No Less Than the Journey (10 page)

CHAPTER 14

Although the surrounding countryside would have appeared to the casual observer to be sparsely populated, word of the
Missouri Belle
’s calamity spread rapidly. Two hours after the errant tree trunk fouled the steamboat’s stern-wheel, mounted men, women and children on foot and a couple of wagons were at the scene.

Most who crowded the riverbank offered genuine help and advice, but others hoped the unexpected mishap might provide some rare luxuries to improve their otherwise stark and frugal existence.

They also provided information that the railroad built with the intention of linking Belmont with St Louis passed only two miles from where the stricken
Missouri Belle
had found its last resting place alongside the Missouri State shore.

The river had changed its course since the coming of the railway and Belmont no longer existed as a potentially important riverside town, but the railroad remained.

Two other steamboats came upon the scene and their captains, observing the precarious situation of the
Missouri 
Belle
, approached to offer assistance but were warned off by Pilot Stavros, lest they suffer a similar fate if they approached too close to the underwater rocks.

It was apparent to everyone on board that the
Missouri Belle
was destined to end her days settling on the river bed where she was now berthed and during that day all but a handful of passengers took advantage of the local settlers offer of transportation to the railroad, led by the
Missouri Belle
’s captain who was going to St Louis to report the accident and seek instructions from the head office of the steamboat company.

Those who chose to remain on board would enjoy free hospitality for a further twenty-four hours. The crew were instructed to stay on board until the company sent another riverboat to take off whatever cargo could be salvaged.

The accident meant that Anabelita was forced to reconsider the plans she had made for her future. After a lengthy and detailed discussion with Aaron and Lola, she agreed to throw in her lot with them and go to Abilene to take up the post of head croupier at the gambling-saloon Aaron hoped to open there, following Heck McKinnon’s advice.

Although Wes was present at the discussion he was neither asked for an opinion about the change in her plans, nor did he volunteer one.

Later that afternoon when the two women had gone ashore with the other croupiers to take a wagon ride to a nearby country store, Aaron and Wes were enjoying a beer together on the open deck behind the saloon, when Aaron asked, ‘Do you have any views about Anabelita coming to work for me, Wes?’

Setting his glass down and apparently intent upon watching another riverboat passing, far out in the middle of the river, Wes replied, ‘What I think doesn’t make any difference to anyone – especially Anabelita. She’ll do whatever
she wants to do anyway.’

‘Do I take it from what you’re not saying, that you’d have preferred her to stay working on the river? That you don’t approve of her coming with me and Lola to Abilene?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with working for you, Aaron … at least, not when you’re around to keep an eye on things, but you’re a United States Marshal with a job to do, one that will take you away from the saloon for most of the time. I know very little about gambling but from what Anabelita has told me – and from what I’ve seen for myself so far – where you have a combination of gambling, drinking – and guns – you’ve got a sure-fire recipe for trouble and, as you’ve said yourself, there’s no law worth mentioning beyond Missouri.’

‘That’s why I’m heading West, Wes, to see what needs doing to bring law and order there. As for the gambling-house I hope to open … I intend it to set an example of how such places should be run. Heck McKinnon has recommended two good men to help me – but I’d like to think I had a man I could trust to take charge of things while I’m away. The job is yours if you want it.’

‘Thanks, Aaron but as I’ve said many times, I’m a mining man, I couldn’t take on a job like that.’

‘You could if you put your mind to it … and you’d have Anabelita there too.’

Aaron had hoped that the prospect of working with the attractive croupier might persuade Wes to think seriously about his offer, but it brought only a shake of his head, ‘I repeat, I’m a miner and I can’t see Anabelita ever settling down to the humdrum life of a miner’s wife, so anything between us is in the past.’

Aaron’s eyebrows arched as he said, ‘I don’t think I said anything about marriage, Wes.’

‘You haven’t, but Anabelita has made it clear she’s not
interested in a relationship that’s going nowhere.’

