The characters and events in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real people is purely co-incidental. The following story may contain sexual or reference to sexual situations. If this is illegal in your area, you are underage or you find it objectionable, do not read any farther and exit now!
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Headed West
Chapter One
Typhoid fever wiped out about 80% of those living in my valley. Those that were left were selling out and moving. Their losses were just overpowering and they wanted to find a new place and start a new life. I am one of them.
I am 20 years of age and lost all my kinfolk include my grandparents, parents along with five brothers and sisters. I also lost my all aunts, uncles, and my cousins. I was the only survivor, so a judge gave all of their farms, livestock, money, and all their personal belongings to me., even though, I was not 21. Everything that they had now belongs to me.
As a result, I now own 8 farms, a mercantile store, a hotel, and a blacksmith shop. I decided to sell out completely and go to Oregon. I took the stage back east and placed ads in the local newspapers along the way and all over east coast and all communities and cities in between... I headed home, taking a different route and placing more ads I sent telegrams to places all up and down the seaboard. Now all I had to do was play the waiting game and hopefully find buyers for my holdings.
Letters and telegrams from people started arriving saying that they were coming to see my property that I had for sale. Much to my surprise, I sold everything that I owned and for a good price. I started turning away prospective buyers but sent them to my neighbors that I knew were interested in selling.
My next door neighbors, a young woman, Laura, my age and her 10 year old brother, Jake, were the only survivors of their family. We went before a judge and he made me trustee and I was given legal authority to manage their money and property with no objection from Laura. I managed to sell all their property and financially they had plenty of money.
I now had a large sum of money, in my care. What to do with it was a big question in the back of my mind. I decided to put mine in the bottom of a big barrel and put my Grandparents and parents dishes and other personal items on top of the money. I wrapped the dishes in linens and material that I had taken from mercantile store to protect them from breakage. I nailed the lid shut. I was the only one who knew what was in the barrel. I put the money that belonged to Laura and Jake inside and on the bottom of the organ that belonged to my grandmother. Fortunately, there was enough room in the bottom, so the money would not interfere with the its function.
Now all we had to do was prepare to head west. Laura and her brother Jake decided to go to Oregon with me. We were going to take only personal items, households wares and heirlooms. We would buy all the farm equipment , furniture, and other things we would need after we got to Oregon.
Much to our surprise, we found that we had enough to fill three wagons. What to do now. One thing for certain nothing was going to be left behind. This was all we had to remember our lost loved ones. We considered Laura, Jake and I, each driving a wagon but decided that this wasn't a good idea. Jake and Laura could take turns driving one wagon. I could drive one and we would get someone to drive the third wagon.
We found a middle aged couple, Sam and Lisa Norton, with no children to drive one wagon. They had been share croppers, had no money and had lost everything in a house fire. They jumped at the chance to go with us, after we told them all expenses would be paid. They even refused a salary. We even found another young man, Ralph, to drive the wagon for Laura and Jake. He had lost all his loved ones as well.
It seemed like the whole community was leaving. Most of the people felt that they lost to much to much to remain. They wanted to start a new life somewhere else.. California would receive a large percentage of those leaving. Some even wanted to go to Canada. Several wanted to go to Texas. Many had no idea where they wanted to go and would just travel until they found a place to their liking.
Finally, we were on our way to St. Louis, where we would hook up with a wagon train head west.
We arrived in St. Louis and found a small wagon train that would be leaving in a week. We decided to camp with them until we all left for Oregon. Fortunately, the train was going to the Willamette Valley and we could stay with the train all the way.
On the second day of our stay, a young woman arrived in camp. She had no wagon and had two horses. One she rode and the other was a pack animal for her meager belongings. She told the wagon master that she had no money and no supplies. She said that she would be willing to work ,cook, drive a wagon, and do any thing to pay her way. No one in the train was willing to take her. The wagon master brought her to my wagon and introduced Mary Ann to me. He explained the situation and asked if I would be able to take her with me. I agree to let her come along with my little group. She could sleep in my wagon because I would be sleeping out side with Ralph and Jake.
Mary Ann was a very good looking girl and had a very shapely body. She may have been 5 foot 6 inches maybe 7. If she weighed 130 pounds, it had to be soaking wet. I am sure that she would have no problem getting a man.
Mrs. Norton, Laura, Mary Ann and I decided to go into town and get some supplies and re-stock our wagon for out trip. Also, I needed to get more supplies for the Mary Ann.. She would also need more clothes and some bedding.I am glad the Mrs. Norton and Laura were with me to help with the selection of things for Mary Ann. She kept saying, "I can get along without this and that.
It would be a few days before we left.. I found out that Mary Ann was an orphan and had been living with a grumpy old aunt, who used her as a slave. She had taken all she could stand and took out on her own. Any kind of life would be better than what she was leaving behind.The last night before we would leave in the morning, a small group of men from town arrived in camp. It was easy to see that they had been drinking and had one thing on their mind-women. Of them grabbed Mary Ann and started kissing her. She kick him with all her might in his crotch and slapped his face. She ran to the wagon a grabbed a double barrel shotgun and returned to the man still bent double in howling with pain. "Mister, if you don't want me shoot you where I kicked you, you had better get the rest of the men and leave. Last warning!"
Guns, of all kinds, appeared from nowhere. The men quickly saddled their horses and left. We knew they would not be returning.
"Mary Ann, where did you learn to fight like that?
"Charley, I have lived by myself for 6 months now. I knew that I had to get tough or die. There was a saloon girl and her boyfriend who took me in and taught me the tricks of the trade and how to protect myself. I have had to use my defense skills four times now. I have a derringer which I keep tucked in my skirt pocket. I hope that I never have to use it but will if I have to!"
