How long would it be before someone noticed that I am missing?
She thought about yelling but with the headache that she was getting she figured she should save herself some of the pain. She was not desperate enough to yell, yet.
She was glad the clouds were moving in a little to block the hot sun. She had been sitting here on the slimy rock for more than twenty minutes according to her pendant watch. She had shaken the water from it and it was still ticking. She pinned it back on her damp collar. She heard a few far off gunshots and watched a torn up wagon come around the bend toward her part of the river. Corinne panicked a second but saw the water pull it away from her perch and drag it’s twisted empty shell away. She had hopes for the family that they got out in time and said a prayer for whoever they were.
She was so focused on the wagon that went by that she didn’t hear the nearby voices. She pulled herself from praying and she looked up and saw Clive and Lucas smiling down on her.
"Well, you are a sight to see, my Corinne!" Clive yelled down, his eyes showed fear while his smile tried to chase it away.
Lucas didn’t say a word but helped Clive with some clever rope tying. Twenty minutes of scheming with the ropes around a nearby tree and using leverage and a few loops they had Corinne on the dry land. Filthy, damp, bruised but sound, and she rode back doubled up with Clive holding on to her protectively like her father had as a child.
Chelsea had grief written across her face as Corinne and the men arrived. Russell was trying to keep her calm but failed. She had tearstains on her cheeks. She ran to Corinne like a sister and held her close for two solid minutes.
"I just don't want to lose you, Cori!" Chelsea was emotional but Corinne didn’t care. She would be just as upset if anything happened to Chelsea. Her heart was still sore from her experience with Angela. She missed Angela every day and now Corinne became very protective of those she loved.
She asked Chelsea to help her get changed and with shaky legs and hands she climbed into the wagon. Chelsea helped her with the damp fabric and all the buttons. Corinne could feel some muscles tighten up and thought she might have been banged up more than she realized. She could still hear the roar of the water in her head and let out a shaky breath. She let herself feel afraid, finally. She allowed herself the luxury of crying with her friend Chelsea as they peeled her out of her wet things. Once her hair was brushed and she was dressed in a warm cotton frock she exited and saw the men watching for her across the camp.
They all fussed over Corinne's scratches on her forehead. She pushed their prodding fingers away and claimed she was fine. This day had started hard enough without them worrying over a trifle scratch and a few bruises. She knew others were having difficulty on the rough and tumble Snake River and she didn’t want the unnecessary attention.
Within hours, several more accidents claimed more lives and wagons. Hasty funerals were done and Corinne's crew and the Grants attended quietly, they were all thinking about Corinne's close call today. It could have gone so much worse.
Mr. Walters called the adults together and they discussed the next stretch and the routes they would be taking. Everyone was warned again to lighten heavy loads.
The Blue Mountains were ahead; no one wanted to face the reality of last year’s tragedy that happened with the famous Donner party to be repeated. Everyone read in the newspapers about those people getting trapped in the snowy mountains and the unspeakable deaths and actions that warned those who were ill prepared and unwise.
The mood was somber as they headed through another area of alkali water. There were rivers and then there were none. The weather was mostly fair as they headed toward Powder River. The road was difficult and everyone felt the incline. The wagons were stretched out and they camped on the incline, it was a poor place to camp with shoulder height sagebrush and with little grass, the animals protested.
The early morning brought relief as they rolled out and ground their wheels against the tough incline hacking through sagebrush and choking on the loose soil flying through the air.
They all kept their eyes to the top, as they could barely see the end of the incline they climbed for four long grueling days up Burnt River Hill. The weary animals were given a rest on the fourth evening. Tempers where high, there was no relief from the lack of water and campsites were barely functional. The next morning dawned with petty arguments and harsh words. The wagon boss had to remind everyone who was the law and several men were warned to shape up or be left behind.
Four more hours of hacking through sagebrush brought them to their sanctuary. The lush green Baker Valley lay before them. Powder River spread out before them and a lush green forest gave them a hint of the fertile land that soon would be called home.
* * * * *
Hope fluttered in Corinne's heart when the mist cleared after the morning sun brought the warmth of the day; Blue Mountains peaked their heads up in the distance, a promise, full of dreams and beyond were green grass and valleys. The wagons ground to a halt and everyone took a moment to enjoy the view. They were so close to their promised land. Jimmy and Joe in the way of twins began singing a song together at the same moment. Corinne was always amazed how well they worked together.
Corinne rode Clover while listening to the Blake brothers sing, Clover handled the terrain well but Corrine was still sore from her adventure on Snake River, mostly in her back. All the twisting underwater had pinched and pulled her muscles a bit and the horse riding and walking was not the most restful way to heal. Corinne would never complain but she was quick to be in her wagon in the evenings. She hummed along with the Baker boys to distract herself from the stiff muscles. She escaped into her head for hours, plotting and scheming about fields, herbs, and all she wanted to accomplish. She wondered every other second if a woman could ever be considered a sound business person. She spent too many thoughts between doubting herself and then dreaming of sharing her goals. It filled the many long days in the saddle. Corinne felt her heart bursting with the desire to see her father and share her heart with him after three years of being alone. For now her goal was survival, the mountains could not hold her back. I have too much to live for. Corinne said to herself.
