Lazy Days (14 page)

Hallie
decided that Captain Jones had been wise in not pushing the emigrants to leave
Ash Hollow immediately. The descent down Windlass Hill and Harley’s subsequent
death had placed melancholia over the group, not to mention the fact that
exhaustion played a major factor in their depressed state.

Soon,
however, the beauty of their surroundings performed magic in renewing their
spirits. Shade trees, which made for abundant firewood, covered the landscape, plentiful
grass fattened their animals, and pristine waters flowed.

By
noon of their first day of rest, Cooper had Stubby's cart loaded and ox ready
to be tethered. From across the camp, Hallie watched Stubby call to Cooper as
he turned to leave. Cooper paused and listened to something Stubby said and
then the two men shook hands. When Stubby started toward Hallie’s campsite, she
wanted to run away. She may have given him an ox and supplies because it was
the charitable thing to do, but she surely didn't want to talk to him.

She
said, "Tim, run over to the Hankersons and see if they need help gathering
firewood."

Always
ready to visit Sam, Tim said, "Sure, Ma," and took off running.

Hallie
straightened her dress and folded her hands in her lap. Cooper was walking
behind Stubby.

Near
the edge of the imaginary border to her campsite, Stubby paused, looked at his
boots, and finally glanced up sheepishly. He looked surprisingly different
after bathing and shaving and Hallie suspected the fancy women had had something
to do with his sudden change in appearance.

He
cleared his throat once, and then again. "Ah, Miz Wells, I…ah…want to
thank you fer yer kindness. After what I done, most folks would'a turned their
backs on me. But you're a right kind woman and…and I'm well and truly sorry for
my sorry-ass behavior. I get right obnoxious when I drink, so I'm tryin' ta
change that wickedness by not indulgin' in liquor no more." During his
speech he looked everywhere except in Hallie's eyes, but now he shifted his gaze
to hers and said earnestly, "I'm just sorry it took losin' Harley to open
me eyes."

When
Stubby visibly swallowed and his Adam's apple bobbed, Hallie realized just how
difficult this apology was for him.

With
the hint of a smile, she said, "Stubby, I only wish the best for you and
I'm truly sorry about Harley. I know how it is to lose someone you love
dearly." She fingered a tear.

Stubby
swiped his own eyes and said quickly, "Thanks, ma'am." He turned and
started walking away so quickly, he almost ran into Cooper.

* * *

Resting
under a tree, Cooper closed his eyes and fought his desire for Hallie. The
smile she'd given Stubby earlier was one of the sweetest he'd ever seen. Why he'd
ever thought her plain, he had no idea. Every day she became more beautiful and
even though Mrs. Martinique's gals had made it clear they were available to him
anytime, he had no desire for any of them.

Pressing
his fingers to his forehead, he squeezed his eyes tight.
Cooper, how could
you let this happen?

After a time, he gathered firewood and returned
to camp. He had seen Hallie headed in the direction of the Hankersons earlier
and figured she was still gone. Walking to the back of the wagon, he reached to
move the flap so he could drop an armful of firewood in the box. He looked up
and lost all the air in his lungs. Standing in profile and bent over at the
waist, Hallie rubbed a damp cloth up her calf. Wearing only a thin shift that had
fallen away at the bodice, and with her hair unbound and cascading to the
wooden planks, she was tantalizing beyond description.

As if in slow motion, she turned her head and
met his gaze. He couldn't make his legs move, but his eyes sure did, traveling up
and down the graceful lines of her slim form, following every curve, and
finally settling on her breasts. Then, without apology, he met her gaze again
before closing the flap. He dumped the wood on the ground and walked out of
camp and back to the same tree he had just come from. Pulling tobacco and paper
from his pocket, he rolled a smoke.

* * *

 Hallie couldn't breathe and when she could, it
was so rapid she got lightheaded. Quickly donning her dress, she hastened to
cover herself. Never had a man looked at her the way Cooper had—not even her
husband. Thomas had watched her dress, of course, and complimented her figure, but
Cooper's look had been, for want of better words—hotter than the fires of hell.
Hallie knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he had touched her, she would
have vanished in a puff of smoke. And, heaven help her, she'd wanted him to
touch her.

