|
|
|
|
CHAPTER 4
KANSAS TO ABILENE, 1848 - 1850
Returning to Kansas, he immediately went in search of his parents, who he was sure would know where the Shermans lived - but his parents were no longer there. He went to the Marshal's office, and found out from the records that they had moved further West, some miles south of a little village called Abilene. He decided to take the stage from Kansas to Dallas and ride out the rest of the way himself. Walking pensively alone the sidewalk, planning that he would have to sell his horse and have his saddle carried as baggage on the stage, he was so deep in thought that he did not see the blonde, blue-eyed young woman watching him.
She had seen the tall, dark young man riding about town the day before but had not had the opportunity of seeing him up close. Now, as he strode towards her with a panther-like elegance and bearing, she was almost certain she knew who he was. As he walked past her, his right hand came up to his chin and he rubbed his beard with a pensive gesture. It was then that she noticed the ring on his finger and she gasped with the double certainty of recognition and realisation. She called out his name. "Orville!"
He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. The female voice that had called to him had a slightly foreign accent to it, but he did not recognise the young woman waiting on the sidewalk.
"Don't you recognise me, Orville?" she asked, her blue eyes sparkling.
"I - I'm sorry, ma'am," he said awkwardly, "I'm afraid I don't."
"I'm Susie Sherman, Johan's sister!"
Underneath his tan, Susie could see him go suddenly pale and he swayed, his hand going to the side of his head where the bullet had creased his skull.
"What's the matter, Orville? Are you unwell?"
"I - I'm sorry, Miss Sherman, you gave me - a bit of a shock."
She smiled coquettishly. She decided she liked the sound of his deep voice. She said "How's Johan? The last I heard you and he were thinking about demob. I see you are wearing his ring. Orville, where is Johan?"
Orville looked around quickly, saw two seats on the sidewalk, and led her to them.
"Miss Sherman, I'm afraid I have some bad news. John's dead."
She sat very still for au interminable moment, then Orville saw her blue eyes mist over with tears. "Oh! Oh, no!"
Orville, embarrassed and awkward in female company, did not know what to do, so he did nothing, let her cry. Presently she calmed down and said: "How - how did it happen, Orville?"
As concisely as possible, Orville gave her the details, ending with: "So you see, Miss Sherman, I came to Kansas to find both my parents avid yours to return John's ring to your father."
"My parents went West with yours, Orville. They heard that there were green pastures along the Colorado River, south of Abilene, and they wanted to set up home there. They left a year ago."
"Why did you not go with them, Miss Sherman?"
I - fell in love with a young man, and we were to be married. Unfortunately, we had a - disagreement that made it impossible for me to marry him. I am living with friends at the moment, and I'm saving hard so that I may travel West and rejoin my parents. It is such a long way, though, I could not travel alone..."
"No, of course not. Miss Sherman, I was proposing to take the stagecoach to Dallas and ride on out from there. I have a little extra money which I could put to your travelling expenses, if you would like to accompany me."
Her still-watery eyes lit up with a new hope. "I would very much like to do that, Orville. And please - call me Susie."
---oo0oo---
The stagecoach ride from Kansas to Dallas took an arduous ten days of bone-rattling, dusty time. During the journey Orville, however, found he was enjoying the company of Susie, whom he recalled as being the same age as himself.
For a young girl of seventeen, the stagecoach trip alone was a great adventure, and she discovered she was glad of the company of the tall, dark young man sitting opposite her. She was aware that he was still grieving at the loss of Johan, though, but there was something else burning within his dark eyes that she could not quite understand. Still, she thought, he has a lovely smile ...
She tried hard to lift his mood, and tried to make him laugh. At the beginning her only reward was an unfathomable look, but eventually he relaxed. She had a talent for mimicry and, at the end of the day's ride, they would walk together around the perimeter of the staging post and she would make fun of the other passengers travelling with them. Eventually, she got him to laugh. The night before they reached Dallas, they were outside, looking at the stars. Orville's eyes were constantly drawn to the flickering points of light as he leaned on the corral, Susie standing beside him. Susie turned to him and said "They're beautiful, are they not, Orville?"
