Fort Larned (11 page)

   "And what are my circumstances, Mrs. Davis? Do you really know?"

   "Of course not, my dear." Mrs. Davis sat quietly for a moment before continuing. "You're tired and you've been through so much. I realize how attached you've become to the child. Who wouldn't? Really, dear, we must be practical."

   Nell realized her manner and calmed herself. "I'm sorry. I just think that you should consider my rights to the child if her family cannot be found."

   "This matter does not need to be settled tonight," Captain Davis said. "We'll look at all the possibilities for Annie's welfare. Mrs. Baker, your claim would, of course, be considered."

   Nell relaxed and gave her next words consideration. "I don't mean to be offensive. Please excuse me. You've been so kind . . . It's just that Annie and I have been through so much together. I guess that I just began thinking of her as my own."

   Mrs. Davis smiled pleasantly. "Think nothing of it, my dear. I quite understand. I was a mother myself and can identify with your feelings. Of course, you have a claim to the child. I will do everything that I can to help." She took hold of Nell's hand.

   Tears came into Nell's eyes. "I think I probably should get some rest. I am very tired."

   Mrs. Davis rose from the table. "Of course. Let me help you prepare for bed."

   As Nell waited for sleep, she thought of the last six days of her life. When sleep came, it was sudden. It was the first sound sleep that she had enjoyed in days.

It was midmorning before Nell got out of bed. She apologized to Mrs. Davis for having slept so long. Mrs. Davis brushed the apology aside saying that she had expected Nell to sleep most of the day. Mrs. Davis had purchased material for Annie's dresses and was cutting the pattern.

    There was a knock at the door and Mrs. Davis answered. She returned saying that Collier wished to talk with Nell. Nell checked her appearance in the parlor mirror and rushed to him.

   He looked solemn.

   "Lane, I've been wanting to talk to you."

"I'm going back out there," he said bluntly.

"Why? Why would you do such a thing so soon?"

"We have to get the bodies."

"Well, yes, but, why do you have to go?"

   Collier led her out on the broad verandah. "We're short handed. Those bodies need to be recovered before they become too badly corrupted."

   "Couldn't you just resign?"

   "I could, but several of those men were my friends, good friends.

   She considered her selfishness. She was afraid for him and for herself if she lost him. "Of course you have to go. I'll wait for you."

   He led her over to a long bench against the wall and had her sit. He sat beside her and spoke to her softly. "I don't know that you should do that, Nell."

   She felt a strange anxiety growing inside her. Was everything going to change? Was he changing his mind about their relationship? "Why not?"

   "This is no place for you or Annie. None of us know how serious this thing is going to get. We've heard rumors of Custer and the Seventh coming out here. If things get any worse, this post could be under very heavy pressure. They could wipe us out." He stopped. He took both of her hands in his. "You both would be so much safer back in Missouri. I'll have all I can worry about without you and Annie to be concerned for. I'll join you when I can get free. It won't be long. I just can't go now and you really can't stay."

   It took Nell several seconds to digest everything he was saying. What would she do? She had no income, no place to live, and no possessions. Her family in St. Joe was her only real support other than Lane and frankly, he was committed to this emergency.

   "How long will it be?" She looked into his eyes, afraid of the answer.

   "I don't know. I'll come as soon as possible."

   "I guess that's the way it must be. Maybe it would be best. I have a lot to explain when I get home."

   He smiled and gave her a hug. "There you go. I knew that you would understand."

   She looked at him with imploring eyes. She straightened his shirt and fumbled with the buttons. "You will be careful. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

   He held her tenderly. "I'll be the biggest coward you could ever want."

   She laughed in spite of the tears in her eyes. "I'll bet. Somehow that just doesn't seem to fit you."

   They stood, embraced and shared a long kiss. He walked to the railing of the verandah and told her goodbye. For the first time she noticed a dark gelding tied in front of the picket fence that crossed the yard. A Remington rifle loosely hung from the saddle. A troop of cavalry and several wagons were forming up in the square.

   Collier mounted the gelding and turned it toward the troop. In minutes, it was on its way toward the southwest and the Santa Fe Trail. She watched them leave and gave Collier a wave. She turned and climbed the verandah steps.