Raising a trembling hand to the pulse in her
throat, she felt its rapid staccato.
I'm so sorry, Thomas. I'm so sorry he
makes me want things…
She couldn't even finish her thought.

* * *

An hour later, Cooper returned to camp just as
Hallie was pouring hot coffee in a tin. He knew she'd heard his return because
she paused in the pouring. Quietly, he said, "I'd sure like a cup."

Just as quietly, she replied, "Here, you
can have this one," and handed him the tin, wrapped in a cloth because it
was so hot. Accepting it, his fingers grazed hers and she quickly removed her
hand.

When their eyes connected, a silent pact was
made—there would be no mention of what had happened. Reaching to stir the beans,
she said, "Supper will be ready in a few minutes."

"Sure smells good." He walked to the back
of the wagon, leaned against it, sipped his coffee, and gazed out amongst the
circle of wagons. Finally, he asked, "Where's Tim?"

“He's eating supper with the Hankersons. Seems
one of the Liverman boys loaned him a dime novel about Davy Crockett and with
Emmett's help, he's been reading it to Sam." She stirred the beans again
and then began ladling scoops into a bowl, topping it with hardtack. Walking to
the wagon, she set it on the tailgate and then returned to dish her own.

Cooper reached for the bowl and finished the
beans in a couple of minutes. "If you'll excuse me, I'll take care of the animals."

"Ma! Look at those rocks!" Tim pointed.

 Hallie responded, "I'm seeing them but not
believing them. I've never seen anything like it. When Captain Jones said we
would be passing Courthouse Rock and Jailhouse Rock, I never imagined anything
so grand."

Tim pointed again, "And look at those over
there!"

Hallie followed the direction he pointed. "Tim,
why don't we try to find our own shapes in the formations? We can give them
names, too."

"That's a great idea, Ma. I already see an
Indian face."

For the next hour, Hallie and Tim pointed out
other shapes and named them.

By late afternoon, they came within sight of another
grand formation that simply dropped their jaws. The wagons had paused because a
wheel had popped off the lead schooner and several pioneers were repairing it.
Cooper leaned against the side of their wagon and said, "That's Chimney
Rock—quite impressive."

"It certainly is." Hallie marveled at
the conical mound rising above the plain with a column shooting high above it,
as if stretching to touch a cloud. She glanced from the rock to Cooper and his
blue eyes started her heart hammering erratically. Quickly returning her gaze
to the formation, she asked, "How long until we reach it?"

"Probably two or three days."

Two days later, Hallie listened to Captain Jones
at the impromptu meeting he'd called, making everyone curious about the nature
of it. The captain boomed, "Our next major landmark is Scott's Bluff. It used
to be pioneers had to travel around it by way of Robidoux Pass, but around 1850
a way through opened up called Mitchell Pass. You'll see the bluff long before
we reach it. Now the reason I'm sayin' this is because it's gonna look
formidable."

When the pioneers glanced nervously at each
other, the captain smiled encouragingly. "But, seein's as to how far we've
come, and how many pioneers have traveled this way afore us, it's just a little
inconvenience." He grinned and laughed. "Do I make myself
clear?"

The Captain's jovial attitude was infectious and
a sigh of relief could be heard along with accompanying laughter and, "Yes,
sir!"

* * *

By noon of the following day, Cooper glanced
beyond Scott's Bluff, still in the distance, to the beginnings of the Rocky
Mountains. The foothills would soon give way to towering mountains and their
journey would become more arduous. Considering the journey ahead, he decided to
change the axle after leaving Scott's Bluff, but before reaching South Pass
that would lead them through the Rockies.

Behind him, he heard Hallie and Tim planning the
home they would build in Oregon, and although it put a smile on his face,
sadness overcame him. As much as he had tried to remain aloof, Hallie and Tim
had burrowed their way into his heart. A vision of Hallie bending forward, with
her body exposed, taunted him. If he had his druthers, he would send Tim to
spend the night with the Hankersons, climb into the wagon with Hallie, and
intoxicate them both all night with caresses and kisses. He sighed.
Not
gonna happen. You're no good when it comes to family.

