Dark Journey Home (12 page)

It was a hot and dry afternoon when the train chugged
into the edge of the dusty little town of ‘Nowhere’, though it was definitely
‘somewhere’ in the northern part of Texas.  However, the town had been aptly named;
at least that’s what the weather beaten sign said that hung over the doorway of
the small one-room depot. 

Olivia’s expression was one of surprise, as she
stepped off the train into a blast of hot air.  It had been warm in the coach,
but this was different from anything she’d ever experienced before.  My, this
was Texas?

Claude seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, so
Olivia wouldn’t complain about the heat, as she walked on toward the depot,
what there was of it.  Logan had strolled on ahead, and then had looked back at
her, and grinned, with that idiot twinkle in his eyes.  Olivia just tilted up
that perky little chin, and looked away, pretending not to notice.  That
movement of hers usually was his undoing, and he just grinned all the more. 

Maria and her husband, Ricardo, were in heaven.  This
was their kind of climate, and Ricardo happily reached down to grab some of the
luggage which had just been set out by the porters.  There was only one small
hotel, that they could see, and describing it as run-down, Olivia felt, would
have been putting it mildly.  Though she said not a word.  She would not
complain!  She did, however, feel that Garth’s many adventures on the high seas
could not have been equal to this!  She’d most certainly have a tale to tell
Garth when they returned to the civilized east coast. 

Well, at least Logan would be in Wyoming at that
time.  Then she remembered what Logan had gone through for eight long years,
and she felt that anything would look good to him now.  Now she really wouldn’t
complain.  And she still hadn’t seen any of Amelia’s ‘Indians’. 

Olivia was sorry that she was sometimes rude to Logan, but she just couldn’t help herself.  The man made her so nervous and shaky
sometimes.  Just his very presence in the same room she was in.  He had such an
impressive stature.  Of course, that was it!  Well, he was good-looking,
actually downright handsome.  “Well, he’s also an American and on his way
home.  I live in England.”  She told herself emphatically. 

Claude had been talking to the railroad conductor and
now he walked over to where Olivia stood in the shade of the small depot,
looking down the dusty road toward the small row of buildings that made up the
main street. 

He quietly took her arm, and began ushering her
towards the hotel across the road, as Logan, Ricardo and Maria followed; Logan
and Ricardo loaded down with carpetbags and valises.  Claude then told Olivia,
“I instructed the conductor to be sure and have our leased coach put out at Kansas City, and have it kept there for our return trip.  We’ll pick it up there, as we’re
not sure yet if we’re going on to Wyoming with Logan.  We’ll have to wait and
decide that issue while we are at the ranch.

“If we do go to Wyoming, we will be returning by way of
Nebraska, then part of eastern Kansas then on to Kansas City, according to Logan.”  

They noticed that it was cooler inside the hotel, as
the group entered, then walked across the lobby, and up to the desk.  The clerk
was only to happy to take their ready cash and Claude paid for three rooms.  Logan insisted on paying for his own. 

When Olivia turned the key in the lock of the room she
had been given, she expected the worst, though when she walked into the room,
she was surprised.  It was cleaner than expected, and actually looked
inviting.  It had curtains at the windows, and a nice blue handmade quilt on
the bed.  Claude carried her valise and carpetbag into the room, then left to
check out his room next door, first instructing her to lock the door after he
left.

July, 1858

Texas

Olivia was pleased to see that a pitcher of cool water
and a basin had already been placed in the room, and the refreshing liquid felt
so good on her face and hands, as she made use of it.  She never remembered
enjoying the feel of water so much before. 

She had just finished changing into a pale yellow
gingham gown, a bit wrinkled, though much cooler than the heavy traveling suit
she’d worn on the train, when she heard several men’s loud voices outside.  The
only window faced the street, so walking across the room; she pulled back one
side of the curtain, and then peered out.

She saw nothing at first, but after gazing a little
farther, she could see what appeared to be a tavern or saloon of some sort
farther down the road and across the street.  There were three men standing in
front of the false-fronted clapboard building, and they appeared to be in the
middle of a heated argument.

A fourth man sauntered over slowly, and spoke to the
men.  He wore a badge, and carried a rifle, with which he apparently knew how
to handle.  After a slight discussion, two of the men reluctantly went back
inside the saloon, and the third, seemingly agitated, said something more to
the lawman, and then climbed onto one of the horses which had been tied up in
front of the saloon, headed quickly down the road and out of sight. 

“Well, that was an interesting scene.”  Olivia
breathed to herself.  The men she had just seen appeared to be fairly rugged
characters.  Well, she’d read quite a few of those dime novels, even over in London, a lot of them the romantic kind, with those western cowboys as the heroes of the
novels.  They certainly didn’t look like the heroic type.  They definitely were
a rowdy and quarrelsome bunch, in her estimation.

Maybe that man with the star on his vest, carrying the
impressive rifle, was a gentleman.  She had her doubts about that also.

Well, Olivia still hadn’t seen an Indian, and would be
sure to inform Amelia, when she returned to England, that she’d been wrong
about that.  There were certainly no wild Indians in the west after all.  Only
argumentative cowboys.  Though they had talked about those savage Indians in
her dime novels, however those were fiction stories anyway. 

Half an hour later Olivia and her uncle Claude were
seated in the small restaurant off the lobby of the hotel.  They were the only
ones eating at that time of day, and the waitress, an older tired looking woman
was ready to take their order.  “Well, what’ll it be?”  she asked.  “You can
have hash and eggs, or eggs and hash.  Coffee’s hot too.”

