Oregon bound, p.4
Oregon Bound, page 4
part #1 of Trails of the Heart Series
“People are getting greedy. They know the best wagons for the trail are prairie schooners and they are taking advantage by increasing their prices.”
Eva wanted to tell him to sell it on to someone else and let them stay living here but she wasn’t that brave. Instead, she stayed quiet and listened as Pa reassured Ma the canvas cover was watertight and would protect her belongings. The wagon wasn’t the only thing Pa had bought. He sold some of their horses and used the money to buy oxen. Her younger brother was trying to get the oxen to move quickly but he didn’t have the strength to make them go anywhere. Becky and Johanna were holding their sides laughing as their brother tried to get a particularly large animal to move.
”Eva, your ma will need your help over the next week. Johanna and Becky will help too. We got to pack everything up so it can be loaded properly into the wagon. Every bit of space must be used.”
“Yes, Pa,” Eva said but she didn’t look up from the ground. She was surprised when he moved toward her.
“Daughter, let's take a walk. It's been a long time since we did that together.”
“Can I come too?” Stephen said having gotten tired of the Oxen already.
“Not this time. I want to speak to Eva Louise alone.”
Eva Louise. She was in trouble. He only ever used her full name when she'd done something wrong. She struggled to keep her breathing calm as she walked alongside him. His silence made her feel worse. She wondered if she should speak first but what would she say?
“I spoke with your granny. She told me...”
Eva's heart missed a beat. What had Granny done now?
“She said you were very upset about leaving town. I appreciate you may think leaving is the worst decision I've made but as head of this household, the decision is mine. I don't expect you to like it but you will accept it. Your ma needs your help and support. The other children look up to you.”
Eva walked along in silence. She kept walking not realizing her pa had stopped.
“Eva.”
She turned.
“Yes, Pa?”
“Are you listening to what I said.”
“Yes, Pa.”
“So are you going to put the black mood behind you? This is an adventure. It will be exciting and something you can tell your children and grandchildren about.”
“I'll miss Granny.” Eva couldn’t keep the tears from making her voice shake.
Unexpectedly, her pa put his arm around her shoulders, the closest thing to a hug he had done in a long time.
“I will too. But your granny, of all people, knows we have to make our own way in this world.”
I will, Pa. By marrying David. But Eva didn’t say anything out loud. There was no point.
“We best get back. Your ma will have dinner ready.”
They walked back to the homestead in silence. Dinner was waiting and her siblings were so excited about the wagon and the trip their chatter filled the awkward silence between Eva and her parents.
Eva pretended not to notice her ma's occasional sniff as she wrapped up a piece of china. Eggs, china and other fragile items were packed in barrels of cornmeal.
“Where are the twins? I thought they were supposed to help,” she asked on the first morning.
“I sent them into town. Johanna is as likely to break the eggs as pack them and Becky…well, she isn’t the best at organizing things how I like them.”
Eva thought her ma’s excuse was a bit feeble. She wondered if it meant Ma wanted to speak to her in private too. Heart beating quickly, she folded the family’s good clothes and lined a large trunk with them. They wouldn't be needed until they arrived in Oregon.
“Put the bolts of cloth in there as well, please, Eva. I don’t want any of those Oregon folk thinking we can't afford new clothes.”
As soon as the trunk was half full, her pa moved it onto the wagon. She could understand his logic, it would become very heavy once full. But it meant she had to climb in and out of the wagon to finish packing.
“Ma, do we have to wear skirts when traveling? Some of the women traveling are going to wear bloomers.”
Her ma's face looked like she had just asked to travel naked.
“Eva Thompson, what on earth has got into you? Of course, we will wear skirts, although we will have to take them up an inch or two so it's easier to walk. But I won’t have my girls wearing boy's pants. Not now, not ever.”
Eva was sorry she'd asked. Her ma was real annoyed now.
