They’d traveled a tough twenty miles today, and he wasn’t surprised to see people leave soon after eating. He knew without asking that he and Lucky had first watch again. With the Bensons there, he expected to not have a chance to talk with Ellen alone. Sure enough, he spent the entire watch only catching glimpses of her as he walked by. He vowed that once done with security and in bed, he’d find a way to be alone with her tomorrow.
Del was first up the next day, so he stoked the fire and went for their coffee’s water. His early bird ways didn’t reward him with seeing Ellen. He smiled, ate, drank, and did all the usual breakfast things. As soon as the last forkful went in, he hopped up. “Here, I’ll clean.” Del began gathering plates and forks while ignoring how the look Sam gave him was too aware of his motives. He tried to be casual as he headed to the creek. Seeing Ellen and Mrs. Benson destroyed all his acts of nonchalance. “Good morning, ladies,” he said while approaching. “Lovely day so far, yes?” He kept the smile plastered to his face, cursing at how he’d lapsed so easily into French influenced English. His time with Sam and the gang had improved his skills better than this.
“Monsieur Du Boise,” Ellen greeted him first. “Here is a friend of my father’s, Mrs. Lacy Benson.”
“Lacy?” he blurted out in surprise. Had Winslow picked the woman or the name? He glanced at Ellen, who shook her head as Mrs. Benson stepped forward.
“A pleasure, Mr. Du Boise.” She held out her hand with a frown. “The Winslow family speaks highly of you.”
Judging by how high her nose was, Del felt sure Mrs. Benson didn’t agree with her own statement. He adopted his best imitation of Sam’s charming ways to counteract her disapproving attitude. “I appreciate that, ma’am. I think highly of them as well.” He took the offered hand and made a motion as if to kiss it, then nodded towards Ellen. “Mr. Winslow has done an excellent job of raising all his children.”
“Hmm. It’s nice of you to say so. Speaking of Jack, he’s expecting us.” Mrs. Benson tapped the younger woman on the shoulder. “Come, dear. We still have work to do this morning.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She fell in step behind and gave Del a quick smile. “Mr. Du Boise.”
He grinned back, enjoying her formality. “Miss Winslow.” Del watched them walk away for a few seconds before beginning his dishwashing. Mrs. Benson, Lacy, seemed nice enough despite her snobbish attitude towards him. He was more concerned with how she treated Ellen. Lucky’s bugle sounded and he stifled a curse. His bedroll still needed stowing and Pomme needed saddling so he hurried back.
At the camp, he saw someone else had put away his bedding, so he packed the dishes before going to his horse. He soon rode up front with Lefty, scouting the way across the flat road. The wide valley gave all of them a much-needed rest from hauling wagons up and down hills. They crossed a couple of small creeks, and while the road became a little rough for a couple of miles, it soon smoothed out to another stretch of flat dirt. Fifteen miles from morning camp, they approached Powder River and a Nez Perce trading village. Other immigrants had packed the earth down in a wide swath on either side. Some of the best grazing grass grew around them but at a distance.
The crowds made finding a quiet camp more challenging than usual. Soon, Lefty found the best place and they all gathered there. Del noticed they were at one of the farthest points from the trading camp. Was the choice intentional based on what happened with the Shoshone? He shook his head. It didn’t matter. He’d speak to Sam later about trading and keeping Ellen away from harm.
Del dismounted and led Pomme to a good place for food and water. He hurried to settle in the animal for the rest of the day. The Granville wagon had been parked and already had the makings of a campfire nearby.
Marie saw him and approached as he walked up. “Have you talked to Sam? He wants to visit the trading post but only with you or the other men.”
“I don’t share his concern but do understand.”
“Does that mean I can go?”
He chuckled at her eagerness and wanted to agree but didn’t want to get into trouble with his friend. “I’ll defer to Sam on that answer.”
“You’re very wise.”
Sam walked up with Arnold and Lefty. He grinned at his wife. “Already arguing your way over there?”
