“You can’t be serious,” Susannah declared, jerking away from Dianne’s hold. “Take my sons back into the war? Risk their lives? Risk all of us on that Godforsaken prairie again?” She pummeled her brother’s chest with her fists. Bram barely felt the attack through the thick buffalo coat he wore. Nevertheless, he took hold of her hands and stilled her fighting.
“I’m not doing this to hurt you but rather to protect you. You need to understand that and trust God with the rest.”
Susannah began crying hysterically. “You can’t leave me here. You can’t! You can’t just walk away—I’m your sister.”
“I’m not deserting you,” he said, looking past Susannah to where Dianne still watched him. She looked thoroughly disgusted by him. A quick glance at the twins showed they felt the same way. “You have to understand. None of the things you need are available in the area where I live. There’s no doctor, no stores, nothing. You and the baby will need more care than you can get at my place. This is for your own good and for the good of your children. Now let me go see if I can’t find you a better place to live. As I hear tell, a lot of people have pulled up stakes. Maybe the bank has something available.” He released his crying sister and Dianne immediately took her mother in hand.
“Come on, Mama. You’ll make yourself sick for sure. Let Uncle Bram go see what he can figure out.”
Susannah said nothing but cried all the way back to her bed and continued to cry even after Dianne had tucked her in.
“The baby!” her mother moaned between sobs. “I think the baby is coming.”
“Morgan, go fetch the doctor. There’s a lady doctor I heard about, McNulty is her name, I think. She’s down on Wallace Street. See if she can come. Tell her we can pay whatever she’s asking.”
Morgan ran for the door and was gone before Bram could offer to see to the task himself. He wanted only to be allowed to leave. Leave this sorry little cabin and his sister. Leave the accusing stare of his niece.
“I’ll be back,” he finally said, not knowing what else to do.
“Whatever you say,” Dianne murmured.
Her tone suggested he was lying. He frowned. “I will be back. I promise that much.”
CHAPTER 19
FLORA MCNULTY EXAMINED SUSANNAH WHILE DIANNE STOOD AT the head of the bed, ready to help in whatever way she could.
“I think she’ll be fine,” the doctor declared. “Sometimes these things happen. I think if she’ll remain in bed and rest, the baby should be all right as well.” She looked up and smiled at the crying Susannah. “Now, don’t fret yourself so. You need to relax and stop crying.” She noted the bottle beside Susannah’s bed. “What’s this?”
“Laudanum,” Dianne said softly. “She’s been taking quite a bit, ever since my sisters died on the journey here.”
Dr. McNulty nodded. “It probably won’t hurt her to continue taking it. If it helps her to rest, we might be able to prevent the baby from coming too soon.”
It wasn’t exactly the news Dianne wanted to hear, but she nodded.
“If she gets worse, send one of your brothers again. Otherwise, keep her in bed and see that she eats and drinks plenty. She’s quite thin and that’s not good. The baby needs sustenance, and so does she.” The doctor reached out and patted Susannah’s hand. “Now, you let your daughter take good care of you. Do you hear?”
Susannah looked at the wall, refusing to even acknowledge the doctor. Dianne handed the doctor some money. “Is this enough to cover it?”
The older woman nodded. “It’s just fine. Thank you.” She got to her feet and packed her equipment before pulling on her coat. The day had turned quite cold, and Dianne couldn’t help but wonder if her uncle would have any luck finding them a warmer house.
After the doctor had gone, Dianne called her brothers in. They had waited outside, currying the horses and seeing to the other livestock to kill time.
“How is she? Did the baby come?” Zane questioned as they headed back into the cabin.
“No, the doctor believes if Ma takes laudanum and rests, the baby won’t come until it’s due. She’s to remain in bed until then, however.”
“That won’t be hard for her,” Morgan stated sarcastically. “She’s hardly done anything else since Julesburg.”
“Be that as it may, we have to stay here in Virginia City. Even if Uncle Bram wanted us, we couldn’t go—not now.”
“I don’t understand him,” Zane said, shaking his head. “I wanted to stomp him, but some of what he said made sense.”
