Cookie was coughing nearby to disguise a laugh at the sickened look on Sidney's face. He looked a bit like a guilty puppy.
"Well, no, well I mean the wagon train manifest says the punishment is a whipping, but I didn't know this would upset you so much." Sidney dumped half his coffee on her boots as he tried to back away from his current statements. "I misspoke Corinne. I am just lucky that I haven't fallen asleep on the night watch."
"Aren't you too young for the night watch? Isn't the age over eighteen for night watch duty?" Reggie chimed in to make Sidney crawl a little more. His company every morning this week had been a nuisance that was trying their patience too. Cookie and Reggie shared a glance and were trying not to choke on their laughter.
"I turn eighteen in a few weeks. Certainly man enough for the job now. We joined the train late and they have a scheduled rotation. I wasn't needed." Sidney sounded pouty and defensive. His thin boyish shoulders slouched dejectedly.
"I will gladly aid you if you have any needs today, or any day, Corinne. I will go eat with my mother this morning but I will check in on you later." Sidney stood and was gone with a bound. Corinne didn’t even make an effort to wave because he never looked back. She had a feeling he was as resilient as a cactus. He would need no encouragement from her.
* * * * *
Clive and Lucas came by a few minutes after breakfast to escort Corinne to the front of the train. The boys were going to get their punishment before the wagons rolled out. Corinne was hoping to tend their wounds before they started traveling for the day. Treatment in a lurching wagon wasn’t going to be ideal but she was willing to do whatever was necessary.
The boys were scared but stoic. The morning wasn’t hot but they both were sweating a bit. Corinne could tell whom the parents where by the stressed looks on their faces, a mixture of regret and fear pasted on their foreheads.
The sun was rising with a yellow glow that would have put everyone in a good mood but the first duty was for every man and woman to witness the punishment being carried out.
The first boy was led to an area prepared with two small trees that would serve as the whipping post. His wrists were tied one to each side and his shirt was removed, then Mr. Walters made an announcement of the crime and the punishment while the man with a whip came forward. Corinne recognized the man as an ox wrangler but didn’t know him. The whip was long and dark against the brightness of the morning. Corinne stared numbly at the boy's pale back as the first crack of the whip settled with perfect accuracy across the skin. Corinne jumped at the sound and she stopped breathing as the second crack rang across the opening. The crowd watched unhappily as the welts multiplied two, then four, then five. The boy’s reserve was lost and the screams began, he started to squirm and the welts got worse. With one move the whip lashed on top of a welt and the blood started to flow. He yelled more, saying again and again how sorry he was. Corinne was openly crying now, along with the majority of the other women there. Corinne felt a presence behind her and a hand upon her shoulder. She looked into the comfort of Lucas's understanding eyes. She leaned into him and pulled his arm around her shoulder and over to the other side, his arm over her neck and shoulders, nearly an embrace so she could hide herself from the crack of the whip and the boy’s pain. Finally, the first boy was done and he was untied and taken to his parents. He had several open welts from squirming and would probably need a few stitches.
Now the next boy’s turn came and he was shaking so badly he could barely walk. His father helped him with his shirt and even tied one of his wrists. He spoke calming words to his boy before Mr. Walters read his fate in front of the crowd.
"Lucas, I don't know if I can watch again." Corinne felt fresh tears fall but didn’t even want to wipe them away. She held her breath again as the first crack came down jolting her with it’s crisp sound as it echoed. She watched as two more lashes fell on his back then she could not watch anymore. She turned and buried her head into Lucas's chest and whimpered as the boy cried out with each lash until his ten had been received. Lucas pulled up her chin when it was over and handed her a hanky and a kiss on the forehead. She wiped her eyes and reached around his middle for a brief hug before letting go.
They didn’t need to say a word. He was just there for her. She knew that for certain now. She stepped away after sharing a silent look with Lucas and was going to carry herself and her kit wherever she was needed when she nearly collided with Sidney who was staring at her with an angry look.
