Chapter 7
May 26 - Enroute to Three Rivers
"That's the wiggliest river I ever did see." Hoss commented when they first laid eyes on the Deschutes River.
"The whole town is wiggly." Joe added, grinning.
Adam laughed softly from behind them, then took in a sharp breath. "Katti, you leave your sister alone and let her eat!" The seven-year-old O'Hara girl flashed hazel eyes up at Adam through thick lashes, but tucked her boots under her dress and left the year-younger Annie in peace.
Hoss dug his fork into the fresh flapjacks that their trip into Three Rivers had provided the supplies for, and gave a satisfied groan at the sweetness of the pancakes with the tartness of the blueberry preserves. "Don't care how wiggly it is, if it makes preserves this good."
"The way that river curves you wouldn't know there was a town here at all until you were on it." Tom Cannes said, stretching sore back muscles.
"The river probably has pretty good flow to it. Bucky said he saw a couple of mills along the banks. Probably grain, sawmill, maybe even paper." Adam added.
Catherine stepped away from the fire and practically fell over her skirts at the sound of the 'p' word. "They have paper?" She asked, her voice a little louder than intended.
The Cartwrights shared amused glances before Joe said, "Bucky spent time in town, go ask him if he saw paper for sale."
Catherine was off like a shot, first gathering the older girls of the train before they hunted down poor Bucky to interrogate him about his trip into town.
"What does she want paper for?" Tom asked.
"Schoolin'. For the younger kids." Joe explained. "And who knows..maybe she wants to write a book."
Cannes shook his head. "Never thought I'd see the day when young people wanted to do schooling."
Adam raised a brow, chewing thoughtfully on the bacon that their trip into Three Rivers had also blessedly provided. "What's wrong with wanting to learn?"
His comment drew knowing glances from his brothers, who looked eagerly at Cannes for his response.
"Nothing...nothing." Tom said, shrugging. "It's just peculiar. Especially from...some of your group."
"Some of our group."
"Well, some of the girls. Wanting to learn math and science. What are they going to use it for."
Adam took a careful drink of his coffee and stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles. "Katti…"
The seven-year-old looked up to him, at first thinking she had accidentally kicked her sister, and yanking her boots back under her dress.
"Why is math important?" Adam asked.
"So you know your numbers." She said.
"Why would a girl need to know her numbers?" Adam asked.
"For buying things. Or building things. Or selling things. Making sure things are even."
"Girls do all that? They buy and sell, and build?" Adam asked facetiously.
Katti and Annie both giggled at him and Adam smiled in return.
"And why would a girl need to know about science."
"To make medicine." Annie piped up, with the absolute confidence of a youngster knowing she had the answer right.
"And why would it be important for a girl to know about medicine."
"Cause boys are reckless." Martha said from where she'd come up behind Adam to collect Katti and Annie. "They make stupid decisions and we get left picking up the pieces." She snapped, but Adam could see a good natured glitter in her eyes. "Right ladies?" Martha's question was met with sincere nods from both girls who picked up the detritus of their meal and marched after Martha to help with the dishes.
Adam couldn't have been more proud when he turned his attention back to the stunned corporal. "Something you'll learn after a time, Tom, is that the only thing their gender determines is their ability to bear children. That might just put them a step above us in the pecking order, not below."
May 27 - Enroute to Sun River
The letter arrived in the hands of an express rider out of Three Rivers. The man delivered it along with the extra ammunition and paper that they had ordered in the town and promised to head back out to find them the following day for the reply.
When they camped Adam handed the letter to Joe to read aloud.
"Dear Adam, Hoss and Joseph;
My, how I miss you boys. Both for your company, and for the work you could be doing around here. But the work you are doing now is precious, and I am increasingly proud of you.
A letter came the other day from Fort Bidwell, written by the colonel. He had nothing but praises for you three, and for Bucky. He wrote that he was happy to send two of his men with you for as long as you needed them.
He and his men were able to return to the site of the attack and recover the rest of the property that had been left there. Albertus Pickwick has been laid to rest in the fort cemetery, along with young Wilson and Fovey. Should the Pickwick siblings decide they would like their brother's remains laid to rest elsewhere they need only ask and the military will provide all services free of charge.
I also received a response to a request made by Adam. His account of the bravery and fortitude of one of your number not only resulted in a civilian award, but possible appointment to a military academy. Having met young Miles, I suspect that you, Adam, left out a few details when making your request. It might be a hard road for Miles, but should he be able to make use of the appointment I will support him in every way that I can. Congratulations to him.
His country is grateful for him, but not as grateful as I am. Thank you, Miles, from the bottom of my heart, for bravely taking action and saving my sons."
By the time Joe read that part, Miles and Martha were standing around the circle listening to the letter. Martha had her arms around her brother, her head leaning against his shoulder, tears rolling down her cheeks. She kissed her brother and hugged him tightly, and laughed at the proud look he was casting at his hands.
"Would they really let me join the military?" Miles asked.
"It's not just an invitation to join the military," Tom said. "That's an invitation to the academy. Some of the best teachers in the world teaching you every subject known to man. Soldiers who come out of there go straight into officer training. You could become a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer. All with the backing and support of the United States Army."
Miles' face lit up and he was staring at Tom like he'd just been handed the key to his own city. "Can I do all that from Oregon."
Tom sighed. "Well...the academy is back east. To get your schooling you'd have to go back there, but once you're done you can be stationed anywhere."