"Hm? Oh, the stars. Yeah - for some reason, they have always fascinated me. But they're not the only beautiful things around." he said quietly, turning towards her. His hand reached up and traced the outlines of her face. Then he lifted her chin and gently kissed her. He had never kissed a girl before, so he was somewhat perplexed when she giggled. "What's so funny?".
"Your beard tickles!" she laughed. But I like it - more, please!"
Gaining confidence he obliged, and she responded, pressing her body hard against him. He suddenly felt his body reacting to her and he stopped, surprised, and broke contact. "I - think we had better get indoors." he said, huskily.
"Orville - don't you -like -me?" she asked.
"Of course I like you, I kissed you, didn't I?" he replied quickly.
"Do you - want - me?" she asked, and her blue eyes twinkled as she reached up to rub his chest.
He spun away from her. "No!"
"Why not?" she asked, hurt by his rejection.
"It - wouldn't be right!"
"Oh. Orville, have you ever ..."
"Sure I have!" he replied, full of bravado.
"Well, then ..."
Orville looked around - saw the stables, the barn silhouetted in the moonlight. Everyone else at the staging post had retired for the night. Gently, he took her small hand in his, and they ran together towards the barn.
---oo0oo---
Afterwards, lying side by side in the hay, he said "Where did you learn to make love like that?"
"I did tell you I had been engaged."
"Oh. And you ...?"
"Yes. That was when ... I realised I did not love him."
"I see." Her hand was moving lightly over the hairs on his chest. "But that was your first time, wasn't it?"
"That bad, was I?" he laughed.
"No..." Gradually, her hand moved down his body until what she did made him gasp. Quickly aroused, he grunted and moved to embrace her again, but suddenly stopped, lay back down beside her.
"What's the matter, mein lieb'?" she asked, disappointed.
"It's nuthin', Susie. It's just ... your face ... just for a moment, the way you were lookin' at me... you're so like John."
"Of course I'm like John, silly. I'm his sister. We did look alike."
"I'm sorry, Susie, but I can't ..." and he made to get up. Her hand came out, stopping him. He knelt by her side, looking away.
"Orville, John often talked about you in his letters home during the war. He loved you as a brother, a brother he never had. I am his sister, and I - love - you, too. John would have been happy for us, I know. Please, mein lieb' - love me, now."
For a moment he looked searchingly into her laughing blue eyes and saw only love there. Still he hesitated, until her kisses left him in no doubt whatsoever, and they loved the whole night long.
---oo0oo---
On the stagecoach the next morning, it became quite apparent to the other two passengers - an elderly woman and a cowboy - what had happened between the young man and woman sitting opposite them the night before, but both kept their own counsel as the stage headed towards Dallas.
With eyes only for each other, Orville and Susie were barely conscious of the stage pulling up in the middle of nowhere. The stranger said to the driver: "Howdy! Mind if I get on? My hoss broke a leg backaways an' I had to shoot him. Kin you take me to Dallas?"
"Sure, cowboy, jest git inside."
The cowboy slung his saddle on top of the coach and jumped in. Orville regarded him closely for a moment. The cowboy was a few years older than himself, he reckoned, and there was something about him that was familiar. However, Orville was more concerned with Susie, and he took her hand, gazing into her depthless blue eyes.
The cowboy grinned when he saw them together. "You two married, or jest courtin'?" he asked, conversationally.
Orville favoured him with a dark look, then decided, as they were travelling together, that a little courtesy would go a long way. "Oh, jest courtin'." he replied, and Susie giggled.
"Allow me to introduce myself - name's Jed Catlow!" and he extended his hand towards Orville.
Orville could not hide the shock of realisation and recognition that crossed his features - so much so that Catlow withdrew his offered hand with a puzzled expression on his face. "Do I know you?" he asked quizzically.
