Oregon Disaster

by Rachel Wesson

  “Why only one gun?” she asked.

  “You know how to shoot?”

  She nodded.

  “Good because I do not.”

  She gave him a look of disbelief but he didn’t bother to explain that most Indians had never fired a rifle.

  “It is a long walk, unless we are lucky and find some horses.”

  “Where are we going, or is that too selfish to ask?”

  He glared at her but she simply glared back.

  “We are going to Walking Tall. I told you that before.”

  They walked in silence along the trail. He kept a look out for other people but it seemed they were alone. For that he was grateful, as Sarah was making as much noise as possible.

  “Are you trying to get us caught?’

  “Oh, it speaks,” she said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t said a word to me for hours. Didn’t you ever think you may have misunderstood what I was trying to say back there?”

  Bear glared at her, wishing she would be quiet and forget about what had been said.

  “Well?” she asked.

  “I think you made it clear.”

  “I obviously didn’t. I know it’s usually the man who starts the conversation but I didn’t think you would. I know…I mean, I hope you have some feelings for me. I know I care about you. Why can’t we find a way to be together?”

  “It is not possible.”

  “But why?”

  “Sarah, it cannot work.”

  “Why not. Are you just scared?”

  “I am not,” he protested, but it was a lie. “At least not for me.”

  “Well I’m not scared either,” she said. “I don’t care what people think.”

  “That is obvious.” He cringed at the look of pain in her eyes but he didn’t make any effort to apologize. It was better she hated him than for her to think they had a future together.

  “We will stop here tonight. You light the fire, I will go find some fish from the stream.” He walked away without looking at her.

  “Yes, master.”

  He ignored her sarcasm and continued walking toward the stream. He had to admire her spirit. It was probably true that she wasn’t scared, but she had never lived the life between the middle of two worlds before. It was not a place he was willing to go again. He was never having a family. He would not subject his children to the horrors he had faced as a child. He sat, trying to catch fish but they obviously sensed his mood. He didn’t hear anything until the click of the gun pointed at his head. He turned slowly, kicking himself for letting his guard down so far that a white man had managed to sneak up on him.

  “Well, well what do we have here?”

  Bear didn’t answer. He had seen that look on a white man’s face before. He knew what it meant and it wasn’t pretty.

  Chapter 36

  The Sunday morning service was packed. People who hadn’t attended church for years seemed to find the need for solace. The declaration of war had shaken everyone to the core. The younger men seemed eager to go and fight, but the older men and women were less sure. The women didn’t want their sons and husbands getting killed or injured. Nobody seemed to believe it would end quickly. Tilly closed her eyes to the gossip and tried to concentrate on what the priest said during his sermon. He had prayed for lasting peace not just between the States, but for all the people of America.

  “Tilly, stop worrying. It will all be fine.”

  “I hope and pray you are right Fiona, but I can’t help thinking this is going to change a lot of people’s lives. I know it is wrong to keep people in slavery but that isn’t the reason why they are fighting, is it? It’s a lot more complicated than that.”

  “I don’t understand it either. I just hope nobody we love has to go and fight. If they do, I hope they come back safe. That’s all I can do.”

  Tilly didn’t argue. What was the point? She didn’t know what was going to happen. She knew if Almanzo went, he would sign up in another state so he wouldn’t risk having to fight his Indian friends. She looked at the people filing out of church. Already there were some in the community who held very prejudiced viewpoints. Would the war bring the community together or push it further apart?

  “Come on Tilly, we are all going out to Jo’s to meet little Richie. Della is cooking dinner and I’m starving.”

  Tilly smiled at her husband. Trust him to be thinking about food at a time like this. Still, he was right. They didn’t know anything yet so what was the point in worrying. In the meantime, they had plenty to rejoice about. Jo had delivered a healthy baby and both were doing well. The whole family would be gathered together again to celebrate the birth. She had to savor these occasions. The memories would help them all get through the war if it came to Portland.

  * * *

  Later, Jo looked up at her family around her. Richie was a wonderful baby, good from the start. She had recovered from the birth very quickly. Her daughters loved their younger brother as did Carrie and Bridget. Jo found herself feeling a little less pain when she thought about Rick. She still missed him desperately and wished he were there to share her joy, but having Richie meant she still had a little part of him. Her family was happy. Tilly and Almanzo were obviously well matched and very happy in their marriage. Carrie was doing well at her studies and the twins seemed to have settled down as well. Her ma and pa enjoyed good health as did both her sisters and their families. The only blot on the horizon was Sarah. There was still no word of Rick’s niece, the girl she loved like a daughter.

  Bridget had told her that David had sent out some telegrams to other newspaper editors in the hope that someone would recognize Sarah, but there had been nothing. Maybe he would have some news today. He and Eva had yet to arrive.

  Tilly and Almanzo greeted David as he drew up his wagon and jumped out. He helped his wife down as the boys scrambled out of the back and went off to play with their cousins.

  “How are you?” Tilly asked, her smile fading at the look on David’s face. Instead, she inched closer to her husband. Something was wrong. She didn’t want bad news. Not today.

