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Show LEE NELSON'S "THINK OF the alternative, where we are. We may not make it over the mountains without the help of an old fool like McConklin." "Bishop Hill wouldn't leave us behing to perish." "NOT ON the trail, of course," answered Caroline quickly. "But if we start holding things up. slowing the train down, there might be a lot of pressure on the bishop to leave us behind at Fort Laramie or Fort Bridger. How would you like to spend the winter with a bunch of worn-out mountain men and drunken half-breeds? We can't become be-come a burden to the rest of the families. We need McConklin to help us along." The next morning Caroline's and Sarah's worst fears were the sub ject of Ebenezer McConklin's morning greeting. "WE'LL REACH Ft. Laramie in a few days. Lot of the men think both of you should be left behind to spend the winter at the fort. Trail will be tougher up ahead. Some figure fi-gure you two'll be slowing the rest of us down. Got to git over the pass before snow flies." "We don't want to stay at Fort Laramie, or Fort Bridger either," said Sarah. "HOW CAN we convince the bishop and the others to let us continue?" con-tinue?" asked Caroline. She knew what McConklin was hinting at. but wondered how much he would say. "WITH PAT gone, there's no man to watch out for the both of you and the young'n." he began, then paused, looking away at the hills, anxious to get the next phrase just right. "If one of ya don't marry up with a good man right soon," he said, his eyes remaining on the distant hills, "there's no way the men will let you continue beyond Fort Laramie." CAROLINE responded immediately, immedi-ately, a note of anger in her voice, "I'm promised to a man in the Rocky Mountains, and Sarah's Pat is hardly cold in the ground. Surely we wouldn't be expected to abandon aban-don our promises and obligations." obliga-tions." "The decision would be a practical prac-tical one." resumed McConklin. his confidence growing. "Two Continued on next page Pat O'Riley's funeral was a short one, taking place the same evening he was ground to death beneath the feet of his oxen. After Bishop Hill read a few verses from the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon, words about the resurrection. Pat was wrapped in a wool blanket and lowered into a sandy hole near the banks of the North Platte River, his widow and infant son tearfully looking on. RATHER than allow Pat to be covered up with sand only, the bishop ordered some of the men and boys to carry big rocks from the nearby river. The rocks were carefully rolled in on top of the dead Irishman. The big stones would prevent prairie wolves from digging up the corpse. No marker was put on the grave, either, in order to keep it hidden from Indians Indi-ans who sometimes robbed graves and the good times she had had with Pat. She seldom mentioned the future in the Great Basin. The dreams she and Pat had created together were shattered, and it was too early to think about new dreams. On the other hand. Caroline wondered frequently about her possible meeting with Dan Storm in the Rocky Mountains. She wondered won-dered if he would be there when she arrived, if he would still want to marry her, if she would still want him, and where he would want to settle. PERHAPS he had already picked out a beautiful mountain valley with clear streams and green grass surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks. It was hard to discuss dis-cuss her dreams with Sarah, who had lost hers. Most of the time the two women were silent, except you than me." "He's not," blushed Sarah, then added seriously, "Pat's only been gone a few weeks." "THAT DOESN'T mean anything any-thing to Ebenezer," responded Caroline. "He's got you in his sights, and if you don't want to be his third wife, you'd better start lining up your defenses right now." "Do you really think so?" asked Sarah. "NO QUESTION about it," replied re-plied Caroline, "but don't be too hard on him. We need his oxen and his strong back. Try to hold back the big 'no' until we get to Salt Lake. We need him." "But Caroline, 1 couldn't lead him on, let him believe 1 share his romantic interest." CAROLINE thought about Sarah's remark for a moment, then "How would you like to spend the winter with a bunch of wornout mountain men and drunks..." continued, "1 feel bad having used Ebenezer to get information for my book. It was so easy. But you know," her voice became louder, "he came right back for more as soon as he found out I was on this wagon train. I think he likes it." Both women laughed for the first time since Pat's death. It felt good to both of them. CAROLINE was