The terrain suddenly changed with green lush grass available and the draft animals were allowed the freedom to graze as they rested near the river that day. Spirits were refreshed and stocks of fresh meat restored as elk and hare were shot for supper. The young children went into the forest with their mothers and bags of mushrooms and wild berries were gathered. Suddenly the world was new again. This was the start of the promise of the West for them. They could suddenly see a future in this wild land. Corinne could see hers too.
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty-One
Sept 9 1848
After two days of rest the train rolled ahead. They kept close to Powder River and crossed it the next morning. They crossed another fork again the next day. The terrain was tougher to negotiate but the water and wood supplies were high. Repairs made to wheels and wagons kept every man and ox handler busy. Wheels soaked and spares used were a common sight. Corinne was so glad for her crew and realized daily how lost she would be without them. Everyone was happy to be moving forward; even if the trail led to hardship they could face it. They had seen the worst, and they had survived.
* * * * *
A few days of rain, rough terrain and illness began to increase. Corinne spent her day backtracking with wagons that were stopped, tending to the fevers and chills of several outfits. Some kind of fever was taking hold of families. Headaches and sweaty, clammy skin were the main complaints. Feverfew tea helped and Corinne gave fresh water liberally to those infected. The sun during the day was warm but the nights were bitterly cold. Wet cold drizzle lingering some days caused the fever to keep more than twenty people moving slowly. Corinne used her last supplies of herbs and teas and Cookie and Chelsea were kept busy making broth with others to aid the sufferers. Corinne confided with Clive and so
me of the older women on the train to find ways to stop this fever. With the combined efforts of everyone digging through their wagons more feverfew and other helpful teas were found. Everyone survived and they kept moving through the rugged terrain, sick or well.
The hills were steep and a few animals succumbed to exhaustion while in the yoke, dying where they had taken their last step. The roads were chosen to get the wagons safely through the mountainous terrain. Every strong man spent his days either forcing the animals forward or blazing the trail. They moved rocks and branches using ropes and pulleys when necessary to get the wagons through. Broken limbs and pulled muscles became more common.
A heavy frost was seen several mornings and everyone began the day with warmer gear, only to be shrugged off after a tiresome day of travel. The rain and hail were brutal and Corinne spent the evening after the worst hailstorm, patching up those who had cuts from the pea-sized hail that had poured down on their heads.
The Blue Mountain crossing area had plenty of firewood, if you could find it dry after the consistent cold rain that fell nearly every day. The Cayuse Indians nearby had fresh salmon, peas, and potatoes they would sell or trade. They followed along and were quite companionable. They built ferries for the large rivers and streams and charged reasonable prices to help the train across. The ferries made everyone's lives easier. The occasional ferry tipped but the loss was not great on the last half of the journey.
These days in the Blue Mountains were ones of struggle and adapting to the environment. Trees needed to be cleared and rocks moved, if small enough, or a better way around was found. They progressed favorably and made it safely to the Umatilla River without any person dying on the mountainous terrain. Corinne had Jim and Joe replace several head of oxen with some local Indian traders. A few had died and two more were doing poorly. Corinne had concerns that they would be left behind as other groups had when their animals could go no further. Finding a good trade at the right time was important. Corinne was grateful to the animals that had taken them so far. She knew it was silly but she thanked the animals with a pat on the rump before they were traded.
Corinne pushed all thoughts out of her head this week but survival. She kept her dreams in her pocket for another day, she told herself to focus on the moment and pushed the wishes of her heart to the side. She and Lucas regarded each other as friends and nothing more. When she fell into Snake River he lingered close to her for several days but Corinne kept him at a distance. There was no need to pine for a man who was taken. Her goal was survival. She laughed whenever a romantic thought fell into her head. Her hair was dirtier than it had ever been. Her clothes were like rags, tattered and stained, she had been months without even looking in a mirror. The bugs during the summer months had surely eaten away any skin she had long ago. Now was not a time for romance. She had other problems to face right now.
Food stocks were running low. Corinne, along with four grown men to feed, was grateful that she had set aside money for purchasing food from the Indians. They only had a few more days’ supply of coffee. Though she knew there were some people in the train who would gladly trade coffee for money she would probably help them out to get them some needed paper money. The wagon train was good at notifying everyone of each other’s business. There were several families who had run out of funds, and they all knew which families were struggling. They did not leave gossip behind, like any good sin, a wicked tongue easily traveled.
They had been on the road traveling together for more than five months. Everyone could feel the anticipation. Every mile they traveled was counted in their hearts. As they crossed rivers they sensed the nearness of the end. The lush valleys they camped in reminded them why they had come to be in this beautiful land and begin a fresh start.