“Trying to but failing. Adelard is just as stubborn as you are.”
“Good.” He turned to the two hired men. “Keep an eye out for anyone going over there from our group. If there’s anything suspicious, let me know. There’s no need to be militant about it, just anything out of the ordinary gets reported. All right?”
“Yes, sir,” said Arnold before he and Lefty went to finish chores.
He turned to Del. “Are you ready? We have extra sugar to trade, despite Marie’s protests that she needs every grain.” With his friend’s nod, Sam hopped on the tailgate and began digging around for the sugar. He reappeared from the back of the wagon with two wrapped packages.
The amount Sam held surprised him and he had to ask, “All that is sugar?”
“No, one is but the other is tobacco.” Granville hopped down, giving a package to Del.
“You’re willing to lose that?”
“Joe was the only one with the habit. I never cared for it, and the younger men never started.”
Del nodded and both men started for the village. He was glad it was on their side of the river. Pomme was comfortable where he was, and Del didn’t feel like a swim. Soon, they walked into the middle of the Nez Perce, two lines of people trading their wares ready to take their goods. He looked at all the items for trade, seeing so much to buy for Ellen while knowing she couldn’t accept. Maybe Mrs. Benson could charm Winslow into an agreeable mood. After her attitude towards Del today, he doubted she’d want to do so.
Lost in his thoughts, he ran into Sam. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry.” A trade had him focused. Sam made motions to the man sitting behind stacks of vegetables. The elder Nez Perce licked his finger and stuck it in the sugar. Licking his finger again, he grinned at the taste and nodded. The man then began to measure out a generous amount of dried peas into a fabric flour sack and another generous amount of freshly dug potatoes into a different bag. He gave them to Sam, taking the sugar, and held up a hand. Setting down his new goods, he took a folded and tanned hide, also giving it to Sam.
Del leaned over to his friend enough to nudge his shoulder for attention. “I’d take it. He can divide and sell what you gave him for a good profit.”
“Very well.” He thanked the man in Nez Perce. As they left, Del said, “Excellent accent. You sounded like a native speaker back there.”
Sam laughed. “Don’t be too impressed. That’s all Nick’s first wife was able to teach me.”
“It was better than your French, and at least she didn’t teach you anything rude.”
“I’m now very glad she didn’t.” They walked, pausing every so often at a fine display of knives or other weapons. At last Sam said, “I want to get a good deal for Joe’s tobacco, but am loathe to lose it.”
“If you let it go, you’ve let him go?”
“Exactly. Marie already disapproves of my trading for it but can’t bear to tell me so. She knows every little bit I could get for it would help.”
He knew how she and Joe had forged a father daughter relationship. “So wait until a better opportunity for trade arrives. There’s no need to do anything today.”
“I might do that.” They circled around and headed back to camp, looking at everything on the other side of the aisle. Still, nothing worth Joe’s tobacco tempted them.
By mutual agreement, they went back to their own camp. Marie hurried up to them. “What did you get? Can I see?”
“Of course, dearest.” Sam handed her the peas first.
“Oh my goodness! Thank you! These will be wonderful tonight!” She looked into the bag again as if not believing they were truly there. “I’ll start them soaking this instant.”
He h
eld out the other sack. “Would you want to see these?”
She felt of the burlap. “Let me guess, potatoes?” Looking into the second bag, she exclaimed, “Oh, how nice! The ones I cooked last night had seen better days. These look lovely. Should I cook them as well?”
Sam shrugged. “Sure. I’ll see what I can do about fishing for dinner.”
“Great!” She waved him away. “Get started and bring us back some trout.”
“Us?” He cut his eyes over to his friend. “Del is helping me.”
He laughed at Sam’s suggestion and pointed to himself. “Me? What if I have other things to do?”
“You don’t.”
Del had to agree, saying, “No, I don’t.” He went with Sam and they got their fishing lines, hooks, and old bacon for bait. Before long they were a good distance apart along the riverbank. Being alone gave Del plenty of time to think. He didn’t want to wait and rely on Winslow’s happiness over a new marriage to be a husband to Ellen. His thoughts went in circles, wondering if he could steal her and the boys away himself.