the first to get serious again. "But remember, things can get awful nasty when a man like Ebenezer discovers he's been made a fool. The longer it takes, the better. Don't let him get his hopes up too fast." "I don't think I can do it. It's just not right." when discussing repairs on the wagon and obstacles to cross the next day. It wasn't very long before Caro-line Caro-line noticed that Ebenezer McConklin always seemed to be on hand when the women needed a hand getting through a mud or sand hole. And his after-supper visits became a regular occurrence. AT FIRST, most of his comments com-ments and attentions were directed towards Caroline, but with time he showed an increased interest in Sarah. That he was courting the two women was obvious. Sometimes Some-times after he left. Caroline and Sarah would discuss how they might discourage the eager suitor. It was a tough problem. They needed the use of his oxen, and they appreciated his help when the wagon bogged down. "1 wonder how his wives feel." remarked Sarah one evening. "He drops in to see us almost every night. Do you think they're jealous?" "COULD BE," responded Caroline, Caro-line, "but I'll bet they're glad to get him out of their hair. Pushiest man I've ever known." "But remember," reminded Sarah, "his oxen are pulling our wagon, and nobody else has as much time as he does to help us through the mud holes." "I REALLY don't mind him coming around." smiled Caroline, "now that he's more interested in looking for valuables or easy scalps. The next morning Caroline emerged from the wagon dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and men's trousers held up by a pair of black suspenders. Her long blond hair was tied in a knot on top of her head and covered with a wide-brimmed felt hat. Sarah was dressed in similar simi-lar fashion, her gray shirt and brown trousers not the customary black for a widow in mourning. THERE WAS no time for mourning, mourn-ing, at least not during the day. Winter was approaching quickly, and the Great Salt Lake was still hundreds of miles away. With the help of two scrawny oxen, the worst in the herd, the two women were determined to get their wagon across the Rocky Mountains. Caroline buckled herself into the harness that dragged Pat to his death, leaned forward and clucked for the oxen to follow. Sarah followed fol-lowed behind, leaning into the back of the box when the going was tough. Little Pat was free to crawl around in the box and look out the tailgate at his mother. AT FIRST, Caroline thought she and Sarah would get a lot of help from the other families in the train, but as long as the women managed to keep their wagon moving, little help was offered. Everyone was busy with their own problems. Only when the two women allowed their wagon to get stuck in mud or sand did the others help them get going again. And they were stuck frequently. Twenty streams were forded in the week before reaching Chimney Rock. The streams were characterized characte-rized by steep banks, sand and mud. The two women pulled and pushed until their strength was gone and there was nothing left but willpower and the determination to force one foot ahead of the other. Still nursing her baby. Sarah wearied quickly, but she never complained. AS THE two women rested by their campfire at night. Sarah sometimes talked about Nauvoo LEE NFT Wi Continued from previous pg. women by themselves could hold the rest of us ur. This is a wild, cruel land, and winter's nearly upon us. Sometimes circumstances circumst-ances require that earlier promises and obligations be abandoned, if one is to survive." HAVING SAID his piece, McConklin pulled his horse around and galloped back to his wagon. Sarah and;. Caroline looked at each other, neither laughing. They had underestimated Ebenezer McConklin and his ability to bring matters to a conclusion very quickly. THAT NIGHT Caroline and Sarah asked Bishop Hill for an interview. in-terview. They had to get his feel ings on the possibility of being left behind at Fort Laramie. They asked him if he agreed with those who wanted to leave them behind. "What?" he said. "1 haven't heard any talk about leaving you two behind, certainly not in the hands of those over-the-hill mountain moun-tain men and drunken half-breeds." half-breeds." "BUT IF a lot of men felt we would slow up the train...," Caroline Caro-line began to explain. "Now that could be a consideration," considera-tion," acknowledged the bishop, "but it would take someone to stir things up. Nobody's been talking about leaving you two behind, not to my knowledge." "SOMEONE will," said Caroline, Caro-line, then turning to Sarah, added, "Ebenezer is a snake." |
