A Truth Revealed (The Heart of Cheyenne #3)

Chapter 5

5

On Tuesday, Will was still trying to locate decent housing for his mother and sister. He’d spoken to just about everyone he knew who had any connection to real estate, but nothing was available.

“How goes your search for a place, Will?” Mrs. Cooper asked as she came into the front sitting room of the boardinghouse.

“Not well,” Will admitted. “Seems there are very few vacancies, and the places that are open to rent aren’t at all acceptable. I don’t suppose you’ve heard of anything, have you?”

She shook her head and moved around the room, straightening things. “No, I’m sorry. I wish I could offer you some sort of direction. But as you know, this boardinghouse is for men only, and I’ve already asked Mr. Cooper if he had any idea of some place they could rent. He told me you’d asked him as well.”

“I did.” Will put down the newspaper he’d been looking through. “I thought I had a lead on a place, but it turned out to be completely unacceptable. It was an apartment in a ter rible building and hardly big enough to turn around in. My mother and sister are used to better furnishings and would never be comfortable there. I suppose I’ll just have to rent them a room at the hotel and hope something opens up.”

“Perhaps if your mother likes it here, she could arrange for someone to build her a house.”

“I thought of that, but they wouldn’t be able to start until spring thaw. Even then, an adequate place won’t be built overnight.” Will set aside the paper and got to his feet. “I worry that without a nice house to offer them, Mother will want to return to Mississippi.”

“Would that be so bad? You said she was staying with her sister there. Seems that would be a safe place for your loved ones, especially once you’ve gone to the reservation.”

“I know, but I want so much for them to be here with me. I’ve been after them to come here since my father passed away last summer. I think we’d all be better off together.”

“What about your work with the Indians?” Mrs. Cooper asked. She took up the newspaper he’d abandoned and folded it under her arm.

“Maybe Mother and Sally could join me on the reservation.”

“Well, I don’t know that they would find that life very fitting. You’ve described your mother and sister as living well, and the Indian reservation certainly won’t be able to offer luxury.”

“No, it’s not like that. We’ve never lived in luxury, even though there was plenty of money. My mother’s people were quite well-off, and she inherited from her parents. My father often said that it was a special blessing, given his salary as a pastor was very limited. I can’t put Mother in a house where there’s a threat of danger. She and Sally have always been well protected. I won’t expose them to anything that might compromise their safety. Even at the benefit of having them on the reservation. If life there is unsettled and at risk, I wouldn’t allow them to join me.”

“Just encouraging them to move to Cheyenne is threatening enough,” Mrs. Cooper countered. “This isn’t yet a safe part of the world to live, what with the criminal types and Indians. You know as well as I do that there’s all sorts of threats to our well-being out here.”

Will hadn’t truly considered the dangers. He had figured to be there to watch over his mother and sister. Of course, he knew in time he’d be moved to his position on the reservation, but he would be close enough to help them from time to time.

“When do they arrive?” Mrs. Cooper asked.

“Friday the fifteenth. Mother’s telegram said they would take the overnight stage out of Denver on Thursday.”

“Well, hopefully the weather will hold and there won’t be any problems with the Indians. Mr. Cooper said the Sioux were still up in arms over the treaties that forbid them to cross the south bank of the Platte River. He’s afraid it will cause them to declare all-out war.”

“I doubt that it will come to that. After all, we have the army here at Fort Russell and at Fort Laramie as well.”

“Fort Laramie is over one hundred miles away. It would take days for the soldiers posted there to get here.”

“Even so, Fort Russell provides a strong army presence that will deter the Indians from attacking, and they’re just a few miles away. Not only that, but I believe most of the Indians in this area are peaceful. They may not be fully content with the reservation system and treaties, but they’ve proven to be less hostile than other tribes.”

“I hope you’re right. It’s still a frightful thing to imagine them attacking Cheyenne. We aren’t that big, and there’s absolutely no place for us to seek safety if they burn down the town, given the fort is a good three miles away.”