  “Fine, how is Jo?”

  “She is inside, tired but happy. Why? Do you have some news?”

  David’s facial expression was grim. Tilly took a closer look at Eva and realized she had been crying but was now trying her best not to. She went over and put her arms around Eva, drawing her into a hug, her heart beating fast as she wondered what was wrong. Was David leaving already?

  “I heard back from one of my newspaper contacts. I think I found Sarah.”

  “What do you mean ‘you think’?” Almanzo asked, clearly worried.

  “I kind of hope I didn’t.”

  Tilly stared at David but Almanzo glared at him.

  “What on earth is that supposed to mean?” Almanzo’s question was almost accusatory.

  “Almanzo, let David explain,” Tilly said gently.

  “A girl matching Sarah’s description is wanted for questioning in a mining town called Tyrell’s Pit, over the murder of a man by the name of Faulkner.”

  Almanzo turned white. Tilly reached for his hand.

  “What? When? Sarah wouldn’t kill anyone.”

  “Stop looking at me that way, I don’t believe she killed anyone but I do think it’s her. The man is dead and Morgan and Sarah are now missing and believed to be on the run.”

  “Edwin Morgan, I wish I had put a bullet in him when I had the chance.” Almanzo swore under his breath.

  “Then you would be swinging at the end of a rope. Now do you want to tell Jo? Or should we wait until we have more news?” David asked.

  Almanzo looked from David to Tilly and back again. Eva spoke, her voice soft. “I don’t think we should say anything. We don’t know if it is true. Jo is so happy now. For the first time in a long time. Why tell her before we know for sure?”

  “Because she considers Sarah her daughter and has a right to know.” Almanzo’s tone made T
illy’s heart turn over. She could tell her husband was terrified for Sarah.

  “I think Eva is right. Can you check if the information is correct?” Tilly asked David. “Maybe it’s a coincidence, Sarah and Edwin leaving town around the same time as the man was killed. It could be unrelated.” Tilly knew she was clutching at straws and, judging by the look on the others’ faces, they thought the same.

  “I have a friend over near Baker City. He would go to Tyrell’s Pit, if I asked him too,” David said, but he didn’t seem too keen on that solution.

  “No, I will go,” Almanzo said. “We don’t want anyone outside the family knowing this yet. Particularly not the Morgans. God only knows what they would do.”

  “But why do they suspect Sarah and not Edwin? Surely he is the obvious suspect?” Tilly asked.

  “That is what I intend to find out. Tilly, we need to leave now. I want to get going tonight. David where exactly is this mining village?”

  “You can’t go alone. You don’t know what’s waiting for you there,” David said.

  “I can protect myself.”

  Tilly kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want her husband going alone but if she said anything, it would look like she thought he was weak.

  “Darn it Almanzo, I didn’t suggest you couldn’t. But you might want to ask Scott to go with you. He is a better shot than I am. He is also good at tracking.”

  “Listen to him darling, please. I don’t want you out chasing after Sarah alone. You need help to find her. She could be anywhere.” Tilly tried to keep her voice steady. Her husband didn’t need her falling apart now. She had to be strong for his sake.

  “You win. I will ask Scott. He is up at the house with Becky. Tilly can you find him and ask him to come to our house please? I want to get some things done before I ride out. I need to tell the men what I want done over the next few days.”

  Tilly gave Eva a quick hug, kissed Almanzo on the cheek and headed toward the house. She had to find Scott and let him know without alerting any other member of the family. That wouldn’t be easy.

  Chapter 37

  “I asked you a question.”

  Still Bear didn’t answer. Instead, he estimated his chances of taking the man down before he shot him. If his shoulder weren’t injured, he would have stood a fair chance but now…

  “Get up, nice and slowly. Are there more of you or are you alone?”

  Bear didn’t answer. He only hoped Sarah had heard the man and was now hiding. He didn’t think her chances of being well-treated were any higher than his.

  “I said get up.”

  The man kicked out which was his mistake. Bear lunged for his leg and pulled it fast. The man fell to his knees just as the gun went off. The shot went wide, but it was enough to bring the man’s friends running. Bear ducked behind the first man using his body as a shield. It only worked for a second before the man got his second wind and elbowed him in the stomach while at the same time hitting his injured shoulder. Bear howled with a combination of pain and rage. The second man shot again, this time the shot ricocheted off a rock near Bear’s foot.

  “Next time I won’t miss. What do you want to do with him, Ernie?”

  “I reckon we could have some fun. Tie him to that tree for a start.”

  “I haven’t done anything,” Bear said, earning himself a kick from the first man.

  “I knew you savages spoke English. We don’t care. One less of you is all we care about, that right Stan?”

  Stan spit a wad of tobacco and brown juice out of the side of his mouth, leaving his whiskers covered. From the state of his clothes, it looked like it was a long-standing habit.

  Bear spotted Sarah moving behind the men but didn’t let on to them in case they saw her too. He wanted to yell at her to stay away but he couldn’t. God only knew what these men would do to a woman. He had to keep them talking so they wouldn’t turn around. He had no idea what she was planning. Why didn’t she run now when she had a chance?

