by Sadie Conall
“The river!” Ruby suddenly whispered in excitement, turning back to Clara.
And unable to help herself, Clara pushed aside the blankets and followed Ruby to the back of the wagon. She peered out of that narrow gap between the calico curtains and saw St Louis, that town of tall timbered buildings, now several miles behind them. But just below them lay the Mississippi River, a wide swath of water which lay glittering in the early morning sun. River men called out as they worked flatboats and keelboats, aware of the big paddle-steamers and steamboats berthed or anchored at the wharves below St Louis. And then Clara stiffened as she saw them.
“There!” she whispered, pointing towards the wharves less than a mile away, before moving back to allow Ruby to see. Clara heard the girl gasp in fear.
“They’re still here. They’re still looking for me,” Ruby muttered in dismay as she saw her father’s thugs standing off to one side just above the wharves, watching everyone who boarded boats.
Ruby cowered down beneath the curtain, while Clara moved back to look out of that narrow slit, unwilling to move away, needing to know if those two men turned their attention this way.
It was only when the wagon turned onto a path that obscured the town and wharves, lurching from side to side as it made its way downhill to where two flatboats waited, that Clara finally lost sight of the men. She moved to sit by Ruby, taking the girl in her arms as the wagon headed for the river.
13
The flatboat nudged the bank and one of the lead oxen bellowed in frustration, stamping on the rough planks of the vessel and shaking his great head, held secure in the wooden harness.
“Hey up, hey up,” the ferryman yelled as he threw a rope to the man standing on the crude wharf waiting for them. The man caught it and tied it to the wharf to secure the flatboat, before moving to open the vessel’s railings.
“Ready now, move on, gently does it,” cried the ferry man, turning to Marrok who was sitting on the buckboard.
Marrok nodded towards Abe and Wilber who both stood at the head of the oxen ready with their switches and at Marrok’s nod, they gently touched the beasts, encouraging them to step off the boat and onto the wharf.
But again, the oxen in the lead stamped his front hoof, bellowing as he tried to shake free of the great wooden harness, causing the flatboat to rock unsteadily. Aware of the weight of the wagon harnessed behind the six great beasts, Wilber reached out to steady the distressed animal.
“Move on, move on,” he called, using his switch against the animal’s hide and at last the two lead oxen were stepping forward, the four animals harnessed behind them lowering their heads against the looming weight behind them, the muscles of their great bodies straining until at last the wagon began to move.
“Lord above, I do declare that’s a sight to behold,” Martha said softly. “Seeing those animals pulling such a weight!”
Ella nodded, hardly daring to breathe as she watched the wagon roll off the flatboat. She stood on the bank just above the river alongside Martha and Jasper, for they had come over on the first flatboat with the three horses.
“Hey up, hey up,” Wilber called as he encouraged the oxen on.
And as the wagon cleared the flatboat and then the wharf, as the oxen strained to get the wagon up the slight bank where Ella stood watching with Martha and Jasper, the wagon’s smaller front wheels spun in the damp earth, before settling in the rutted tracks made from countless other wagons that had previously come this way.
And at last the oxen and wagon were above the river, with a wide flat plain before them reaching to the distant horizon and as Marrok and the brothers reined the oxen in, everyone yelled with the sheer joy of getting across the river safely.
The ferrymen called out, wishing them well, before heading back across the river to St Louis for more passengers.
Marrok checked the wagon’s wheels and axles with Jasper, while Abe and Wilber checked over the animals.
“It came over without so much as a scratch,” Marrok said, delighted.
“And there’s nothing wrong with these boys,” said Abe, reaching out to pet the oxen. “Aramis Stent did right by you, Miss Ella. He sold you his best animals, that’s for damn sure.”
Marrok nodded. “We’ll rest the two lead oxen in an hour or so,” he said, eager to move on and get out of sight of St Louis so the two women hiding in the wagon could come out. “So let’s ride on. We’ve got a lot of land to cover before nightfall.”
