearly noon when their guard waved them to a halt. When they turned to face him, there was a cocky grin on his face. “We’re now approaching the battle site. Because there are still personnel from the Confederate Army on the grounds, and I don’t want them to feel obligated to attempt a rescue, we’ll cut through the ravine to your right.”

  “Confederate?” Daniel exploded. “Do you think we’re spies?”

  The soldier waved his rifle. “One shout or quick movement and I will shoot you.” He nudged Matthew. “Lead out, cut around that hill, and drop down to the next canyon. You’ll see Pidgeon’s ranch just ahead. Turn in there and proceed to the house.”

  Amy glanced at Daniel and he grinned down at her. “Don’t look so dismal; we’re on safe ground now! Hopefully Chivington will be there, and we’ll soon be free to go our way.”

  Daniel faced the soldier. “You said battle site. What do you mean? We saw the battle at Johnson’s Ranch.”

  The cocky grin was still on the youth’s face. “There was a confrontation between Confederate Colonel Scurry and his men of the Texas Volunteers and Colonel Slough, my commanding officer, of the United States Cavalry. Must admit, Scurry was doing just fine until he got word that Chivington had done him in. Wiped out the supply wagon. Heard there were eighty supply wagons and around thirty head of horses and mules. Took about seventeen prisoners. A couple got away.”

  There was silence as they rode down the canyon, following the dry stream bed which led them out onto the wide plateau. “Strange contrast,” Daniel murmured in her ear. “Look at the cows grazing like there’s not even a fly to pester, but those horses—”