dais. He looked to be as tall and
muscular as the folklore character, Paul Bunyan. His booming voice reminded her
of cracking thunder when he shouted, "Listen up, pioneers! I'm Captain Jeremiah
J. Jones and I proudly served in the Union army. Now that the war is over, I
still serve my country as a civilian consultant, but I'm back to doin' what I
do best—makin' sure ya'll reach your destinations in one piece. So, that bein'
said, I've got instructions that need to be followed exactly as I give 'em.
Anyone wantin' to rebel might as well find another train to hitch up with. I'm
a mean wagon master when it comes to givin' orders and I don't take no sass!"
He paused for effect and then bellowed, "Is that understood?" When
the intimidated crowd didn't answer, the captain yelled, "Is that
understood?"
Cooper was the first to call out, "Yes,
sir. Your leadership is legendary. I, for one, understand."
After that, men, women, and children nodded and
affirmed—almost of one accord— "Yes, sir."
The captain continued, "Good. I always like
gettin' that out of the way first. Now about those 'Important Particulars.' In
a minute I'm going to tell you where to relocate your wagons after they're
loaded, what to pack, and acceptable behavior on the trail. But before I do, I
want to reinforce the fact that your life and the lives of your fellow travelers
depend on you followin' instructions. And here's one more admonishment,
"DO NOT OVERPACK OR YOU WILL END UP DUMPIN' YOUR GOODS ALONGSIDE THE TRAIL!"
Pointedly, Captain Jones glared from person to
person. He asked loudly, "Is that understood?"
In concert, the pioneers quickly affirmed,
"Yes, sir!"
Hallie held her hand to her heart. The wagon
master was the most fearsome man she had ever encountered. She glanced from
beneath her lashes to see Cooper's reaction. Whereas Captain Jones scared the
daylights out of her, an amused smile played across Cooper's lips. Does nothing
and no one scare him?
* * *
For the next two days, Cooper, with Hallie and
Tim accompanying him, drove their buckboard to different merchants to pay for
food staples, tools, and a passel of other supplies. Cooper estimated their
load would be around nineteen hundred pounds, well within the higher limit of
twenty-five hundred pounds, tops, instructed by Captain Jones.
On the third day he returned to the businesses
to load their prairie schooner with their purchases, and, feeling satisfied
with their cargo, met Hallie and Tim in front of their hotel. The final item to
be loaded was Hallie's trunk. Tossing a coin to a strong looking boy for
assistance, the two of them loaded it, and after a final inspection of the
wagon and oxen, milk cow and his own horse, Cooper turned to Tim. "Are you
ready?"
"Oh, yes, sir!"
He glanced at Hallie. "What about
you?"
"You know I am." A sudden softness
overcame her features. "I can't thank you enough. Without you, we wouldn't
have accomplished this."
Cooper glanced away from the admiration in her
eyes. Whether she knew it or not, right now her feelings were easy to discern,
and she was having feelings for him. Hell, the last thing he needed was a
complication in his life. He had to stay focused on his mission—deliver Hallie
and Tim to Oregon, get them settled, and then return post haste to Missouri. Entanglements
with a woman and her kid were not options and the feelings he was having for
her scared the bejesus out of him. After the fiasco of his marriage, he was a
loner and intended to stay that way.
Turning back to face her, he recognized her hurt
expression by him not acknowledging her heartfelt thank you. He smiled slightly.
"You're very welcome, Mrs. Wells, but thank-yous are not necessary." There,
calling her Mrs. Wells should get my point across.
Raising his whip, he slapped it in the air and
called, "Giddup." Glancing back around at Hallie and Tim, he nodded,
and they began the first mile on foot of their over two thousand mile journey.
* * *
Following a well-worn road
muscular as the folklore character, Paul Bunyan. His booming voice reminded her
of cracking thunder when he shouted, "Listen up, pioneers! I'm Captain Jeremiah
J. Jones and I proudly served in the Union army. Now that the war is over, I
still serve my country as a civilian consultant, but I'm back to doin' what I
do best—makin' sure ya'll reach your destinations in one piece. So, that bein'
said, I've got instructions that need to be followed exactly as I give 'em.
Anyone wantin' to rebel might as well find another train to hitch up with. I'm
a mean wagon master when it comes to givin' orders and I don't take no sass!"
He paused for effect and then bellowed, "Is that understood?" When
the intimidated crowd didn't answer, the captain yelled, "Is that
understood?"
Cooper was the first to call out, "Yes,
sir. Your leadership is legendary. I, for one, understand."
After that, men, women, and children nodded and
affirmed—almost of one accord— "Yes, sir."
The captain continued, "Good. I always like
gettin' that out of the way first. Now about those 'Important Particulars.' In
a minute I'm going to tell you where to relocate your wagons after they're
loaded, what to pack, and acceptable behavior on the trail. But before I do, I
want to reinforce the fact that your life and the lives of your fellow travelers
depend on you followin' instructions. And here's one more admonishment,
"DO NOT OVERPACK OR YOU WILL END UP DUMPIN' YOUR GOODS ALONGSIDE THE TRAIL!"
Pointedly, Captain Jones glared from person to
person. He asked loudly, "Is that understood?"
In concert, the pioneers quickly affirmed,
"Yes, sir!"
Hallie held her hand to her heart. The wagon
master was the most fearsome man she had ever encountered. She glanced from
beneath her lashes to see Cooper's reaction. Whereas Captain Jones scared the
daylights out of her, an amused smile played across Cooper's lips. Does nothing
and no one scare him?
* * *
For the next two days, Cooper, with Hallie and
Tim accompanying him, drove their buckboard to different merchants to pay for
food staples, tools, and a passel of other supplies. Cooper estimated their
load would be around nineteen hundred pounds, well within the higher limit of
twenty-five hundred pounds, tops, instructed by Captain Jones.
On the third day he returned to the businesses
to load their prairie schooner with their purchases, and, feeling satisfied
with their cargo, met Hallie and Tim in front of their hotel. The final item to
be loaded was Hallie's trunk. Tossing a coin to a strong looking boy for
assistance, the two of them loaded it, and after a final inspection of the
wagon and oxen, milk cow and his own horse, Cooper turned to Tim. "Are you
ready?"
"Oh, yes, sir!"
He glanced at Hallie. "What about
you?"
"You know I am." A sudden softness
overcame her features. "I can't thank you enough. Without you, we wouldn't
have accomplished this."
Cooper glanced away from the admiration in her
eyes. Whether she knew it or not, right now her feelings were easy to discern,
and she was having feelings for him. Hell, the last thing he needed was a
complication in his life. He had to stay focused on his mission—deliver Hallie
and Tim to Oregon, get them settled, and then return post haste to Missouri. Entanglements
with a woman and her kid were not options and the feelings he was having for
her scared the bejesus out of him. After the fiasco of his marriage, he was a
loner and intended to stay that way.
Turning back to face her, he recognized her hurt
expression by him not acknowledging her heartfelt thank you. He smiled slightly.
"You're very welcome, Mrs. Wells, but thank-yous are not necessary." There,
calling her Mrs. Wells should get my point across.
Raising his whip, he slapped it in the air and
called, "Giddup." Glancing back around at Hallie and Tim, he nodded,
and they began the first mile on foot of their over two thousand mile journey.
* * *
Following a well-worn road
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