A Dream Unfolding (26 page)

“Protect them?” Will asked.

“From the Apaches and Navajo.
 
They have been causing all manner of trouble to the south.
 
Raiding farms.
 
Murdering all the inhabitants, including women and children.
 
Generally making things pretty difficult for new settlers.”

Taking a swig of coffee, the young captain continued.
 
“General Carleton wants to make sure the start of the governor’s tour of the territory is as uneventful as possible.
 
So, we have come ahead of time to get familiar with the land and the natives—to be prepared for the worst.”

“Good to know there’ll be some military nearby,” Ben stated.

“Where
abouts
are you headed?” Jarrett asked.

“Granite Creek area,” Will replied.
 
“Looking to find some good cattle land.
 
Settle down and start a ranch.”

Jarrett looked intrigued.
 
Thoughtfully, he rubbed his chin.
 
“You know, food and other supplies have been nearly impossible to get into this territory, especially enough to supply the California Volunteers posted throughout.
 
With the recent drought in Sonora, some of our contracted food supplies are not showing up as promised.”

Will raised an eyebrow, wondering why Captain Jarrett shared this information.

“A rancher, like yourself, would do well if he decided to supply beef to the military and could guarantee a regular supply.”

Keeping his face devoid of the excitement welling within, Will nodded.
 
“How soon do you think the fort will be established?”

“Probably not until near the end of the year.
 
We have the next month or so to scout the area before we select a site.
 
I’ll need to make a trip back to Wingate before the final selection is made.”

That would give Will ample time to make it to Granite Creek, select some land and get established before the new fort would need a steady supply of beef.

“Might you be interested in such a proposition, Mr.
Colter
?
 
Can I pass your name on to my commander?”

“Sure,” Will said, recognizing the wonderful opportunity before him.
 
“Like I said, I’ll be settling near Granite Creek.
 
When you folks get the fort established, send word there and I’ll come out and meet with you to discuss terms and the like.”

The rest of the evening, Jarrett talked of Colonel Kit Carson’s escapades against the Navajo.
 
Jarrett seemed to think things would escalate in the coming month.
 
Since they were almost out of Navajo territory, he assured Will they should see little trouble from them.

As the captain and his men prepared to retire for the night, Will sat on the ground near a small campfire.
 
Accustomed to riding all night, he was not the least bit tired.
 
If they could just make it the rest of the way to Granite Creek without trouble, he would be pleased.
 
Then he would pick out a nice patch of land and settle down.

Settle down.
 
The words stirred something deep within Will.
 
Soon, he would have his own ranch—the dream he had since childhood—the one he put on hold after his mother passed, so he could help his father.
 
Finally, that dream was in sight.

Chapter
13

Drew pulled the wagon to a stop, setting the brake.
 
He jumped down and rounded to the other side to help Hannah down.
 
Once her feet landed safely on the ground, he set about unhitching the oxen.
 
Taking off his hat, Drew ran his hand through his hair.
 
The weariness failed to leave him.
 
Since Lieutenant Harrison’s recovery, Drew thought he might leave exhaustion behind, but that was not the case.
 
Once he returned to his own wagon, worry hounded him throughout the nights, keeping sleep away.
 
Each town they passed added to his worry.

A few days ago the train passed through a town where several sheepherders had been attacked by the Navajo.
 
The Indians stole over six thousand sheep.
 
The newly unemployed herders spent the afternoon drowning their misery with alcohol.
 
They shared their utter hopelessness with anyone who would listen.
 
Drew found it hard to witness—broken men at their wits end.
 
How was this affecting Hannah?

Returning from the oxen grazing grounds, Drew set up the tent.
 
His poor wife continued to look pale with dark circles under her eyes.
 
He suspected she slept poorly most nights, especially since Mr. Richmond’s gruesome tale.
 
The slump of her shoulders said a great deal about how this trip drained her.
 
He longed to ease her burden, though he had little left to give.

After setting up the tent, Drew stepped inside to wash up before supper.
 
The governor requested he and Hannah join the government officials and General Carleton for the evening meal.
 
He wasn’t sure why they took such an interest in him, but welcomed the opportunity to learn more of their plans for the territory.

Once Hannah freshened up, they joined the governor’s party.
 
General Carleton and several other military officers joined the meal as well.
 
