For four days they camped by the rails, not knowing when a train would be coming again. Nolan told Jericho story after story. For Jericho this was a dream come true. He had been alone for years with no one to talk to but his mule.
One night, Nolan eased out of the camp to a cluster of bramble bushes that seemed to grow out of the rocky ledge. Letting his eyes adjust to the darkness, he could see that the old trapper was not in his bedroll. With his rifle at the ready, Jericho had stationed himself across the small opening behind a large rock.
The night was cold and Nolan longed to be back next to the fire. At first, it was a low clicking sound that did not sound normal for the wilderness. Straightaway Nolan realized it was the rails and instantly he went to the tracks and laid his ear on the cold steel rail. Scrambling up to the camp, he called to the old trapper, “Jericho, a train be a-comin’! If you are a-plannin’ to go with me, then you better git your belongins packed!”
For a long time, they sat watching in both directions, not knowing which direction the train would come. Jericho had turned the mule loose and quickly packed his belongings in two packs that they could carry onto the train. In the moonlight, it looked like a black snake making its way around the mountain passage until it was finally climbing the grade below them.
“It’s headed in the right direction. I should be able to git a horse in the next town. When it passes beneath us, we will jump on the top and grab hold of somethin’. Then we will make our way to the rear of the train,” Nolan directed.
“I’ve heard tell there is a feller always in the caboose of these trains with a pot of coffee brewin’,” Jericho said.
“I shore hope so. This weather is gittin’ bitter cold and I’m in need of a new coat,” Nolan said.
The train crept along the incline, working hard to get to the top where Nolan and Jericho waited. Finally, the train passed and they jumped aboard the roof of the middle car. Once over the top, the train picked up speed. The increased swaying made walking along the roof difficult. Stooping over for balance, they made their way jumping from one car to the next. On the caboose, Nolan swung down onto the platform and took the packs Jericho handed down to him.
It was early morning when Nolan opened the door of the caboose and stepped inside. A man sat in an overstuffed chair sleeping soundly with his feet propped up against the stove railing. A potbelly stove sat in the middle of the car, giving off a hint of warmth. Stepping over to the man, Nolan removed a pistol that was lying in his lap while Jericho opened the stove and stirred the ashes before adding firewood. The fire was almost out. The temperature inside the car was practically freezing. Looking around, Nolan found a tin of coffee, and in a few minutes, the two sat anxiously waiting for the water to boil. Nolan opened his pocket watch and said, “It’s three AM. I could use a nap myself.” The railcar rocked and swayed as it made its way along its mountain path. Occasionally, the train crossed a high meadow or valley only to return to the slow progress through the mountain range. Before the sun came up, the conductor woke to a warm caboose permeated with the smell of frying bacon and coffee.
“What the--” he said, jumping to his feet and looking around for his gun.
Hunkered down next to the potbelly stove, Nolan held up the pistol and said, “You lookin’ for this?”
“Where did you two come from?” the conductor asked.
“We got on back a-ways. Got plum tired of walkin’ and needed a cup of coffee really bad. Seen you war well supplied, so I figured you would like a good breakfast when you woke,” Nolan replied.
“This is highly irregular. I don’t know what the line would say about you gettin’ aboard,” the conductor replied.
“Best not tell them seein’ they might fire you fer sleepin’ on the job. Besides I war on the last train through here and never got to finish my ride. I wuz chunked off by some mean fellers that didn’t like my company,” Nolan said.
The conductor rubbed his chin and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Well, the railroad will surely want you to get your money’s worth. What did you say your name was?” he asked.
“I didn’t say, but it’s Nolan Tolivar. This here feller is Jericho Dawson,” Nolan said.
“Hmmm, seems I’ve heard that name before,” the conductor said.
“You come through Nichols yesterday?” Nolan asked.
“Yep, sure did, and there was quite a-goin’s on back there,” the conductor said.
“You don’t say,” Nolan said.
Jericho slid a tin plate filled with bacon and bread in front of the conductor and refilled his coffee cup.
“I heard this fella rode into the Barbaro camp and rescued a captive white woman and made off with her with the whole Indian nation on his tail,” the conductor said.
“That’s so,” Nolan said, casting a side glance at Jericho.
The conductor continued, proud to tell the story. “This fella done killed the chief’s son and the whole tribe done chased him and the woman across a mountain range and had them plum surrounded. This fella killed the chief and got plum away with the woman. Huh, that ain’t all--he done it with an arrow stickin’ in his back! They rode into town a while back, just big as you please. He is a rootin’ tootin’ hero, that’s for sure! Not many men could do what he’s done and live to tell about it. Seems he gave his word to the woman’s children he would go get their ma, and he did it,” he said.
“Wait a minute,” Jericho said. “This feller had an arrow stickin’ in his back?”
“Yep,” the conductor said. “The lady drove it clean through with a rock the size of a cannonball and nursed him back to health. That’s one rootin’ tootin’ pair for sure. Nobody in Nichols is goin’ to trifle with that woman I kin tell you for sure!”
Jericho sat speechless, looking at the conductor and back at Nolan.
Nolan smiled back and added, “That feller must be a real ringtail tooter!”
The conductor lit his pipe and added, “It’s told this fella done jumped off a waterfall that reached into the clouds to get away from the Indians and then went back to rescue the woman.”
“You don’t say,” Nolan said, looking at Jericho. “What might his name be?”
“Wall, I don’t remember, but he is a mighty big man,” the conductor said.