   Mrs. Davis was standing at the doorway. A knowing expression was on her face. She put her arm around Nell's waist at the doorway. "Looks as though Fort Larned is going to lose a good scout." She gave Nell a squeeze.

    "Yes. It is." She smiled as they entered the doorway and went back to Annie's new dresses.

***

Other than a few simple frame store buildings facing the railroad tracks and a scattering of clapboard and sod houses there wasn't much to Ellsworth, Kansas. For the time being, this was the end of track for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.

   Nell stood in the dusty, smelly street with Annie and a box of clothing. It had been two weeks since she left Fort Larned. They were stopping all traffic on the Santa Fe Trail at Fort Larned. She had caught passage back to Ellsworth with a returning freight caravan. She went to the freshly completed railroad station and asked if there was a ticket for Nell Baker and Annie to Atchison. The stationmaster had a ticket and said that the train would be leaving shortly and they could wait in the station. They waited on a bench in a crowded room that smelled of saw dust and turpentine. She listened to the conversations of others. Stories of massacre and Indian uprisings all along the Santa Fe Trail filled the room. She heard John Neill's name mentioned as the leader of an ill-fated caravan.

   A farm machinery drummer sat at the end of her bench. He was an average looking man dressed in a worn black suit. He wiped perspiration from his forehead with a heavily stained handkerchief. "You're lucky, young lady."

   "What? Excuse me. Were you talking to me?" she asked.

   "I said you're lucky." He again wiped his forehead.

   She maintained her reserve, realizing that he was only trying to make conversation. "How is that, sir?"

   "To be going east instead of west. I would hate to think of you and your little girl being at the mercy of those savages."

   She nodded. "Yes, it would be terrible, wouldn't it?"

   "I should say so! Why the stories I've heard would make your hair stand on end!"

   She smiled. "I'm sure they would."

   "It sounds like all of western Kansas has been massacred! Thousands of savages! Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux! Why do you know they had one troop of cavalry pinned down for days? Thousands of them! Almost wiped that bunch out. I guess they massacred hundreds in a wagon train on the way to Fort Dodge. No, young lady, someone like you and that child wouldn't last two minutes out there!"

   Nell sat quietly. She was wondering if the man had finally run out of wind. He hadn't.

   "Now, there's a fellow that seems able to get along out there. At least you're heavily armed, sir."

   Lane Collier filled the doorway of the station, a Plains rifle and new Remington rifle under his arm. He walked to Nell and looked down at her, smiling. He started to speak.

   "Those are quite the rifles under your arm, young fellow," the drummer said. "You intend to join our forces on the frontier?"

   Nell winked at Collier and smiled.

   Collier grinned. "Oh, no sir. Not nearly well armed enough for that."

   "I was telling this young woman just that sort of thing. Why, anyone with any sense at all would be heading as far east as possible!"

   Nell smiled at Collier. "Where are you heading, sir?"

   He sat between Nell and the drummer. "I don't know. Thought I might try my hand at farming in Missouri. Some folks tell me that's a good place to settle down."

   Nell smiled, looking ahead. "I've heard there's a farm near St. Joe where a man could get everything he could want at a right reasonable price."

   Collier grinned and nodded. "Is that so? Guess I'll have to try that."

   The stationmaster announced that it was time to board the train. The passengers stood and gathered their baggage.

   "You know, young fellow, if things don't work out in St. Joe, I've heard of some really nice places going up for sale around Sedalia," the drummer said.

   "Is that so? Sedalia, you say?"

   "Yes sir! Mighty fine land and still a bargain!"

   Collier turned to Nell who was leaving the room. "Where might you be headed, ma'am?"

   Nell turned, keeping her expression serious. "I'm going to St. Joe."

   Collier picked up his rifles and baggage. "Maybe I'll just go to St. Joe and set up housekeeping with you."

   Nell looked him over as though she were examining a horse for purchase. She felt his arm. "I think that would be just fine. I've been meaning to get me a husband ever since I got my daughter."

   Collier took her arm and escorted her out the door.

   The drummer watched them make their way to the train and turned to the stationmaster. "Well, I'll be damned! Did you ever hear of such a thing?"