Orville remembered that, as far as he knew, Catlow had never actually known his name in Boston, so it did not matter whether he gave his correct name or not - it was so long ago, anyway and he was a man now. He drew a deep breath and replied: "No, no, don't reckon we've ever met - it' s just that you reminded me of someone. Name's Miller - Orville Miller, and this here's Susie Sherman."
"Miss Sherman." acknowledged Catlow, tipping the brim of his Stetson with his finger.
"You both bound for Dallas?" he enquired, conversationally.
A little annoyed at the continued intrusion, Orville sighed, determined not to let his turbulent emotions show, then he replied: "If you must know, Mr Catlow, we're going on to Abilene - our parents are settlers out by the Colorado River."
"Oh? Heard tell that there's been Injun trouble thataways - Apaches."
"Apaches?" Orville's voice as suddenly husky, a knot of fear in his stomach.
"Yeah, been harassin' the settlers - they reckon they're on their sacred ground, ruinin' it with their cattle 'n' things - but the Army's patrollin' the area, keepin' in touch with them. As a matter of fact, I'm headin' out that way, too. You plan ridin' out?"
"We were told there was a stage goin' between Dallas and El Paso that stops off at Abilene." replied Orville patiently.
"Yeah, good idea. Well, reckon we'll be seein' a bit of each other for the next few days." Catlow smiled, looking appreciatively at Susie. Defensively, Orville held her hand tightly.
Catlow, seeing this action, smiled more broadly and said "Awww ... young love - sure is purty, ain't it? You enjoy it while it lasts, is what I say." and he tipped his Stetson over his eyes and promptly fell asleep.
---oo0oo---
On arrival at Dallas, Orville immediately made enquiries about the time of the next stage through Abilene to El Paso. Luckily, it was due out the next morning, so he booked two seats for the trip. Catlow booked a third seat. All that day and through the night, despite enjoying Susie's company to the full, Orville's methodical mind was planning possibilities and opportunities of getting even with his old enemy. He would, he realised, have to make a move when Susie was not around, as any moves of a hostile nature may influence her against him - and he wanted Susie - for always.
The only opportunity arose a day out of Abilene, when the coach went over a large stone, splintering the wheel. The coach lurched to a stop and the passengers piled out to view the damage. The driver spoke to them. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would advise you to stay in the coach unless absolutely necessary while my guard and I put on the spare wheel - the Injuns've been pretty active in this area lately, and they may attack if'n they see the coach broken down."
Both Catlow and Orville decided that, for personal comfort, they would take the opportunity a stop afforded them. They walked a short way to go behind large rocks, out of sight of the ladies in the coach. However, when they reached the rocks, Orville separated from Catlow, ostensibly for privacy. Both men were wearing a hand gun for their protection, so the range was fairly short, and Orville circled quickly around and found the ideal spot, secluded from view of the occupants of the coach, from which to fire the shot.
Just as Orville was about to pull the trigger on the unsuspecting Catlow, an unearthly howling started up. Orville pulled the trigger. Catlow grasped his leg and he went down, just as an Indian arrow zipped over his head and thunked into a tree behind him. Catlow came up shooting and an Indian broke cover and ran away. Mentally cursing, Orville made back, then ran towards Catlow in the direction he should have taken, coming on him as Catlow tried to get up.
"What happened?" Orville asked, in mock concern.
"Bullet - in my leg ..." gasped Catlow. "Just a graze - but I reckon that Injun'd've got me for good otherwise." and he half-smiled, half-grimaced as Orville helped him up, just as the stagecoach guard arrived on the scene. Both of them helped Catlow back to the coach and the guard bandaged the light graze.
"Who fired the shot?" asked the driver.
"Reckon there must've been two injuns that wanted to see me dead - if the one didn't git me, the other one would!"
"Yeah? Sounded like a handgun." observed the guard.
"Weell - guess them injuns'd steal a gun and ammo if'n they found one." replied Catlow.