“That shore sounds like my young friend Elam Franklin. The way he be a-carryin’ on,” Nolan said.
“That be the man! By cracky! A real hero and Indian fighter for sure!” the conductor exclaimed.
“Did you see them?” Nolan asked.
“No, sir, they were gone when the train got to town,” said the conductor.
“You be a-knowin’ whar they be a-headed?” Nolan asked.
“Wall, that is another story. When they showed up in Nichols, the evil grandmother done beat them to town and stole the children and left on a train.” The conductor continued, “They left town to intercept the train somewhere down the tracks,” the conductor said.
Jericho shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs. “This be the spinnin’--est yarn I done ever heard spun,” he said.
“Well, sir,” the conductor said further, “The two of them was not waitin’ for the next train, figurin’ they are too slow for their likin’ and left Nichols on horseback. But for my money, the train is a darn sight safer than a trek through the wilderness.”
Nolan walked out on the platform while Jericho sat listening to the conductor’s version of the story. He stood on the platform with tears in his eyes, his heart flooding with joy for the children. Nolan had never given up hope believing God would answer the prayers of the children. For a long time, he studied the night sky contemplating his life and how he had been living it. He remembered the sermon of the pastor Bull Curry and how it had drilled deep in his heart. From now on, he would never doubt God, no matter the outcome. ‘There is a time for most folk who will give The All Mighty opportunity and this was Nolan’s moment.’ He remembered his late wife pouring over her Bible years ago and a peace came over him about the eternal destination of his sweet wife. Now he straightened up; all conflict resolved in his life. He could put her to peace and get on with living. Wiping his eyes, he went back inside the caboose. “The train the children be on, whar would it be now?” Nolan asked the conductor.
The conductor looked at his pocket watch, and said, “Would be in Lancaster. Their schedule should have got the train there about an hour ago. It’s a good three hundred miles by rail, crossin’ the mountains a full day shorter. The train will layover for a day and load freight. Then head north to the end of the line.”
“Whar be the end of the line,” Nolan asked.
“That’s Mountain Junction,” the conductor said.
“How far we be from the next town?” Nolan asked.
“We’re about one hour out of Bald Ridge,” said the conductor.
Nolan looked at Jericho, who was working hard on a thick piece of bacon with his gums. “Jericho, do you know the country he is a-talkin’ about?” he asked.
“Reckon I do, Pilgrim. What might you have on your mind?” Jericho asked.
“I want to git ahead of that train,” Nolan said.
“They got a five-day jump on us, and the only way to catch up is to cross the high mountains on horseback--horses we don’t have,” Jericho pointed out.
“Jericho, with hosses and a pack mule, could we cross the mountain range and be waitin’ fer the train on the other end?” Nolan asked.
Jericho scratched his chin and studied for a minute. “We can be in Mountain Junction in three days from tomorrow night, for I know a high pass through them mountains,” Jericho said.
The door to the caboose opened and Bull Curry stood looking at Nolan. “I was looking for a cup of coffee and the last person I expected to see was you, Nolan. What are you doin’ on this train?” Bull asked.
“Well Parson, I got chunked off the last train; now I am a-tryin’ to ketch up to the children again!” Nolan stated. “See here, Jericho! This here be the preacher that done married me and Nora.”
Jericho looked at the man standing before him that Nolan called Parson. He had a set of pistols and a face scarred from years of battle. “So, you be a preacher?” Jericho said, half asking and half thinking out loud.
“Name’s Curry, most people just call me Bull,” he said.
A light went off in Jericho’s eyes, and he asked, “You the Bull Curry what rode with Doc Black and Tanner Jones down Texas way?”
“That would be me. A person can’t ride with Daniel Black for very long without gettin’ in a passel of trouble and hearing a good sermon to boot. Daniel Black cut a bunch of arrows out of my back and introduced me to a better way of life. God is responsible for the rest.” Bull turned to look at Nolan and said, “Nolan, after you left Nichols, Elam showed up with the children’s mother. They were exhausted, but Tillie insisted they leave the next morning cross country, trying to get ahead of the train you and the children were on. Of course, that was after I married them,” Bull said with a wide grin.
“After you what?” Nolan asked.
Jericho shook his head and looked at Nolan. “This preacher is the marrinest’ feller I done ever hurd of-- I’m plum ashamed of my talkin’ jackass story!” he said with a grin.
“They were not inclined to have company on their honeymoon. I agreed to follow on this train and catch up to them at the end of the line. Mrs. Nora Tolivar decided she was not going to be left behind and she is also on this train.” A slow smile began to cover the preacher’s face as he watched the astonished look on Nolan’s face turn to surprise. “I left her in the third coach while I came looking for a cup of coffee,” Bull said, smiling.
Nolan cleared his throat and brushed the front of his ragged clothing, and said, “Now ain’t I a sight to see? All chewed up like I wuz sent through a meat grinder.”
“Well, Miss Nora will be so shocked to see you, I suspect your appearance will largely go unnoticed,” Bull said. Nolan left the caboose as Bull poured himself a cup of coffee and chuckled. “Now, there goes a mighty happy man.” Bull settled down in a chair and sipped his coffee while looking Jericho and the conductor over. “Gentlemen, we need to have a talk. Do either of you know what a divine appointment means?” Bull asked.
Jericho scratched his whiskers and eyed the preacher out of his good eye. “No, Parson, I reckon I don’t. Iffin it has anythin’ to do with gittin’ hitched, I ain’t interested,” Jericho said.