Leaning forward in his chair towards Wes, Aaron said, ‘If you were working together perhaps you’d have a chance to persuade her to change her mind.’

Wes smiled, ‘I’ll give you top marks for persistence, Aaron, and I really am flattered by your faith in me, but … no thanks.’

Aaron made a gesture of resignation, ‘Well, I guess you are your own man, but how much of a hurry are you in to get to the Missouri lead mining area?’

‘As you say, I am my own man and I’m keen to get there and settle in but I have no time-table to work to. Why do you ask?’

‘Harrison Schuster’s home is only about thirty miles away, across the river. Between here and there is an army garrison. I’d like to go there before sun-up tonight and ask for a gun carriage and an escort to take Harrison’s body home in style, it’s the least I can do for him and his family. When it’s arranged I intend going with it. I wondered whether you might like to come along too?’

‘How long would we be away?’ Wes asked.

Aaron shrugged, ‘Three or four days. Five at the most, I’d think.’

Wes nodded, ‘I’ll come with you. Harrison was a good man, I would like to pay my last respects to him.’

‘Good, I’ll set off for the garrison now.’

Anabelita and the other croupiers enjoyed their impromptu visit to the Missouri country store, followed by an additional couple of hours sampling the hospitality of one of the more affluent local farmers whose family was thrilled to have a rare opportunity to entertain a group of such ‘worldly’ women.

Visitors were rare in this part of the State and to entertain women who regularly travelled between such sophisticated cities as New Orleans and St Louis would be the subject of
conversation for many months to come.

When the croupiers eventually returned to the
Missouri
Belle
, Lola was disappointed to discover that Aaron was absent in Kentucky and would not be returning to the boat that night. Nevertheless, after dinner that evening she joined Anabelita in teaching Wes to play some of the more simple card games that formed part of their repertoire. Later, the trio moved outside to the open deck where Wes and Anabelita had sat on their first night together.

In conversation both women expressed apprehension about their futures now the
Missouri Belle
was a wreck, but agreed with Wes that they could not have wished for a more satisfactory alternative than to work for Aaron.

After a couple of drinks, Lola stood up and announced that she was going to take advantage of the opportunity that offered itself of having an early night.

When she had gone, Wes and Anabelita continued to discuss the events of the day and she asked, ‘Were you already awake when the
Missouri Belle
ran into the logs?’

‘No, the noise of logs crashing against the hull brought me out of my bunk and I was already putting on my clothes when they wrecked the paddle-wheel.’

‘That is what must have woken me, ‘Anabelita said, ‘but I was so confused I really had no idea what was happening. Had you not been there when I ran out of my cabin I would have been thoroughly panic-stricken.’

‘I doubt that,’ Wes replied, ‘You aren’t given to panicking.’

‘Don’t you believe it! I can panic with the best of them when the right occasion arises.’ Smiling at him, she added, ‘But I think you have a calming effect on me.’

After a few moments of silence between them, she asked, ‘Why were you there, Wes … I mean, why did you come to my cabin?’

‘I knew you would have been working until close to dawn and would probably be in a very deep sleep. Like most others on board, I believed the boat was probably going to sink. I just wanted to make certain you were all right.’

Wes tried to pass off his presence outside her cabin as no more than a friendly regard for her safety, but Anabelita realized that her well-being must have been the first thought that came into Wes’s mind when he woke and realized the riverboat was in trouble.

Moved by his concern, she said, ‘It was certainly a great comfort having you there to explain what was happening – and to tell me what to do.’

‘I’m glad.’

Strangely tongue-tied, Wes could think of nothing to add to his two word reply, until he noticed that her glass was almost empty. Standing up quickly, he said, ‘I’ll go and get us more drinks …’

He returned a few minutes later carrying a full bottle of Bourbon, explaining, ‘The bartender says that anything that’s left in the bar will be pilfered by the crew of the boat that arrives to take off the cargo, so we might as well make the most of it before they arrive.’

