On the Monday morning Amy and Daniel left Oro City, the housewives were hanging out their wash, and the ore in the sluice boxes was rushing down across the riffles.
When they reached the mouth of California Gulch, Daniel tugged at his reins, waiting for Amy to catch up. “Are you going to be comfortable riding on that saddle?”
“Most comfortable,” Amy replied. “Back in Kansas, with the cousins, I rode bareback. This sidesaddle is rocking-chair comfortable. Besides, it’s a mighty poor female who can’t stand a horse for a week.” She slanted a glance at him before adding, “If I could wish for more, it would be some of those new fangled bloomers the women are wearing so they can sit a man’s saddle.” At his expression, she added hastily, “Oh, I know the bishop would have apoplexy, and I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
“Well, I’m relieved,” he said dryly.
“Oh, Daniel, isn’t it a beautiful day? Look at the misty mountains and the line of green along the creek. It puts me in mind of a painting.”
“It is nice. And if you feel that way about it, this week will be almost as good as a honeymoon.”
“Well, I doubt it,” she teased. “If we’re sharing cabins with your parishioners, you daren’t pass me a kiss.”
He chuckled and pointed. “Look, the snow’s melted except for the drifts under the trees.”
“Could those possibly be pussy willows this early?”
“Not up here.” He grinned. “It’s dried leaves still clinging to the branches. Should have fallen off long ago.”
It was only fourteen miles to Granite, the first town on their circuit. They rode lazily along the route, enjoying the early spring day. At midday they stopped to eat while the horses grazed and drank of the icy creek water. The sun had warmed the boulder on which they leaned and for a time they dozed.
When Amy stirred, she looked at Daniel, saying, “Can heaven possibly smell better? That wet, fresh growing smell mixed with the willow smell is good enough to save and put in a bottle.”
Daniel nodded and bent over her. “I’m going to kiss your sunburned nose; then we’d better move on.” She sighed with regret as she lifted her face to him.
In the middle of the afternoon they reached the outskirts of the little mining town built along the creek. From the road they could look down on the community, which seemed to be stretched along the creek in a haphazard manner.
Amy looked at the line of log cabins and said, “Seems substantial, like they’ve taken time hereabouts to think of the future.”
“But notice, these cabins are new. See that shack? Most of the places looked like that last year. There’s been a new thrust of activity around here. New mines.”
“Daniel,” Amy said, hugging her arms, “I’m excited. I’ve listened to you talk about these places. Suddenly this all is part of me. The people. I want to know them.”
As they cut down the hill into town, Daniel pulled back on the reins, slowing his horse. “I should warn you. Granite is a strange place. I can’t quite figure it out. People are closed-mouth and clannish.”
He looked at her, shrugged and grinned as he said, “Father Dyer has the reputation of considering not one hamlet too tough or small for his best efforts. Every time I ride into this town, I recall him saying that.”
After supper that evening, the townspeople began to crowd into the little cabin to hear Daniel preach.
Studying the faces surrounding her, Amy began to understand Daniel’s statement. With curiosity, she watched the silent line of unsmiling women as they sat down on the benches in the tiny cabin.
The next morning as they rode out of Granite, Amy bobbed her head in the direction of the cabin and shivered. “Daniel,” she murmured, “you described the town as strange. That it is. Where were the men? Is it only the women who attend services?”
He nodded and she continued. “I’ve never seen such people; I’d believe they’ve never smiled. Did you feel as if they were frightened? I don’t think they enjoyed the singing. Every one of them knelt for prayer, but their mood made them seem desperate.”
“Yes, that is so,” he said reluctantly. “I’ve heard rumors about the place. On the other side of the mountain they talk of an outlaw band hiding out hereabouts. I was told to not pry.”
When she looked up, he was grinning at her. “Don’t worry. Not many of the places are like Granite. You’ll love the next little burg. Only a couple of families live there, but they’re easy to love. I’m not certain they’ve gotten around to tacking a name on the town yet.”
The following day they moved on. As their route dropped steadily down out of the mountains, the grass beside the road became green and thick. Amy pointed to the willows along the creek. “Daniel, we’ve caught up with spring! Look at the little pussy willows. I remember them from Kansas.”
Suddenly she looked up and said, “I forgot to tell you about the strange handbill Lettie gave me. She said Hank brought it back from the mine. It seemed to be a plea from the South for money to buy arms. It mentioned Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. The whole thing sounded confident—like we’d be glad to support the Confederacy. Daniel, is war really getting that close to us?”
“I don’t know, Amy. I do know that everywhere I go it’s the first subject people begin waving in front of my nose. I can’t believe the secessionists have any designs on our territory, for all the talk.”