"I guess." Replied the guard, somewhat sceptically. Nothing more was said about the incident.
Orville, however, felt no satisfaction at its outcome. He had failed in getting revenge. Still, there would be a next time...In the meantime, Catlow seemed to be becoming a little too friendly towards Susie, and Orville felt jealousy rising within him at the increasing attention Catlow was paying to her. Susie, though, was enjoying the attention and appeared to be flattered by it all. Susie was his, thought Orville, and no-one in this world was going to take her away from him.
---oo0oo---
When they rode into the small village of Abilene, Catlow's leg had ceased to pain him and he was able to ride. By the purest chance, Susie's father was in town as the coach drew in. Curious to see who had arrived, Franz Sherman walked towards them and gave a yell of happiness when he recognised his daughter. He did not recognise the tall, dark young man at her side until she introduced him.
During their happy reunion, Catlow slipped away to buy another horse. He planned to head South the next day to sign up for a traildrive up the Shawnee Trail, but needed a good horse to get him there.
Franz, overjoyed at the safe return of his daughter, was concerned that her engagement had fallen through. Sitting in a quiet corner of the hotel, Susie told her father her story and finished by saying: "Don't be sorry, papa. I love Orville better!"
"Sir," said Orville earnestly, suddenly taking off his wide-brimmed Stetson, "I'd be right honoured if you would consider me as the future husband of Susie."
Susie flung her arms around her tall young man and kissed him.
"It would seem, mein hertz," he said to his daughter, "that you have already given him your answer" and he pumped Orville's hand in congratulation.
"I'd figured, Mr Sherman, on goin' down to see my parents real soon."
"Of course, of course, they'll be delighted to see you, mein younger freund." assured Franz. "First, I will ride out to our homestead with Susie, then I will ride over to your parent's house with you. After that, we will discuss details about meine kleine Susie, ja?"
"Ja - I mean, yes!" laughed Orville.
Suddenly, a look of concern crossed Franz's face. "Aber, where is Johan? He did not return with you, Orville?"
Orville again felt the rush of emotion and the pain of loss within him. This was the moment he had been dreading. He drew a deep breath in an effort to control his feelings before saying: "Sir, I'm afraid I have bad news for you. Johan - is dead - he - died in my arms about a month ago." His voice broke and he felt the sting of tears in his eyes as he heard Franz gasp and whisper "Oh, nein! Nein! How did - it happen?"
"We were caught in a Mexican ambush," explained Orville, quickly recovering his composure. "I was injured, too - left for dead." Taking the ring from his finger, he held it out to Franz. "Mr Sherman, Johan - asked me to return this ring to you - and to tell you - that he loved you."
No more words would come for Orville. The older man, with tears running down his cheeks, moved towards Orville, and they embraced.
Taking a few moments to recover, Franz then held Orville at arm's length. "I can see, mein younger freund, that you loved him, too."
"He was - the brother I never had." confided Orville.
"I thank you for returning this ring. It is a much treasured heirloom. I think, perhaps, you should keep it, to remind you of him."
"Sir, I can never forget him." replied Orville simply, accepting the ring and slipping it back on the third finger of his right hand. Then he had an idea. "Sir, I would like to give the ring to Susie as an engagement ring. Do I have your approval?"
Through his tears Franz smiled and said "Of course, Orville, that is a most - appropriate gesture."
Orville turned to Susie, who was sitting quietly with her own grief for her lost brother and, taking her left hand, he slipped the too-large ring onto her finger. "We'll get it altered, baby." he said, a smile breaking through the emotion of the moment.
Susie hugged and kissed her fiancé.
---oo0oo---
It was too late in the day to start riding to the Sherman ranch so they decided to put up in a guest house overnight. Unfortunately for Orville and Susie, there were only two rooms available so the two men had to share a room. The three ate together, went a short walk up and down the village, then retired for the night. Diplomatically, Franz left the two young people alone to say goodnight.