Jasper secured Bear to his long lead at the back of the wagon, then climbed up on the buckboard next to Martha. Marrok mounted his own horse while Ella mounted Billy and as Wilber and Abe walked the oxen on, as the wagon rolled on behind them, Marrok watched the two brothers. They had to be tired. Both young men had been up well before dawn, getting the oxen ready to leave Stent’s ranch and get into St Louis by early morning, their long walk begun, for the brothers would walk all the way to California alongside the oxen.
Another hour until their next break, Marrok thought. By then they would have covered a couple more miles and everyone would be eager for a drink and something to eat. And he would help the brothers unharness the two lead oxen, placing them in a harness behind the other four, yet not harnessing them to the wagon. Because only four oxen were needed to pull the wagon, while two always rested.
But more importantly, they would be well away from St Louis by then. Enough time to allow the women in the back of the wagon to come out. Marrok didn’t want to think on what Martha would say when she saw them. Although Abe and Wilber might be pleased to have two more women looking after them.
He kicked his horse on, thinking of a camp site they could use for the night which was less than ten miles away. He had used it before, as had other settlers over the years for it was in a slight dip out of the wind and chill of the autumn night and a large firepit had already been dug. Marrok imagined the brothers would be ready to drop by then, along with the women and animals. And he had no desire to push any of them although he dearly wanted to, because he could feel his own deadlines passing him by.
Deep in thought, Marrok didn’t see Ella turn back to glance once more at St Louis, remembering all she’d left behind. Thirty miles away was her family’s ranch and on it were three beloved graves. Never again would she be able to place flowers there, nor pay her respects to her parents or Violet. But she’d made her choice and Ella turned her back on the opposite shore and faced west. Although her thoughts turned to the women hiding just feet away from her in the wagon.
14
Ruby watched Ella as she rode just behind the wagon, close to the other horse that followed on a long lead. Ruby recognized her straight away as the young woman who had helped her in the alley, the girl who had been wearing worn pants and a man’s shirt. But she wasn’t dressed like that now. Instead she wore a muslin dress, a pretty green that matched her hazel green eyes and dark hair. She was only a few years older than Ruby, yet tall and lean, tanned from a life working outdoors, with a strong face and body. She was beautiful, Ruby thought. And then Ella was gone, kicking the horse on past the wagon to ride alongside Marrok and the two younger men walking beside the oxen.
Ruby and Clara had heard every conversation so they knew what was going on. And every now and again they had dared to sneak a peek through that parting in the calico curtains, watching as the wagon crossed the river, listening to the bellowing of the oxen and the shouts of the men as the wagon was pulled off the flatboat.
And all the time Ruby kept her eyes on that wharf, watching the two thugs, praying they wouldn’t turn her way. But clearly they hadn’t yet considered she might escape west by wagon. They thought her a city girl, so presumed she would try and head back to New Orleans or the East Coast. Like her father, they wouldn’t think her capable of living in the wild. Well, she planned to prove them wrong.
“We’ve made it across,” Clara whispered, her face alight with excitement.
Ruby leaned forward to embrace her, knowing she couldn’t have
got this far without the older woman’s help.
And when she dared to glance once more from behind the curtain, she saw the Mississippi River way behind them and the bustling town of St Louis just a distant blur beyond that.
Ruby closed her eyes in gratitude to the man who’d let them hide away, and to the young woman who had allowed it.
*
“Hey up, hey up,” Abe called, as he and Wilber slowly brought the team of oxen to a halt.
Marrok and Ella dismounted as Jasper helped Martha down off the wagon. But as Marrok pulled Ella aside, he sensed her anxiety about revealing the women.
“I hope you’re ready for this,” he said.
Ella nodded and watched as Marrok walked to the back of the wagon. She heard him opening the calico curtains and talking softly to someone and as Martha walked over to Ella, stretching her back, Ella reached for her hand.
“Come with me Aunt, there’s something you need to see.”
Martha looked puzzled. “What is this girl? You want me to open one of my jars of preserves? I reckon we could have some of my pickles with the cheese and fresh bread and dried beef you bought in St Louis.”