‘He can afford to be generous,’ Anabelita commented, ‘The captain has said he’s not to charge for any more drinks. That means there will be no record of exactly how much money has been taken on the voyage upriver. It will be a very profitable trip for him …’

She never finished what she was saying. Clapping a hand to her neck, she exclaimed, ‘That’s the second mosquito to attack me since we’ve been seated out here. It’s because we are so close to the riverbank. It wasn’t a problem when we were in mid-stream. If I stay out here I’ll likely be eaten alive, I’m going to my cabin.’

Trying hard not to allow his disappointment to show, Wes said, ‘Oh … all right. I agree, they are a problem, I’ve been bitten myself, but what shall I do with this…?’

He held up the bottle of Bourbon he had brought from the saloon.

Aware of his disappointment, Anabelita gave him a direct look. ‘Well … we don’t want to leave it here. I suggest you bring it to my cabin with you….’

CHAPTER 15

Aaron made a very early start from the Kentucky army fort the next morning and reached the
Missouri Belle
not via the cross-river ferry, but on a steam launch owned by the United States military.

His early arrival, accompanied by half-a-dozen troopers from the garrison took Wes by surprise. As a result he vacated Anabelita’s cabin in haste, leaving a great many things unsaid.

There was no opportunity to rectify the omission over the breakfast table which they shared not only with Aaron and Lola, but with six troopers, who enjoyed the company of the two women quite as much as the first class meal cooked for them by the excellent chef of the ill-fated
Missouri Belle
.

The recent night he had spent with Anabelita had left Wes greatly perturbed. Their first night together had been an eager physical experience, fuelled by Bourbon and a sense of novelty.

Last night had been different, even though they had drunk almost as much as on the previous occasion. In between bouts of love-making Wes had held Anabelita close in his arms and felt a tenderness towards her that he had never before
experienced with any woman.

Such a feeling disturbed him. He sensed that Anabelita might have shared the experience and he would have liked to question her about it.

The early arrival of Aaron precluded any such discussion and once the troopers had eaten Aaron was anxious to be on his way with the body of Harrison Schuster.

A soldier had been sent to the Schuster home telling them when to expect the arrival of their son’s body and Aaron wanted to reach the military post in good time to ensure that all arrangements had been made to deliver the coffin with a high degree of formal dignity.

The result was that Wes had time for no more than a brief and unsatisfactory farewell with Anabelita.

She waved him off when he departed on the steam launch with the troopers and the body of Harrison Schuster and when, accompanied by Lola, she turned and disappeared in the direction of her cabin, Aaron commented, ‘You and Anabelita seem to have resolved whatever differences you had. Has she been able to persuade you to come to Abilene with us?’

Irritably, Wes replied, ‘I’ve told you, Aaron, I am a miner. There’s nothing for me in Abilene.’

They were words he had repeated on many occasions but today Aaron felt there was less conviction in Wes’s voice than ever before, but he kept his thoughts to himself – for now.

On the Kentucky bank of the river the coffin carrying Harrison’s body was transferred to a US army wagon and the escort retrieved their horses from their waiting colleagues.

There were extra mounts for Aaron and Wes and, belatedly, the US Marshal queried, ‘I forgot to ask you before we set out, Wes … can you ride a horse?’

‘I can sit on a horse,’ Wes replied, ‘but I’m no cavalryman.’

‘You’ll be all right,’ Aaron declared, unsympathetically, ‘At least, you will be tomorrow, when Columbus is behind us. I doubt if we’ll manage more than a trot on the roads we’ll find from then on.’

He was unable to resist adding, ‘Of course, it’s always possible you’ll find it more enjoyable than burrowing underground like a gopher and decide to change your mind about coming to Abilene…!’

Wes had always taken his relationship with Aaron for granted. He was a close friend, no more – although certainly no less. The degree of deference shown to the ex-Brigadier General by the garrison officers took him aback.

