The Deserter, Part 1
The desperate deserter's eyes darted from Emma's swollen belly to her ashen face. As his blue eyes met her deer-like brown ones, he saw her fear just as she recognized his rapidly sapping strength. The right thigh of his uniform pants was dark with dried blood. Although he did his best to stay alert, the reality of his days spent evading Major Strickland shone from his eyes in a silent plea just as he lost consciousness. As the deserter slumped to the floor beside the green chest Emma swiftly scooped up the gun.
Emma's mind was reeling. What to do? Daniel was with Annie Jane and here she was alone with an unconscious deserter.
She could hear the voice of the wagon's scout coming from outside the wagon and thought, "This man will surely help me." Quickly climbing down from the wagon with the gun clenched in her small fist and approached the startled Flint. She whispered that she needed his help and handed him the revolver with trembling fingers as she explained her plight. The scout immediately went into action. "Be careful! Do NOT go back into the wagon! I will be right back!" True to his word, he soon returned carrying a rolled up blanket. He motioned her to stay behind as he climbed into Daniel and Emma's wagon. She could hear rustling noises. A few minutes later he pushed back the flap and motioned to her. Carefully and hesitantly she climbed in. The deserter was lying on his back with his hands firmly bound with rope. His left leg was tethered to the wagon's wheel. In the blanket she spied a bottle of whiskey that she suspected had only moments before belonged to Liam Sullivan. "A nasty habit," she thought, "but one that may prove useful for a stab wound."
The wagon shifted with Daniel's weight as he heaved himself in expecting to get some much needed sleep and his eyes came to rest on his lovely Emma with a man's face in the shadows behind her. Startled he pulled up the Henry but Flint was quick to speak. As soon as Daniel realized who it was his next thought was, "Why is he here with Emma?" At that moment she stepped aside so he could see the wounded soldier. "Who is he? Where did he come from?" Flint replied that he was the deserter that Major Strickland and his troop were looking for.
"First things first. We must clean this wound. Emma, get some clean water and fetch the Fazenbaker sisters. They are at Vada May's wagon." As Emma rushed to carry out her orders, Daniel's eyes met Flint's as the scout told him they must save the deserters life before they could question him.
The three women slipped into the now crowded wagon as all five stared wordlessly into their prisoner's face. Fannie began barking orders, sprinkled with her customary oaths. She sent Ineta to fetch their Grandmother's medicine bag while deciding to reserve the whiskey for later. Moments later Ineta returned and Fannie set to work. With a sharp knife she cut the uniform trousers and began to cleanse the wound. Some time passed as she soaked the dried blood loose. Daniel, Emma and Flint exchanged nervous glances but Ineta remained calm as she watched Fannie work, occasionally nodding her head. Their Grandmother had taught them the old healing methods. Seemingly frustrated at the reversal of roles the two men dutifully fetched water.
All five backs stiffened when a short time later the man began to moan. Fannie kept bathing his face and neck with the cool water. He gave an involuntary shudder and sat straight up! Fannie and Ineta simply smiled. Emma's face was white but both men raised their weapons. As the deserter's eyes flew open, he looked squarely into Emma's eyes. Her own blinked as she gasped and took a step backwards. His blue eyes registered terror.
His terror increased as he felt the cold steel of Flint's knife against his throat.
The deserter fainted.
Fannie continued cooling the soldier's face and neck after ordering, cursing like a muleskinner as always, the others to scurry about obeying her. Ineta gathered material to be used as bandages, Emma brought soup and Daniel and Flint grumbled the entire time as the brought more water. Flint said, "Seems like we're doin' women's work while Fannie gives the orders. Dunno iffin I like that one bit." To which Daniel replied, "Fannie knows what she's doing and it's working. Our part will come soon enough." When they brought more water Fannie reported that the deserter's name was Howard Gibbons and he had passed out again. Flint and Daniel were becoming edgy with the need to question Howard. Emma's soup became cold and Ineta was nearly asleep on her feet. The older sister told the two younger women to fetch Ian MacGregor, the wagon master, and to then get some sleep. Emma was to sleep in the Fazenbaker wagon, as the men were needed in the Watson wagon. Ineta left immediately. Emma went tiredly but unwillingly, as she had never been apart from Daniel since their wedding day back on April 15th. She knew these orders must be obeyed, as the train must be on its way early in the morning.
