by Al Lacy
There was no reply.
Tony tried again. “Pa, when you took that spill off the wagon this morning, it was moving pretty fast. If you’d landed wrong, it could have killed you. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I suppose it could’ve. And let me set the record straight. The only reason your brothers and I attended that service was so we wouldn’t irritate nobody. We don’t want to jeopardize our chances of gettin’ more food from these people. And what’s more, don’t you be comin’ on to me with this Jesus stuff. It’s all bunk.”
“Pa, it’s not bunk. It’s—”
“Shut up! You listen to me! When a man dies, that’s the end of ’im. There ain’t no heaven, and there ain’t no hell. That Charles Darwin’s right! We humans are only higher forms of animals. So when we die, that’s all there is.”
“Darwin’s wrong, Pa. Dead wrong. It makes a lot more sense to me that God created this universe, and that He made man in His own image, as it says in the Bible. I read it myself. The animals weren’t made in God’s image, so when they die, that’s the end of them. But not so with man. He exists beyond the grave, either in heaven or hell.”
“That’s enough, Tony!” Dwight spat out. “You’re nothin’ but a fanatical fool! We don’t wanna hear no more of this junk!”
The other brothers nodded their agreement.
Suddenly Tony backed away from the wagon. “Excuse me,” he said, “I’ve got something important to take care of.”
When Tony approached the Cooper wagon, the moonlight revealed Solomon and Hannah sitting outside the wagon, talking to Stuart and Tracie Armstrong.
The conversation cut off as Tony drew up. “Excuse me, folks,” he said softly. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I just need to say a word to Mr. Cooper.”
Solomon rose to his feet. “Sure, Tony. What is it?”
“Sometime before you go to bed, sir, could I talk with you?”
“Of course. As soon as Hannah and I finish talking to the Armstrongs, I’ll find you.”
When Tony was gone, Solomon said, “Tracie, Hannah’s advice is solid. I sure want to see you and Stu go on and build your new life as planned.”
Tracie sighed. “It’s just that I’m so tired of all these problems we’ve been facing, Solomon, and I don’t know what’s coming next. I’m scared.”
Tracie said she and Stu would sleep on it and talk some more in the morning. Then she hugged Hannah and bid her and Solomon goodnight.
Solomon took out his Bible and said, “Well, sweetheart, I think this is going to be Tony’s big moment.”
“I’d say you’re right, darling. I’ll drop in on the children at Ezra’s wagon and see how Patty Ruth and Mr. Rabbit are getting along.”
Solomon rolled his eyes. “It’s going to be a little rough when we have to release Mr. Rabbit. She’s gotten pretty well attached to him.”
“Mm-hmm. Well, it’ll be a few more days. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. See you in a little while.”
Hannah was sitting near the fire when Solomon returned an hour later. The children were already in their bedrolls beneath the wagon.
One glance at his face and she said, “He did it!”
“He sure did!” Solomon picked her up by the waist and lifted her above his head with a hearty laugh.
Hannah giggled, telling Sol to put her down, and the four Cooper children laughed and applauded beneath the wagon, rejoicing that Tony Cuzak had become a Christian.
When Hannah and Solomon were settled by the fire, talking in low tones, B. J. said, “What were you clapping about, Patty Ruth? You’re not saved.”
“It’s ’cause I’m not old enough yet,” the little redhead replied. “But Mama and Papa said I’m safe. If I died, Jesus would take me to heaven ’cause He died for babies and little children who don’ understan’ all ’bout bein’ saved.”
“That’s right,” Chris said. “But you’re understanding more about it all the time, aren’t you?”
“Uh-huh.”
Mary Beth squeezed her little sister’s arm. “It won’t be much longer, honey. As soon as you understand about sin, and the fact that you sin before God, you’ll understand why you’re a transgressor and have to ask Jesus to come into your heart to save you.”
“Yeah, B. J.,” Patty Ruth said, bringing out a hand from under the covers to punch him lightly. “I ain’t a Christian yet, ’cause I ain’t one of them—what did you call ’em, Mary Beth?”
“Transgressors.”