“What's more, you will wear a sun bonnet every day. I am not having you arrive in Oregon browner than an Indian. Do you hear me, girl?”
Eva nodded but was saved from replying by Stephen.
“Ma, will we see Indians, real life ones?”
“Stop annoying your ma, Son. Can't you see she's busy.”
Stephen didn’t see the look that passed between his parents but Eva did. She had heard them discussing the possibility of attacks again last night. She'd wanted to tell them what David had said, but they wouldn’t have listened.
She continued rolling the feather beds and other necessities in canvas cloth. She packed them neatly into the wagon. Ma put the box carrying plates, bowls and cutlery into the back. Standing upright she put her hands on her hips surveying the contents of the wagon.
“That's it, I think. There's barely room for your pa's tools.”
“He tied them on the sides already, Ma. He has his scythe and hoe on that side with the tin pitcher of grease for the axles. He's going to hang a barrel and some rope on the other. I think every inch of space has been used.”
Ma nodded as she looked around her. The family’s everyday clothes would hang on hooks fixed to the hickory bows of the wagon. She had put their toiletries in a couple of pockets she had sewn into the canvas covering. Above her hung a lantern and a shotgun. Eva noticed her ma's look of distaste. Her ma hated guns but she had no choice. Pa had insisted everyone learn to use the rifle including Stephen. He'd thought it was brilliant. Eva and Johanna didn’t believe they would ever be able to use it let alone kill anyone. Becky had become an excellent shot much to her parents’ consternation. Eva couldn’t help feeling sorry for her sister. No matter how hard she tried, she was never good enough at the things her parents thought she should be.
Chapter 10
A few days later, the family headed back into town for another meeting about Oregon. Eva couldn’t understand why they all had to go. Pa could tell them everything they needed to know.
“Hurry up, Eva, we will be late. I want to get a seat in the front row.”
“I know you think this is a big adventure but some of us don’t want to go, Becky,” Eva snapped back.
“You are being a real stick in the mud. This is a chance for us to live. To see new things. To get away from dull and boring Virgil. I can’t wait. Can you help me with this, please?” Becky smiled her widest smile and winked making Eva laugh. You could never stay in a bad mood for long when Becky was in good humor. Eva helped put her sister’s hair up.
“Why are you wearing your best gingham? It’s a meeting not a party,” Eva said noticing her sister’s dress for the first time.
“Yes, but Captain Jones is going to be there and our Becky wants to make the right impression, don’t you, Becky?” Johanna teased.
Eva was surprised to see Becky turning bright red. She thought her sister liked Ben, but it seemed Johanna had more current knowledge.
“Since when? I thought you liked Ben,” Eva said.
“Ben’s a boy. Captain Jones is a real man.” Becky sighed dramatically.
“You won’t need a boy or a man if Pa catches you making eyes at anyone. You know that better than most.” Johanna gave her hair a quick check before climbing down the ladder to the room below.
“She’s such a goody two shoes. Makes me sick,” Becky said nastily.
“Come on, Becky, put a smile on your face. You don’t want to scare Captain Jones off with a face like that.”
Eva poked her sister in the ribs before making her way downstairs and out into the wagon. They wouldn’t be late for the meeting. Her pa was nearly as eager to get there as Becky but for different reasons.
Eva sat in the meeting listening to Captain Jones explain his reasoning for the week’s delay in departure. The heavy rains they had all appreciated were the reason. Although the grass was abundant for the animals, the ground was muddy thus hampering the speed of travel. The rivers were also swollen making them more difficult to cross.
“I say we go anyway. The sooner we get going the better,” Harold shouted, and a few in the crowd showed their agreement.
Eva watched Captain Jones' face. He didn’t appreciate being questioned so publicly.
“We go when I say so and not before,” Captain Jones said sternly. “Anyone who has a problem with my rules, go find another wagon train. I won't have my orders questioned.”
The crowd murmured but nobody challenged the captain.
