"Return to Paradise Trail" PART THIRTEEN
Day seventy-seven: I said goodbye to Sam this morning. Standing there at the Mason's wagon as several of the families looked on, I must have held Molly in an embrace for an entire minute. Or maybe it was two. Either way, it didn't matter much. And many tears were shed. Even Tommy begged me to go with him as he wrapped his little arms around me. It pained me that he wouldn't understand why I couldn't go. Although Sam and I had taken full advantage of our last evening and morning together, talking into the wee hours of the night and not minding the time, it was perhaps that very thing that made it even harder to say goodbye. Oh, I know it's not goodbye for forever. It will only by two months. Three at the most if you count the time it will take for Sam to return to St. Louis once he has safely seen the wagon train to Paradise Valley. But for the time being I have made a vow to my husband to rest and care for myself and for the life inside of me. The only promise I couldn't make to him was that I wouldn't worry about him. For my mind will probably be on nothing else. I made Molly promise to write. But she won't be able to post a letter for quite some time. At least I have the hope that there will be one thing to look forward to.
And then it came time for me to speak with Sam one last time. With one hand he steadied his horse by his side while he reached a hand to my cheek. I don't remember how long we looked at each other. But in my heart, I tried to make it an eternity as much as I could. He then held me in an embrace, his strong arms conveying what his words could not. After far too brief a kiss, Sam reluctantly let go and mounted his horse, looking down towards me the whole time. If I had known any better, I would have thought I saw a look of regret. As if he wished he could change his mind but wouldn't let himself do so. After a short moment of silence, he handed me an envelope and made me promise not to open it until he returned home. With a bit of a smile, I promised I would keep it in a safe place. And then Sam called to the entire wagon train, galloping forward and away to head for the front of the line while calling for them to roll along.
I watched those wagons roll over the horizon for as long as I could before I could see them no longer, praying that Sam would stay safe and that the Masons would find their way to the Promised Land with little trouble or hardship. For I knew that prayer and faith would be the only things that would keep me strong in the days to come.
ONE YEAR LATER
Charlotte read those words from her journal over and over in her mind, their syllables merging into one long, obtrusive thought before the sound of her baby's cry brought her out of the trance. She quickly set her journal aside and hurried from the rocker by the familiar hotel room window to gather the child into her arms, shushing him softly and sweetly as she cradled him to her breast. The little one calmed down once he was fed, bringing a smile to his mother's face as he relaxed in her arms, feeling the comfort of his mother's hold as he slowly drifted off to sleep. He seemed reluctant at first as if he didn't want to take his eyes off of his mother's smile. But desires soon gave way to need as his little eyelids closed and his little lip puckered some while Charlotte gently vibrated him in her arms, securing the handmade blankets around his little body. It was a trick that had seemed to work with the little one since his birth nearly five months ago. The kind wife of the hotel owner had taken a shine to Charlotte and Sam Jr., paying them frequent visits ever since she practically helped bring the little one into the world when Doc Grant almost hadn't made it in time. Thankfully, they both were there to help during Charlotte's labor and the birth of her first child.
Sam Jr. was a healthy baby from the start with a smile resembling his mother's and head full of dark hair just like his father's. Charlotte still was getting a right hold on the wee one's personality but could tell he favored his father with his stubborn streak. Or was that more of a favoring of herself? Either way, Sam Jr. brought more joy to Charlotte's heart than she had ever thought possible during those long months without her husband and the people who had become so close to her and had become her only family. And yet she waited. Waited for a letter. A telegram. Anything to let her know the Masons were safe and Sam would be coming back for her soon. Yet nothing had come. Not a word had been heard since Charlotte said her tear-filled goodbyes to them all exactly one year ago today.
Charlotte had almost been spirited away into another reverie by the sound of the various street commotion, the newsboy's morning cry, and the toll of the town clock when a set of twin knocks sounded upon her door. The sound jolted her and subconsciously caused her to tighten her grip on little Sam. She could feel the little one waking just barely in her arms and wished the intruder would have been a bit more considerate of the fact that a sleeping baby meant more than gold to a new mother like Charlotte.
The intruder only opened the door wide enough to slip themselves in, offering a broad smile as she balanced what appeared to be a newspaper and something else under her arm. "It's just me. Old Mrs. Rutherford." The comely woman laughed a bit as she noticed Sam stirring in Charlotte's arms. "Oh, I'm so sorry, dear." She neared the new mother and gently stroked the little one on the head. "That's it, child. Just you go back to sleep and give your mother some rest. That a boy." The woman's strong Scottish drawl seemed to satisfy Sam Jr. and settle him right back into a peaceful sleep.
Mrs. Rutherford shifted her attention to Charlotte and handed her the newspaper and other item she had brought. "For you, darling. Ira should be bringing up your breakfast in just a bit."