Several trout and a couple hours later, Del was ready to call it quits to fishing. He looked over at Sam who nodded. They pulled in their lines at the same time and pulled ashore their strings of fish. Along with Del’s trout, Sam had caught several catfish. Like the time before, all the hands gathered and everyone worked to clean the day’s catch. Marie soon had everything frying with the peas and potatoes cooking in another pan.
Sam looked at the food. “I’m going to invite everyone here for dinner. We have more than enough to share.”
Marie nodded. “That’s a good idea. Otherwise some of this will go to waste.”
Lucky stood. “Let me tell the Allens.”
Sam grinned, leaving with the young man. As Arnold and Lefty settled in to wait for dinner, Del grinned. Everyone, him included, had found a place downwind from the aroma. It wasn’t long before Del glanced up from his journal and saw Ellen and her family approach with Mrs. Benson and the boys following. The children all seemed to get along, even if Ellen held herself apart from her father and his new lady friend. He glanced to his left at a returning Sam, knowing the group would only have a large gap in the circle between him and the Nelsons to sit in. They settled into their seats and he noticed the older two adults sat as far as possible from him. Del felt both bothered and relieved. Sure enough, Ellen, then Skeeter, the Benson child, and finally Buster sat between him and Mrs. Benson. He consciously ignored Ellen as dinner was dished out and they ate.
Others talked to him and Del responded, but two bites later he had no idea of what had been said between him and whomever else he’d answered. His entire right side seemed to hum like a tuning fork because of Ellen’s presence. As people finished and set aside their plates, he noticed they all talked in smaller groups. He checked, seeing Winslow and Lacey engrossed with each other. Del tried to not grin at their preoccupation. He had the perfect chance to chat with Ellen.
She spoke first, saying, “I noticed how you and Sam went to the trading post today. Did he need you to translate for him?”
“No, not at all. Like you can’t speak French, I can’t speak Nez Perce.”
A delicate blush stained her cheeks. “Of course not. I forget you don’t know everything there is to know in the world.”
“Now you flatter me, ma—” He glanced over to see Winslow staring at them. Del frowned. “My friend.”
“Maybe.” She scowled back at him. “And maybe your intelligence is very obvious to me.”
His heart thudded hard in his chest, not from just the love, but the respect she held for him as well. All he could do was respond with, “I’m glad you think so.” The words sounded tepid to even his ears.
“Hmm.” She stared into the fire for a moment. In a voice almost too quiet for him to hear, Ellen said, “When Pa was leaving me and the boys alone, it was nice. I almost wished he’d stay gone.”
“Oh? For good or for the night?”
“Ellen.” Jack snapped his fingers at her. “Let’s go.”
“All right, Pa.” She gathered the boys’ plates and stacked them with her own in a stall for extra time, keeping her voice quiet. “For long enough to speak without fear. Maybe more.”
He didn’t look at her. Instead, he stared into the fire as she followed her family back to their camp. Did she truly know what she said about more? The intimacy, the kisses? He was willing to argue and fuss with her however much she pleased. Sam didn’t need to tell him he had second watch tonight. He knew and already didn’t like missing any chance the first watch gave him to get her alone and steal a kiss.
Enough people stood up and went off to the various chores that Del stopped his musing to help. Animals checked, bedding put down, and dishes washed, he settled in with the others. His time as guard would happen soon enough.
The next day’s hard drive shortened everyone’s temper. Bad enough he’d been up half the night on watch, but now they rolled over a bone shaking rough road uphill. An axle had split on one wagon and a wheel splintered on another. He didn’t mind the delays as much as the cold air seeping into his bones. The group reached the summit at the same time a chilly rain reached them. Del didn’t feel right about leaving Pomme out in the deluge, so he huddled against the wagon with his horse. Everyone else rode out the storm in their wagon with some of the men putting oilcloths over the horses that would let them do so. The rainclouds lasted a while and passed after soaking everyone outside. They had taken advantage of the time to eat some lunch before continuing on.