  A shot rang out and the man called Stan fell over, a bullet hole in his head. The look of surprise on his face would have been amusing in other circumstances. Ernie swung around just in time to catch sight of Sarah. He fired his gun but his aim was off. In response, Sarah fired hers and put a bullet in his leg.

  Bear threw himself at Ernie and got his gun away from him.

  “You shot me, you stupid woman. Why didn’t you shoot the Indian?”

  “Cause he didn’t mean anybody any harm. The same couldn’t be said for you and your friend, now could it?”

  “Darn woman. You’re white, or have you forgotten.”

  “Do you want another bullet?”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Her response had the man hopping as the bullet very nearly hit his other foot.

  “There is nothing wrong with my aim. I had a brother who taught me well.”

  “Aw come on Miss, you wouldn’t shoot an unarmed man now would ye?” Ernie started pleading for his life but at a look from Sarah, he shut up quick enough.

  “What do you want to do with him?” Sarah asked Bear.

  “He is your prisoner not mine. You decide.” Bear walked away, leaving Sarah to come after him.

  “What should I do with him?

  “Leave him out here. Shoot him. I do not care either way.”

  * * *

  At that, Sarah nearly put a bullet in Bear. How could one man aggravate her so much? She looked at Ernie before throwing the gun quite a distance from him. She filled his water container too and threw that a little nearer.

  “You’re not going to leave me out here like this are ye?” Ernie whined.

  “Yes,.”

  “But I’ll die.”

  “You might. But I’m guessing you won’t. You can crawl to your water bottle and to your gun. By that time we will be gone.”

  “This isn’t what a God fearing woman would do.”

  “Your actions suggest you and God parted ways a long time ago. Maybe your injury will give you time to consider that relationship. I am giving you more than you would have done to him or to me for that matter,” she responded coldly. Then she turned on her heel and walked after Bear. She had to run to catch up with him.

  “Were you going to leave me behind?” she asked him.

  “I want no part of murder.”

  “I didn’t shoot the other one to kill him. That was an accident. I’m not nearly as good a shot as I claimed to be.” She spoke fast trying to explain herself.

  “But you shot at Ernie’s foot.”

  She smirked up at him. “He was lucky I missed.”

  He stared at her for a second before he burst out laughing. “Why should I be surprised?” He laughed for a little while more. Then he asked her what she had done with the man.

  “I left him his gun and some water. It may take him some time to crawl to them though.”

  “You didn’t shoot him?”

  She stared at him in shock. Surely he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t kill a man if she didn’t think she had to.

  “You really do have a low opinion of me don’t you? Do you think me a murderer?”

  She didn’t give him a chance to respond but marched off ahead of him. She wasn’t about to let him see how upset she was. After everything, the fact he would think she would shoot an unarmed man really hurt.

  Chapter 38

  They continued their journey in silence. Bear felt it was wiser not to try to speak to Sarah when she was obviously still upset. She hadn’t said a word to him for the whole day and last night had turned in without eating. She had barely said goodnight to Tala , causing the dog to whimper at her feet for a couple of seconds before running back to Bear with his tail between his legs. As the time wore on, Bear felt bad for thinking the worst of Sarah. Had he really believed she was capable of shooting an unarmed man?

  Having seen her with Tala and how well she had nursed Bear and the dog back to health, he didn’t believe that now. She had a kind heart, she
just buried it under a couple of layers. He sensed she had been hurt badly by her pa’s betrayal. The fact that her uncle even considered sending her away to an orphanage had obviously left a mark too. Indians didn’t understand an orphanage culture. If a child was left without parents, he or she would be given shelter from a member of the tribe. Usually someone who had lost their own children or whose children had grown up. Bear had heard of orphanages when he grew up at the fort. He had been threatened with it more than once, usually when he had upset John Redskin over something or other. They had been portrayed as scary places. He had never visited one so he had no idea if it was or not.

  He glanced at Sarah when she woke up the next morning. She hadn’t slept well. He knew as he had been awake too, but even if he hadn’t, the black circles under her eyes would have given her away.

  “Breakfast?”

  She didn’t answer him so he tried again. She needed to keep her strength up. Today they would start climbing into the mountains.

  “You need to eat.”

  She took the food without comment and ate it all. Then she rolled up her furs and got ready to move out. He wanted her to talk. He didn’t care what she spoke about, he missed the sound of her voice.

  “I am sorry.”

  She glanced at him but didn’t say a word.

  “Sarah.”

  “I heard you. Let’s move out.”

  “Am I forgiven?”

  She looked up at him, the look in her eyes sending a shaft of pain through him. “I can’t believe you thought I was capable of that. I know I was horrible to the little boy back at the laundry. I should have helped his ma. I know what you think about me leaving my family. But murder? I didn’t mean to kill Faulkner, but he was going to sho—’’

  Before she could finish, Bear pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Her lips were warm against his. She dropped the fur and wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her body against his. He pulled her as close as he dared as his lips explored hers. She tasted of mint and something unique. He was the one who broke the kiss.