Ella said nothing as she pulled Martha towards the back of the wagon.
“What is this all about Ella?” Martha said with some impatience. “I must say, this is all very odd,” then she stopped and stared in astonishment as she saw Marrok helping Clara down out of the wagon. “Oh my!” she said softly. “What on earth is going on here!”
But Ella didn’t hear Martha, she was too busy stepping towards her stowaways, to welcome them. She reached out to take Clara’s hand and mistakenly thought the woman ten years older than her actual age although Ella could be excused for it, for Clara’s hair was already streaked with grey and her face deeply lined.
“I’m Ella,” she said, feeling the calluses on the woman’s hand. “I guess you’re Clara.
The older woman nodded and bobbed down into a short curtsey. “Must say I’m right pleased t’meet you ma’am.” She spoke with a deep husky voice and although Ella would bet this woman had never seen the inside of a classroom, there was something worldly about her. She had seen a lot then, in her life.
“And I’m Ruby,” the other girl said, as Marrok set her down on the ground. “And like Clara, I’m also very pleased to meet you. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help.” She struck out her hand with a confidence born to those who have grown up with wealth and been educated.
But as Ella stared at the women, taking the measure of them, Ruby and Clara both saw the sudden doubt in her face. For Ella was taken aback by the women’s appearance. She had expected someone a lot younger than Clara. And Ruby wasn’t how she remembered her. Although her face and throat still showed the bruises from the beating she had taken in that alley, there was no longer anything flashy about Ruby for the showgirl was gone and in her place stood a pauper, wearing clothes that were almost threadbare, as if she had not one dollar to her name, let alone five thousand. Ella suddenly wondered if Marrok had got that right. If not, Ruby wouldn’t be a paying passenger after all and Ella wouldn’t have money to buy the last of her supplies. The thought of it made Ella feel a little queasy.
Clara and Ruby glanced at each other, both aware of the look of bewilderment on Ella’s face and Ruby made a silent vow in that moment to never give Ella a chance to doubt her, to never let her down. Not after what she’d done for her.
And then Abe and his brother were there along with Jasper, wanting to see what all the fuss was about. Marrok made the introductions as Ella continued to look at Ruby and Clara.
She couldn’t believe the difference in Ruby since she’d seen her last. The girl had also lost weight, with dark circles of stress framing her eyes. And then Ella saw what Marrok had seen earlier that morning, within the lamplight of the barn. The fear in Ruby’s face, as though the girl were an animal being hunted.
Then Martha turned to Ella. “Would you kindly explain what these two women are doing here and why I wasn’t told about them?”
Ella turned to her. “Because there wasn’t time, Aunt. And when we arrived at the livery everything was such a rush. But Ruby and Clara became members of my team around five o’clock this morning. Ruby will be a paying passenger while Clara will be my cook.”
“But why hide in the wagon for goodness sake? Why all the secrecy? Why not get to know everyone before we left St Louis?”
It was Ruby who answered. And again Ella heard those crisp eloquent vowels and wondered how bad things must have been for her to run away from an obviously privileged home.
“I’m sorry Martha, it was because of me. You see, I had to hide, I couldn’t be seen leaving St Louis because two men employed by my father are trying to get me to go home, back to New York. But I’ll never go back. I’d rather be dead than go back.”
Ruby never mentioned that Ella and Marrok had helped her in the alley, which Ella was grateful for, although it seemed the girl wanted that be kept secret as well.
And then Wilber stepped forward to welcome them. “Well, the more the merrier I say,” he glanced at Clara. “I sure hope you make good biscuits. I ain’t had a good biscuit since I left my mama’s kitchen.”
But Martha wasn’t done yet. She turned back to Ella. “But why didn’t you tell me? Surely you could have explained all this to me before now?”
Ella shook her head. “I only found out myself this morning when Marrok came to ask me if I wanted them on my team. He thought they’d be a good fit for me. And then things got busy and I run out of time. Besides, I was worried I might doubt myself if I spoke of it, as to whether or not I was doing the right thing.”