The lack of dust was refreshing and he enjoyed breathing in the fresh, clean air. A hint of evergreen scent reached him along with the wet earth and prairie grasses. Of course, a damp human and equine smell did too. He grinned, hoping Pomme and he dried quick in the afternoon sun. The landscape and sky seemed too much for his eyes to take in all at once. Deep blue mountains with snow peaks stood to the east with lower, blue green high hills circling them. A dome of sky blue encircled the world, broken up by puffy white clouds and angry grey storms rolling on to the southeast. The Grand Ronde valley below lay in front of them like a vast, mottled green blanket, divided by a blue ribbon of river. Every other part of the world he’d ever seen had its merits, but the Oregon Territory was a heaven on Earth.
He shivered. The high noon sun helped keep him warm but not enough to overpower the strong breeze from the north. The Granville party rolled down the easy sloping decline. Along with several others, they created a true wagon train with the transports snaking along the smooth road for several miles. The mud bogged them down a little or they’d have made better time, he knew. It didn’t matter. They’d be at a busy campsite soon enough.
Sam must have decided to push on because they passed by the general camp. Del looked at Arnold who shrugged. He guessed they’d stop when they stopped. When Lucky finally sounded his bugle, Del figured they’d driven twenty miles. He went to the small river as the wagons settled into place. The water looked good and he didn’t blame Sam for holding out. Fishing might be better, but not this late in the day. He figured they had just enough time to get everyone settled before the last of twilight faded to dark.
They all settled in one by one, laying out their bedrolls while Marie fixed ham and potatoes. Biscuits for tomorrow baked while they ate. During their meal, Del noticed Sam and Marie didn’t say a word to each other the entire time. Something was definitely wrong with them, and he wondered how to get a watch with Sam.
He might chat with Marie instead. She frowned while picking up everyone’s dishes to wash. He grabbed the chance to chat with her alone when she passed in front of him. Del said, “Here, ma petite. Let me escort you to the water.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you, kind sir.”
He led the way, wishing a full moon lit their way instead of the black new moon. Many others had beat down the grasses to where only rocks and dirt lined the riverbank. He helped her kneel on a rock set out by a former traveler. “So, is something wron
g with you and Sam?”
“No, nothing at all. He’s stubborn and unreasonable.”
“Yes, I knew that already.”
She chuckled. “He can’t see that slavery exists for the slaves’ own good.”
Del blinked a couple of times in shock. No wonder Sam was unhappy. He was a staunch abolitionist. “And you think slavery is best for the people enslaved?”
“Most times, yes. There are cruel owners who shouldn’t have the responsibility but they’re the exception, not the usual.”
He washed for a moment before venturing to say, “I suppose Sam has told you he thinks it’s wrong for one human being to own another.”
“He has, and I can see his point. What he can’t seem to understand is what happens when we turn everyone out to fend for themselves? They’ve been cared for all their lives. None of them can or should be able to read or write. How can they function in polite society?”
Del smiled, knowing his own feelings on the subject were as strong as Sam’s and she was talking to a stone. “They could learn, couldn’t they?”
“Of course they could. I’ve seen slaves do amazing things. They’re certainly trainable.”
Her choice of words made him shake his head. Del considered all human beings to be intelligent in some way or another. He had to ask, “Did you explain this exactly to Sam.”
“Yes, and he became unreasonable, calling them ‘people’ and asking how dare I say such things, and how we should have talked more before marrying.” Marie bit her lip and tears swam in her eyes. “I agreed and said we needed some time away so he could see reason.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, he didn’t react well to that idea.”
He tried to give her a smile as they entered the ring of firelight. How to tell her he agreed with everything Sam said without taking sides? He put the dish bucket down and went to his own bed. Settled in, he had no doubts his two friends would work out their problems, but it made him think. What issues would he and Ellen have besides the usual one about his heritage?
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