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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

MY WESTWARD TREK Chapter 15

Image courtesy photobucket.com

Leaving off the story of
hardships for they were unimaginable without even mentioning the mountains.

(Just a postscript (Morgan's
notes) to the story of our trip. we had very little trouble with Indians which
made a difficult journey easier.Some of
the more aggressive ones were off fighting the soldiers. As I told you before
Captain John had married one or more squaws in most of the tribes we came into
contact with. Some of them were quite angry when he would first meet them again
but Captain would load them up with gifts and all was forgotten and well again,
in fact they looked forward to him leaving and returning with more stuff. The
chiefs all received gifts which included a nice knife which they prized.

I noticed Virgil would
disappear each time we met a new group (this was before he got married) and our
supply of bowie knives was getting smaller. I'm pretty sure he was doing what I
called "Rent a squaw," and that was what was happening to our knives.I never asked, for what difference would it
have made if he said he did. When the camp was well supplied with fresh meat we
would go hunting with the tribe we were near and kill some extra food for them
and that was a help in getting through their territory without trouble.)

A few more days and the train
would come to the parting of the ways. Some of the party would branch off toward
the Oregon Trail and others to the California
trail. There was a lot of preparation needing to be done. Morgan and Virgil was busy trying to supply
meat for both groups for the Oregon
people would have to hunt on their own after the separation.

Virgil wasn't about to let
his girlfriend go to Oregon
so he proposed, and the parson married them right then and there. He had some forms he had printed up for such
an occasion and filled them out making everything legal.

Morgan found himself alone in
the evenings since Virgil spent all his free time with his new wife. Morgan
wanted to ask Virgil many questions about married life but he was too
embarrassed, and he almost knew what Virgil probably would have said; “Its none
of your business get your own wife.”

Morgan was considering that
very thing, but he knew if he did he would have to set aside many of his
immediate plans. His mind went back and
forth while thinking about it.

Walking with Bessie each
night didn't make things any clearer; they had not only held hands but now were
passionately kissing when away from the campsite.

He had to make a decision soon,
for in the next couple of days the train would split, and Bessie would head to Oregon. Her parents were saying a lot of things with
their looks, and Morgan knew what they were thinking. When he couldn't stand it
anymore he gathered Bessie, and her parents together and told them he would
like to marry Bessie but there was something he first had to do. He told them that he would come to Oregon in two years when
Bessie was sixteen, and they would be married.

courtesy photobucket.com

This pleased the parents for
Morgan always did what he said he would do. Bessie was quite pleased about
everything for Morgan searched among the jewelry he and Virgil had bought to
sell in the gold fields and found a ring and gave it to her.

She pranced through the camp
showing her ring to all the girls just to make them jealous, her shyness was now
a thing of the past. It was the first
time Morgan had kissed Bessie in front of her parents, and there was no
objection from them.

Some of the single men of the
camp ragged on Morgan unmercifully and Virgil had his fun also. While it was
all in fun it began to get on Morgan's nerves and seeing that they did it all
the more.

The day came to go separate ways
and the camp was extremely busy. The wagons were not in order, and had to
separate as they drove forward. People were exchanging items for things they
thought would better serve them where they were going.

Morgan said goodbye to Bessie
and said; “I'll see you in two years and have your wedding dress ready.” Then
they kissed longingly to the last minute. Morgan rode along side her wagon for
awhile until he had to get beck to his duties. She looked out the back of the
wagon and waved goodbye.

While looking back at her he whispered; goodbye my
love as she disappeared from sight.