Clay by Ana Leigh Read Free Book Online Page B

more?” He grinned at Rebecca. “You made a pretty good buy here, Miz Becky.”
    Before she could reply, Clay said, “No doubt. Speaking from experience, the lady looks out for herself. The poor couple from Michigan probably came out on the short end of the bargain.”
    Rebecca gritted her teeth. Oh, the man was deplorable! But if she responded, it would only encourage him to be more disagreeable.
    “Mr. Scott has called a ten o’clock meeting for those of us leaving with the train,” Clay said. “We’d better get going or we’ll be late.”
    Garth nodded. “As soon as that’s over, I’ll work on that axle, and you and Becky can round up the supplies.”
    By the time they arrived, the warehouse was filled. They managed to squeeze inside just as Scott climbed up on a makeshift podium and held up a form.
    “I think I’ve met each of you personally, but I want the head of each family to sign this form, on which you swear that you will abide by my orders and decisions. Get a copy from Jim Peterson, sitting over there at that table, and hand it back to him after you sign it. The moment we depart, I, and I alone, will be the only one to issue orders. I know there are some former Union and Confederate officers among you men, but think of me as your commanding general now, gentlemen—because your days of issuing orders are over for as long as it takes us to get to California. And while we’re on that subject, let me remind all of you that the war is over. Whatever your past grievances, you leave them behind when we pull out of here. As of tomorrow, we are a united unit, and cooperation and goodwill toward one another is the only chance we have of reaching our destination. Anyone who’s not willing to accept this should not join us, because I will not tolerate any violation of this order. You will be ejected at once from the train and not permitted to return. And if anyone commits a crime, the punishment will be as severe as the law would dole out. I will not jeopardize the safety of those in my charge. Does anyone have any questions or problems with what I just said?”
    “Mr. Scott, if something happens to you, who’s in charge?” one of the men asked.
    “Jim Peterson. Jim and I have made three trips together, and he knows the route as well as I. As does our scout, Joseph Hawkins here,” Scott said, nodding toward the man standing a few steps behind him on the podium. “He doesn’t answer to anything but Hawk.”
    Hawk was the personification of how Rebecca anticipated a western scout would appear. Clad in buckskins, he was lean and grizzled, his face leathery and windburned from long hours spent in the outdoors.
    “They are both good men and can answer any question you might have once we’re underway,” Scott continued. “But I’ll warn you in advance that Hawk here isn’t too talkative, so don’t expect any long answers.”
    “What hostiles will we encounter, Mr. Scott?” a man near the rear yelled out.
    “You talking about human ones or nature’s?” Scott asked. “I doubt any Indians or bushwhackers will take on a train this size. But size doesn’t mean a hill of beans to Ole Mother Nature. Between here and California you’ll have to cope with lightning and rain, drought, cold, mountains, desert, and maybe even snow. As for Indians, there’s the possibility of Cheyenne, Pawnee, Sioux, and Ute. Any of them can be trouble if provoked, but in most cases they’ll leave us alone. Don’t go looking for trouble; it’ll find you soon enough.
    “Once we’re under way, I’ll draw up a schedule. Every man will be expected to stand night guard unless his wife gets sick. And that’s another thing, folks. I can tell you right now, disease and accidents will claim some of you: Not everyone will make it to California.”
    Another question came from the crowd. “Mr. Scott, how do we dress?”
    “It’ll probably be warm between here and Fort Laramie, but from there on, you’ll need warm