Lee’S Valley

By Bud Wyatt

John Wesley was a plainsman as well as a mountainman. He could be fierce when pushed. He enjoyed traveling alone, but was big-hearted when it came to helping anyone who needed it.

With his belief that he was the last of his line, he was soon to find out differently. While helping a friend, they both started a venture that would last many generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481749534

Book preview

Chapter 1

I n the early 1800s the West was a big and lonely place for the white man. The Indians did not think too much of the men who came in and killed their food for the skins and left the meat to rot on the ground. The hunters hunted from the Red River over to the Rio Grande and up to the Arkansas with the Canadian right in the middle.

One man really loved this country. He was as much at home on the plains as in the mountains, but for some reason seemed to be up high more than down on flat land. He was a man who loved the land and the people who lived there.

Many hunters came south across the Arkansas even after the government signed a peace treaty saying that no hunters would hunt south of the Arkansas. However, there was a trading post over on the Canadian where they could trade their skins and get supplies.

John Wesley was in the middle of packing up to head for the mountains when he saw the troop of soldiers headed his way.

John went over to the fire and got a cup of coffee. The captain was a man who thought like John and loved this land.

Come on in and have a cup, John said. And Captain Jim Lee smiled and got off his horse to get a cup. It was always good to see Wesley. What can I do for you Jim? John asked as Jim sat down on a rock and looked down at his cup of coffee.

Jim said, "I need your help. Washington wants to find a safer way through the mountains and you are the only one I know who can help me.

The only thing, John, if you decide to help—I want you to know from the top it will mean more people coming in. Some will head on west, but some will stay. And if they do, well, it won’t make my job any easier.

Why would more people want to stay here? asked John.

Well, Jim said, the land back east is full and they need more land to live. I know this land belongs to the Indians, but Washington says they are going to have to learn to live together. Washington seems to think if we can find a safer way through the mountains more will go on west which means less people here.

John thought for a long time then looked at Jim and said, What if I don’t help?

Then, as John took a sip of coffee, Jim said, Well, I will just have to find someone else. But John, you know this country better than anyone and the more we can get through the mountains, the less will stay.

John sat for a while in deep thought then looked over at Jim and said, I will need some supplies.

Jim said, The Army will get you whatever you need. We have enough supplies for a year.

When do you want to get started? John asked.

In about a week, Jim said. We have to wait on the map maker. She’s on her way.

Whoa, what do you mean ‘she’? John growled.

All I know is what I am told, Jim said. She is supposed to be the best, and from what I was told, was raised in this country.

John wasn’t too happy about taking a woman along on a trip like this, but if Jim said it was OK, well then it must be. Jim would not take someone along that he did not think could make a trip like this. And besides, his Mom had come out here with his Dad and many a time had doctored them both when they got hurt.

John thought to himself—there are some people just made for this country, man or woman.

Two days had gone by and John had everything he needed for the trip—extra shot and powder to hunt food with. Jim had asked him to keep the group supplied with fresh meat for the trip.

On the fourth day about sundown, the sentry spotted three riders coming in from the east. Riders coming in, he yelled. The group of men turned out to see just who it was. Maybe it was the map maker, and if it was that would be good. They could leave early which would help. It was not fun to get caught up too high in the mountains with winter coming on.

Sure enough it was the map maker, but she was not what John or Jim had expected. She was younger, and she held her head up high. She was a proud woman, and what a looker. She had a right to be proud. After all, she was about to make history. She was a woman on an important job and with a man she had heard about most of her life—John Wesley.

John did not know it at the time, but they at one time had been neighbors. She just lived about eight miles from him and his folks.

John, I want you to meet our map maker, Jim said. This is Miss Jane Jenkins. Miss Jenkins, this is John Wesley.

Jane, Captain, please call me Jane. And Captain, I already know Mr. Wesley. You see, he and I were neighbors years back.

Well, my goodness. Are you Bill’s little girl?

Yes, I am. It’s been a long time.

Well, how are your Mom and Dad? asked John.

Well, Dad’s fine. He lives back in Washington. But Mom passed away back on the homestead about six years ago.

Sorry to hear that, John said. They are good people. How is it you became a map maker?

Well, Jane said, "all my life I heard my Dad talk about the places you had been and I dreamed about seeing such places and map making was the best way.

Captain, where am I to stay? It’s been a long trip and I would like to get a little rest. And tomorrow I want to check my equipment. From the feeling I get, John would like to get started.

John was surprised how fast she could pick up on things, but she was right.

Jim knew John was right about wanting to get started, so Captain Jim showed Miss Jenkins to her tent and then told the sergeant to check sentries and went to his tent.