“What designs could they possibly have?” Amy looked around in bewilderment. “I can’t believe anyone would want the territory.”
“There’s gold,” Daniel said heavily. “Lots of gold, and it would help finance a war.”
Amy nodded in agreement. “Lettie says Hank hears plenty of war talk from the miners. She says he comes home angry at what he’s hearing. He told her most of the fellows are just uneasy, but some are openly saying they support the secession, and that their cause is bound to win.”
Amy rode past Daniel to look at the clutch of flowers growing beside the road. “Don’t lean over so far,” he called. “You’ll fall on your head.”
While he grinned down at her, she asked, “Aren’t these wild irises?” He nodded, and she continued. “You know, you promised me wild irises along the creek at Oro City. All I’ve seen along that creek are mine tailings.”
“I’m sorry. While I was in Buckskin Joe those miners made a liar out of me. First thing I noticed was the pile of rock where the flowers grew last year.” Then he added, “We’re dropping down out of the mountains. Enjoy the iris while you can. Pretty soon we’ll be in the arid part of the territory. It’s going to be too dry for irises down there.”
That evening, before they could dismount at the cabin where the services would be held, a jolly-faced woman bounced out the door. “Parson, we’re going to have revival. I feel the shouting beginning down inside. I’ve been promising the miners you’d be here tonight. Come have your supper.”
She watched as Amy allowed Daniel to lift her from the horse. Amy smoothed her frock and said, “Mrs. Pepper, Daniel’s told me about this place. Says besides the fact you are the best cook on the circuit, this place rests easy in his mind. I’ve been told the people here are of a mind to come to worship. You know it isn’t that way all over. The biggest excitement in California Gulch is the gold.”
“Well, there’s plenty of that around here,” Mrs. Pepper said, adding, “but there’s also been some hard times, enough to remind the people they gotta have the Lord to see them through.” She paused and a twinkle started in her eyes. “Besides, soon as they start slipping out of the habit of coming to services, I goad them on with the ‘remember whens.’ Yes, without a doubt most people need a good nudge regularlike.”
The next day the morning sun was slanting into their eyes as they turned onto the road. “Mrs. Pepper made certain her prediction of revival was right, didn’t she?” Daniel chuckled as they rode out of the little community. He smiled down at Amy, “I also have the feeling she’d given the promise to everyone else. At least there was a good group.”
The trail narrowed and Daniel rode ahead. Amy was glad to be alone with her thoughts. She recalled Mrs. Pepper’s declaration. Why did she tell me I needed to pray down the joy of the Lord?
Moving her shoulders uneasily, she flicked the reins and caught up with Daniel. Giving him a quick glance, she wondered, Was it possible Daniel ever felt the tug to be something different than he was? Did he ever desire anything desperately?
As she continued to study the face of the man who was becoming increasingly precious to her, she knew one thing was certain. Nothing must ever bring the old hurt back into Daniel’s eyes. No matter how dear her desires, it was impossible to consider anything that would hurt him afresh.
But as she thought of her big desire, she settled contentedly down in the saddle and chuckled to herself. Thank you, Father Dyer! I’d never have thought of it if you hadn’t given me the crucible.
She mused over the memory of the little crucible with its growing stack of gold nuggets, and she hugged the secret to herself. One of these days, my husband, I’ll spill out my big pile of gold nuggets that I’ve been fishing out of the creek while you’re riding the circuit. There were many things that they needed, but the piano was top on the list.
That night a stranger came into the worship services held in the crowded little cabin beside the Arkansas River. Daniel stood to preach just as he walked in. Daniel’s hesitation and the question in his eyes alerted Amy. She watched him study the man. Later she drew a deep breath of relief as she began to understand Daniel’s questions. He thought the man was a secessionist. Without a doubt Lettie’s talk had triggered the questions. But the man wasn’t there to cause trouble. She was standing beside Daniel when the stranger mentioned Fort Garland.
He said, “We’re the most neglected bunch in the territory. No chaplain for a handful of soldiers kept on duty just to run off the Indians and outlaws. No glory in that.”
Daniel was nodding. “I’ll come. We’re this close and without a big need to get back to the gulch. Father Dyer will be there a couple of weeks. I’ll just go on down now.”
“He’s a soldier?” she asked later. Daniel nodded. Her voice was low as she said, “His face was so hard and dark.”
“But it didn’t stay that way. Amy, as I preached I could see the yearning in his eyes. It was that which compelled me to say yes.”
“Where’s Fort Garland?”
“Straight south of here. Not as far as New Mexico, or even the mountains by Raton.”