“Yeah, that. I ain’t one of them, B. J. But you are. That’s why you had to get saved.”
“Oh, yes you are,” B. J. said. “You just don’t know it yet.”
“I ain’t neither.”
“Yes, you are—”
“That’s enough, B. J.,” Mary Beth said. “You two get to sleep.”
When they had all settled down, B. J. whispered, “Yes, you are!”
A tiny fist clubbed him on the chest. “No, I ain’t!”
At sunrise, Ezra Comstock was already walking among the wagons, checking to see if everybody would be ready to pull out within the hour. They had lost most of yesterday and needed to make up time. When he came to the Lander wagon, he had a brief conversation with Chuck and Elsie, then moved on. At the Armstrong wagon he talked with Stuart and Tracie.
As he walked, his ears picked up a third dissenting voice. Lisa Norwood was telling her son there was no reason to go on to California without his father. There was no future for her there. Hank had been her life.
“But, Mom,” Perry said, “I want to build a new life in California. I’ll make a home for you out there. I’ll find a good woman to marry and raise a family, and I’ll see to it that you’re taken care of. I promise.”
Suddenly Perry thought of Hannah Cooper. He knew she had talked to Elsie Lander and Tracie Armstrong, and he called out to her now. When Hannah came toward them, he said, “Mrs. Cooper, Mom’s wanting to turn back. Would you talk to her?”
Lisa flicked a glance at Hannah. “No offense, Hannah, but nobody’s going to talk me into going any farther. I want to go home.”
“Lisa,” Hannah said. “May I say something?”
Lisa kept her arms folded and her eyes straight ahead. “Go ahead. But it won’t do any good.”
Hannah glanced at Perry, then moved in front of Lisa to look into her eyes. “Lisa, I know I can’t sympathize with your grief, since my husband’s alive…but doesn’t Perry deserve to have his dreams come true?”
“Well, of course he does, but I want to go home.”
“Honey, who’s at home for you to go to?”
There was a long pause. “Nobody.”
“Then why don’t you think of Perry and go on to California with him?”
Lisa blinked away the tears that surfaced and looked away.
Hannah squeezed Perry’s arm. “I think everything will work out.”
Perry smiled and put an arm around his mother. “Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.”
As Hannah turned to go, she almost bumped into Ezra Comstock, who was coming to talk with the Norwoods. “Perry, if your mother wants to go home, there’s a way she can do it without traveling in danger.”
“And how would that be, Mr. Comstock?” Perry asked.
“Well, about the time we cross the Little Blue River due west of here, we should run into a large wagon train that hauls supplies out west. It returns east about this time, and I usually run into it a few miles west of the Little Blue. You and your mother could travel back with the supply train. They have a lot of wagons, and plenty of armed men. The Indians have never bothered ’em… comin’ or goin’.”
Perry looked down at his mother and said, “Thanks for telling us about it, Mr. Comstock. I think Mom’s decided to go on, but if I’m wrong, we’ll talk to you about it later.”
“Fine.”
“Just how long till we reach the Little Blue?”
“If we can stay on schedule, ’bout another eleven or twelve days.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
As Ezra and Hannah walked toward the Cooper wagon, Ezra said, “I’ve already talked to the Landers and the Armstrongs about the supply train. Elsie is pushin’ Chuck to join it and go home.”
“And what about the Armstrongs?”
“Tracie is undecided. Stu told her they’d do whatever she wants.”
Hannah nodded, as Ezra veered off in another direction.
An hour later the wagons were ready to pull out. The Norwoods and the Landers hurried to the graves to say “goodbye” one last time. It was an incredibly lonely feeling to leave their loved ones to the wide open spaces and the wind, and to the knowledge that they would never pass this way again.
Rain fell on the Nebraska prairie for about an hour that day but wasn’t heavy enough to slow down the train. Polly Winters and Patty Ruth “bummed” a ride with Micah Comstock so they could travel with Mr. Rabbit.
B. J. and Billy Perryman played alongside the Cooper wagon for most of the day, and Corrie Weathers rode on the wagon seat next to Mary Beth and Hannah. Solomon and Chris rode their saddle horses.
