FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37  
38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   >>   >|  
son would accompany me to camp. I thanked him and assured him that I felt a mother could not have done more for her own son than his wife had for me--they had all shown me every consideration possible--and that I should always remember them, which I have. At this juncture the mother spoke up gently, but firmly, and addressing her husband, said, "If you have no objection, daughter will accompany Mr. Young. She is a sure shot, a good horsewoman, and the horses are fleet of foot. We have not heard of any Indians in the neighborhood for some time, and besides she wants to go and the ride will do her good." He replied, "My good woman, you cannot tell where the Indians are, they may be miles away today, but here this very night." "That is true," she said, "but the stage driver told me that he had not seen a redskin since crossing the Nebraska line." "That may be," he replied, "still they may have been in the bluffs, or sand hills watching their opportunity to surprise one of the many small trains of pilgrims, thinking to overpower them, run off their cattle and massacre all." "Yes, that is all true, but I'll wager they could not catch our girl." After thinking silently for a few moments, he said, "Well, if you wish, she may go; but if anything happens to our little one, you alone will be blamed." That settled it. We talked long after father and brother had bade us good night. Mother and daughter finally retired; but, as for myself, I was nervous and restless, sleeping little, thinking of home and loved ones; not, however, forgetting the little "Wild Rose" that was separated from me only by a curtain partition. The following morning we were up at break of day, and at just 5:30 on a lovely August morning the horses were brought to the door and both quickly mounted. Her riding habit of buckskin, trimmed with colored beads, was the most becoming costume I had ever seen on her during my stay, and for the first time I wished that I were not going, but it was for a moment only. WITH THE WAGON TRAIN AGAIN My destination was Denver, and nothing could change my plans except death in the natural way, or being cut down by those treacherous plains roamers. After a pleasant ride which lasted till noon, we came in sight of the corral. When within a quarter of a mile of it, she informed me she was going no farther. Both quickly dismounted. Our conversation would not interest you. Suffice to say, the parting was painfu
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37  
38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

thinking

 

horses

 

morning

 

Indians

 
replied
 

quickly

 

daughter

 

mother

 

accompany

 

sleeping


restless
 

mounted

 
nervous
 
trimmed
 

buckskin

 

riding

 
forgetting
 

lovely

 
curtain
 
partition

August

 

colored

 

separated

 

brought

 
moment
 
parting
 

corral

 

lasted

 

plains

 

treacherous


roamers

 
pleasant
 

painfu

 

conversation

 

interest

 
Suffice
 

dismounted

 

quarter

 
informed
 

farther


wished

 

costume

 

retired

 
natural
 

destination

 

Denver

 

change

 

cattle

 

horsewoman

 

objection