Corinne also longed for the fresh start to begin; this nomadic lifestyle had worn as thin as her clothes. She looked around her at these people as they struggled along the rocky roads and chopping through trees and thorns to get their families through. This was almost over.
At Four Mile Canyon the view of Mount Hood to the West was truly magnificent. The white tipped peak reached the top of the sky, reminding and warning them of the last barrier before they arrived at their new homeland. Clive had sent a few scouts ahead to tell the town of their arrival. They would also inform them of any obstacles on the path when they returned. The new scouts had learned their job well and everyone was grateful for all the work they had done to keep them moving, as well as the hunting they had done to provide the necessary meat to keep their strength up.
* * * * *
Mr. Walters called the group together. Decisions had to be made. There was a fork in the road ahead and each wagon outfit had to decide who would move in which direction. The decision was not an easy one.
Most were planning on taking the new southern road around Mount Hood instead of the Dalles Rapids river trip. No one who had survived this trip wanted to watch another family member die in a water crossing, if it wasn’t necessary. Every year several people drown in the rapids while trying to cross. Though it would be a few days slower, taking a safer option was a blessing to most of the travelers.
Corinne had a meeting with her crew the evening they camped on the John Day River. They discussed, at length, the option of The Dalles and the new Barlow Road. Everyone agreed that the road was the better option. The grueling temptation was to take the quicker choice, a day or two verses a week of a rough mountain pass. It wasn’t worth more loss of life. But the mountains passes they had just survived were fresh in their memory. The Blake brothers, Cookie and Reggie all had an equal say and unanimously voted to go the Barlow road. Corinne passed along the information to the wagon boss and they spent the evening preparing the wagons for the days ahead. Wheels soaked and axel repaired. Chelsea came by to tell Corinne that their outfit was doing the same route.
Their friendship had blossomed on this long journey together. Corinne thought of her as the perfect example of a strong woman, Chelsea’s relationship with Russell gave her a lot of positive visions of a good marriage, and she could not help but look to Russell's brother and wonder if he would make as good a husband.
The next morning they crossed the John Day River and followed the map toward the next river crossing in two days travel. The scenery was breathtaking as rock and river competed with the peaks that created walls to the north and south of them.
Scouts and maps showed the way through that was safest and they pushed their animals and bodies through more days of climbing hills. Then fighting inertia on the way down challenged them. When the way got treacherous they would get out the ropes and chains and ease stubborn animals and wagons down slowly. Muscles and tempers were tested often, again.
A cold rain started in the afternoon and continued during the night. There was no dry firewood so most went to their beds with little or no supper. The next morning dawned with some Walla Walla Indians nearby who sold dry firewood and fresh meat. Everyone ate a hearty breakfast and the wagons rolled out. They made good time with food in their bellies and the oxen and horses did well too with plenty of plant life to graze on.
They reached the Dechutes River; the Walla Walla Indians followed them and offered to help. They found a low point and easier crossing ground for the wagons and animals. The current was strong and the rocks gave more than one wagon trouble.
The sight of the Columbia River nearby reminded them of the choice they all had to make in one days travel. The Dalles were ahead!
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty-Two
Sept 18 1848
The wagons rolled out with frost on the ground. The sky above was overcast and the train members smelled more rain in the air. They wanted to get in as many miles today as possible before the rains hit. By noon the wind and the rain left everyone soaked and cold, the gusty wind helped the situation cross over into miserable. Animals pushed against the wind and the miles were hard-won. By mid-afternoon the dark sky opened and suddenly the sun b
urst through as they came upon the fork in the road.
The Dalles stood straight ahead and the great Columbia River was showing all her glory. Only five wagons stayed put deciding to camp there and ferry their way to Oregon City.
With determined hearts the remaining travelers turned south to get a few more miles of road behind them before camping for the night. Mount Hood was the next obstacle and they all watched her throughout the evening. They stopped to camp that night and Corinne noticed everyone was quiet. There were no more words to say, bodies were bone weary and thin. There was no more gossip or fun to be had until they reached their destination. The goal was within their grasp. Just a few more days. Just a few more days...
* * * * *
Corinne spent the early morning with Cookie preparing biscuits for many families that were struggling without food stocks. There was a growing rise of tempers of some who had food, complaining about those who had run out. Some families chose to suffer in silence and others were very vocal about expecting help from others. Corinne knew they had plenty and had rationed carefully with the help of Cookie and Reggie and they had taken turns through the night with the sheet iron cook stove preparing food for those without. She would not get involved with any of the talk; instead she began to take action. She recruited Chelsea and Brody and had a few Grant tagalongs passing out biscuits and bacon bits and potatoes. Corinne realized after nearly a hundred hugs she had made a few life-long friends. People could be angry all they wanted; she preferred a good deed done instead of always having to express opinions. It was the way she was raised.