Charlotte issued a brief thank you and crossed the room with little Sam, squatting low by the foot of the bed to settle the child in his cradle. She stayed preoccupied in her thoughts for a moment with Mrs. Rutherford looking on with smiles as she pulled the blanket up to the baby's chin. He resisted some in his sleep, pushing it off with a small cry. Charlotte hushed him gently and stroked his fine locks with a smile before he finally drifted to sleep, allowing his mother to return her attention to her guest. Charlotte accepted the newspaper and what appeared to be a letter of some sort as she smoothed out her skirts with her free hand.
"What's this?" Charlotte tucked the newspaper underneath her arm and turned over the envelope to read the name. It took her a moment to try to recognize the name. But nothing occurred to her. It was from a stranger as far as she could tell. Relaxing her tensed forehead, she turned to the paper, its strong smell almost inviting as if it could take her mind off of her own problems for a length of time.
"Well," Mrs. Rutherford interrupted Charlotte's reverie, drawing her gaze. "It's been a year, darling."
Charlotte closed her eyes tightly, turned away from the woman, and swallowed hard to will the tears away. Secretly she wished Mrs. Rutherford had not mentioned the fact although she was right.
Mrs. Rutherford took a step forward, a hand outstretched. "Don't you think you ought to be questioning your husband? If he's left you for…"
"Please! Mrs. Rutherford, Sam Brazos is not that kind of man. I know there's a reason he never came back and I haven't heard from the Masons. And until I know the facts, I won't think the worst of the man I love. So I would appreciate it if you'd do the same." Charlotte considered the conversation over and set to work making the bed and straightening the nearby desk.
Mrs. Rutherford held back a tight-lipped smile as she crossed to Charlotte's side by the bed and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "I'm—I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean…"
Charlotte couldn't hold back the tears anymore and finally let herself release them as she let the only motherly figure in her life wrap her in an embrace. The woman consoled Charlotte as best as she could with comments of comfort as she cupped the girl's head against her shoulder.
A minute passed before Charlotte finally pulled away and sat down on the bed, banishing the tears from her reddened face with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. I don't know why…" She looked up with a deepened exhale on her lips, letting the words hang. "I just miss him so much."
"I know." Mrs. Rutherford sat down next to Charlotte and gripped her hand in her own. "But let me tell you, darling. I've never seen a girl with more faith and confidence than you, love. I've seen other girls give up on their man when he went on a hunting trip for one week and didn't come back until a month later. And they even sent a letter to give their whereabouts. If your Sam does come back, it will be because of your faith. I've never seen a stronger element in nature in all me born days. Now," the woman rose abruptly and started for the door. "I'm going to go check on your breakfast, darling. That Ira. She wouldn't know where her head was if it wasn't screwed onto her."
Charlotte let out a little laugh as the door closed behind Mrs. Rutherford with a slight thud. She then reached up to brush another tear away. Except it was a happy one this time. With a renewed confidence that Sam would be arriving in St. Louis any moment, Charlotte twisted to reach for the newspaper, reaching to just barely catch a glimpse of her sleeping child with a smile on her lips. She stood as she unfolded the paper, scanning the headline before moving on to the columns as the neared the sun-bathed window. Her eyes seem to drift over the bunch of articles before it settled on the third one which was accompanied by a picture of a Texas Ranger by the name of Hayes Cooper.
##
"Yes, I'd like about five yards of this calico." Charlotte caressed the soft material before her, lifting a smile to the storekeeper as she returned her hand to the child in her arms. "Little Sam is growing so fast. I wish he'd stay like this longer."
"Don't we all wish that?" The storekeeper's wife beamed as she neared Charlotte to take a peek at the wee one. "Would you be needing anything else, darling?"
"Um," Charlotte glanced around herself. "I think I covered everything on the list."
"Alright then." The comely woman lifted the yard goods and led the way to the door. "I'll carry your things for you over to your room."
"Thank you so much." Charlotte's thanks was as sincere as it could be. She could tell noon was approaching quickly and knew that more than one of them would be needing their supper soon. She turned back to the storekeeper and gave him her thanks before following his wife out into the bright sunlight. Thankfully the boardwalk was covered unlike Mr. Wooster's store back home. As a little girl, she had become quite accustomed to slipping her bonnet on as she ran outdoors to play or run an errand. Here there was no need. Yet even with all the conveniences of a big city like St. Louis, nothing could quell the desire in her heart to be in Paradise Valley with her family. That day would come soon enough, she reminded herself and remembered what Molly had told her last year. St. Louis provided many opportunities for a young mother raising a baby. She would use her time wisely to make Sam Jr. all the things he would need even as he grew out of infancy. It would make her reunion with her family even better, allowing her more time with her husband and friends without the looming reminder that winter was coming, and Sam had no proper clothing to grow into.
The two ladies had nearly reached the hotel when they noticed a circle of men gathered nearby. They all were shouting loudly and exclaiming to some other person. The ladies exchanged wary glances before stopping and waiting as other bystanders did the same thing.