This was going to be some trip. John could only remember little Jane as a tomboy, always getting into trouble with her folks because she acted more like a boy than a girl. But boy had she changed.

John was up before sunup making his coffee and wasn’t too surprised when Jane’s voice said, Mmmm, that coffee sure smells good. Mind if I have a cup?

No, help yourself. What are you doing up this early, girl? Don’t you need your rest or something? John asked.

Jane just laughed, Oh I get up early all the time. I love the sunrise. I think it’s the most lovely time of the day, with sunset next.

She was right. John thought it was a good time, everything seemed fresh and clean.

This girl had a head on her shoulders to be able to understand the country like she does and to be a map maker too, John thought to himself.

As the sun came up the soldiers started moving around. Jim came over to John’s camp with his cup. Do you mind, John?

No, go ahead, John said.

Jim looked over at Jane. Good morning, Miss Jenkins.

Jane, please call me Jane.

OK, good morning, Jane. How’s the coffee? Better than the cook’s I’ll bet.

She laughed, I don’t know. I haven’t tried his yet.

John was thinking he had a social going, but it was nice to have someone to visit with after so much time alone.

Jim finished his coffee, excused himself and went to get everything ready to go.

John started breaking camp. He and Jim had made plans to leave that day and they wanted to get moving as soon as they could. It was sure a sight watching the group move out.

John had planned to be off the plains in about two or three weeks and up into the mountains, a place he loved very much. John had spent a lot of time up there.

John decided to take the old Spanish trail up through the pass they called Raton Pass past the divide. He had done a lot of hunting in that area and knew some good trails that might be just what Captain Jim was looking for.

After about three weeks they had passed Rabbit Ear Mountain. Then two more days they were up past the old volcano. The first sight of the mountains was something to see.

Jim had been pleasantly surprised by the trip. Jane worked every night until late bringing her maps up to date. She was good at what she did.

She would work late and still be up to have coffee with John. The only thing that did bother John a little was no signs of Indians anywhere and there should be, signs at least.

John had made this trip a lot of times and he had at least seen signs. It was as if the earth had just opened up and taken everyone or maybe they knew what John and his group were up to. John kept it in his head that he was trying to help the Indians by making a way for the people to move on.

Would the Indians see it that way? He hoped so. So far the troop had had an easy trip. The maps were coming along good and everyone was happy. That was what troubled John. This many people and no trouble, not even with Indians.

The sun was coming up. John, Jane, Jim and the troop stood looking up at Raton Pass. Jim was speechless. He had seen a lot of things, but nothing like this. Boy, Jim said. Jane had not said a word. She just stood there with her mouth open.

Then she spoke, saying, Someday, someday, I will live in just such a place. I have lost my heart.

Just wait until you see a little farther on. This is nice and believe it or not, it gets better. Why there are some valleys up there that take my breath. You will get to see some of that country. Then you will know what I’m talking about.

John thought for a while then told Jim about an area that would be nice, but he would not take them there because it was land that the Indians held close to their heart.

Jim did not want any trouble, so he agreed with John. After a week of travel they had only traveled about fifty miles in the mountains. Map making was slower, but none of them were in too big of a hurry.

The nights were already getting colder. John did want to get them to a place where they could winter if something went wrong.

The streams would have ice on them in the morning, but traveling was still fairly easy. You could see snow up higher. John knew it would not be long before he would have to find a winter camp.

He wanted to get as far as he could before they had to stop, but he did not want to get trapped up high with no game to hunt. So far the elk and deer were still in the valleys, they had not moved out on the flats. He did not want to get stuck in a place where he knew there would be snow slides and such.

Jim had taken a strong liking to Jane, but all Jane would talk about was John.

Jim was a gentleman, though, and had a lot of respect for John. John lived for the land and the land only. That was one thing Jane could not understand. She would try, but it would be hard.

Jim had been in the Army for about ten years. He was well thought of and had a future ahead of him and he would so love to share it with Jane. And so far John had not done anything to be in the way. All Jim had to do was convince Jane that she was the one for him. All he had to do was get John out of her head.

John was not one to worry much, but the snow looked a little deeper than normal and the nights seemed a little colder. The group had now been on the move for a month and had not reached the divide.

John and Jim were sitting by the fire. John told Jim that he knew of a valley about two weeks from where they were. He said there should be plenty of game to last them for the winter. However, he said it was right in the middle of bear country along with a good number of mountain lions. This meant they would have to watch the stock closely and build a couple of cabins that would withstand the cold and protect them from the wild animals.

Jim asked, Are you sure we can’t make it a little farther?