Olivia opened her mouth to answer, but her uncle spoke
first, “How about a plate of sandwiches for my niece and me.  She’ll have a
spot of tea; however, the hot coffee will be fine for me.”

“No hash?  Well now.”  The waitress raised her
eyebrows, and then set two cups on the table.  “Guess I can rustle up some
sandwiches, if that’s what you want.  My name’s Bertha and I’ll be back.”  With
that she flounced back into the kitchen. 

Olivia snickered, “This is some town, uncle.”  She
said.  “Did you hear the argument from down the street earlier?”

“Yes, well, it’s a far cry from London, Ollie.  You’re
seeing the other part of the world now.”  He said, and then continued, “Though
I believe this town of ‘Nowhere’ could grow on you.”  Then he chuckled, when
Olivia made a face at his remark, “It’s an experience anyway.  Hopefully the
sandwiches will be edible though.”

“How long will we be here in Nowhere, Uncle Claude?” 
She asked.

“We’ll hopefully only be here one night, Ollie.”  He
said.  “Logan tells me that the stagecoach only comes through every other day,
so we should be leaving tomorrow morning a little after nine-o’clock, as that’s
when the conveyance is due to come in, and they have to change the team of
horses, then we’ll be on our way. 

“I’ll be ready whenever you are.”  She said.

“Logan and Ricardo went over to the mercantile to
fetch a few supplies, maybe you’d like to go browse around after we are
finished eating.”

“It might prove interesting, uncle.  I’ll see.”  She
offered.  “I may pick up a few items.”  .

“Logan also said that he and Ricardo are going down to
the livery to see what there is available in the way of horseflesh, as he
called it.” 

Olivia was surprised, “Why in the world would they be
looking at horses?  We’re going by stagecoach, aren’t we?”  She asked.

“He said they needed a couple of mounts for
themselves, as the stages are usually cramped for space, and they are going to
be riding part of the way on horseback.  Though Ricardo joked that he may ride
shotgun, if they don’t have one.”

“What in the world did he mean by that?”  Olivia
remembered the term from some of those dime novels, but couldn’t recall just
what the term meant.  She thought it was some kind of protection, but that
would be ridiculous.  Wouldn’t it? 

“Actually,” Claude began, “I think Ricardo was joking,
though I’m not at all sure what he meant, however, we’ll find out.  This will
be an experience, no matter how you look at it.  I just may saunter on down to
the livery stable myself, and pick up a mount.  Logan said that if I didn’t
want to ride, that we could just tie the horse to the back of the stage. 
Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one ready.  I’ve ridden our horses a lot back at
the manor, and it might be nice to ride for awhile, as you see lots of scenery
that way.”  Claude laughed, “You know, Niece, I’m feeling younger every day
that we are on this trip.”

“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll stick with the
four-wheeled vehicle, thank you.”  Olivia stated.  Although she’d ridden the
horses in her uncle’s stables quite a bit, she wasn’t at all sure about these
western type mounts.  From what she’d seen of some of the ones tied up in front
of the businesses here, they looked pretty rugged to her. 

The waitress, Bertha, entered the dining room with a
huge plateful of sandwiches, in one hand, and the coffeepot in the other.  She
returned a few minutes later with a pot of hot tea for Olivia.

The sandwiches were made with cold tender beef,
between thick slices of fresh home-baked bread, and were absolutely delicious,
the coffee strong and hot.  Olivia enjoyed her relaxing cup of hot tea.

When Logan and Ricardo had finished picking up a few
supplies at the mercantile, for the long trip by stage, they headed down the
road towards the livery stable, at the far end of town.  When they reached the
place, they were directed to the stalls, in which there were several riding
horses, though only three or four appeared to even be halfway worth the price
the owner was asking for them. 

Logan
chose a
sturdy-looking roan gelding with a white nose, and four white stockings, and
immediately took a liking to the horse.  He then walked over to check out a display
of used saddles, while Ricardo petted the nose of a two-year old pinto. 
Ricardo began softly speaking to the horse in Spanish, and Logan grinned, but
said nothing.  He hadn’t grown up in the west for nothing. 

Logan and Ricardo paid for the horses and a couple of
saddles, bridles and other gear they would need, then headed back towards the
hotel with their packages from the mercantile.  As they walked back, they noted
Olivia and her uncle entering the store, and figured they wanted to do some
shopping also.  Then Claude came right back out, and headed down towards the
livery.

“Did you chaps find what you wanted?”  Claude asked
them.  “I figured I’d have a look at those horses also.  I may decide to ride
with you for a while.” 

Ricardo answered, “It will be hot for you, Señor, but
mucho enjoyable.  You have the right idea.  How about your niece?  Does she
ride?”

“We’ll wait until we arrive at the ranch, then I’ll
get her on a western horse.  I’ve never ridden one myself. I’m used to my
horses back home, but I think I will enjoy this experience.  We do have a
stable at the manor and several fine steeds.  When I was a much younger man, I
did some racing at the tracks, but that was many years ago.” 

“You will like our western horses, Señor.”  Ricardo
offered.

“You want me to help you choose a mount, Claude?”  Logan asked.

“That might be a good idea, Logan, I appreciate the
offer.”  Claude answered.

Ricardo took Logan’s bundles from the store to carry
to the hotel for him, and Logan continued walking back to the stable with
Claude to assist him in picking out a suitable mount, and soon Claude was
outfitted with what he needed:  A five-year old stallion with a black shiny
coat and a good sturdy saddle.  They headed back down the dusty main street
towards the mercantile, as they would pick up the horses and gear from the
stable in the morning.