Holding each other very close in the darkness of the candle-lit corridor, Orville whispered "Oh, Susie, I want you - real bad! C'mon, let's do it!" He reached behind her to open the door to her bedroom.
"And I want you too, mein lieb' - but - papa would hear - my room is right next door." and, as he held her closer still, she felt the urgency of his desire pressing hard against her. "No! We mustn't!" she whispered. "We will now have to wait until our marriage night." And, pushing him away, she turned quickly into her room and closed the door behind her.
Orville, frustrated, stood alone for a few moments then, to allow himself to calm down, went for a walk before returning to the room. When he went in, Franz was already snoring, but it was a long time before Orville could sleep.
---oo0oo---
The next morning Franz went with Orville to the stables, where Orville hired two nags to get them out to the Sherman place, as Franz had assured them of two of his stock once they got there. Provisioning up, they rode out early in the morning. It was a long ride though Indian territory and, despite a feeling of being constantly watched, the journey was uneventful and they arrived late in the evening at the Sherman ranch. The evening was spent in a mixture of grief and happiness, as Mrs Sherman wept for her dead son but welcomed her son-in-law-to-be with open arms.
To change the conversation, Susie recounted the story of how Catlow was injured during the stage ride. An observant man, Franz noticed and felt a change of mood from Orville, who sat with an unreadable expression on his face, his dark eyes like smouldering black coals. It aroused his curiosity but, as he was about to ask Orville, Orville got up and excused himself, saying he had a long ride out to his own homestead in the morning. Franz filed the reaction away for future reference, but turned to Susie and asked: "Susie, how much do you know about Orville?"
"Oh, just that he's the kindest, sweetest boy in the whole world!" replied Susie, with love in her eyes.
"Hm." thought Franz. "She's too much in love to see any wrong in him. But still I wonder ..."
"It's funny." he said later to his wife, as they were preparing for bed.
"What, mein lieb'?" she asked.
"Orville's attitude when Susie was talking about the cowboy who got shot when the coach had to stop. I thought - I saw - hate - in his eyes."
"Ach, nein. He is a nice boy. You must have been imagining it, lieb'." and she turned out the light.
---oo0oo---
The next morning Orville was up early and saddling his horse when Franz came out, followed by Susie.
"I will ride with you, Orville - you do not know the way." offered Franz.
"I'll manage." replied Orville, tightening the cinch.
"The Apaches may have other ideas, mein younger freund."
"I'm coming with you, Orville!" called Susie, running to the stable.
"Nein, liebchen." said Franz to his daughter. "It may be too dangerous." And he pointed for her to return to the house.
Disappointed, she turned back, but ran and gave Orville a hug, before he swung into the saddle. As he sat astride his horse, waiting for Franz, Susie looked up at him sitting tall in the saddle, dressed all in black, and she fell even deeper in love with him than before. "Oh, Orville, do take care!"
"Sure, baby. I'll he back in a couple of days - I've got you to come back to!" and he leaned down and kissed her just as Franz rode up, smiling.
"Ready, Orville?"
"Yes, sir." and, giving her a final chuck under the chin, Orville gathered the reins and they rode out.
---oo0oo---
It was a twenty-mile ride south to the Miller homestead, and it was afternoon as they approached. The house was facing south behind a small hill overlooking the Colorado River but, as far as five miles away from the homestead, they could see a plume of smoke on the horizon.
Orville reined in. "Hey, what's that up there?"
"That's in the direction of your home, Orville!" replied Franz. "Come on!"
Suddenly, turning a bend, another rider came galloping towards them. Orville's heart jumped as he recognised who it was - Jed Catlow. Catlow reined in. "Don't go thataway!" he said, breathlessly. "I just escaped an Injun warband. - they sure are souped up!"
"My parents' homestead is down there!" said Orville, pointing to the rising pall of smoke. With a dread gripping his heart and his mind, he spurred his horse away.
