Spirit Pouch (32 page)

"The resurrection is when your body and your spirit come together again.  Right now Joseph's body is in Willow Springs.  At the time of the resurrection he will get it back.  The resurrection is a gift from Jesus Christ."

"He might have to wait a long time," George says.  "It could be a hundred years!"

Or more
, I think to my self.

"Does he get to do anything else besides wait?" Annie asks hopefully.

"Ooh!  I know," I say loudly as I stop walking.  The horse and wagon slow to a stop, also.  Henry looks at me and smiles.

"He will be taught about Jesus Christ and be taught the gospel.  Things like faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy ghost.  He will probably learn about the atonement and the resurrection.  After he learns all that, he will be asked to go teach the gospel to others who have not had a chance to learn about Jesus Christ.  He will be a missionary."

"Where … ?"

I could see doubt in Henry's eyes and I knew what he was about to ask, so I added, "I read that in the scriptures, somewhere.  I think it's in First Peter, chapter three and four." 
I learned about the spirit world in seminary,
I think to myself.

"That sounds way better than just sitting around waiting," George says.

I start the horse going again and we mostly walk in silence.  I am thinking about the spirit world and Joseph, and I'm sure the others are, too.

We stop for lunch where there is water for the horse and oxen and some small trees for shade, then we get back on the trail.

"There should be a good place to camp in about two miles," Henry says as we walk.  "We need to get to the Big Laramie River Stage Station by July 23rd.  That is when the freight wagons are scheduled to be there."

Henry does not say more, but I know the unspoken reasons for the urgency in his voice.  Thomas doesn't know that Joseph died.  Would they be able to meet Thomas at the Stage Station so Henry could talk to him about Joseph?  And Henry is worried about Indians.  Would they attack a small family with only two wagons?  Henry is not the only one worried.  I am worried about Indians, too.  I like them much better when they are on television and the cowboys always win.

"Where did you learn all that stuff about the spirit world?" Ty asks quietly when he sees that I am alone.

"Seminary," I answer.  "That doctrine is in the New Testament and some of the other scriptures."

"Don't you find it fascinating that after this life we will actually continue to live?  I mean with our resurrected bodies and everything?"

"Yes, I guess so," I say.  I think to myself,
I have known this point of doctrine for so long that it just seems natural to me, and does not seem particularly fascinating.
  "What I really find fascinating is that families can be together forever."  I start to hum the primary song and Ty glares at me with eyes that yell, "Don't alter the time continuum."

"Families can be together forever?" William repeats as he walks up behind Ty.  He has been listening from a short distance away.

"Absolutely," I say.  "You can see Joseph again and be with him as a family.  That's God's plan."

"I have always thought that heaven should be that way.  I'm glad to know that I will see Joseph again.  I miss him a lot."

We get to our camping spot and unload for the night.

We travel quite often now.  Not Sundays, of course, and we spend several days in camp to wash clothes and take baths and to hunt for meat.  We need to stock up on meat because hunting might be difficult while traveling with the freight wagons.

We pass another stagecoach, and the driver warns us about Indians.  "Not the Ute Indians," the driver says.  "These are Sioux.  I saw them with my own eyes.  Faces streaked with paint.  Feathers brandished on their heads.  They are painted for war, all right."

"Thank you for the information," Henry says.

"Did you have any trouble around Virginia Dale?  There are robbers in those hills, you know.  It's just not safe."

"No.  We went through that area pretty fast."

"Well, you have a safe trip," the stage driver says climbing up into his spring cushioned seat.

"Thank you," Henry says again.  "You have a safe journey, too."

The  stage driver snaps his whip and the horses lean into their harness.  I watch until the stage turns the corner and goes out of sight.

"Do you think he is right, Father?" William asks, trying to sound brave.

"I think most of what he says is gossip.  Nevertheless, keep a sharp eye open.  No sense stepping into trouble when we can avoid it."

"Yes, Father."

"We need to travel with the freight wagons.  That's why it seems urgent to me to get to the Big Laramie River.  When we catch up with the wagon train we will be more safe."

* * *

I
am lost in my own thoughts when Ty catches up and walks beside me.  "Everyone is so quiet," he says.  "No one has said more than a couple of words in the last two miles.  Are you as concerned about the Sioux as Henry is?" he asks me quietly.

"Of course I am worried about Sioux Indians," I say.  "Who wouldn't be?" But in my heart I feel that the real reason we are traveling so much is to distance ourselves from the pain and heartache back at Willow Springs.  No one speaks much of Joseph because the wound is still fresh.  It hurts so deep inside that sometimes I clutch my chest. "But, you know, I miss Joseph so much that it hurts. So, it just seems better not to speak of him, I guess."

"Tutankhamun said −,"

"Who?  What?" I tilt my head and squint at Ty, and I wonder if he is making up the name.

"King Tut said, or actually, it was found written on his tomb that 'To speak the name of the dead is to make them live again, and restores the breath of life to him who has vanished'."

Monday, July 23

My feet ache and my whole body is weary when we finally arrive at the Big Laramie River.  Personally, I don't think the Big Laramie River is all that big.  It is nothing like the Snake River in Idaho, and smaller than the Green River in Southern Utah.  It seems about like the Gila River in Arizona.

"Let's move up river a bit, boys," Henry calls.  "Let's find a good camp before dark."

Walking a little further is the last thing that I want to do, but the sun is low in the sky, hugging the horizon in a big red ball, so we set out looking for a suitable camp near water and grazing pasture for the animals.

"Did you see all the commotion back there at the freight wagons?" William  says.