"Get him!" One man shouted.
"Kill him!" Another man yelled, pumping his balled fist in front of himself.
"What in the world?" Charlotte finally asked, her eyes narrowed against the sunlight as she feared Sam Jr. was waking in her arms. He didn't like loud noises whatsoever.
Suddenly a gunshot rang out above them all, startling the women and drawing a gasp from a few others. The crowd instantly hushed and parted, revealing a man standing over two men. He held each one by the collar and was walking straightforward, almost with no emotion in route for what Charlotte assumed was the police offices. It took her a moment to realize that the man held a striking resemblance to the Texas Ranger that had been photographed in that morning's paper.
"Alright! Show's over!" A saloon barkeep yelled to the crowd gathered there. "On with your business!" He yanked another man off the ground and lightly tossed him across the way. It gave the man the necessary start he needed, frightening him a bit as he nervously reached for his hat on the ground before scurrying away.
Charlotte glanced back at the man who had stopped the ruckus single-handedly and quickly remembered what she had read in the paper that morning. Could it really be him? Could it be the same bounty hunter that helped saved the lives of some people from a wagon train? It could be him. He could have met Sam and John and Molly. But the article had not been specific. It could have been any wagon train that had left St. Louis over the course of the past year. But what if…. She had to know for sure.
Charlotte turned to the storekeeper's wife and spoke in earnest, setting a hand to the woman's arm. "Would you please take my supplies to my room? Tell Mrs. Rutherford I sent you. She will let you in."
The woman set her own hand on Charlotte's, wrinkling her forehead. "Where are you going, dear?"
Charlotte cast a quick glance down the street as she watched that man lead those goons into the building. "I've got a short errand to run. I won't be long." With that, Charlotte held tightly to her child and hurried across the street, dipping her head courteously to a couple of strangers as she smiled and said good-day. Soon she was in front of the police office door. She peered inside the window with curiosity before she turned the knob and entered with whatever bravery she had left in her. Two men immediately turned their eyes to the woman as soon as they heard a soft cry come from her arms.
"What's your business here, missus?" An officer quickly stood from his desk and peered over it at her. "This isn't the place for a young mother. You should be home with your husband."
Charlotte could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she clasped her lips together before sighing. "A man just came in here. He had two criminals with him." She shot a glance over at the grinning deputy before she continued. "Would that man happen to be a Texas Ranger by the name of Hayes Cooper?"
"And what if it is?" The officer glared at her even deeper.
"I—I just need to ask him a question," she insisted, her voice raised just a bit.
The man in question then entered the room, having delivered the goons to their rightful place in the jail cells. "They're all yours, officer."
"Thank you, Cooper." The officer almost tossed the man a wad of cash but stopped, laughing a bit. "Oh, that's right. You're a ranger now. You don't hunt bounty any more since the late Cabe Wallace made you wear that lone star."
"He didn't make me do nothing."
"That's right. He just gave you the lawful jurisdiction to shoot down Rudd Kilgore and his gang."
"Aw, cut him some slack, Greely," the deputy pleaded Cooper's case. "Even as a bounty hunter he wasn't so bad. He did save those Mormons and all. Got them safely to Paradise Valley or wherever."
"True. Very true."
"Mister?" Charlotte smiled, almost in tears. "You know John Mason and his wife Molly?"
Cooper hardly made eye contact with her as he aimed for the door, reaching for his hat. "Yeah. We've met."
Charlotte followed Cooper outside, hastening her step as the man strode away from her. "Are they okay?"
"Alive and well."
"And what about Sam Brazos, the wagon master? Is he with them still?"
Cooper stopped walking and turned around with a sharp sigh. "Look, I'm very tired, miss. I've been riding all the way from Texas since last month. What are those people to you anyway?"
"They're my family! Sam Brazos is my husband." Charlotte's voice was high and sharp, drawing a few eyes to them.
Cooper noticed this and was a bit agitated. He thought through her words anyway and suddenly felt a bit of remorse. "I'm sorry, miss. But I can't help you right now."
"Can't or won't?" Charlotte waited for him to speak but was met with silence as she faced his back. "Can you take me to Paradise Valley, sir? I'll pay you anything. I just need to be with my family. I haven't heard from them in a year. I don't know what to think right now. I just need to see them. Sam…he hasn't even seen his son since he was born. I don't even know where he is. He promised he would come back, but he never did. Yet I know in my heart it's not because he didn't want to."
Cooper hesitated as Charlotte spoke, remembering everything he had helped the Mason wagon train through. He raised his gaze and took a step forward before stopping and turning around to face the distraught woman yet again. "Miss, you don't even know me. Besides, the trail is much too dangerous to take a newborn along."
"Then I'll go alone if I have to."
Cooper knew it was a ploy of a desperate woman to make him agree but still held his tongue as he began walking again. "I'll get back with you. But I'm not making any promises."