Escape From Gold Mountain

by Zina Abbott

  Tex felt he had everything he needed. He’d already recovered his money from the cabin. The horse he had stolen turned out to be a good one, an animal he felt would comfortably take him down through Owen’s Valley and over to where he could turn west to cross the mountains at Tehachapi Pass. He might be wanted in Kern County, but there were plenty of places in the San Joaquin Valley, which tended to be warmer in the winter, where he could bide his time and look for other opportunities to steal what he needed to live on.

  Although he would not miss them, Tex let his thoughts turn to who he left behind. First, there was Charley Jardine. The man was so slippery, as long as he kept his mouth shut, he would beat the charges against him. If he still had money like he said, he would be okay.

  As for George Lee, the man talked big, but he was not an outlaw at heart. He was currently working his saloon and doing everything in his power to cause no trouble because he hoped to avoid charges being brought against him for the shooting scrape in October. Tex knew from the latest gossip McKinney had shared with him that he intended to charge George for the death of Deputy Sheriff Bill Callahan. Tex hoped the man could afford a good attorney.

  It was too bad for George that Bill Callahan had died. Evidently, the man had not lasted long after he was shot. Sheriff McKinney had told Tex the news shortly after his burial up in the Lundy cemetery by Geneva.

  Tex shook his head. He had no use for lawmen, but Bill had not been such a bad sort. If only he had not pushed George Lee about the handcuffs, he would still be alive. And if George had not made threats to the lawman, he would not be looking at losing a big portion of his life to hard time, assuming he escaped the noose.

  Tex eventually turned his thoughts to the Chinawoman. He grinned as he thought of the conflicting stories flying around the county about her. About the only thing everyone agreed upon was that she disappeared from Lundy and no one knew her whereabouts.

  Ah Chin insisted to anyone who would listen that she had been stolen by white Americans. He accused Sheriff McKinney of taking her and hiding her to testify in Tex’s trial. Only McKinney hadn’t taken her, and now Tex would not be having a trial.

  On the other hand, McKinney had personally bragged to him that he knew the truth about the Chinawoman. He had it on good authority from a Chinaman who had personally witnessed her being taken by a hatchet man. McKinney speculated she was working in the prostitution cribs that lined the back alleys of Chinatown. He also made it known how pleased he felt he still had Ling Loi’s signed deposition about her abduction.

  Tex chuckled deep in his chest. He felt no concern for his former hostage, but he had nothing against her, either. He certainly did not want anything bad to happen to her, even though her testimony at his hearing had not helped him. He had no idea where she was. But especially after what he learned from Mrs. Caldwell earlier, Tex doubted she was back in Chinatown. He had a pretty good idea who had her.

  Always figured Shorty was sweet on the little Chinawoman.

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  Part III

  ~o0o~

  Cong Leong

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  Chapter 50

  ~o0o~

  Farmington, New Mexico Territory ~ Middle December, 1884

  L eaving Loi, whom they had decided while in California would go by the name of Joy, hidden behind a haystack while still sitting on the mare, Luke waited until close to dusk before riding the horse he had bought at the chicken woman’s homestead up to the farmer’s house. The middle-aged man, his shoulders rounded with fatigue, exited his barn. Lantern in hand to ward off the increasing darkness, he turned and noticed Luke riding towards him. Showing no fear, he stood in place as Luke approached.

  Luke had removed the fur clothing and moccasins he had been traveling in. Instead, he wore his boots, wool trousers, and wool jacket. His wide-brimmed slouch hat rested atop his hair tied back into a queue. Although sparse, he had let his beard and moustache grow to provide what little warmth it would. Once he drew close enough the two could hear each other, he nodded a greeting and dismounted. Luke stuck out his hand. “Hello, sir. Name’s Luke McDaniels. You the man the folks in town say can marry people?”

  The man switched the lantern to his left hand and reached his right one out to shake. “That I am. The name’s Angus Halverson. I’m a bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A lot of folks around here call us Mormons, though, because of one of our books of scripture. I’ve been known to perform a number of marriages to members of our faith and non-members alike.”

