DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
'Bernie, Mama has gone to heaven now hasn't she?'' the boy spoke between sobs
'Yes Jas, she's is heaven now and watching on us with all the other angels.' Bernice answered her brother, looking toward the small grove of trees , she could still make out the shape of the grave she had buried her mother in what seemed such a long time ago but was actually just days before.
She stroked his tiny frail back as she waited for him to fall into the deep sleep of the very young. Rising she lifted him into the shade of the wagon and then walked down to the small stream that had provided them with a small source of comfort as she cast her mind back across their trek.
They had been living out of this wagon for the last four months, the whole family had started the trek to California from their previous home in New York. Barely two weeks into the journey their father Alex Williams had disappeared during the night. No signs of a struggle were found but none of his belongings were missing either. No one really knew what had become of him. Not willing to turn back in their journey, Bernadine Williams had bravely taken over control of the wagon after her husbands disappearance and, with 15 year old Bernice's help they had managed to make it as far as the Nebraska Territory. A feat that was doubled in bravery by the fact that not three weeks after her husband had vanished they had been asked to leave their wagon train, simply because a wagon controlled by a single woman was attracting the wrong sort of attention according to the wagon master
Confused and alone they had become lost until two weeks ago their travel had been brought to an abrupt end, when the wagon's axle had snapped and their
mother had been thrown from the wagon. The fall broke her neck and while she did not die instantly, she had lingered painfully, knowing that she was dying she tried to give as many instructions for survival to her daughter as she could in her dying hours.
Bernice looked back across the small grassy clearing at her tiny brother sleeping so innocently under the disabled wagon. Tears once again stung her eyes as she tried to imagine how they were going to survive this trial put before them. With their food now gone and their horses long ago disappeared they would soon have no choice but to try to walk to safety and Bernice was not sure how far six year old Jasper would be able to travel.
She was awoken from her musings by the sound of horses approaching. Watching closely she saw that it appeared to be an Indian and a white man approaching. Trying to decide what she should do she observed the men closely. The distinctive feature of the white man was that his hat hung loosely on his back, a red bandanna tied over what was obviously a bald head. The other man wore a dark hat with a small brim, he rode a smaller horse than the other man, but whilst other Indians they had encountered had scared her, she felt no fear when she looked at this man. She was startled by her observations when she realised that both men were riding directly towards her brother. Uncaring of her own safety, she picked up her skirts and ran wildly across the clearing to the side of the wagon and lifted up the shotgun she had left there. Aiming it, as her mother had taught her, at the two riders, they stopped a short distance from the wagon.
"That's close enough' she called and clumsily cocked the gun determined to protect her brother at all costs.
Back to Ridingtall
Back to Tall Tales
On to the next chapter