"Yes," I answer.  It seems like they would be more organized."

"I know.  Maybe we can talk Pa into going to the wagons tonight and see what is happening."

Not too far from the freight wagons we find the perfect spot and soon have camp set up.  Elizabeth, Annie and Grandmother Brettle are busy preparing dinner and the animals are hobbled near the water and grass.

"Someone is coming," George says, pointing down river toward the stage station.

I follow his gaze through the brush and trees to see two men on foot walking toward us.

"Thomas?" Elizabeth cries, dropping her spoon in the pot and running to greet him with a huge hug.

"Mother.  I thought that was you.  I saw the wagons pull by our camp."

"Come on over.  I'll have some dinner ready soon.  You and −" her eyes shifted to the young man who was standing by Thomas.

"Caden O'Neal, ma'am."  He nods his head politely.

"Caden, please join us, also," Elizabeth says.

"Thank you, ma'am," Caden says.  But me and some of the boys are going over to the stage station tonight, but thank you kindly."

"Mother, I will be back soon.  We are on assignment to scout the river for a place to ford her, and we only have a few minutes left before dark."

"Come back soon and we will have dinner ready."  She waves as the two boys head up river.

I hear Elizabeth humming as she returns to the fire.

In a few minutes I see Thomas and Caden returning and this time Henry goes to greet them.  I watch as Caden shakes Henry's hand and then walks away.  Henry and Thomas talk for a minute more and I know what is being said.  Thomas looks surprised and shocked, then hugs his father for a long time.  Finally they turn and walk back into camp, Henry's arm around Thomas, tears in both of their eyes.

"Thomas!" William and George exclaim almost simultaneously.

"It sure is good to see you all," he says.

"Everyone sit down.  I'm serving dinner right now," Elizabeth interrupts.

Henry offers the blessing on the food and the evening prayer, thanking God that Thomas is well and safe.

Elizabeth and Annie serve stew and a biscuit.

"So what's all the commotion in the freight camp?" Henry asks.

"Well, apparently there is a bridge over the river near the Laramie Stage Station," Thomas says.

"That's good, isn't it?"

"Yes and no.  The bridge is a good idea," Thomas says, "but the bridge is a toll bridge."

"How much is the toll to cross?" Henry asks.

"That's just it.  The wagon master and the toll man got into a dispute about the price to cross.  He is asking for two dollars for each wagon.  The wagon master will never pay that.  It's too much."

"I agree.  It is a lot to ask," Henry says taking a bite of stew.  "So, what's his plan?  What is he going to do?"

"We are already scouting for a suitable crossing.  He plans to ford the river.  We are repositioning the supplies in the wagons so they don't get wet.  We will cross in the morning."

"Okay.  We'll be ready to move out in the morning, too, then."

Thomas finishes eating and Elizabeth picks up his bowl and spoon.

"Thanks, Mother," Thomas says.  "It was delicious as always."

I look at Ty and mouth the word 'sycophantic'.  Ty smiles.

"Thank you, Thomas.  Can you stay and visit for a while?"

"No.  Not tonight, Mother.  We have to get the wagons ready to ford the river tomorrow."

"Well, you be careful, Tom.  It can be dangerous crossing even a small river.  Wagons can tip over or slide in the water.  You be careful."

"I will, Mother.  And you, too."

"We will," she says.  "Come by for dinner tomorrow if you can."

"Thanks, Mother.  Love you."

Thomas says goodbye to each of us, which takes a few minutes, and then disappears into the low brush and tall trees toward his camp.

William watches Thomas until he is gone into the waning twilight.  "It would be fun to drive a freight wagon, don't you think?" he says wistfully.

"I think it would be just like what you and I have already been doing for the last month," I say.

"Yeah, I guess you're right.  It's not going to be glamorous, and you wouldn't get Mother's cooking."

We both chuckle, then relax by the fire.  I can tell just how tired I am as my body relaxes and I close my eyes for a moment.  I'm feeling pretty good. A warm fire, glowing orange in the dark, crackling occasionally and shooting a spark into the black night air.  Crickets chirp close by, and an owl hoots not too far away.  Yes, it's pretty relaxing right up until I hear Annie whine.

"I always have to help with the dishes," she says.

"That's right.  It's you and Grandmother for a few minutes."

"Ah, Mother?"

It is really hard to relax by the fire when I feel so guilty. 
Annie really does do a lot of dishes,
I think to myself. 
At least at home I take a turn doing dishes.  Here Elizabeth will not let the men wash them at all.  She says the men will break them.  She has a point.

With my eyes closed I hear Elizabeth walk over and sit by Henry.

"Henry," she says softly.  It is such a quiet calm night I can hear her quite well.

"Yes," Henry answers.

"Tomorrow I want you to pay the toll man so we can cross over the bridge."

"Really?  Why?"

"Because I don't want our belongings to get soaking wet.  I don't want our wagons to tip over.  Mostly I do not want any of us to get hurt crossing the river.  We can afford four dollars."

"I don't mind the extra work it would take to ford the river," Henry says.  "And we have four strong boys to help."

"My mind is made up," Elizabeth says firmly.

"Well, less work.  Less worry.  Everything stays dry.  You drive a hard bargain, but okay."

"Thanks," she says quietly.  Then I'm sure I hear the faint smack of a kiss.  Not that I would know about that from personal experience, of course.  I smile to myself.  I smile again as I hear Elizabeth humming as she returns to the dishes.

"Well," William says standing up and stretching.  "It's been a long, hard day and it sounds like we are going to travel tomorrow, so I'm going to bed."

"I'm going, too," Ty says.