"I have learned one thing, Never make you mad!"
"Relax, I would never shoot you in your manhood. I might kick you but never shoot you."
"I am glad because I am rather attached to what I have and I am rather proud of it and would hate to have any happen to it." I said laughing.
"Let me see what you are so proud of!"
"Not going to happen! You know it is not proper for a young man and woman to even be talking like this.""You will find out that I am not all that prim and proper. You will probably discover a lot of not so proper things about me."
"Mary Ann, I am not going to question you. You private life is just that `Private' and will remain that way, unless you voluntarily tell me. You will never be forced to give out any secrets. We all have secrets of our own!" I had a feeling that we will get along just fine."
St. Louis was behind us. We came upon a another small train, which had ten wagons. We decided to join forces and join the two trains together. Our wagon master would be our leader. The other wagon master did not have any experience in leading a wagon train.
The wagon train snaked it way from Independence to Fort Kearney in Nebraska. We made plans to stay several days buying supplies and just resting because the next stretch which would be a little tougher and more wearing.
A very sever storm blew in and all the rivers and creeks began flooding. All the land became one big mud flat. Our start would be extended for a little longer that we had planned. We would have to wait until the swollen rivers and creeks went down and the mud dried before we could move on down the trail.
Laura and Ralph were making plans to get married at the Fort. There was a minister at the fort who could marry them. Excitement was going through the train like a wild fire. Arrangements were made. All the members of the wagon train and everyone at the fort attended the wedding ceremony. The fort became alive and, we all had a big celebration and feast.
The minister and the storekeeper told people in the train about three farms/ranches that where available about 10 miles north of the fort. The owners, three brothers, had inherited some large farms back east and wanted take their families and to go back to their home community. Of course, Mary Ann, The Nortons and myself wanted to go to look the area over. Several others joined us.
I had a feeling that they would be staying, so I went to the organ and put Laura's money in my saddle bags to take with me.
The group with Laura fell in love with the area. The creek running through the farms did not flood, this really impressed everyone. After touring the places for sale, Laura and Ralph meet with the three owners and started talking business. I sat in on the meeting since I was still listed as Laura's guardian. However, I had previously told Laura I would support any decisions she made.
The owners offered all 3 places as one big package which would include all the houses, furniture, farm equipment, and livestock. The farms had crops that were just about ready to harvest. All Laura and Ralph would have to do was move in.
Laura looked at me and asked, "Charley, What do you think and do Jake and I have enough money to swing this deal?"
"I think the price is right. But do you really want that much land. I know you can take one place and sell the other two. After our tour today. I really like the farms. Money is no problem and you should have plenty left over."
"Charley, I was thinking about asking the Nortons and their friends, the Jordons if they would each like one of the farms. They have been like family to Jake and me and I want to repay them for all love and kindness they have extend to us."
She turned and didn't have to say anything. Both couples had tears and were shaking their heads yes. Laura asked them why they were crying.
Mrs. Norton replied, "John and I never had any children of our own. We consider you, Ralph and Jake as our children. Just think we are getting a family and a farm thrown in as bonus. Of course we will accept your offer. These are just tears of happiness!"
"Lisa and I are old enough to be your grandparents. We don't have any grandchildren. We will gladly adopt you. We have a little money and would like to give it to you. It won't pay for our place but will pay it off a little at a time. We would pay it off a little at a time as we get money."
"That won't be necessary. All our money came from our family. Jake and I lost our entire family to typhoid fever. There is enough to last us a very long time. I hope that the four of you will accept our offer because it comes from the heart."
"Child, I know that it does and it makes us proud to know you care that much for us. Of course we accept!""Laura, since you are buying all three farms, which one would you like for your own?"
"Charley, you would ask something like that. I think this one. The other two houses are less that ½ mile away.""Good choice, when we bought this land, we decided to build the houses on the edge of each property instead of in the center or on the opposite sides. We wanted the houses to be close together." said one of the owners. "Each place has the same amount of acreage, machinery, furnishing and livestock."
"This will be cash deal. Where would we have to go to make the transfer. All of this will have to be done before I leave with the wagon train. I have guardianship for Laura and Jake and have all the paper work so I can complete the transaction."
"Not a problem, all of this can be taken care of at the fort. There is an government office there that takes care of the real estate transfers. All the land around the fort was open to homesteads. Our three farms were obtained from the government and therefore, one of the reasons that we could make such a good deal and still make a profit. We'll meet you at the fort in the morning for the transfer."
"Good! I think we should be on our way, so we can make the fort before dark."
Early the next morning, the Jordons, the Nortons, and Laura and Ralph were given deeds and a bill of sale for everything that would be left on the farms.
"When can the new owners expect to move in?" I asked.
The spokesman for the three brothers replied, "Today, if they so desire. We have our wagons all loaded and ready to roll. In fact we will be gone just as soon as we return to get our wagons."
"Charlie, what are you going to do for a driver since we won't be going on?" asked Lisa Norton.
"I will have to ask around the fort and see if I can find someone interested in being my driver."
"There is a couple just about two miles from the fort that may be interested in driving for you. I know that they are down on their luck and are at the point of not knowing what their future holds. See that kid over there by the store, he is 19 and their son. He can take you out to their place. I know he can drive a team because he has worked for me doing that before. You want that I should call him over and introduce you?" said Rex, one of the previous owners.
"You bet! Thanks a lot. I certainly hope this solves my problem."
"Hey, Jimmy! Come over here, I have a man I would like to have you meet," called Rex.