That night the pioneers camped at the base of
Scott's Bluff and early the next morning began their ascent through Mitchell
Pass, basically a gash in the bluff that would lead them through the midst of towering
cliffs. The animals, accustomed to the plains they had been traveling for
weeks, balked at first, but soon acquiesced to their masters. At the crest,
Captain Jones halted the lead schooner and rode the length of the train, checking
wagons and animals. After speaking briefly with Cooper, he moved on and Cooper gazed
back across the plains of the Nebraska Territory.

In the distance, a black, shifting mass captured
his attention. Immediately he knew what he was seeing. He walked back to Hallie
and Tim and pointed. "You're looking at thousands of buffalo."

Hallie placed one hand over her heart and her
other on Cooper's arm. "This is truly the adventure of a lifetime. No
matter what happens, I shall never regret my decision to continue on to Oregon.
I cannot imagine a life of not beholding the wonders of America."

Cooper covered her hand still on his arm, and
together they watched unfathomable numbers of buffalo migrate across the
plains.

Captain Jones rode back to the lead wagon and
soon a shout of, "Westward Ho!" was heard. Cooper released Hallie's
hand and they continued onward.

Reaching the far side of the bluff didn't take the
entire day, so they kept going until they again met the south bank of the North
Platte River.

Circling the wagons for the night, the
atmosphere crackled with satisfaction of another accomplishment in the
pioneers' long journey. They had traversed the plains and although still a long
ways away, now looked forward with excitement and trepidation to the approach
of the Rocky Mountains.

* * *

"Look, Ma, there's Fort Laramie." Tim
spotted the fort in the distance, named after trapper Jacques LaRamee, whom Cooper
said may have been the first white man to visit the area.

"I see it." Hallie ruffled Tim's hair.
"We've reached another milestone, son."

Tired and weary, the pioneers circled their
wagons outside the fort, but since the sun had yet to set, curiosity led many
of them to check it out. Hallie and Tim readily agreed to explore the inside
with Cooper. All-in-all, the stronghold was well laid out with an impressive
trading post.

While Hallie was perusing the supplies of pots
and pans on a far wall, and Tim was deciding on a piece of candy, she saw a
military man approach Cooper, who was lifting and weighing several chains in
his hands. Surreptitiously, she listened and watched their conversation.

The middle-aged officer said, "Cooper
Jerome? Is that you?"

Cooper turned at the man's voice and recognition
brought a smile to his face. "Lieutenant English, good to see you."

Lieutenant English replied, "Since you're
now a civilian, just call me Smiley."

Hallie turned her head to hide her amusement. Smiley's
nickname was obvious. He had a grin that stretched from ear-to-ear with huge,
brilliant, buck teeth.

"When did you get assigned to Fort
John?" Cooper asked, calling it by its military designation.

"About a year ago when the Indian risings
started up again. They're none to happy about all the folks headed west and
killing off the buffalo." He lowered his voice, but Hallie could still hear
him. "I can understand their frustration. We got some real idiots passing
through, especially gold miners. It's like they forget all common sense when
gold fever hits 'em."

Cooper nodded. "Yeah, we've got a few of
them on our train."

"So you're with Captain Jones's
group?"

"That's right. I'm assisting a family on
their move to Oregon. Have you spoken to Captain Jones yet?"

"Not yet. The three of us should get
together and reminisce old times."

Hallie thought,
Cooper already knew Captain
Jones?

Lieutenant English asked, "When's your
train leaving?"

"Probably day after tomorrow."

The lieutenant lowered his voice again and
Hallie only heard snatches of his words. "Well … warn you … captured
chief's son … stockade … can't be more'n six or seven … Commander … hoping … peace
talks … dicey situation. More-n-likely … military escort when you leave."

Lieutenant English glanced in Hallie's direction,
who pretended interest in a cast iron skillet. Cooper called, "Hallie, I'd
like you to meet a friend of mine."

Hallie looked up, feigning surprise, and saw
Cooper's mouth quirk with amusement.
He knows I've been listening.
Rosy
color flushed her cheeks as she approached them.

Cooper said, "Lieutenant English, I'd like
you to meet Mrs. Hallie Wells. I'm escorting her and her son, Tim, to the
Willamette Valley." He motioned toward Tim who was paying for his candy.

The lieutenant removed his cap. "I'm
pleased to meet you, ma'am. I visited the Willamette Valley a few years back,
before the War of Rebellion, and I can tell you its heaven on earth."