But John was concerned with the way the weather was changing. It was too fast for this time of year.

Jane was looking forward to wintering over in the mountains. But as John said, it would not be all fun. There would be long days and longer nights. There might be sickness. They might even lose some of the people. And then there was the stock that they would surely need to make the trip, which would have to be fed.

For two weeks they traveled through country that was God’s country. Then one day there was the valley—long, low, and wide—with a lot of good timber for cabins and stock pens.

You could see it in Jane’s eyes. She was surely seeing Eden. But what were the little black spots moving around among the trees? Bears, at least ten that they could see. When the bears saw the troop, they seemed to disappear.

It did not take long for the work on the cabins to start. There was a little snow falling in the valley now.

With the cabins built along with the stock pens, everything seemed fine. John decided to get in a little hunting and restock their meat supply. He had hunted for about an hour when he heard shots from the camp.

Heading back to camp as fast as he could, all kinds of thoughts went through his mind. Was someone hurt or even dead? And what about the stock? As John topped a little knoll he could see a group of men at the pens.

What happened? asked John as he came running up.

A bear got one of the horses and mauled one of the men a bit. He will be OK, said Jim. It happened so fast we were not expecting this so soon.

John looked around and said, "It may get worse. There are a lot of bears and not that much food for them. It looks like a bad year for the bears. I found a lot of carcass that mountain lions had hid in the rocks which means less food for the bears. So we will have to keep a closer watch on the stock and make sure everyone goes in pairs so they can keep a watch on each other’s back.

"These bears are smart. They will backtrack you and come from behind. I wouldn’t be surprised if we find a few lion tracks closer to the pens. I got a strong feeling this is going to be one of the hardest winters these old mountains have ever seen. Well, one thing for sure. If we make it that will mean the people going west will have a better chance.

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone doesn’t take up our cabins when we are gone and make a trading post out here for supplies for people.

Jim said, That would be a good idea. Why, I just might get out of the Army and set up shop myself. Jane said you could take the man out of the Army, but not the Army out of the man.

With all you got going for you, and with the friends you have, you would do more good just where you are.

I guess so, Jim said, but it would make a fine fort.

Jane said, I could suggest that in my papers to Washington. You could write up a letter to go along with my report. As I said, a lot of people think a lot of your opinion. And just think, you could be the first commanding officer of Fort John Wesley.

Now hold on just a second. I don’t want a fort named after me, John said. Why not Fort Jenkins? That sounds nice.

Good idea, Jim said. That’s what I will put in my letter to Washington.

John and Captain Jim stopped in to check on Trooper Jones after the bear had won the fight. Trooper Jones was in good mind, healing fine and being pampered by the others and liking it.

Don’t get too used to this life, John said. "In another week or two, I will be expecting you to back me up on any hunting trip I decide to make.

That was like a shot in the arm for Trooper Jones because all of the men knew of the famous John Wesley and to back him up in anything would be a feather in any ones hat, each man knew that if he was to complete this trip they would have to do word for word whatever John said of as a matter of fact whatever He or Captain Jim said to do.

The men knew that they would learn a lot from them and it would be things that would keep them alive for years to come and by making it through this trip in one peace they would also be a big part of history. John wonted to rest his horse along with the men and let Trooper Jones get back on his feet a little better, it’s not every day that you are on the downhill side of a fight with a bear and still live to tell about it.

There would be many tells around the camp fire about the fight and before you know the story will be told that Jones the fight and that the bear never had a chance and Jones walked away without a mark, that was how most of the stories about the men up got started and this would be one that would be no different just a different name and a different place.

Trooper Jones seemed to get much better each day and it would not be long be for he would be back to full duty,

Chapter 2

A s the days passed there was no time to get bored because feeding the stock and keeping food for the men made for some long, hard days.

Jane had reworked her maps. They were the best ever, and she had a right to be proud. Jim would make jokes every once in a while like, You know, even I could follow these maps. Then he would smile. Jane had been surprised to find the affection she was starting to feel for Jim, and she kind of liked it. He wasn’t quite as tall as John, six foot or so, and kind of handsome as a woman sees it.

A woman could do a lot worse and there was John. She was more like a sister to him. She could talk to him about things that she could not talk to anyone else about.

The creek had not frozen yet and you could still get fish. The men had put to catching as many as possible and smoking them in the little smokehouse they had put together along with some jerkey as a standby.

They had lost no more horses, but had killed three bears who had come into camp for a free meal.