Will wasn’t sure what to say. He knew there were plenty of folks who felt just as Mrs. Cooper did. But he had grown up surrounded by people who held positive opinions of the native peoples. It only seemed reasonable to think the best of the local tribes.

“We will continue to pray that God puts peace in their hearts and in the hearts of the white men in charge. I believe we can all learn to get along.”

Mrs. Cooper looked skeptical. “I hope you’re right, Will. I truly hope you’re right.”

Two weeks later, Will was relieved to find that Friday dawned clear and bright. In fact, for the middle of January, it was quite mild. He ate his breakfast at the boardinghouse and then made his way to the stage office to wait for the weary passengers to arrive.

The Denver stage was an overnight route where the passengers had to sleep on board. They usually left Denver at eight in the morning and arrived in Cheyenne around seven the next morning. There were stops along the way for meals and to change out the horses, but no overnight accommodations. Will didn’t like the idea of his mother and sister having to ride with strangers and sleep on the stage, but it seemed there was nothing else to be done if they were to get to Cheyenne.

“Sorry, but the stage is running late,” the stationmaster, Jim Haggarty, told Will. “We had a telegram. Apparently, there was some sort of trouble with one of the axles, and it slowed down their progress. It was repaired, and they’re supposed to be back up and moving at full speed.”

“Guess I’ll go check on their room at the hotel and then come back.” He gave a sigh and headed back out into the chilly morning air. He checked his watch. It was nearly seven thirty.

At the Rollins Hotel, the clerk assured him that the room was ready and waiting. Furthermore, he added, it was the very best he had to offer with a separate bedroom and two beds instead of one. The suite was quite expensive, but Will knew it would be worth the extra money. His mother and sister would no doubt be surprised at the luxury of it, especially after Will had reported all that he had endured in the early days of his own arrival in Cheyenne.

He left the hotel and checked his watch again. It was only seven forty-five. He let out a heavy breath and walked slowly back to the stage office, where he took a seat outside. He figured when the cold became unbearable, he’d head in and warm himself by the stove. An hour later, he did just that.

“Still no word?” Will asked the stationmaster.

“None. I telegraphed the last stop before Cheyenne. They told me the stage should have arrived by now. I’ve sent my boy to fetch the sheriff. Guess they could have had more trouble with that axle, but it’s not likely.”

“Why send for the sheriff?”

“When there’s trouble, he’s been the one to go and find them.”

“Does this kind of thing happen often?”

Jim shrugged. “From time to time.”

Will frowned. Sending for the sheriff caused a feeling of uneasiness. Maybe he should just rent a horse himself and head out to the south. The road was well marked, and it shouldn’t be that difficult to locate the stage. He hated the thought of them stranded along the road waiting for someone to bring help.

The sheriff arrived just then, along with a couple of deputies. He gave Will a nod, then went to the stationmaster. “What’s the trouble, Jim?”

“Stage should have been in some time ago. They had axle difficulties, but the repairs were made. Should have come straight on in.”

“Where’d they stop last?”

“The twenty-mile marker. They were fine then. I telegraphed the Carr Station and was told they should have reached us by now.”

The sheriff nodded. “We’ll head out. The axle job was probably rushed and fell apart on them.”

“Could be,” Jim replied.

“I could rent a horse and ride along,” Will offered. “My mother and sister are on that stage.”

The sheriff shook his head. “No, stay put. It’s probably nothing, but if there is trouble, I’d just as soon not have to look out for you.” With that he moved out, pulling the door shut rather hard behind him.

Will felt the uneasiness return. What kind of trouble might the sheriff be anticipating? He looked at Jim Haggarty, who was busy winding his watch. When Jim glanced up, his worried expression did nothing to make Will feel any better. Twenty miles away might as well have been twenty thousand if there had been trouble.

It was nearly eleven when Edward Vogel came to check in with Jim. They spoke in hushed tones for several minutes before Edward came to speak to Will. “You doing all right?”