His words sent excitement up Hallie's spine.
"It's wonderful to meet someone who's already been there. My husband
researched many areas before finally deciding on that particular valley."

Lieutenant English replied, "If you'd like,
I can meet with your husband and share what I know."

Hallie glanced quickly at Cooper and back at the
lieutenant. "My husband died over two months ago. I hired Cooper to escort
my son and me because the dream of Oregon was also my dream."

The lieutenant said, "I'm sorry about your
loss, ma'am."

At that moment, the door opened and a young man
dressed in uniform said," Lieutenant English, we got issue; the young prisoner
is gone."

A shocked expression replaced the lieutenant's jovial
smile. "Excuse me, ma'am, Cooper," he said curtly. Without waiting
for a response, he stalked out the door.

When Hallie left the trading post with Cooper
and Tim, the fort hummed with soldiers entering every building, apparently
searching for the escapee.

Before thinking, Hallie said, "I sure hope
the child is okay." Clamping her mouth shut, she realized that Cooper now
knew for certain she had been eavesdropping.

Cooper responded, with humor in his voice.
"He's probably on his way back to his family."

Tim, who had missed the exchange between Cooper
and the lieutenant asked, "What prisoner? What boy?"

Cooper ruffled his hair. "This is
confidential information. Can I trust you to keep it secret?"

"Yes, sir," Tim said solemnly.

While Cooper explained what Lieutenant English
had told him, Hallie berated herself for appearing nosey in Cooper's eyes.

Just as Cooper had said, their train departed the
second day after their arrival, and just as Lieutenant English had related to
Cooper, a military escort was assigned to them.

There was much speculation among the emigrants
about the escaped prisoner and the need for escort. Hallie heard Clarissa
telling Stubby, "I heard the prisoner was an Indian over seven feet tall
with dozens of scalps hanging from his waist and he was meaner than a starving rattlesnake."

Stubby's eyes rounded and several of the fancy
gals stepped closer to him. "Stubby'll keep us safe," Sharon said, winking
at Hallie. Stubby seemed to visibly grow taller.

The wagons departed an hour after daylight and a
somber mood blanketed the pioneers. The situation appeared serious, what with soldiers
flanking their wagons.

At mid morning, Hallie caught Cooper’s eye and recognized
his expression. He wanted her to rest her feet. Handing the whip to Tim, whom
he had been teaching to drive the oxen, he followed Hallie to the back of the
wagon and lifted her inside. He told her she needed to rest for at least an
hour and then he returned to Tim and the oxen.

Hallie sighed and decided to read the dime novel
about Kit Carson that she’d timidly asked to borrow from Cooper. Something about
the wagon didn't seem right. Then she realized her trunk was no longer flush
against the side panel and a blanket had fallen behind it. Reaching for the
blanket, she tugged, but it was stuck. Tugging harder, she finally jerked it
loose and stifled a scream. Up jumped a tiny boy wearing a shirt and pants that
looked very similar to those Tim had tossed in the dirty clothes bag that
morning. The child kept one hand on his pants to hold them up and darted his
eyes to the back of the wagon as if about to flee. They assessed each other for
several seconds. Finally, Hallie lifted a finger to her lips, indicating they
should both remain silent and the boy nodded his understanding.

He flinched slightly when she took a step toward
him. She sat on her trunk and leaned to whisper in his ear, "Do you speak
English?"

He whispered back, "Little."

"Did you escape the soldiers?"

After a moment's hesitation, the child nodded
and Hallie smiled at the expression of pride on his face. The boy grinned back and
her heart melted. He couldn't be more than six.

He whispered, "I go home."

Hallie asked, "Do you know how to find your
way home?"

The boy nodded and pointed north. "I follow
signs. Make animal calls. Father teach."

Hallie pointed to herself. "My name is
Hallie."

The child pointed to himself and said an Indian
word, and then, "Walking Tall."

"Your name is Walking Tall?"

He nodded and said with all seriousness, "I
go when night."

Hallie knew she didn't have it within her to
return this little boy to the soldiers who would again place him in the
stockade and use him as a pawn in their war. "Yes. But first you must eat."

Moving to the breadbox, she pulled out biscuits
from the morning's meal. To that she added some jerky and dried fruit.