  Luke looked away as he considered the man’s words. “Mormon, huh? I hear your people have been having trouble with the law up in Utah. Are the marriages you perform considered legal in New Mexico Territory?”

  Angus nodded. “They’ve been having their difficulties up in Utah. So far, no one here has bothered us or questioned my right to perform marriages or any of our church ordinances. Why do you ask?”

  Luke could tell he caught the man off-guard when he asked his next question. “You say you are a bishop. Are you the kind of pastor who can keep a confidence? When someone shares a secret with you, does it soon become the community’s concern?” Luke felt a certain measure of reassurance as the man stiffened his posture as if insulted.

  “I assure you I can keep a confidence, Mr. McDaniels—or is it Brother McDaniels? Are you of our faith?” When Luke shook his head, Angus continued. “If I am told something in confidence, no one will hear of it from me.”

  “Thank you, Bishop. That’s good to know.”

  “Is there something about your life or the choices you’ve made you feel the need to discuss with a religious leader before you marry?”

  Luke inwardly cringed at the question. If he was dealing with one of the Catholic black robes that taught among his people, he would feel the need to confess much, for he had made far too many mistakes, including committing crimes these past months. However, he was not of the Mormon persuasion. He knew he needed to make himself right with God, but it would have to wait until he got Loi safely home.

  Luke looked the man in the face and gave him a one-sided smile. “Nothing like that. It is just that the woman I wish to marry would be in grave danger if you were ever to tell others you met with us and married us. I must feel confident I can trust you to keep her safe by saying nothing about her to anyone.”

  Angus frowned and leaned back as if to distance himself from Luke. “Is the young woman running from her father? If she’s under age and doesn’t have her parents’ permission to marry, I’m afraid I must decline to perform the ceremony.”

  “She’s of age. Her father is dead and her mother expects her to marry. That’s not the issue.”

  “You can trust me, young man, whether I decide to marry you or not. First, I need you to bring her up to the house so I can talk to her. I’ll go tell my wife and mother-in-law you’re coming. If I do marry you, you will need other witnesses besides me.”

  Luke sucked in his breath. “What about them? Can they also be trusted to keep a secret?”

  “My wife is charitable to others, knows when to keep quiet, and doesn’t gossip, if that’s what you mean. She learned from her mother. With my youngest son on a mission to Alabama and his younger sister helping her aunt in St. George this winter, there are no young people about right now that would be a concern.”

  Sensing he could trust this man and his family, Luke smiled. “I’ll go get her.”

  Leading Loi’s horse by the halter rope, Luke returned. In the growing darkness, he saw the silhouettes of the man and two women on the porch waiting for them. Once he drew within a few feet of the trio, he stopped his horse and dismounted. He helped Loi off her horse before he turned to face the three pairs of eyes staring at him.

  Angus Halverson broke the silence. “You didn’t tell me she’s Indian.”

  “Does that make a difference on whether or not
you marry us? I heard your people preach to the Indians. It’s one reason why I came here.”

  “No, it doesn’t make a difference to me. We are all God’s spirit children. I believe God wants couples to be married. I generally counsel that people marry among their own religion and race, but there is no law in New Mexico Territory against people of different races marrying.”

  “That’s good. She’s not Indian.”

  “My apologies for the incorrect assumption, but she’s dressed in clothes like what the Southern Paiutes in southern Utah wear.”

  “It is Paiute clothing, but I’m the Indian, not her. Three of my grandparents were white, but my mother’s mother was Ojibwa, or Chippewa, as many whites call us. Based on our tradition, that makes me Ojibwa.”

  Luke watched the looks of surprise blossom on the faces of the two women, but neither made a sound.

  Angus stepped off the porch and held the lantern up to study Luke’s face. He slowly nodded. “Yes, we are familiar with the Chippewa people. I would not have noticed it if you hadn’t said something. But, now that you mention it, I can see it.” He turned to study Loi’s face. “She’s dressed like an Indian, but your bride doesn’t look either Indian or white.”