"Hey! Come back! You'll get killed!" but Catlow's words fell on deaf ears. Catlow looked at Franz, then they simultaneously spurred their mounts in pursuit of Orville.
The Indians had apparently disappeared from whence they came and, as the three riders topped the final hill overlooking the homestead, it became obvious that a massacre had occurred. Nothing moved. Nothing, that is, except the lazy wheeling in the sky of a pack of buzzards and the pall of smoke. With a wild yell, Orville spurred his horse over the hill and down the other side. Catlow shouted after him "Miller - don't go in! Them injuns may still be there!" But Orville ignored the warning. He thundered into the front yard, but there was no-one there to welcome him. He found them round the back. His father was tied to a wagon wheel. He had been tortured and scalped before they shot him full of arrows. The bundle of rags lying on the ground nearby was all that was left of his mother. Gagged and hog-tied, her skirt was missing and she lay where they had shot her down, trying to defend her helpless husband. The Apaches had made them watch each other being tortured. Of Orville's younger sister there was no sign. Frantically, he searched the house, which had been looted and vandalised. He remembered where his father had kept all their legal documents in the past - under a boarding in their bedroom. He found a loose floorboard and found the title deeds and a bundle of letters, all of which he took with him. Tears of grief, rage and frustration coursing down his face, he ran back out into the late afternoon sunshine.
"I'll kill them, I'll kill every murdering devil!" he shouted.
Sherman was appalled at the horrific scene and sat in a state of deep shock on his horse while Miller raged futilely until Catlow landed a punch that sent him sprawling. Out of his mind with grief and shock, Miller got back up and made to attack Catlow again until Catlow pulled his gun, saying "For God's sake, man, be quiet - you'll have every Injun this side of the Pecos after us."
Miller stood, swaying and gasping, his face a contorted mask of pain and anguish. Slowly, he relaxed and walked, shoulders hunched, head bowed, towards the house again, where he sank to the porch, sitting staring into oblivion. He sat there while Sherman and Catlow buried his parents.
Sherman had brought some jerky and coffee along with him, and they went inside the ransacked house and heated up water from the well outside. The smell of coffee made Orville come a little more to his senses, but he still could not speak. The two other men, understanding, stayed silent. Sherman took him by the arm and led him into the house, made him eat, and then left him to his thoughts. The sun had set, so there was no point in riding back to the Sherman's place till morning. Orville sat, as still as a statue and unsleeping, until the dawn.
Catlow was up first the following morning and found Miller sitting, arms folded around him, shaking and whispering "Too late. Why was I - too late? Too late, too late."
"Hey, Miller," said Catlow, shaking the narrow shoulder, "Snap outta it. D'you hear me? If'n you'd been here, you'd'a been as dead as they are!"
"What d'you care?" flared Miller, jumping up to face Catlow.
"Taake it easy! Take it easy!" soothed Catlow. Sherman had risen, went outside for more water for coffee. They prepared to ride out and were just about to mount up when Catlow's eagle eyes saw a movement in the brush 50 yards to the side of the house.
"Miller! Sherman! Get your guns! We got company!" and, as he spoke, an arrow zipped past and thudded into the doorpost beside his head. Miller, enraged, his cold eyes flashing with animal hate, ran past Catlow, gun blazing, in the direction of the arrow.
"Get down, you idiot!" shouted Catlow.
"No! I'm gonna kill every single one of these murderin'..." another arrow zipped and thudded into Miller's left shoulder. He spun back with the impact and fell but kept his gun in his hand as the Indian nearest broke cover and leapt at him. Catlow's gun barked, as did Sherman's, and the Indian jerked and fell back, a bullet through his brain and another through his heart. Miller, the arrow sticking out of his shoulder, tried to get up.
