"Thar's no 'Mrs. Montoyo' in this camp, Mister. And I'll thank yu it's a
name yu'd best leave alone."
"How so, sir?"
"Cause that's the right of it. I 'laow I've told yu."
"I'm called Edna now, by my friends," she vouchsafed, coloring. "Yes,
thank you, I've enjoyed the day."
Rachael spoke softly, in her gentle English accents. I learned later that
she was an English girl, convert to Mormonism.
"We Latter Day Saints know that the marriage rites of Gentiles are not
countenanced by the Lord. If you would see the light you would understand.
Sister Edna is being well cared for. Whatever we have is hers."
"You will take her on with you to Salt Lake?"
"That is as Hyrum says. He has spoken of putting her on the stage at the
next crossing. He will decide."
"I think I'd rather stay with the train," My Lady murmured.
"Yu will, too, by gum," Daniel pronounced. "I'll talk with paw. Yu're
goin' to travel on to Zion 'long with me. I 'laow I'm man enough to look
out for ye an' I got plenty room. The hull wagon's yourn. Guess thar won't
nobody have anything to say ag'in that." His tone was pointed,
unmistakable, and I sat fuming with it.
My Lady drily acknowledged.
"You are very kind, Daniel."
"Wall, yu see I'm the best man on the draw in this hyar train. I'm a bad
one, I am. My name's Bonnie Bravo. That gambler--he 'laowed to pop me but
I could ha' killed him 'fore his gun was loose. I kin ride, wrastle, drive
a bull team ag'in ary man from the States, an' I got the gift o' tongues.
Ain't afeared o' Injuns, neither. I'm elected. I foller the Lord an' some
day I'll be a bishop. I hain't been more'n middlin' interested in wimmen,
but I'm gittin' old enough, an' yu an' me'll be purty well acquainted by
the time we reach Zion. Thar's a long spell ahead of us, but I aim to look
out for yu, yu bet."
His blatancy was arrested by the intonation of another hymn. They all
chimed in, except My Lady and me.
There is a people in the West, the world calls Mormonites
in jest,
The only people who can say, we have the truth, and
own its sway.
Away in Utah's valleys, away in Utah's valleys,
Away in Utah's valleys, the chambers of the Lord.
And all ye saints, where'er you be, from bondage try to
be set free,
Escape unto fair Zion's land, and thus fulfil the Lord's
command,
And help to build up Zion, and help to build up Zion,
And help to build up Zion, before the Lord appear.
They concluded; sat with heads bowed while Hyrum, standing, delivered
himself of a long-winded blessing, through his nose. It was the signal for
breaking up. They stood. My Lady arose lithely; encumbered by her trailing
skirt she pitched forward and I caught her. Daniel sprang in a moment,
with a growl.
"None o' that, Mister. I'm takin' keer of her. Hands off."
"Don't bully me, sir," I retorted, furious. "I'm only acting the
gentleman, and you're acting the boor."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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