Late in the afternoon the train came to a winding creek that ran swift and full because of the recent rains. Ezra told everyone to fill their water barrels. At the end of the day, he was satisfied with the fourteen miles they had come.
After the Cooper children were in their bedrolls, Solomon took Hannah’s hand and said, “Mrs. Cooper, may I have the pleasure of a walk in the moonlight?”
“You certainly may, Mr. Cooper.”
They left the circle and strolled over the grassy fields. “Hannah,” Solomon said, “I appreciate the way you’ve tried to strengthen the women who’ve said they want to turn back. You’re the most wonderful woman God ever made. You have such a marvelous way about you. I love you for being such a strong person.”
Hannah squeezed his hand. “Sweetheart, what strength I have comes from the Lord. I have none in myself.”
“I’m aware of that, but the Lord can only give strength to those who let Him.”
Solomon stopped and took Hannah in his arms. “I think all the stars left the sky and are nestling in those beautiful brown eyes of yours.”
Hannah slid her arms around his neck and half-whispered, “If there are stars in my eyes, you handsome lug, it’s because I’m looking at you!”
They kissed long and lingeringly, then headed back to the wagon.
As they walked, Hannah looked west and said, “Out there, darling, is Wyoming. Oh, I know we’re going to be so happy there!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
When the wagon train made camp at the close of the eighteenth day, Ezra Comstock announced that they had come one hundred and forty-four miles since leaving Independence. Because of the storms, they had averaged eight miles a day. They must do better from this point on or face the possibility of running into snow in the Sierras.
The nineteenth day was Sunday, June 12. They had a service just after breakfast, and Solomon Cooper brought the Bible message, as he had the previous two Sundays. When Solomon was finished, Tony Cuzak raised his hand and asked if he could say something to the group. He announced that he had become a Christian on the night after the tornado had swept through. The Christians in the group rejoiced with him, but there was no rejoicing on the fringe of the crowd where Walt Cuzak stood with his other sons.
While Ezra closed the service in prayer, Walt swung his fist through the air and softly ejected a string of profanity. To his sons, he said, “That rotten, no-good kid has made a fool of himself! He’s embarrassed the rest of this family!”
“We oughtta disown ’im, Pa!” Frank said. “He don’t deserve to be a part of this family!”
“Yeah,” Edmund and Gordon said in unison. Edmund continued to speak. “It’s bad enough havin’ to live with knowin’ Ma was one of them crazy fanatics, but at least she’s dead. I don’t cotton to havin’ no more of them fools in the family.”
“Right!” Dwight said. “If we disown ’im, he won’t be diggin’ gold with us, and we won’t have to share none with him!”
“Well spoken, boys,” Walt said. “We’ll just take care of that right now.”
Ezra dismissed the people, telling them to be ready to pull out in half an hour.
Tony knew his father and brothers were going to be upset at hearing his testimony. He turned to watch their approach and steeled himself for a tongue-lashing. “Morning, Pa…brothers,” he said.
“Don’t call me ‘Pa’ no more, you religious fool! As of this minute, you are no longer part of this family!”
“That’s right,” Frank said. “Don’t you be callin’ us your brothers no more. You ain’t! We’ve disowned you!”
“An’ don’t you go spoutin’ any of those religious lies to us,” Dwight said. “You’re wrong if you believe that Jesus talk.”
Tony’s voice broke as he said in a loving tone, “You’re the ones who are wrong. The day you die and wake up in a burning hell, you’ll know just how wrong you were.”
“Bah!” Walt said, and ejected another string of swear words. “Let’s get away from this fool, boys. He’s no kin to us.”
Ezra had guided his horse to the lead spot when Lafe Tolliver came running up.
“Ezra! Indians! I just saw a band of them near that stand of trees!”
Ezra swung his gaze to the north. “Don’t see ’em now, Lafe.”
“They were there, Ezra. Believe me. Vanessa saw them, too.”
“Don’t doubt it for a minute, son.”
“What do you make of it?”
“Well, no white man ever sees an Indian unless that Indian wants to be seen. They appeared just long enough to be spotted.”