Captain Jim had started his men into putting up a wall around the camp making it more like a fort, which would help keep the bears and lions out. And he let the men relax a little. Winter was about half over and John had been right, it had been hard. It was a big day when they put the gate up with a sign over it that said, Fort Jenkins. It brought tears to Jane’s eyes.

And the men told her that with her doing her part as she had been, the trip was a lot nicer. They were proud to call her a part of their troop.

As the days went on, John was getting restless and wanted to move, but knew they could not move on up through the mountains yet. Winter had eased up a bit, the men had kind of settled in, but they too were getting restless to move. In another month or so they should be able to make it on up.

If they stayed lucky and the spring thaw was not too bad, they should make it in about two or three months.

John also knew that the weather could change back to bad real fast. It was one thing to be restless but another to be careless and that was something he did not want to be.

Life in the mountains could be good as long as you understood the dangers. Jim was asleep when John came in. Jim sat up, What’s up, John?

Have you seen outside yet? John asked.

No, Jim said. Have the flowers come out yet?

Not unless they can climb out of four feet of snow, John said.

Jim jumped up and looked out the door. Man, it sure dumped on us last night.

John was looking out the door then looked at Jim and said, I was hoping the worst was over. Jim, how is the food supply for the stock?

The stock’s food is good, it’s ours that has me a little concerned. Thanks to you we have plenty of meat and a lot of beans. It’s flour and such that we may run short on. Right now it’s not too bad, but if we have to stay here two or three more months, we may run short before we make it on through the trip.

Jim saw Jane headed their way and grabbed his shirt.

Good morning, gentlemen. What a beautiful morning. Hey, why so glum? It can’t be that bad, now can it?

You’re right, Jane, Jim said. John and I were just talking about the time when we will have to move on and how we will miss this area.

John looked at Jim and smiled. Yes, then we were thinking about making a snowman right out in the middle of the compound.

Hey, that sounds like fun, Jane said. She stood there a second then looked at Jim and smiled and said, We could use your head, Capt. Jim Lee. Then she laughed, but it would be fun.

The camp was starting to move around in the early morning sun. Even with all the snow there was still work to be done, stock to be fed, meals to fix and so on.

John saw the movement before the sentry. He stood and watched for a few moments then he heard the sentry yell, Movement in the valley.

Jim came out to check and John said, Relax, Jim, just a few Indians that live up around here. I know most of them.

As they came up to the fort, John went out to meet them. They looked the worst for wear. After a short time, John came back to where Jim was and told him that their village had been hit hard with the storm. They had come up to the valley to hunt, but with bow and arrow and deep snow, it was rough.

John and Jim talked for awhile, then Jim motioned for the Indians to come into the fort.

John and Jim talked for awhile, then Jim motioned for the Indians to come into the fort.

Jim told the chief that they were running short on meat and said John knew where the game was. He asked if it would be OK if John and a couple of his men took their guns and went with him and his braves. Then they could halve the meat. Jim told the chief that they needed about two animals to hold them over and if they could get that, the Indians could have the rest. Jim knew John could get that in about an hour or so. Then the rest would help out the Indians. The chief said he would need at least three or four to hold them over and he would welcome John and the soldiers on the hunting trip. So it was set. John got his things together to go.

John looked at Jim and said, That was about as smooth as anything I have ever done. I could learn a few things from you.

Jim just smiled and said, I don’t want to get hungry. as John turned and left.

Trooper Jones was one of the men who went with John. He was becoming a fair hunter learning from John.

About six hours went by. Jim heard the sentry yell, Hunting party returning. Jim went out to see John and the chief shaking hands. The soldiers had brought two elk into the fort and the Indians had three elk and two bears.

John told the chief it had been great hunting with him and thanks for the great honor. The chief waved at Jim and then turned and left.

Trooper Jones told John, This will be some story to tell my kids, if and when I have some. Me hunting with Indians.

In a few days the weather changed back to good and it was really nice. Everyone was now looking forward to moving on.

After about two weeks of good weather, John told Jim that as long as they stayed to the valleys he thought they would be able to move soon.

This was news Jim had been waiting for, so he had his men start getting things ready to go.

After about two weeks, the camp was ready. John had been doing some checking around and had remembered a way that should not be too hard. After all, this was to be a safer way.

The troop had traveled about two days when John told Jim that he thought they had better return to the fort for a couple more weeks. With the winter being as bad as it had been, the snow was still a little too deep on up. Jim agreed with John so they turned back.

We may have to wait for spring thaw, Jim told John. One thing about it, we will be able to let the Washington people know that the only time you can make it is during the warm season.

It may be a little wild in the spring, too, John said. "Wait until you see spring thaw up here. These little creeks become good-sized rivers which