When his train arrived at Flat Peaks an hour after midnight, Scar headed to Eli’s livery. The temperature was sub-zero. As he walked, he witnessed the full moon and a sky full of stars shining brightly off the snow-covered ground. He also noticed the snow level was about the same as when he left.
When Scar opened the livery door, a light beam highlighted a bed lump close to the stove, which was undoubtedly Eli. A few feet away was an empty bedroll with turned back blankets. “Thought you might be coming in tonight, Scar. Got you a bed made over here. You can feed the fire if you don’t mind.”
“Thanks, Eli,” Scar said as he placed three sticks of wood into the potbellied stove. After he pulled the blankets up to his shoulders, he lay wide awake for a long time thinking about the difficulties the natives were about to experience. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was Eli’s loud snoring.
The next morning, Scar fed Maude and Frankie and then sat with Eli by the stove, drinking coffee and talking about his trip to Denver. Soon he excused himself and headed for Jenny’s Place.
It was before sunrise when Scar entered the café and sat down at a table with four other men who were already in the middle of solving the world’s problems. Occasionally, the worldly concerns paused, and the town’s gossip took center stage, which caused Scar to smile.
After the table emptied, the big man sat by himself waiting for the mercantile to open. He was joined by Jenny. “I heard you got in last night. How did the meeting go in Denver?”
“Those men from Washington are a hard-headed lot, Jenny. They think the Indians’ main objective is to kill every white man that comes their way. And as much as the governor and I tried, we couldn’t convince them otherwise.”
“That’s too bad,” she answered. Seconds passed. “I imagine you’re waiting for the mercantile to open to check on the mail, but don’t get your hopes up. I was there yesterday afternoon, and nothing has come in.” Scar shook his head with tight lips.
“I don’t know what to think, Jenny,” he said. “Maybe Thomas is in some kind of trouble or has fallen sick. If we don’t hear from him soon, I’m heading for Baltimore.”
Scar and Jenny spent another half hour discussing other subjects, mostly the upcoming wedding of Tony and Morning Sun. The big man took his last swallow of coffee and was ready to leave when the café’s door swung wide. The telegraph agent entered, a big grin on his face. “I heard you’d got back last night and hoped you were in here having breakfast. I’ve got a telegram for you. It’s from Thomas.” Scar quickly grabbed the envelope and ripped it open.
January 21, 1878
Have written four letters, all returned. Don’t know why. No luck finding Virginia or the kids. Will start home in a few days.
Thomas
Scar read the telegram three times and then handed it to Jenny. “I was afraid this might happen,” he said. “It would have been a miracle if he found his family after fifteen years.” Jenny shook her head. Her eyes showed her disappointment.
When Scar returned to the ranch that afternoon, everyone was in a bittersweet mood after hearing the news about Thomas. They were anxious to see him, but sorry he had not found his family.
The nine days leading up to the wedding after Scar’s return passed quickly. There was a spitting of snow one evening, but otherwise, the weather was favorable—cold but with no additional snow cover. The women stayed busy baking pies and preparing other items for the celebration, not to mention selecting a dress design and all the other necessities. Morning Sun and Tony seemed to be the only calm ones at the ranch.
The church was starting to fill when the first Double D buggy drove up, with Liz and Scar along with Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. The intended bride and groom’s buggy was a short ways behind.
Minutes later, at exactly two o’clock, Morning Sun and Tony opened the door to a filled church. Little Eagle and Little Turtle, who had come with their mother, hurried to empty seats beside Scar and Liz. Everyone turned to watch the couple slowly walk down the aisle. Tony was dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and a string tie, but all eyes were on the bride. She wore a white leather headband stitched with small colorful beads. Her glistening, long black hair had been fixed into a single braid hanging to the center of her back. Her olive-colored skin was radiant against a bleached white deerskin dress that hung to her ankles. Rows of beads surrounded the neckline and at various other places. She wore moccasins that matched her dress.
Her appearance was a total surprise to the crowd. They had expected a somewhat drab woman in plain Indian attire, but instead, they witnessed a beautiful woman who stood tall and erect, giving all indications she was proud to be of Indian blood.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Mrs. Douglas had spent long evenings helping Morning Sun bleach deer skins and do the beading, resulting in the lovely dress the young bride now wore.
When the Christian wedding vows had been spoken, the new couple turned to face a room filled with friends—friends with a different heritage than those of their upbringing, but friends nevertheless.
Due to cold weather, a long congratulatory line was formed inside the church for the newlyweds. Afterward, many stood around discussing the wedding and catching up on the latest happenings in Flat Peaks.
As soon as the excitement dulled a little, the Double D clan headed for their buggies to hurry home to prepare for the wedding party. Morning Sun and Tony remained behind to oblige their guests. However, as Scar was untying the team, he heard someone calling to him. It was the telegraph agent.
“I have a telegram for you, Scar,” the winded agent said as he ran up to the buggy. “It’s another telegram from Thomas.” Scar took the envelope and handed it to his wife.
“You read it to us, Liz, while I get started home.”
January 31, 1879
Disregard my last telegram. I have a new lead.
Thomas