The man whose cabin had been serving as meetinghouse said, “Best way to get down there is by way of the sand dunes. Pretty good road runs along the flatlands, and it’s fast. You oughta be able to get there in two, three days at the most.”
“Indians?” Amy asked.
“Naw, no more’n usual. A few Utes. Plenty of places to stay along the way.”
On their second day of travel, after studying the sagebrush and clumps of greenery as spiked as a cluster of swords, Amy said, “Daniel, this part of the territory is different; this is drier, sandy. It’s getting pretty close to being desert, isn’t it? For a time I thought all of Colorado was mountains and plains. And the people we’re seeing. Somehow I got the idea all the people of Mexican descent lived in Pueblo.”
“Not so. Remember, these people moved into the area before the territorial lines were drawn. They are just as much a part of Colorado Territory as we are. See these little brown houses? Not many trees around, so the people brought with them their way of doing things. The houses are made of sun-dried brick—mud, if you please. They call it adobe. In the winter the houses are much more comfortable than our log cabins. And in summer they’re cool.”
It was nearly sundown when they saw the smudge of buildings centered in the middle of the high plains. “Fort Garland,” Daniel said with a nod toward the line of adobes. “This is a first for me, too. Traveling this far south, I mean. The fort is impressive. How do you like that high adobe wall surrounding the place?”
“Frightening,” Amy murmured. “It makes me wonder why it is necessary.”
He replied, “Indians. We’ll be there before dark if we move on,” Daniel said, flicking his mare with the reins. Bending her head against the wind, Amy followed.
“Hallo!” Amy jumped and looked up as Daniel slowed his mount and veered toward a lone horseman. After a gasp of surprise, Amy followed.
The man was wearing a uniform. At her approach he touched his hat and nodded. Amy could see the insignia on his uniform. Colorado Volunteer Army.
Addressing Daniel, the man said, “Fella, I recognize you. I’m Chivington, lately of your outfit—now the Army’s my field. Do I get the impression you’re headed for New Mexico?”
Daniel leaned across his horse to extend his hand. “No, Major Chivington. I’m glad to meet you. I’ve inherited a cabin you’ve used in Oro City. Thanks for the books.”
“You’re welcome to them, fella. Have a feeling my days of using them are limited.” For a moment his face saddened and then he smiled. “But decisions made must be honored. You can’t coil up life like a rope and toss it out again, in a different direction if you please.”
He lifted his head and turned his sharp eyes on Daniel again. “I’d appreciate a few prayers. The troops are headed into confrontation with the rebels in New Mexico.”
Amy straightened and leaned across to look at the major. “Sir, what do you mean? Surely not war.”
He nodded. “A frantic call for help. Dispatch from New Mexico informs us the Confederate Army is moving up from Texas. They’ve been taking the Union installations, fort by fort. Information indicates they’re headed for Fort Union. That’s the biggest and last stronghold before they’re into Colorado Territory.” His smile was crooked. “We’re headed New Mexico way to help out Canby. There’s no way of getting around it. We fight them there or we’ll be meeting them on our own ground in a couple of weeks. It’s the Colorado gold fields they have their eyes on. Colorado gold to fight their war.”
“War,” Amy said slowly. “Now it is here. We’ll be having war in our own Colorado.”
“Only over my dead body,” Chivington said soberly. “We’ll have a big fight in New Mexico, but Colorado? Not while I’m alive.”
He lifted his hand in a salute. For a moment his smile was half mocking. “Parson, now’s not a good time to carry the gospel into New Mexico. Better avoid Raton Pass.” With that warning, he wheeled his restless horse, and dug in his spurs. Silently Amy and Daniel watched the cloud of red dust grow and hide him from their sight.
As they started to turn their horses, Amy gave a gasp. Reaching for her husband’s arm, she cried, “Daniel, what about Mother and Father? You said—” She watched the dismay move over his face. “It’s bad, isn’t it? Even you’re thinking it’s all Chivington says.”
He glanced down at her trembling hand and spoke as if he were thinking aloud. “He said Fort Union; the folks were headed that direction. Their plans were to go down through Las Vegas and Santa Fe.” He took a deep breath. “Yes, Amy, it’s bad. Bad enough that if it is at all possible to put you on a stage for Denver, I intend to ride after them.”
“No!” Amy gulped, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. “We can’t afford a stage, but besides that, Daniel, I’ve no intention of leaving you. I’ll go too. What if they’ve been caught in all the fighting? You’ll need me. Besides, if it’s that bad, I’d be in the middle of the fighting before you get back.”
She saw him hesitate, chew his lip. Despite the dark expression in his eyes, he nodded.