Ineta and Emma stopped first at Vada May's wagon where Ira, the eldest, told them that his Ma was asleep and had seemed to have recovered well from the rattler's bite.
Their next stop was at the wagon master's wagon. Hurriedly the women explained the situation and Ian threw on his clothes and boots, grabbed his gun and hurried off to the Watson's wagon with the red-haired Sullivan brothers trailing him as they had heard the women telling Ian of the problem. Behind Liam and Michael trotted young Billy.
Ian climbed into the Watson wagon while Liam and Billy stood guard at the back and Michael perched himself on the wagon's seat.
Their prisoner was moaning again while repeating the same name over and over. "Cora--Cora--Cora." Laying her coarse language and rough ways aside Fannie smoothed his brow while quietly murmuring, "Shush, shush." He quieted and fell into a deep sleep.
Emma and Ineta's heads sleepily bobbed into view as the sentry shot off his rifle at 4 AM. Having gotten a few hours sleep they were refreshed enough to take over, if need be, for the group at the Watson wagon and Emma was anxious to see Daniel. The wagon master said he was all right and went to round up some men to take over for the day while the rest got some much-needed sleep.
Charlie Pruit and Ezra Beecham were considered but as Flint and Daniel did not trust them, the job was given to Ira Wilt and his brother Stewart. The young brothers' normal day was to either drive the wagons or walk so they welcomed the chance to sit on quilts and guard the prisoner. Plus being entrusted with guard duty made the young men very proud.
As Daniel, Flint and the two Sullivans rested, the young men took their jobs very seriously as could be seen by the scowls on their faces and the grips on their guns.
Emma and Ineta, following Fannie's instructions, continued to bathe young Howard's face and neck with trembling hands, while sending each other nervous glances as each remembered Fannie's instructions. The last thing she said as she went to get some rest was, "Do NOT touch the bandages!" The soldier continued to mumble, "Cora." Emma, never ceasing in her duties, mouthed to Ineta, "Who is Cora?" and in reply Ineta shrugged.
Heading into high country the train traveled from 6 AM till dusk. No time to lose.
Ian MacGregor pushed the train to its limits as the Watson wagon remained under heavy guard. The prisoner slept through the day, much to the relief of the young men and women who were guarding and nursing him.
As dusk neared Daniel, Flint, Fannie and the Sullivans arrived to take their watch. Ian was to sleep as he had had a grueling 24 hours and needed to be fresh to lead them the following day. As the May boys dragged off for some rest, Ineta went also. Emma lingered near Daniel. Another night without her husband! To Emma's young mind it seemed an almighty sacrifice for her to have to pay for a deserter!
Fannie had been in and out all afternoon with her grandmother's medicine bag and all were admiring her ability to be wide-awake and fully prepared to take on her nightly duties.
The dressings she had applied earlier with a smelly salve were removed and replaced with fresh bandages. Ineta and Emma had reported that occasionally during the day the soldier had revived enough to take sips of water and then fall back into a deep sleep. Once he had opened his blue eyes and was met with Emma's. She had jerked with surprise as he whispered, "Cora" and fell asleep once again.
In the afternoon as Fannie had continued to wipe off the smelly salve and apply new balm with new bandages the wound was no longer an angry red but had become pink. The man's fever had subsided in the early evening hours and he slept for longer periods of time during the afternoon but "Cora" was still on his lips.
During the long day, Emma had realized that for the first time she was not preoccupied with her pregnancy. Her thoughts were all of the young man with the vivid blue eyes. Who was Cora? She didn't think Cora was his mother. A wife, cousin or sister? She must be someone he loved very much to be uppermost in his thoughts even when ravaged by fever and exhaustion.
Who was Cora?
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