“I know. I can’t help but think there’s something more to this,” Dianne declared. “He seemed so uncomfortable.”
“Well, I have to admit, it had to be a shock to come to town and find all of us here,” Morgan threw out. “I don’t like what’s happened, but I can’t say that I blame him exactly. Maybe Zane and I can talk man to man with him later and see what’s wrong.”
Dianne nodded. “Maybe.”
The next day, Uncle Bram reappeared around noon with Levi Sperry at his side. Dianne didn’t know when the sight of someone had pleased her more.
“I didn’t know you were still here. I’d heard that the reverend and Charity had gone on to Oregon after all,” Dianne said as she greeted Levi.
“They plan to come back. I liked it here and wanted to stay. I knew I’d like it here even before we made it this far. It just seemed like the kind of place for me.”
“I’ve hired Levi to work for me,” Bram announced.
“You can take Levi but not your own kin?” Dianne questioned, then turned without waiting for an answer. “I have hot coffee if you want some.”
“No thanks,” Bram replied. “Look, I’ve found you all a better house. It’s bigger, warmer, and better designed. I’ve got my wife over there cleaning it right now.”
“Your wife is here in Virginia City and you didn’t bring her by to meet us?” Dianne questioned. “What’s the matter, are you ashamed of us?”
“Not at all,” Bram said, looking rather uncomfortable. “I just didn’t want to burden your mother in her state. It’s hard enough for her.”
Dianne nodded but was still unconvinced. “So when do we move?”
“Right away—now,” her uncle explained. “I’ve brought my wagon. I don’t figure you have all that much to take.” He glanced around the room. “Is this it?”
“Except for the livestock,” Dianne replied.
“Shouldn’t be hard at all.” He turned to Levi. “You help the boys get those trunks and things loaded, and then I’ll carry Susannah out and you can bring the mattress and put it down in the back of the wagon so she can rest on the trip over.”
Dianne looked to her brothers to see what they might say or do, but everyone seemed satisfied with the decision. What else could they do? Her mother couldn’t travel and Bram refused to have them anyway. She pushed back her anger and went to the makeshift cupboard where she kept their dishes. Without giving it much thought, Dianne put all of Ardith’s things into Betsy’s trunk, then used the empty trunk for the dishes and kettle. It was about the only packing she would have to do. Even the food sat in crates stacked against the wall.
The boys made short order of emptying out the house. Before Dianne knew what had happened, Levi had tied the chicken crates to the horses and the twins had secured the milk cow. Handing the reins of the horses to Dianne, Levi smiled.
“It’s sure nice to see you again, Miss Dianne.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Levi. I just wish it could have been under better circumstances. How did you meet my Uncle Bram?”
“He put word out that he was looking for a hand. It only pays room and board right now, but he promised come next summer that there would be some money as well.”
“I see. What does he need a hand with?”
Levi shrugged. “I guess the cattle. I’m not real sure what all he wants me to do.”
Dianne nodded. “Well, I’m sorry we won’t be there too. He wouldn’t have had to hir
e anyone if he’d taken us in. My brothers would be more than happy to help with the cattle.”
“I don’t understand. You aren’t going to live there? I thought that’s why you were coming out here.”
“I thought we were going to live with him too.” She paused and looked to where her uncle was checking the load. “He thinks it will be too hard, especially on Mama. I suppose he has a point—at least until the baby comes. Still, I can’t imagine it’s much better for us to be here.”
“Is that it?” Bram called to the couple.
“I would imagine so,” Dianne replied. She looked to her brothers and at their nod headed back to the house. “I’ll take one final look around while you get Ma.”
She was glad to be leaving the little cabin, but her heart was in turmoil over staying behind in Virginia City. She longed to sit down and discuss the matter with her uncle, but there seemed to be no desire for that on his part.
She followed the men out of the cabin, Uncle Bram carrying her mother and Levi carrying the mattress. Her mother was in a deep stupor thanks to the laudanum, but it didn’t prevent her from thanking Bram for changing his mind.