General Carleton wasted no time in asserting his views regarding the government of the Arizona Territory.

“Governor Goodwin, have you given consideration to the capital location?” the general asked.

Governor Goodwin replied, “We will be touring the territory before making the final decision.
 
I understand the largest population center is in Tucson.”

The governor’s reply confused Drew.
 
Though the governor never specified a location himself, many of his party stated on more than one occasion they were headed to the Walker settlement near Granite Creek.
 
What sort of game was the governor playing?

“Yes, Tucson has a sizable population.
 
However, a good portion of the town is sympathetic to the Confederacy.
 
Not the best place to locate the capital for a new
Union
territory,” the candid general replied.
 
Drew caught the steely look in the man’s gray eyes.
 
General Carleton left him with the impression that he would not back down from any challenge.

The governor replied with some perturbation, “While I agree, to a point, the location of the capital needs to be somewhat populated.”

Drew chewed the boiled potato in his mouth slowly.
 
Turning his head towards the governor, he caught a glimpse of Hannah.
 
Her gaze lowered and she seemed rather intent on the food on her plate.
 
Was this discussion upsetting her?

Mr. Richmond commented, “La Paz has a significant population.”

Heart soaring a bit, Drew thought it would be nice if La Paz was the capital, since that is where he and Hannah were headed.

“Yes, but it is also in the far western end of this vast territory,” rebutted Secretary McCormick.
 
“Not a suitable location for the capital.”

General Carleton further asserted his position on the matter.
 
“Governor, I know you have considered the Granite Creek area where the Walker Party and others have settled.”

The general continued, “I believe that location makes the most sense.
 
It is populated mostly by mid-westerners and Californians, thus having strong ties to the Union.
 
It also is centrally located in the territory.
 
Reports from the first scouts to the area indicate the climate is excellent and the landscape is suited to a variety of industries.”
 
The general turned his displeased face towards Mr. Richmond.
 
“A place like La Paz is mostly suited to one thing—mining.
 
What will the town do when the mines run out?”

“You are correct that we have considered the area, General,” Goodwin replied.
 
“But, from what I understand there is a minimal population there, not more than a few hundred men, if that.
 
If we are to locate the capital there, we would have to convince settlers, such as Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, that this is an ideal location to live.
 
Is the Indian threat contained enough to ensure safety for the settlers?”

Glancing over at Hannah, Drew saw her eyes widen at the mention of Indians.
 
She looked positively frightened.
 

“The Apaches
are
a nuisance throughout the territory,” General Carleton conceded.
 
“While we need to deal with the threat they pose, my primary focus is on removing the Confederate rebels in the west.
 
I have a minimal number of troops to commit and most of those will be strictly for protection of the settlers.
 
Certainly not large enough numbers to mount an effective campaign at this time.”

“What would you propose we do then to remove this nuisance?” asked Secretary McCormick.

“Once you arrive, speak with the locals,” the general said.
 
“See if a militia of volunteers can be raised to deal with the problem.
 
Those that have been in the area for more than a few months have suffered from the Apache raids and will be eager to mount an offense against them.”

The conversation continued on, with the general pressing the governor to settle near Fort Whipple, several miles north of the Walker settlement.
 
After another hour of heated discussion, Drew and Hannah took their leave.

On the walk back to their camp, Hannah remained quiet and distant.
 
Drew suspected the conversation upset her.
 
It concerned him as well.
 
While the governor seemed to lean towards following the general’s suggestion, Drew still faced several doubts.
 
For weeks he thought of changing their destination to Granite Creek.
 
Would the population be large enough to support a doctor?
 
Would he be able to provide a safe home for Hannah in town?
 
Was there even a town there?

One thing became very clear to Drew through the course of the discussions—their new home was dangerous and far from the idyllic image of his mind, whether they settled in La Paz or in Granite Creek.
 
He supposed when he first read the article about the Arizona Territory, when he was in the comfort of his clinic in Cincinnati, he failed to think of how dangerous the untamed land might be.
 
Nothing in the article discussed the Apaches or their brutal attacks on settlers.
 
Nothing described the dangerous wildlife or harsh conditions of the wilderness.
 
All of this was to be a grand adventure to get to their new home, which he envisioned as similar to the one they were leaving.
 
Reality painted a far darker picture.