  “That’s because she’s neither.” Luke helped Loi remove the fur cap that covered her head. Underneath, she still wore the black cap with the white trim that now showed the dirt and stain from the tanned animal skins. He helped her remove the fur coat, a Paiute deerskin dress that came to her knees, and the leggings. Soon she stood in her Paiute-made soft leather boots wearing her black trousers and shapeless smock-style jacket.

  Loi glanced up at the trio and then bowed. “Hello. My name Ling Joy.”

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  Chapter 51

  ~o0o~

  T he older woman audibly sucked in her breath in amazement. The younger one, the bishop’s wife, clapped her hands together and brought her fingertips up to her lips. “Why, you’re Chinese.”

  Nodding, Loi turned to her, her smile lighting up her face. “I Chinese from Canton in China. Very pleased to meet you.”

  The wife immediately responded. “Oh, we are greatly pleased to meet you, Ling Joy. We are all spirit children of our God. Jesus loves us all the same, no matter where we come from.”

  “Yes, Shorty say you Jesus people, like Christian missionaries in China. Say you marry us.”

  “Shorty?”

  Luke turned to look at Angus whose eyes filled with amusement as he spoke.

  “How did you get a nickname like that? We’re about the same height, but I never considered myself short.”

  “I managed to get tied up with a couple of scalawags not too long ago, and they were both about a head taller than me. They stuck me with the nickname to annoy me. Unfortunately, that is the name Joy learned to know me by.”

  Loi bowed toward Luke. “Sorry. I forget. You Luke.” She turned to the others, a twinkle in her eyes. “He name Luke. I say luck. He my luck.”

  Angus glanced at his wife as they shared a smile. “Please let me introduce us. I’m Bishop Angus Halverson. This is my wife, Christine, and her mother, Mrs. Hannah Johansson. Now, did I understand you correctly, Joy? You are Christian? You know about Jesus Christ?”

  A smile on her face, Loi bobbed her head. “Yes. When father alive, family go to Christian mission. Learn English; learn Jesus words. Jesus great teacher, like Buddha. Very kind to women.”

  The older woman’s hand flew to her chest, a mild protest in her voice. “Like Buddha? That’s a heath…” She glanced away, and then returned her gaze to Joy. “Well, Buddha isn’t part of Christianity.”

  The younger woman turned to her mother, her voice patient. “At least she has heard of Jesus, Mother. She seems to be favorable towards Him and Christianity. Besides, I understand the teachings of Buddha contain a lot of wisdom.”

  Loi’s face lost its smile. “I forget much Jesus teachings after father die. Brother no let family go to mission, no let family talk about Jesus. I not good Christian like Miss Johnson at mission.”

  The woman stepped down next to Loi and took her by the hand. “We all are learning about Jesus, Joy. Please, let me welcome you into our home. I was just about to put supper on the table. It is simple fare, but we have enough for all of us.”

  Still stiff from being in the saddle almost all day, Loi leaned heavily into the woman’s hand as she started towards the porch and proceeded to step up. Surprised that Loi had difficulty walking, Christine jerked her head towards Luke, a question in her expression.

  Luke moved to Loi’s other side to assist her as he explained about how Loi’s feet had been bound as a child until her family took her to the mission.

  Angus showed the two visitors where they could wash up while Christine and Hannah put the food on the table. They served soup and bread. Luke guessed they intended to stretch it until the next day’s mid-meal, but it would be eaten this night. Not accustomed to saying prayers themselves, Luke and Loi both mimicked the others as they bowed their heads and spoke the blessing on the food.

  Loi expressed her delight at the soup. “Ah! Chicken soup. Not eat chicken many days. I offer much thanks.” Loi bowed towards Christine in gratitude.

  Luke smiled as he explained. “We’ve been staying away from large cities and don’t always have a large variety of meat. Joy enjoys rice, which I make sure to keep on hand. Unfortunately, often the only meat we have is some bear meat I dried before our journey. It’s not her favorite.”