“I knew you’d come back for us,” their mother murmured as Bram tucked her into the wagon.
“You rest here,” he said. Dianne caught his eye as he glanced up at her. She refused to look away. She hoped he felt guilty for what he was about to do. Instead, he just shook his head as if there were no way to explain.
They headed west about a quarter of a mile, still keeping to the north side of town. Bram brought the wagon to a stop in front of a plainlooking box-style cabin. Dianne could see a small lean-to in the back that would be perfect for their livestock. Beside the front door of the cabin was a large stack of firewood—a surprise to be sure.
“It has two rooms and a back porch that’s enclosed. The porch should be good enough for the chickens,” he stated as he stepped down from the wagon. “There’s a shack out back that’s not real big, but I’m thinking if you boys put together a pole fence around it, the livestock will be just fine. I’ve arranged to get some hay and straw—not an easy feat in these parts, but I’ve got friends who owe me favors.”
Dianne dismounted from Dolly and handed the reins to Morgan. “I want to stay with Mama,” she told him softly. “Once she realizes Bram hasn’t taken us to his place, she’s going to be fit to be tied.”
“I know,” he answered. He moved away with the animals while Dianne went to her uncle.
“Are you sure you won’t change your mind?” she asked.
“Dianne, I can’t. I can’t explain it except to say I’m sorry and to remind you that the doctor wouldn’t allow for it anyway. You need to think of your mother’s health. You’ll be safe enough here. You have the twins, and a good number of the rowdies are leaving for Last Chance. This place will keep you warm and provide a good home through the winter. I wouldn’t have taken it otherwise.”
“What’s it going to cost us?” Dianne asked, her voice flat and emotionless.
“It’s not going to cost you a thing. I’ve squared for it already.” He looked at her and his expression softened. “I do love her. I love all of you and don’t want to see anything bad happen. Someday, I hope soon, you’ll understand exactly why I had to do things this way.”
With that, he went to the wagon and gathered Susannah in his arms.
“Are we there already?” she asked weakly.
“Yes,” he replied. “Levi, you can worry about the mattress later; there’s a bed already in place inside.”
Dianne opened the door for her uncle, grateful that it felt much better made than the one at their last cabin.
Inside was a pleasant surprise. A great deal of care had gone into the place. Someone had papered the walls with newsprint and there was a rough puncheon floor instead of dirt.
“If you’ll get that other door,” Bram said, nodding toward the opposite side of the room.
Dianne went quickly and opened it, finding a small bedroom. There was a nice-sized bed, already made up with blankets, that she could share with her mother, and a nightstand that actually held a bowl and pitcher.
Bram lowered Susannah to the bed. “I’m going to help the boys unload.”
Dianne said nothing, choosing instead to gently straighten the covers around her mother. Susannah smiled contently.
“I told you he’d come,” she murmured, then fell back to sleep.
Dianne felt so sorry for her mother. When she woke up, it would be just one more disappointment in a long list of nightmarish events. How would she ever be able to handle this? She was already afraid and grief-stricken. If she thought her brother had deserted her as Trenton and the others had, Dianne feared what her mother might do.
Leaving her mother’s side, Dianne went out into the main room and found that the men had made quick order of the work. The trunks were stacked neatly to one side and the crates of food were piled near the kitchen area. A sturdy, nicely finished table and chairs stood against one wall and not far from it was a small kitchen with two cupboards and a decent counter to work on. There was a washtub for dishes and a pail of water sitting ready to use. Beyond that, a large iron stove graced the room. It was no doubt used for both heating and cooking. The warmth it gave off was easy to feel, even from across the room. No doubt Uncle Bram’s wife had thoughtfully seen to warming the house for its new occupants.
The rest of the room surprised her as well. There was a rocking chair and bench with a wooden back. And the room was quite spacious, large enough to accommodate Morgan and Zane sleeping on the floor—or even allow for another bed or two to be brought in. There was also a window with thick wooden shutters to seal out the cold or to leave open to let in the light. All in all, it looked like a very pleasant place to live.