When he mentioned it to Aaron later that night, as they made their way together to the comfortable quarters allocated to them by the adjutant, Aaron replied, ‘It took me by surprise too, Wes. I served in a wartime army, when soldiering was far more informal – and occasionally utterly chaotic. Things are different in peacetime – although having a reasonably high rank does carry with it certain advantages. I have been able to get all I want to ensure that Harrison Schuster has the sort of funeral he deserves. I am hoping it might help build a few bridges too. Kentucky could never really make up its mind whether it was for or against the Union during the war, and the outcome has still not been fully accepted by everyone. It seems some Kentuckians have been giving our soldiers a rough time.’

‘How do you think Harrison’s funeral might change that?’ Wes asked.

‘The Schuster family are held in high esteem by those who espoused the Confederate cause,’ Aaron explained, ‘Harrison’s father is still referred to as “The Senator”, even though he was stripped of that title when he threw in his lot with the South.
His opinions carry more weight than those of the Senators who represent Kentucky today. Having him on our side would mean more than all the laws passed by Congress.’

The determination of Aaron to make Harrison Schuster’s funeral a memorable occasion was brought home to Wes the following morning, when he made his way to the parade-ground inside the stockade that had its origins in the days when early Kentucky settlers had need of such defences. He found the coffin containing Harrison Schuster’s body secured to a gun carriage, alongside which was a troop of US army cavalrymen on parade under the command of a captain. They were awaiting the arrival of Aaron before setting off on the journey to the Schuster home.

As Wes sat his horse, admiring the immaculately turned out cavalrymen, the captain suddenly turned his horse to face the men and barked out an order, calling on them to present their arms in salute.

It was then Wes saw Aaron riding towards the drawn-up soldiers … but this was not the Aaron he had known on the
Missouri Belle
, or the
Northern Star
, this was Brigadier General Aaron Berryman of the United States army!

His measurements had been taken by the garrison tailor on his earlier visit to the fort and a dress uniform owned by an officer of a similar build altered to fit him. It was now adorned with the single star insignia denoting the rank of its new wearer.

Complete with white gloves carefully folded over his belt, a brand new cavalry officer’s hat obtained from the tailor’s store and highly polished cavalryman’s boots, Aaron was a far cry from the casually dressed and almost nondescript man Wes had first seen boarding the steamship
Northern Star
in New York.

When Aaron had conferred with the captain in charge of the large troop of mounted men, he beckoned for Wes to come and join him. Wes’s first reaction was to make a fatuous remark about Aaron’s dandified appearance, but the comment died on his lips. This was not the easy-going friend of his shipboard days. This was a distinguished brigadier general of the United States army. A man who commanded the respect such a rank deserved.

In response to a more respectful question about his transformation, Aaron repeated his statement of the previous day about Senator Schuster being a highly respected man. This would be an opportunity to show him that the United States government was ready to pay homage to any brave man who died in the service of his country, whatever his affiliations during the war that had been over for more than ten years.

‘I want the Senator and everyone else who fought for the Southern cause to accept that we are all part of one great country now,’ he added.

‘It’s a noble aim,’ Wes commented.

‘It’s more than that,’ Aaron replied, as he kneed his horse forward to take his place at the head of the column and Wes moved off alongside him, ‘It’s self-preservation. A great many Confederate supporters headed West after the war ended. Most are law abiding and, like Harrison Schuster, damn good fighting men. If we are to bring law and order to the territories we are going to need their help. Kentucky’s motto is “United we stand, divided we fall”. I’d like such a sentiment to take hold out there.’

The column was moving now, a flag-bearer holding the stars and stripes aloft, riding immediately behind Aaron and Wes, and a number of guidons fluttering above the mounted column proudly proclaiming the regiment to which they
belonged. Wes felt conspicuous by reason of being the only man not in uniform.