"Corinne, I thought you were my girl." Sidney looked crushed and stood his ground. Corinne was worried and felt trapped. Hadn’t she told him already she wasn’t his or any ones? Well, he probably witnessed the tender moment between her and Lucas but she did not care. She was tired of his possessiveness and clinging when he had absolutely no claim over her.
"Sidney, I have never said I was your girl. I am not anyone's girl." Corinne said softly trying to not make a scene.
"Why did Lucas just kiss you?" Sidney's eyes were red, his boyish emotions were rising, and tears were threatening to spill.
"He kissed me on the forehead Sidney, stop being so dramatic. He is a good friend of mine and he was comforting me while I was upset. If you will pardon me I have some mending to take care of." Corinne was losing her patience but decided to push past him and let him deal with his own problems today. She was through coddling his childish behavior.
Mr. Walters led Corinne to the boy's wagons and with help from their mothers, got them stitched and cleaned. Corinne eased the family's fears and said she would be checking in on them every time the wagons would be stopping for the next few days. They were both young and should heal quickly.
The wagons rolled out soon after Corinne finished and she walked back to her own wagon outfit in time for Clover to be saddled and ready for her. She thanked her crew and spent a quiet day on the trail alone. She was not in the mood for much company beyond the occasional female trip for privacy and necessity. She had been affected by the whipping she saw this morning. The faces around her had at first been expectant, some even excited, like it was entertaining for some.
Corinne felt nothing but horror and was praying for the poor boys through the entire thing. She knew what they did was wrong but the healer in her hated pain of any kind.
The noon and evening stops kept Corinne busy checking the status of her young patients. They both rallied enough to eat their supper so Corinne was encouraged. Eating was always a good sign. She even got a weak smile out of Caleb, the first boy to be whipped. He was eighteen and a bit silly but there was sadness in his eyes that still might last a few more days. Corinne had been worried about the second boy Charlie until he decided to eat, he was a bit more sullen and embarrassed but after eating he was sitting up for a little while. They would both be sleeping on their stomachs for a few days but they would recover.
* * * * *
The next few mornings the Temple outfit was quiet. Sidney had not made an appearance and Corinne was secretly wishing her harsh treatment had calmed his attraction to her. She tried to endure his presence patiently, well almost patiently, for several weeks and was very grateful for the reprieve.
The wagons rolled out of Fort Boise within a few days. They had taken the northern route along the Boise River and they were making great time. They were all eager to beat the snow in the mountains.
Clive and Lucas were keeping busy with teaching the Shoshone English and scouting the trail. Corinne heard whispers about the Indians nearby but they all seemed friendly enough. They had a large enough train that theft was only a problem if people got careless. The Indians were very helpful for getting the wagons across the rivers safely and as September was drawing near they were becoming increasingly valuable in trading for new animals. They had been trading oxen, mule and horses with the eastern travelers for several years now and had healthy animals to trade for those whose animals had died or were too weary to continue.
* * * * *
Chapt
er Twenty-Nine
August 22 1848
Corinne knew she was in trouble when she heard the loud crack and felt the splintered shards of her tooth float onto her tongue. It was two-seconds without breathing until the pain sliced through her jaw.
She decided to throw ladylike table manners aside and she spit out the meat, buckshot, and bits of her tooth into her hand. She got close to the fire to see what had happened.
"What is wrong Corinne?" Cookie and Reggie looked concerned. Corinne was certain she would be fine so she shook it off.
"Just bit a piece of buckshot, no fuss necessary. So sorry to spit at dinner." She grinned and tried not to grimace when a sharp pain took her by surprise.
"No trouble, my lady." Reggie said chuckling at the joke. "You may spit anytime in front of me. I promise not to tell anyone."
"Sorry about the buckshot, sometimes the hunting can get sloppy with a few of our inexperienced scouts." Cookie said quietly. They were all a little sensitive about talking about the loss of the main scout party. It was still a bad memory and would be for a long time.
Everyone but Corinne finished eating. She was fighting a losing battle with an elevated heartbeat every time her tongue traveled to the sharp edge left by the source of the pain in her jaw. A jagged molar was her new challenge.