“You all have your instructions regarding the packing of your wagons. Do not over pack. The trail to Oregon is littered with people's belongings for a reason.”
Someone in the crowd muttered but stopped at a glare from Captain Jones.
“There are seventy wagons in this train. I owe it to the group as a whole to get you to Oregon before winter. We don't want a repeat of the Donner experience.” Captain Jones surveyed the group in front of him. “I expect you all to keep up. I will not wait for anyone. Is that clear?”
Nobody said anything. Eva could see shock on a number of faces.
“What if someone gets ill?” A man asked.
“They continue traveling or they fall behind. We have a very tight timeframe. We can't afford to waste time.”
“We can't leave sick people behind to fend for themselves. That isn't right.” Too late, Eva shut her mouth. She couldn’t believe she had spoken out loud. Johanna squeezed her hand. A glance at her face told her Johanna agreed with what she had said. Her pa's thunderous expression told her he would punish her later.
“Miss...” Captain Jones seemed to be waiting for her name.
“Thompson... Sir,” Eva muttered.
“Miss Thompson, while I expect sensitivity from our female travelers, I also require full obedience to my rules. To make you feel better, I should clarify. Where possible, we will not leave the sick behind.”
Eva sighed with relief.
“Sometimes it is a necessity for the safety of the larger group. Do you understand?”
“I understand but I don't necessarily agree,” she said haughtily.
She thought she saw a hint of a smile in his eyes but it was gone in a flash.
“That's alright, Miss Thompson. I don't expect agreement. But you will follow my orders or you can stay behind right here in Virgil.”
“She'll follow orders, Captain Jones. You won't hear another word from her,” Pa answered after taking Eva's arm in a vicelike grip.
The meeting broke up soon after. Eva thought she might be able to slip away to speak to David for a few minutes but her pa was not in a good mood. She was in trouble for speaking out like she did so she didn’t risk it. Becky wasn’t smiling either. Her earlier good mood had vanished when Captain Jones referred to her as one of the children. Stephen was upset because their departure had been delayed. Johanna was the only one who seemed totally unaffected by the meeting. Eva wished she could be more like her sister. She lived in her own world most of the time, but she seemed happier than the rest of them.
It rained heavily as they traveled home. Getting wet didn’t make anyone feel better. When they got home, Pa sent Eva to bed without supper for embarrassing him at the meeting.
The rain continued for the next week keeping everyone stuck indoors for hours at a time. Tempers were short. Arguments were quick to break out leading to a horrible atmosphere. Eva blamed everything on Oregon and couldn’t wait to escape the house.
Chapter 11
Virgil, April 14, 1852
David checked and rechecked that he hadn’t left anything behind him. He didn't have much to take. The family bible his mother had, some bedding, a change of clothes, his savings, a knife and his gun. Most importantly of all, Granny’s ring. He’d made himself a small pouch to wear around his neck and he kept it there.
“Come on boy, let's get out of here in case he comes home early.”
Sam, his dog, barked before almost tripping David up by running around his legs. Sam didn’t like David’s pa either having been a victim of his drunken rage on more than one occasion.
“You excited?” David patted the dog's head. He'd found him half dead a year or two ago. He had fed and looked after him until he had completely recovered. Sam had followed him everywhere since. There was no question of the dog not making the trip to Oregon with him. “I guess you don't feel bad leaving this place,” David chatted to the dog as they made their way to the central meeting point. “Neither do I, apart from saying goodbye to Granny.”
The wagon train was leaving the next morning, but David had volunteered to help watch the Long's wagon and belongings overnight. Mr. Long told him he was very kind but there was nothing kind about it. If he stayed home, his pa might find out his plans. It would be just his luck for his pa to come home sober.
