On Their Way
That first morning of travel dawned bright and beautiful. Though it was still spring, Daniel knew the sun could get hot. He wanted to get as far as they could before it became uncomfortable. He wanted the trip to bring Emma pleasure.
Emma gathered the last of the items needed to be packed. Daniel carefully helped her up into the wagon seat. With hearts full of hope they headed southwest to Missouri.
"Daniel, what will St. Louis be like?" Emma asked anxious to get to their destination.
"I've never been away from our small town either, so I don't really know. S'pose it'll be a bit like our hometown, Meadow Springs. But bigger." He smiled at her, glad that she was as interested as he in what lie ahead.
"I remember when Pa used to take the family into town. It was all so fascinating with the people, and the constant busyness. One time a horse got loose on the main street in town! What a commotion he made. Everyone was either trying to get out of the way or trying to catch him ... dust flew, ladies shrieked, and everyone crowded onto the wooden sidewalks where it was safe to watch! It was exciting!" Emma hesitated, flushing with excitement. "I don't think I want that to happen again but it will be interesting to see what goes on in St. Louis."
"There's plenty of people there packed into one small area ... I'm sure we'll see something exciting." Daniel assured her as he winked.
They stopped in the early afternoon in a spot that was shaded and near a lake so they could eat. Emma spread a cloth on the ground and brought out some homemade jam her mother had packed along with some biscuits saved for the trip. She also took out some carrots. They had packed quite a few canned vegetables that would remain fresh for a long time. The trip to Oregon would take months and though they planned to purchase more supplies in St. Louis, some things were best coming from home.
As they ate, they noticed three young boys swimming nearby. They were playing and splashing, having quite a good time. While packing up the last of their meal, they heard a loud scream for help. Daniel turned just in time to see the youngest boy go under the water far from shore. He ran down the shoreline until he reached the older boys. Quickly kicking off his boots, he plunged into the water swimming toward where he had last seen the boy.
Emma watched from the shoreline with a worried look on her face. She had followed Daniel and stood with the other two boys who had their gaze locked on the place where Daniel had dove underwater.
Emma reached over to the oldest boy, "Go get help! Fast!" The boy ran off into the woods.
Seconds ticked by feeling like hours. Emma was just about to kick off her own shoes when Daniel burst to the surface gasping for air. The young boy was tucked under his arm. The boy was pale and his body hung lifeless in Daniel's arms. As soon as he reached shore, Daniel grasped the boy around the middle in an effort to get the boy to breathe. Within moments, water gushed form the boy's mouth as he choked and coughed until his face turned from pale to bright red.
As the two sat trying to get their breath, a man and woman burst through the trees with the oldest boy following. The woman ran to the youngest boy and clutched him to her breast with tears streaming down her face. After checking on him and calming his wife, the man approached Daniel with outstretched palm. "You saved my boy's life! How can I thank you?"
"Seeing him breathing is enough thanks for me," Daniel replied. "He had me worried there for a minute."
"Looks like you're packed for travelin'. My farm's just through those trees. Come back with me, I have somethin' that might help you along the way." The man insisted so they followed on foot leading the team and wagon. "So where you be headin'?"
"We're going to St. Louis to hook up with a wagon train going west," Daniel replied.
A small cabin and barn came into view through the trees. They walked into a clearing with a field behind the barn. "I cleared all that land myself," the man boasted. "We've been on this farm for nine years now."
He led Daniel to the barn. "You look awful young to be travelin' alone. You remind me of the wife and I when we set out from Philadelphia to find a place of our own." He reached into an old trunk in the corner and withdrew a wooden case. "My Pa gave me this to help me protect my family and to feed us while we traveled here." He opened the case. Inside lay a .36 caliber Colt Paterson revolver. Its barrel gleamed blue in the lamplight.
Daniel began to protest, "Really, I was happy to help--"
"And I'm happy to help out a good young man like yourself," the man interrupted. "I'll be takin' it personally if you don't take the revolver."
"Oh, the gift is ... is truly a beauty," Daniel replied, "I just hate to take something that was given to you by your Pa."
"My Pa would be proud to know you have it. He'd never settle for me to give anythin' less than the best for my boy's life."
Daniel smiled pleased know such a man as this. He held out his hand for the gun and shook the man's hand in appreciation. Emma came out of the cabin as Daniel packed the gun, shot pouch and powder horn into the wagon where it wouldn't be jostled too badly. She had a bundle in her arms, which Daniel also packed into the wagon for her. After a round of hugs, hand shaking, and good-byes, the young couple again set off for St. Louis.
After a few more hours of walking, they decided to stop and get some supper and prepare to bed down for the night. They had traveled most of the way in silence feeling overwhelmed by the earlier events. Their earlier excitement had given way to anxiety and questions about the journey that lay ahead. As they lay huddled together thankful they had one another, Emma spoke up.
"They started out just like we are. Do you think we'll have to face the loss of a child like they did today?"
"Let's hope for the best, Emma. No need to trouble ourselves with problems we don't have." Daniel placed a kiss on her forehead. "Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow's another long day."
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