“Are they going to attack us?”
“I can’t rule that out. How many would you say were in the band?”
“About twenty. Would that few take on a train this size?”
“Prob’ly not. But they might have more with ’em than they let you see. Might be just a ploy to make us uneasy. They don’t like us trespassin’ their country, you know. Or it could be their short appearance was a prelude to a visit. I guess we’ll find out.”
The people were on edge as wagon wheels began to roll. Every man who walked or rode a horse had his rifle in hand. Those who drove kept rifles in easy reach.
As the day wore on, the biggest threat was the merciless sun. A few days without rain, and the sun-baked earth was ready to engulf the travelers with dust.
At midmorning the next day, Ezra was riding with Dave Croft when he saw a band of Indians straight ahead, waiting for them.
“Dave,” Ezra said, “ride back and tell everybody we’ve got company. Tell ’em to be ready for anything, but not to panic.”
It didn’t take long for Ezra to recognize Chief Big Cloud. The Indian band stopped some thirty yards from the lead wagon, but Big Cloud and four braves kept coming. Ezra raised his hand in a sign of peace, and Big Cloud did the same.
Several of the men collected beside the lead wagon, rifles in hand. Among them were Walt Cuzak and his sons.
“Mama,” came a small voice from inside the Cooper wagon. “Are these In’ians gonna scalp us?”
“No, Patty Ruth. Those are nice Indians. They’re the same ones we gave food to back on the trail.”
Ezra and Big Cloud conversed for several minutes, then the wagon master turned in his saddle and called toward the men at the lead wagon. “Big Cloud wants more food. Everybody in favor of givin’ it to ’im?”
“We really don’t have any choice, do we, Ezra?” Bill Perryman asked.
“Not if we want to keep peace with these fellas.”
“Then let’s get them some food.”
“He ain’t gettin’ none of ours, Ezra!” Walt Cuzak stepped closer and scowled at Big Cloud and his braves.
“And why not?”
“’Cause what food we’ve got was given to us by the people of this wagon train, and it ain’t right to give away somethin’ somebody presente
d to you as a gift. We ain’t givin’ ’em nothin’. Besides… can’t you see what they’re doin’, Ezra? They been followin’ us! Sooner or later they’ll attack us! C’mon, Ezra, wake up!”
Ezra straightened in the saddle and noticed Big Cloud eyeing the Cuzaks with displeasure.
Over his shoulder, he said, “These Pawnees roam the whole territory, Walt. They ain’t necessarily followin’ us. If they were gonna attack, they’d have already done it. Now you listen to me. The way Big Cloud’s lookin’ at you tells me he remembers you from before. I’d say you oughtta smile at him and tell your sour-faced boys to do the same.”
The sub-chief spoke a few words in a deep, agitated tone.
Ezra spoke over his shoulder again. “Walt, he just said he remembers you. He knows by your voice and the look on your face that you hate Indians. Now, I’m tellin’ you, you’d better be friendly and donate some food so I can tell him you did.”
“Not on your life, Ezra! We ain’t scared of them savages, and we ain’t givin’ ’em no food!”
Ezra said no more. It took the people of the train about ten minutes to sack up the food and present it to the Pawnees. Big Cloud managed a slight smile for Ezra and asked him to convey his gratitude to the people of the train. Before turning his horse to ride away, Big Cloud gave Walt Cuzak and his four sons a look of pure hatred.
For the next four days, the train traveled in a spread-out formation to avoid the dust churned up by hooves and wagon wheels. On the fifth and sixth days, rain showers brought some relief and allowed them to travel in a single line once again.
On the seventh day since encountering the Pawnees, Ezra announced they were nearing the Little Blue River. They would be on its east bank by late afternoon the next day.
Since there had been no more Indian sightings, the children were once again allowed to walk and play alongside the wagons.
Patty Ruth and Polly rode in the lead wagon all morning with Mr. Rabbit, who was completely healed and getting frisky. Patty Ruth knew that any day now, Mr. Comstock and her father would want to send Mr. Rabbit back to the prairie.