She waited until the dishes were washed and headed to her wagon with a lantern. She rustled around in her trunks of extra oils and ointment and found clove oil finally. She spent another minute looking for slippery elm bark but gave up in the darkness.
She had a conversation with herself while sitting in the dark wagon. The light from the lantern was a warm orange glow bouncing off the white bonnet above her; she stared blankly for a minute before she started the exploration in her mouth.
With freshly washed hands she applied a little clove oil to her pinky finger. The key was to get the oil in the right spot. She said to herself. Drat! She missed and hit the roof of her mouth and now her tongue tasted the overly-sweet cloves, it had a strange numbing sensation that was unpleasant. Corinne bit back a complaint and began again. Fresh oil and back in with better aim hopefully. She reapplied the oil and with a quick prayer found the center of the gaping hole on the side of the rear molar. Touching the clove oil instantly helped with a measure of the pain but Corinne nearly gagged. She exited the wagon and washed her hands again. She walked over to Chelsea's wagon and did the necessary walk with the women in silence. She headed to bed without talking to anyone.
The moon was overhead when Corinne bolted up straight. Her mouth was open and she was certain she had moaned or yelled and woken herself. She tasted blood in her mouth and all the flavor of the cloves was gone.
She heard stirring in the camp and knew she would have visitors shortly. Reggie and Cookie greeted her at the side of her wagon.
"Corinne!" Reggie whispered hoarsely. "Are you injured? Is someone in there with you?"
"I am alone Reggie, I have a bad tooth. I am sorry to wake everyone." Corinne felt the fool as she climbed out a few minutes later dressed in yesterday's clothes. She should have dealt with her tooth before bed but she was a coward. She hated to admit that she was afraid but she truly was.
"I am sorry." She said humbly, holding her left cheek. It didn’t help with the pain but seemed comforting to protect it. She wanted to cry when she saw all the adults from the Grant outfit walking up to them with lanterns in hand. Her night was complete.
"We heard Corinne yell. Is all well?" Clive asked first. His look of concern as sincere as everyone else's, she was mortified but also felt loved.
"I am sorry." Corinne said a little thickly. Her cheek was swollen and she was swallowing a lot. "I broke a molar on some buckshot and tried to manage with it on my own. I am sorry to wake everyone. I am a fool." Corinne said lamely. She was tired and in pain and hated to inconvenience everyone. She heard herself inhale sharply as another pain shot through her skull. It was getting worse.
"Oh Corinne, you aren't a fool, I did the same thing a few years ago. I got a cavity from too many sweets and pretended I was fine for the longest time." Chelsea stepped forward and gave her a sisterly hug. "I got the worst fever and eventually had to own up to my problem. That tooth is gonna have to go!" Chelsea said with a pout.
Corinne nodded and moaned in agreement, and then she did a fake cry a little pathetically. Everyone laughed a little when she brought her head up with a lopsided smile.
"No one is gonna pull my tooth in the dark. Let’s not get silly." Corinne said seriously then listened as the plan unfolded for her day. Clive came by with a quick solution for the rest of the evening, whiskey. Chelsea would administer the whiskey to help Corinne sleep. They would stay behind until there was enough light in the sky and Clive would do the extraction. He claimed to have the most experience.
Corinne spent the next hour sipping whiskey in medicinal doses and getting clove oil back in the proper spot to numb the pain. Chelsea was good company and kept Corinne laughing until they both lost the battle for sleep.
Corinne woke up several times when sharp pains took over. Corinne weathered the pain bravely and tried to fall back asleep.
* * * * *
"Are you ready?" Corinne had her eyes closed and nodded. She had Chelsea's hand and Clive's supportive voice talking to her calmly. He had her own mother's surgical pliers and was ready to make quick work of her tooth.
The whiskey was again warm in Corinne's belly. It made her feel affected and loose muscled. She knew that would go away soon enough. She just didn’t want to embarrass herself by screaming too loudly.