Will was warming up near the stove. “I’m worried about my mother and sister. They’re on that stage. At least they telegrammed the day before yesterday to say they would be.”

“It’s always frustrating when the stage is late. I heard they had trouble with the axle. That can definitely be a problem. If they broke down again, it would take a while to get help. There’s not much out there between us and the last stop. I wouldn’t fret too much.”

Will stretched out his hands. The stove’s warmth seemed to be fading. “I doubt they’d fare well in the cold.” He frowned. If they were stuck out on the front range, it was all his fault. He was the one who’d pushed them to come right away, despite the fact that it was winter.

Will shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. “I know I should just give it over to prayer. That’s what all my training tells me to do, not to mention my heartfelt beliefs. But it’s hard not to worry when it involves someone you love.”

Edward nodded. “I guess I know that well enough. Look, I’m gonna ride out and see if I can lend the sheriff a hand. I’m sure we’ll be back soon. You should probably go grab some lunch and relax.”

The two men parted company, and Will made his way into Ford’s Restaurant. He didn’t feel much like eating, but it was better than standing around with nothing to do. The place was packed, even though they charged a dollar for a meal. At this point, Will figured it was worth the money. The restaurant was close to the stage office, and if he could get a front window seat, he’d be able to see if the stage arrived or the sheriff returned.

He found a table where three men were just leaving. He pushed their dishes aside and took a place where he could watch the street. It seemed that the entire world went on as usual. He wondered how many folks even knew about the stage’s delay.

“What’ll ya have?” a rather harried woman asked.

Will glanced up and met her questioning gaze. “I guess the special.”

She nodded, then gathered up the dirty dishes. “Want coffee?”

“Yes.” Will eased back in his chair. “Please.”

She returned with a cup of coffee. Will thanked the woman and focused on the drink. He tried not to imagine his mother and sister sitting in the freezing cold. Surely the stage was prepared for problems like that. He knew they carried lap blankets in the winter, and given there were probably quite a few travelers, the shared body heat would do a great deal to keep them warm.

He thought of what he’d do when they finally made it to Cheyenne. First thing, he’d get them installed at the hotel and let them rest. They’d be exhausted after a night on the road. Later, he had plans to take his mother and sister to Jake Landry’s restaurant for supper. The place had once been a dance hall and saloon in the front half of the building with a restaurant in the back. As things settled down in the town, Will learned that Landry decided to refine his place, and now they only served meals. He knew the meals there were a little pricey, but they were also of the best quality. Jake had brought in a chef from New York City who was well received and highly regarded. Anyone who was anyone in Cheyenne knew that to eat at Landry’s was a gastric delight.

The waitress arrived with a large bowl of beef stew and a plate holding two biscuits. Will picked at the food while watching the street. When an hour had passed, he paid for his food and made his way back to the stage office. By now they must have had word on the progress.

“We haven’t heard a thing,” the stationmaster told him. “But we ought to know before too long. They couldn’t have been that far out.” The man seemed to regret his comment and gave Will a smile. “I wouldn’t worry, mister,” he added. “Things like this happen all the time. Could be a storm blew up and they had to wait it out. Winds sometimes come down off the mountains and cause all sorts of havoc.”

Will tried not to worry, but when more time passed, and there was still no word, he couldn’t help but begin to fear the worst. He paced the small stage office hoping to hear something, but no news came in. Even Jim stopped trying to offer reasons for why they hadn’t arrived.

Finally, a commotion grew in the streets outside the office. Will grabbed his hat and followed the stationmaster outside. The stage team was being led by two riders with a half dozen other mounted men bringing up the rear. They were all carrying their rifles as if worried about an attack. There was no one in the driver’s seat of the faded red stage, making it look rather ominous. When the men came to a stop in front of the office, Will could see that one of the riders was Edward Vogel.

As Edward dismounted, Will went to him. “What happened? Driver get hurt?”

“Driver’s dead,” Edward replied. He tied off his horse. “Will, there’s no easy way to say this.” He turned to face him. “They’re all dead.”