“Martha, if you’re mad at anyone, look my way,” Marrok said, stepping forward. “For I barely gave Ella time to think, let alone make up her mine. Ruby and Clara came to the livery in the early hours of this morning in the hope we could help them. And after we talked on it, I thought they could take some of the load off Ella. I went to see her just before Abe and Wilber arrived with the oxen which gave her no time to think of it. I needed a yes or no. I think she’s made the right decision taking them on.”
“Well I never,” Martha said. “Although it might be an idea for you to buy some headscarves when we reach Independence, along with wide brimmed bonnets. With hair that color my girl, you’ll be noticed all over town.”
Ruby nodded and reached for Clara’s hand. “Yes, ma’am,” she said. “That’s a fine idea. We’ll do just that.”
15
During those few weeks it took to walk to Independence, Ella’s team settled into a routine that would see them all the way to California. By the end of the first week, Ella often wondered how she’d ever have coped without Clara’s help, for Clara not only took on the role of team cook but did more than her fair share of chores. Although Clara insisted the wage that Ella paid her was more than enough.
Ruby also helped out with chores even though she was travelling as a paying passenger, but doing chores made her feel better about the cost of her berth in Ella’s wagon, which Ruby thought was a pittance. She would have paid double what Ella asked for, but both Marrok and Ella insisted the fee was a fair one.
But with Ruby now sleeping in the wagon with Martha, Ella had no choice but to sleep outdoors with the rest of her team so with the help of Jasper, Marrok set up a waterproof shelter for her and Clara to sleep in. Canvas sheets were nailed to each side of the wagon which dropped down at night, giving protection from the weather along with privacy.
Jasper and the brothers slept in canvas shelters of their own, paid for by Ella, although Marrok preferred to sleep outdoors by the fire, unless it rained, and then he raised his own canvas tent.
But Ella found it claustrophobic sleeping under the wagon on the hard ground, despite her mattress. And one evening around the campfire, she confessed that she was having nightmares. She had begun to wake during the night, thinking someone was chasing her.
So she was surprised when Ma
rrok joined her by the fire on their last night on the trail, after everyone else had gone to their beds. Tomorrow they would arrive in Independence and although Ella was tired, she lingered by the fire, unwilling to go to her shelter.
Marrok sat crosslegged beside her and when he pulled a small leather package from his buckskin shirt, Ella looked at him in surprise. He opened it and revealed something a child might play with, although Ella would come to understand this was no play thing.
A strip of willow had been bent and manipulated into a small tight circle which had then been wrapped with thin strips of rawhide. More strips of rawhide, plaited so tightly they were thin and taut, had been woven between the edges of the circle to resemble a cobweb. At the bottom of the circle, or cobweb, hung some feathers.
Marrok played with it gently in his big hands, before looking across at Ella. “I made this for you to help with your nightmares. I had one like it as a child and I do believe they work.”
She took it gently from his hands, stunned by this gift. “But what is it?”
“It’s called a dreamcatcher. My mother’s people believe they stop nightmares, so I’m hoping this will stop yours.” He watched as she played with it, her fingers gently passing between the threads that made up the cobweb. “Place it by your bed. The leather strips between the circle will catch your bad dreams, while the feathers will let the good ones in.”
Ella turned it over in her hands. It looked fragile, yet it was strongly made. She looked back at Marrok and found him watching her.
“The Ojibwe also believe you should try and understand your dreams, to discover what it is that’s frightening you.”
“Thank you,” Ella said, feeling overwhelmed by this. “I’ll put it beside my pillow when I go to sleep tonight.”
Marrok nodded but frowned as he looked at her, clearly concerned, for she should have been abed by now. He could see the fatigue on her face and he couldn’t afford for her to get sick. “Ella, you have months of sleeping rough ahead of you so if it’ll help you’re welcome to some spare canvas I have in Independence. You can add it to the canvas you’ve already placed beneath your mattress. It’ll help with the damp and might make you sleep better. But just remember these cold nights are almost over. With spring and summer ahead of us, it will get easier.”