Granny Thompson had told him to make his peace with his pa before he left but he couldn’t do it. He hated the man. His drinking had destroyed David's life. If his pa hadn’t been drunk, maybe he'd have found a doctor instead of leaving Ma to birth a baby by herself. He hadn't even helped dig the grave for his wife and newborn daughter. David and his elder brother, Frank, had done it. The next day, Frank took off, and he hadn’t seen or heard from him since.
He'd asked Granny to tell Frank where he was if his brother ever came home but had made her promise not to tell his pa. He was done with that man.
Sam started growling as soon as they reached the collection of wagons. David looked up in time to see Harold aim a kick at the dog.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” he said calmly.
“Why? Are you going to stop me?” Harold laughed.
“Nope. But Sam might just tear your leg off.” David smiled as Harold's face lost all color. He whistled to Sam and they walked on toward the Long wagon.
“You best keep that beast under control. Captain Jones won't take kindly to having savages on his train. He's particular about the company he keeps,” Harold shouted once there was a safe distance between him and the dog.
“Really? He let you come along, didn’t he?” David didn’t wait for a reply. He knew he shouldn’t goad Harold Chapman. There was little point making enemies of people—not that Harold was his friend. He was another one who had decided years ago that David was as worthless as his pa.
At 6 am the next morning, the bugle sounded. Out on the trail, it would be gunshots from the night watchman at 4 am to wake everyone up, but Captain Jones hadn’t wanted to alarm the town residents. He also decided to let them sleep in on the first day. Mrs. Long had breakfast made when David got dressed. She was a good cook and generous too. He ate his fill of pancakes and bacon while listening to the Long children squabble over what chores they had to do. The Long family was just what David had always wanted for himself. Mr. Long clearly adored his wife and judging by her blushes she returned his feelings. Their teenage daughters were pretty and generally well behaved. He smiled to himself at the idea of Eva being jealous of the Long girls. She had no reason to be. He had never looked at another woman. Not since he'd decided in second grade he was going to marry Eva Thompson when he grew up.
He drank back his coffee before thanking Mrs. Long and getting to his feet. It was time for him to start his chores. He'd noticed Mrs. Long slipping Sam his breakfast. Mr. Long hadn’t been so keen on the dog at first, but Mrs. Long had persuaded him he would make an excellent guard dog. Sam was taking her seriously. He didn’t let the girls out of his sight which was a good thing as the youngest, Julia, was only eight and inclined to wander off. David didn’t want to think of the dangers she could face if she tried to explore the camp trails.
Like Mr. Thompson, Mr. Long had decided to use oxen to draw his wagon. David helped Mr. Long hitch up the oxen while the girls went to milk the cows. They had sold off their farm animals save two cows which were making the journey with them. Mrs. Long insisted her girls needed fresh milk every day.
David spotted the Thompson’s wagon some way behind the Long’s but he made no move to go near it. He didn’t know if Mr. Thompson knew he was traveling with the train, and it was best not to annoy Eva's pa if he could avoid it. He'd find out soon enough and with any luck there would be little he could do about it.
Soon the bugle sounded again. It was time to be off. A couple of the townsfolk stood watching as the wagon train rolled out. David caught sight of Granny Thompson—a stray tear trickling down her cheek—as she watched her family move out. He wished he had a way to bring the old lady with them but there was nothing he could do. At her age, the trip was far too dangerous. He looked down at his feet encased in the sturdy boots she’d given him. He had called to her home last night to say goodbye but had been too overcome to say anything, even when she'd leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I hope I am still alive when you and my granddaughter eventually wed. You look after her, mind you or, I will haunt you for the rest of your life.”
Chapter 12
Johanna held Eva’s hand so tightly it hurt but she didn’t mind. Anything to distract her from the pain of leaving Virgil. She had clung to Granny until the old woman pushed her away. “Get a hold of yourself, young lady. Remember who you are and where you came from. The Irish have a history of being strong fighting folk, men and women. No more tears.”
Eva had struggled as she tried to comply with the request. She wiped away the few tears rolling down her face. “I love you, Granny. I will write to you.”