She saw the door beside the stove and went to investigate, finding the porch Uncle Bram had mentioned. This was a very nice addition indeed. It would be a good place to keep the chickens and to wash and hang laundry in the winter. She opened the porch door and saw her uncle instructing the twins on how to construct a fence.
“It’ll be expensive to find ready-made poles,” he was saying, “but if you ride out northeast of here, you’ll find some trees and can make your own poles. It’ll be hard work, especially with winter coming on, but you’ll need it to keep the animals contained.” He said something else that she couldn’t hear, then bid the boys good-bye and headed around the cabin to the front.
Dianne closed the door and leaned against it. She sighed, knowing that most everything they needed to do would be hard work. She wondered how they would ever keep enough coal and wood, how they would afford the feed for the animals without using up all of their savings.
Walking through the house to the front door, Dianne figured she should tell her uncle good-bye. She didn’t want to say things she might regret, however, so she determined in her heart to say as little as possible. She opened the door and stepped out. There, on the opposite side of the wagon, she saw her uncle talking quite solemnly to a dark-skinned woman. The woman was much shorter than Uncle Bram and clearly of Indian descent. Dianne made her way toward them and both looked surprised when she approached.
“Uncle Bram, I’ve come to say good-bye,” she stated without emotion. “Thank you for helping us find this place. I hope we’ll be able to keep up with things until spring.”
She couldn’t help herself and pointed to the woman. “Who is this?” She knew she was being rude, but Dianne didn’t feel in the least bit charitable at the moment.
Bram looked to the woman and then back to Dianne. Before he answered he looked to the ground. “This is Koko. She’s part of the reason I couldn’t explain everything to you.”
Dianne met the young woman’s gaze. Koko had brown eyes that seemed to take in everything at once and a compassionate look that suggested she knew how difficult this situation was for Dianne.
“I’m Dianne Chadwick. I’m his niece.”
Koko looked at Br
am, who was still staring at the ground. “Koko is my wife, Dianne,” he said in a clear voice.
“No!” The cry came from behind Dianne. Her mother stood just a few feet away, but how she had found the strength or sobriety to come outside was beyond Dianne.
“Mama, you’re supposed to be in bed.”
“You can’t be married to a heathen squaw!” her mother declared, coming forward. “I won’t have it. You must get rid of her.”
Bram shook his head. “See,” he said to Dianne more than to anyone, “this is why you can’t come live with me. Your mother would never accept my wife, and I will never leave her.”
Dianne took hold of her mother as she flung herself at Koko. “You aren’t welcome here,” she screamed. “You heathen! You’ve cast some kind of spell on my brother. Well, you can’t have him! Dianne, go get your father. He’ll deal with this.” Dianne held tight to her mother’s arm.
Morgan and Zane appeared just then. “Take Mama back in the house,” Dianne commanded. Morgan came forward and lifted Susannah into his arms. She fought him and screamed.
“Ephraim, come here! You need to help me!”
“What’s wrong with her? Why is she calling for Pa?” Zane asked as Morgan headed to the house.
“This is Uncle Bram’s wife, Koko,” Dianne said by way of explanation. Suddenly everything made perfect sense.
CHAPTER 20
CHRISTMAS WAS NEARLY UPON THEM BUT THERE WAS NO CHANCE for celebration. Dianne hadn’t thought much about the season at all, except to wonder why God had brought her family to this end. In the back of her mind she couldn’t help but remember better days, happy celebrations with a Christmas tree and presents. She could almost smell her mother’s gingerbread cookies—taste the cranberry punch. And if she didn’t mind the heartbreak so much, she could hear the animated giggles of her little sisters as they danced around the house in anticipation of what Christmas would bring.
Virginia City certainly held nothing of that account for her now.
With her brothers busy working as team drivers, hauling goods back and forth between Great Salt Lake City and Virginia City, Dianne found herself most often alone with her mother. It was a lonely life. She’d heard stories on the wagon train of women who went crazy living in the wilderness. She could understand it now. Hours upon end, day after day with no one to talk to, nothing to do but sew and cook and clean, gave Dianne nothing to look forward to.
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