  Loi wrinkled her nose. “Bear meat great delicacy in China but smell strong.

  Angus turned to Luke. Where are you two from, Mr. McDaniels, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  Luke spoke carefully. “We’re from Paiute country. I’d rather not be more specific than that. Like I told you earlier, my soon-to-be wife is in great danger if the wrong people ever find out where she is. That is why I must trust all of you to say nothing to your neighbors, or to the people in town, or to anyone else about our being here.”

  “And who might come after her? I can’t imagine anyone wanting to harm Joy.”

  Luke looked at Christine Halverson. “The Chinese, ma’am. The tong that bought her when she came off the ship consider her their property. If they found us, they would try to kill me for sure. Even if they didn’t kill her, they would seriously harm Joy before they force her to do their bidding. They already mean her harm for something she had no control over.”

  “But, is it necessary to marry her, Mr. McDaniels? I mean no offense to either of you, but wouldn’t it be better if you each married among your own kind?”

  Luke turned to the older woman who obviously held a dim view of their upcoming nuptials. “Mrs. Johansson, I’m sure if Joy had been given the opportunity to marry a nice Chinese husband, she would have. However, the Chinese culture is different than ours. After her father died, her brother sold her into slavery.”

  The older woman gasped. “Slavery! They outlawed that here decades ago. They can’t keep her as a slave here in America.”

  “But they do. Once she arrived in America, they made her sign a contract so, legally, it looks like she agreed to indenture herself to her owner. They have their own culture in their Chinatowns, and the white Americans don’t bother with them much as long as they keep the peace. From what I hear, too many white men in San Francisco get bribes and kick-backs from the Chinese. They aren’t willing to stop what’s going on.”

  The bishop’s forehead wrinkled in consternation. “That’s disgraceful.”

  Luke continued. “She thought she was coming to America to marry a Chinese husband here. Her mother even gave her a wedding outfit to wear for the occasion. She’s kept it hidden all this time. When she arrived, she was sold instead to the head of a hoodlum Chinese tong and forced into prostitution. The Chinese are not Christians who believe in sin, but they do believe it shameful when a woman becomes a prostitute. She is now on the lowest rung of Chinese soc
iety. However, her status is not her fault. The blame lies with her brother who sold her into prostitution, and with the hoodlum tong members who bought her for that purpose.”

  Silence reigned as three pairs of eyes stared at Loi. She kept her gaze on her hands folded in her lap as she blinked back tears of shame.

  Luke leaned forward to pull their attention away from watching Loi. “Before you condemn her, remember—she had no choice in the matter. She wished to marry and have a family.”

  The older woman shook her head and muttered. “I’ll never understand the Chinese.”

  Luke nodded in agreement. “They look at many things differently than we Americans do.” He declined to mention how the Ojibwa looked at some things differently than the Americans.

  Hannah Johansson folded her arms. “Well, you won’t have to worry about me saying anything that will give you two away. I won’t have what might happen to Joy on my conscience.”

  The bishop looked at Luke thoughtfully. “Is that why you wish to marry her? You want to save her from that?”

  Luke looked at Loi with an expression that revealed the longing he felt for her—a yearning he had never been able to adequately say in words. “No, that is not the only reason. I care for Joy deeply. I have chosen her as the woman I want for my wife. I want her to be the mother of my children.”

  Loi looked up and smiled. “I be good wife, give Luke many sons.”

  “And daughters, Joy. Remember, among the Ojibwa, our linage comes through the women of the family. Daughters are as important as sons.”

  Luke turned back towards Angus Halverson. “We could not wed before now because the states we have traveled through forbid marriages between Chinese and whites. Even though I am Ojibwa, I did not want to be questioned about it since I know I look more white than Indian. Now we are here in New Mexico Territory, there is no restriction. We can marry legally as long as we can find someone willing to perform the wedding. That is the one gift I can give her—the higher status of a wife rather than the lowest status of a prostitute.”