“What do you mean? Who’s dead?”

“The folks on the stage. They were attacked by Indians. Driver and his guard probably got hit first. Then the folks inside the stage were attacked. The Indians killed everyone, scalped the men. They took what they figured to be of value and left the rest. Surprisingly enough, they didn’t take the horses. I suppose they could have been frightened off when we came along.”

Will struggled to form words. His thoughts were muddled in the confusion of what he was being told. “My ... my mother? Sister?”

“There are two women in the stage, along with all the men.” Edward put his hand on Will’s shoulder. “You’ll have to identify them. Their personal items were taken, purses and jewelry and such. One woman is older—probably the mother of the other. The younger woman has hair about the same color as yours.”

Will met Edward’s gaze. Identify them? The truth was beginning to dawn on him. How could they be dead? They had only just sent a telegram the night before.

“I ... uh...” He looked to where the men were unloading the bodies from the stage and lining them up on the boardwalk.

“The undertaker is on his way to collect them all,” Edward said. “It’s best to just get the identification done with and not dwell on it too long. I’ll be with you.”

The deputies quickly laid out the driver and guard, along with five other men on the boardwalk. Their faces were smeared with blood, and the tops of their heads had been sliced off to take their hair. Will thought he might lose his lunch and looked away to draw a deep breath.

He steadied himself and looked back at the bodies. The women had been wrapped in blankets and were very reverently brought to lie a little way apart from the others. They were small, and their feet stuck out from the blankets. Will didn’t recognize their shoes. Maybe it wasn’t his family.

Edward drew Will over to where the covered bodies waited. “I’ll lower the blanket from their heads. Just nod if it’s them.”

Will couldn’t make sense of anything going on. He stood frozen, unable to even move. He hadn’t had time to process any of this. It was surely all a mistake. They couldn’t be dead. It was just a mistake. It had to be.

A woman screamed and threw herself down beside one of the men. Several other people began to cry and wail. It all seemed like a bad nightmare. Will couldn’t breathe.

“Will.” Edward called his name, but it seemed like it came from a deep well.

“I’m ... ready.” Will forced the words. He’d never be ready for this.

Without further warning, Edward pulled down the blanket from the first body, and Will found himself gazing at the woman beneath. She looked as if she were just sleeping. Her face was relaxed and peaceful. There was no sign of any injury.

Will met Edward’s eyes and gave the smallest hint of a nod. It was his mother.

Edward replaced the blanket and moved on to the smaller body. He pulled the blanket back, and the pale white face of Will’s sister appeared. Will stared at her for a long, silent moment, then nodded again.

The blanket was replaced, and Edward came to Will’s side. “I’m so sorry, Will.”

“I don’t understand why this happened. They wouldn’t have been a threat. They wouldn’t have tried to fight back.”

“There’s no way of knowing. Come on.” Edward took hold of his arm. “Come back into the station and sit down.”

Will shook his head. “No. No. I can’t stay here. I have to think. Please ... have them taken ... to the undertaker. I’ll ... I’ll go there ... later.” He turned to walk away.

“Will, just wait a minute and I’ll come with you,” Edward called.

He heard the words and the insistent tone, but Will couldn’t make sense of what his friend was saying. He’d seen death during the war. It had come in all sorts of ways. Pain-filled battlefield wounds, bodies racked with disease and infection. He’d even witnessed one older man who’d simply gone to sleep, never to awaken again. But none of those deaths had been so personal.

His mother and sister were dead. Killed by Indians.

It made no sense.

He moved without even realizing where he was going. He felt nothing but a cold-spreading numbness and heard nothing but the rush of blood in his ears as his heart seemed to pound out of control.

By the time he glanced up and saw the horse and carriage bearing down on him, Will was beyond caring. He heard someone scream—shouting for him to watch out as the team plowed into him. He felt his head hit the ground. The dull thud snuffed out the light and robbed him of all conscious thought.

Death had come for him as well.