She leaned back and felt the tool enter her mouth. Clive's hands smelled like soap and the lavender oil he used to clean the pliers. He was as gentle as he could be until the work needed to get done.
With a quick masterful move he grasped the pliers on the offending tooth. Corinne moaned a little from discomfort and felt her legs wanting to squirm. Russell held her head and shoulders as the pulling began. White-hot pain shot through Corinne's skull but she only moaned a little. She focused on her breathing and not screaming as the tooth fought its losing battle to hold strong. With the second pull the tooth was free. Everyone sighed with relief when Corinne sat up and bit on a clean bit of cloth. She grinned weakly and after the bleeding slowed she thanked everyone with muffled words.
Reggie, Lucas and Cookie joined them after the ordeal. They gave the group privacy but checked on Corinne to make certain she was truly okay. She was still a little affected by the whiskey and gladly lay down in her wagon for the remainder of the day.
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty
Fort Boise - September 3 1848
Some hilly conditions had made travel a bit difficult for a few days but they were finally at Fort Boise. Fresh elk, flour, coffee and some fruit preserves were purchased. Men shared ideas about routes and the local Indians. The weather was fine and the warm day and the fresh supplies put everyone in the mood for a celebration.
Corinne made sure to dance with her two new friends, Caleb and Charlie as well as Clive and Lucas. After a few rounds Corinne held Brody so Chelsea and Russell could take a few turns around the camp as the music plays into the night. Corinne gave a smile and a wave to Sidney who was dancing with a young lady in the camp. She was probably only fifteen but Corinne thought they look charming together and hoped Sidney had moved on from his boyish infatuation.
Corinne sat with Brody, watching Clive dance with 'Dolly', and tapped her feet. She kept her thoughts on the present and tried to keep her worries about the impossibly tall mountains ahead get the better of her. Her heart was longing to find a home again. The traveling life was not in her blood. Her thoughts jumped ahead to her father's home and hearth. She rocked Brody in her lap and dreamed of a new beginning. His warm heartbeat joined her as they both enjoyed sitting and swaying to the music filling the night air.
* * * * *
The next day they crossed the Snake River and Corinne go
t across simply with her own horse and into a safe place. A few unlucky souls lost their lives and wagons in the swift flow of water. Andrew’s wagon was very nearly lost to the current before it was saved by some fast thinking men who were able to get ropes hooked on in before it tipped. Corinne watched from the safety of the shore but seeing Reggie and Cookie so close to danger shook up her nerves. These were her men, her crew. She said a prayer of thanks that her crew was safe.
Corinne was on the other side of the river when Clover jumped at a sound and Corinne lost her seat. She went flying and bumped her head and rolled for a second or two before she felt the water splash around her. At first she was dazed and saw stars. Where am I?
The water was cool and the gurgling current under the surface was loud. She was swept along the river and broke the surface once or twice to catch some air but was pulled under the current. She felt herself starting to panic as her lungs started burning. Her head bumped a rock and she felt the thud to her core. She was grabbing for anything, kicking her legs, and wanting to curse her skirts and petticoats for wrapping around her legs in such a moment.
Her hand reached out and found a branch to grab. With what little energy she had left from her thrashing about, she pulled herself up on a rock. She lay there for a minute without moving except to breathe and cough. Her head ached a bit from hitting something underwater. She lay there thinking of Angela and her fall into the ravine, knowing it had been so much worse than what she had just had. She sat up slowly with a groan and observed her surroundings. There were tall rock walls on each side of the river. The crossing had been a good place, this was not. Corinne stood on shaky legs and tried to climb the wall but the edges were a bit too smooth. There was no edge for her to grab. She looked down and saw the rock ledge she was sitting on was covered in slime and a few mysterious spongy things that Corinne assumed were alive in some way. She decided to sit back down and ignore the slime. Her dress and petticoats were now filthy and clinging to her legs even worse than they were in the water. Corinne sighed and looked up to the edge, hoping to see someone looking for her. At the wagon crossing there was always a lot of chaos.