Miles was already turning the offer down when Adam said, "This offer is for a fifteen or sixteen year old boy, Miles. You're twelve. You've plenty of time to prepare for it. Plenty of time to see your sisters settled in Oregon. This appointment will wait until you're ready. Right?"
Tom nodded, enthusiastically.
"That's...that's wonderful." Miles said finally, barely containing the grin that threatened to split his face in half. Adam, Joe, Hoss and Tom stood up to shake the boy's hand, before Tom suggested Miles go with him to talk more about the military academy.
Joe and his brothers settled back to hear the rest of the letter. Ben included a few notes about the hands, the letters he wrote to the next of kin for Wilson and Fovey, general news about the ranch and what was going on in town.
"This old man's heart would be grateful to hear from each of you boys, whatever you can send. I pray for you daily and wish you prevailing winds and clear trails.
Much love,
Pa."
"Looks like we have some writing to do before bed." Adam said.
"Didn't you say that journal is nearly full already?" Joe asked. "Maybe you should send that in the morning, too."
"And give Pa a heart attack with all the gorey details?" Adam asked, shaking his head.
"I think he'd like it very much, Adam. Poor old coot, cooped up with all them ranch chores and mean ol' horses, mean ol' cows."
Adam pulled an imaginary journal out, licked the tip of an imaginary pencil and began writing, "And then Hoss called you an ol' coot and felt so badly about all the ranch chores you've been doing, he offered to do twice his share when we get home." Adam jabbed the imaginary pencil at the air, turning a grin up to Hoss.
Hoss glared at Adam, then at the giggling Joe. "There's just no loyalty in this family. None 'tall."
By morning Adam had done his best to secure the journal and their letters in as water tight a package as possible. When the express rider found them on the trail he sent the package off with extra coin for postage, and in the next town down the line he planned to buy a new journal.
May 31 - En route to Bend, Oregon
It was amazing what paper could do. By the end of the first day out of Sun River, Adam had filled the very few pages he had been allotted.
Every child in the wagon train had been assigned essays, or drawings, or letters, dependent on their ability and the flutter of paper could be heard all around the camp every time they stopped. Starved as they were to do anything that didn't involve staring at the ground or backs of mules, every child took to their assignment energetically. Adam imagined there was no shortage of things to write about.
The paper was used to make paper dolls for some of the youngest girls who designed paper dresses and bonnets to put on the dolls. Games of tic tac toe and bulls and cleots filled every inch of some of the pages and Jane, Catherine, Martha and Maudie spent hours each night grading, correcting and planning lessons that could be taught from wagon to wagon while on the move. Their fervor for teaching and the ingenuity they applied to the problem warmed Adam's scholarly heart.
"The Cartwright Wagon Train School of Hard Knocks continues to flourish. The only problem on the horizon is the fear that we will run out of material to teach."
When they reached Bend, Oregon they found a decent sized town had been built up around the only place where the Deschutes River could be easily forded. Some wise soul had even placed a historical marker near the ford with the names of the french trappers that had first used the crossing. Another wise soul had put up a toll gate.
Joe was the one to ride into the town, ask about the toll gate, and the first to have to tamp his anger down at the exorbitant cost being asked by the proprietor.
"Ten dollars a wagon. Can you believe that? And what does he do but lift and lower that flimsy little gate?" Joe asked, wearing a line in the dirt with his pacing. "That's highway robbery, Adam! It's free and open land. It's not legal."
"So.."
"So!?"
"So what are we supposed to do, Joe? We have wagons full of kids. We can't ride into town like a bunch of hooligans just because we don't like the prices."
"Hoss...Hoss will you help me out with our brother, here."
"Joe…" Hoss started, his voice as usual was the softest. He was also tired and had started to feel under the weather. "We got money to pay the toll, let's just pay it and move on."
"But it's extortion. It's robbing from the poor to make himself richer."
"So he's not a nice man." Adam said. "Is there a rule that says that everyone in the west has to be kind to his neighbor? Dan...Tom. What do you think? What's the legality here?"
"I don't know anything about law." Dan drawled into his coffee.
"Ok, but…" Joe interrupted. "If the military came along, had to cross the river, and found that toll gate. What would you do?"
"Seize it." Tom said.
"Gesundheit." Hoss said.
"Seize, Hoss, not sneeze." Adam said.
Hoss shrugged and closed his eyes against the headache building at the back of his skull.
"The army would take temporary control of the gate, we would cross and this Mr…"
"Benson." Joe supplied angrily.
"Mr. Benson would get a voucher from the army. Of course he'd have to go all the way to Fort Bidwell to get it fulfilled." Tom said, and the others laughed.
"Well we've got representatives of the army here, let's do that." Joe said.
"Wait a minute...as far as we know this toll gate is the only source of income for this Benson character." Adam argued. "How frequently do you think wagon trains go through there? Who's to say this isn't the first profit he's made in weeks?"
"I think Benson General Mercantile and Benson Stables disagrees with that statement." Joe said, wryly.
"Alright.."
"Benson Haberdashery, Benson and Benson Mining Company-"
"I said, alright."
Adam rubbed at the headache forming over his eyes, before looking to the two corporals. "Do you men feel you have the authority to pull that off? Knowing that this will undoubtedly get back to your commanding officer."
Tom smiled. "I think the colonel would agree with our actions."
"Very well then, tomorrow we will storm into Bend and seize the tollgate."
"Gesundheit." Hoss said, already half-asleep.