"Stay down!" yelled Catlow. He indicated for Sherman to go back into the house and he gave him covering fire while he went and helped Miller back into the house. Suddenly a hail of fire arrows showered onto the dry timber roof of the homestead. What wood was left unburned quickly took light. They knew that, if they showed themselves at either the front or back doors, they would be shot down, but they could not stay in the burning house. As they prepared to make a run for it, the encircling Indians let out a whoop and disappeared as quickly as they had come. The three men escaped the burning house just in time before the roof collapsed. There was a thunder of hooves as a posse, led by the Sheriff of Abilene, rode in.
"Well, you sure picked the right time to arrive!" grinned Sherman.
"Yes, Mr Sherman. We heard tell about the raids and I got together some men to check out on the homesteads - I see we're too late for the Millers, though."
"Yeah, what they did to Mr and Mrs Miller was not pleasant" replied Franz. Pointing to Orville, who was sitting on the ground, clutching the arrow in his shoulder, Franz said "This is - was - their son, Orville."
"Ah! So that's Orville Miller!" said the Sheriff.
"Let's get him back to my place and my wife will patch him up." suggested Sherman. Catlow went over to Miller to see how bad his injury was. It was a long ride back for a wounded man. He looked up as Catlow's shadow fell across him. "Get away from me!" he growled.
Catlow, afraid the arrow was tipped with poison, hunkered down in front of him. "Hold still, Miller, let me have a look at it. Maybe the arrow's poisoned. Lemme get the shaft out."
"No!" Miller turned away from the reaching hands. "I'll take my chances!"
"OK, your decision." He got out a knife. "Let me cut the arrow down, then I'll get you a cloth and strap you up to avoid too much movement while you ride till you get some proper medical attention." He went to his saddlebags and got out a bottle of whiskey. He splashed it over the wound, making Miller grit his teeth in pain. Then, shakily, Miller mounted his horse and, as the posse rode over the hill, he cast a last look at what was left of his family's burned-out home. Catlow rode off in another direction.
---oo0oo---
Back at the Sherman ranch, Susie saw the two men riding slowly towards her, the sheriff's posse having gone on to further patrol the area after riding with them for some way down the road. She called her mother and all three helped the by now semiconscious Orville off his horse and into the house. He had lost a lot of blood on the long journey back and needed considerable caring attention to nurse him through the fever that followed.
---oo0oo---
As his health and strength gradually returned, Orville brooded continuously on the dreadful death his parents had met. One evening, after Orville had been particularly surly all day, Franz made the women leave the room and he sat beside Orville. Orville's dark eyes looked at him, then looked away.
"Orville." said Franz gently. "Look, listen to me, bitte, mein freund..."
Orville slowly turned back to him.
"I know how you feel, Orville. Your parents were our friends, too. Just as you grieved for Johan, so we all grieve for your family. Aber, Orville, you must come to terms with it. Look, you have us, you have mein liebchen Susie - she loves you so much. I can see no reason why you should not marry, stay here with us. As soon as you are strong, Orville, we will arrange the marriage, hey?"
Orville sighed deeply, looking into the man's bright blue eyes. He could see he meant everything he said.
"Yes." thought Orville. "That sounds sensible. And, oh, I want Susie so much it hurts..." Aloud, he said "When can we be married?"
---oo0oo---
Later that week, Orville looked at the papers he had retrieved from his parents' house. There were title deeds and his mother's letters. Until then, he suspected that the Apaches had carried off his blonde-haired sister but, amongst the letters, he discovered that his mother had been writing to her sister in Tucson, and his sister had been sent there on a vacation a week before the raid. At least she was safe, he thought. He wrote to his aunt, telling her the tragic news, and asked her to keep his sister with her in Tucson, explaining that he was soon to be married.
The title deeds of his father's holding gave him the sole right to the ground - and the ground was good pastureland. He discussed it with Franz and, despite the danger of further Apache raids, they agreed that it would be best if they set up a home of their own, independent of the Shermans. With some help from the Shermans and their ranch-hands, Orville rebuilt the Miller homestead and, in the summer of 1850, Orville Miller married Susie Sherman in the village of Abilene.
---oo0oo---
bravenet.com