Westward Bound: An Epic Adventure to the West

By Steven W. Moore

Based in the 19th Century, Douglas Chism was a poor, brash, young New York City Blacksmith. He was very talented in his trade, the best in the entire city, but was also good at something else, poker. One night, and over a poker game, in a busy New York City saloon, would change Douglas' destiny for the rest of his life. As a result of that poker game, he would embark on a journey that would take him and his family out west. It is an unforgettable journey that would see triumph, heartache, and a little luck. Come along with Douglas on an adventure to the west in some danger, intrigue, and some unfortunate moments.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663204042

Steven W. Moore

Steven W. Moore is a Summa Cum Laude graduate earning his bachelor of arts in history at Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, North Carolina. He is the author of A Journey To Freedom, Her Husband's Crossing, and A Walk in the Past. He lives in Candler, North Carolina.

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Copyright © 2020 Steven W. Moore.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Certain characters in this work are historical figures, and certain events portrayed

did take place. However, this is a work of fiction. All of the other characters, names,

and events as well as all places, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel

are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-0405-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0062-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0404-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020911816

iUniverse rev. date: 06/26/2020

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Poker Time

Chapter 2     The Getaway

Chapter 3     The Plan

Chapter 4     Enslavement

Chapter 5     Surgery

Chapter 6     The Destination

Chapter 7     Recovery

Chapter 8     Meeting Dad

Chapter 9     The Escape

Chapter 10   Stranded

Chapter 11   Wedding

Chapter 12   Heading West

Chapter 13   Family Tragedy

Chapter 14   Welcomed Friends

Chapter 15   Honor

CHAPTER 1

POKER TIME

T he young lady was rubbing her hands between her legs in a nervous fashion as she looked onward at the thousands gathered in attendance to hear her speak. Now speak loud and clearly into this thing here, okay young one, the mayor told the young nineteen year old as he held the megaphone in front of her, giving her pointers on how to use the device. Just hold that button there, right? the young Isabelle asked the mayor. Yes, Isabelle, hold the button and speak loudly, the mayor said.

It was August 8th, 1873, and thousands packed the tiny, quant city to hear the teenager speak about the town legend. Once just a small little town, this town had become a booming city by 1873, thanks to the building of the trans-continental railroad which was completed by 1869. The railroad resulted in an increase in trade and commerce in the area. The trans-continental railroad stretched from the Mississippi River east, to the west, just beyond the Sierra Nevada mountains. The railroad made the city an epicenter of economic activity, as well as a mode of transportation for people to be able to flock to the thriving city.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, our keynote speaker! the mayor shouted into the megaphone as he presented the afternoon’s keynote speaker. The crowd gave a boisterous applause as the young lady slowly arose from her chair which was situated near the back of the lifted platform and made her way proudly to the podium. She was instinctively shy, so she had to force herself to look out at the anticipating onlookers who were not only curious to see what she looked like, but what she had to say about her hero. At her tender age, she was full of pride within her as she stood their overlooking the crowd of people as far as the eye could see. She choked back the tears as she began to speak. She knew she would get emotional, after all, she was close to the person that had caused this throng of people to gather on that sunny afternoon. She swore to herself that she wouldn’t get choked up, but deep down she knew she would. The emotions that ran deep about the man she would be speaking about cut too close to her heart. She wanted to properly represent this man that was near and dear to her heart in the proper light, this town icon, not leaving out any of the fine details about his life. The pressure was on her to clearly convey the message about what he stood for and what he had accomplished in his life to the masses of people gathered there. But the young lady wasn’t too concerned with that, she was concerned with pleasing her elderly mother who was sitting in the front row looking onward with a satisfied smile on her face. She, like the young lady, was also full of pride as she watched her daughter take to the podium.

He was a hero, the young lady said as she began to speak into the megaphone. A pioneer of sorts. I liken him to one of the revolutionary heroes that helped shape and build our country into what it is today, a real maverick. He forged onward to a new territory with no regards for his safety, only that of his family. He never succumbed to the masses. He always went in the direction that he felt was best, not what everyone else thought was best. He was a lone ranger in every sense of the word, not bowing down to anyone’s belief system on how things should be run. He did it his way, and that’s why we’re here today honoring him. Without his selfless, self-motivated determination, none of us would be standing right where we’re standing today. Because of him, we have this plot of land to call home. Without him, not only would I not be here, standing here before you, but you would not be enjoying the freedoms that he helped to provide.

This is what real men do I would dare to say, the young twenty-year-old Douglas Chism spoke out amongst the crowd of men in the thick smoke filled air that consumed the local tavern in New York City in the winter of 1825. Who are these real men you’re referring to? Henry Johnson asked the young Douglas as he slowly walked up to the table where the six men, including Douglas, were gathered, enthralled in a game of poker. Henry was sticking out his chest and tugging on his vest as he chewed and smoked his cigar while gazing over top of the men in a boastful, proud manner. I said, little boy, who are these real men you’re referring to? Henry again asked Douglas.

Henry Johnson, forty-nine years of age, was a wealthy land owner who owned land in New York State as well as some land in Newark, New Jersey. He had money, and a bloated ego to go with it. He had struck it rich when the United States decided to build what was known as the Erie Canal. The canal developers needed land, and it just so happen that Henry owned several pieces of property that the developers needed desperately in order to complete their project. The United States not only paid Henry mighty handsomely for his piece of property, but in addition, they made him a top supervisor in the massive project. So not only was Henry rich, but he now had a position of authority in constructing the Erie Canal to go with it. A position that brought him great power, as if he needed anything else to aid in his pompous ego.

Douglas, don’t answer him. He’s just here to start some trouble, William, one of the poker players sitting at Douglas’ table told him. Henry reared back with his right hand and slapped William across the cheek. William went crashing to the floor. Well, Henry said smugly, now there’s room for one more. He walked over to the other side of the chair where William had been sitting, where he now lay unconscious, and kicked him out of the way. Bartender! Kick this gentlemen out of this damn place, Henry said as he took the chair that had belonged to William and forcefully moved it back so he could have a seat amongst the gentlemen, in addition to Douglas who was now sitting directly across from the vane Henry. All the men at the table were extremely intimated by the rich and powerful man from the Erie Canal project. All except one that is, and that man was the young Douglas.

Douglas Chism was a very successful blacksmith in New York City. What made him so successful was his notoriety as being so good at his craft at such a young age. He worked long hours, six days a week, every week. He needed to, his younger brother and sickly sister relied on him for not only financial means, but also to be the role of both father and mother to his younger siblings. Douglas’ mother died from polio when he was only three years old. His father later died of the same illness eleven years after, later, when Douglas was fourteen. Hence the reason as to why he was such a talented blacksmith at such a young age. He had been supporting his family since his father died. As a result, he had a good work ethic, which in turn helped him thrive at his craft. Because he was on his own at such an early age, not to mention the fact that he had to take care of his brother and sister, it made Douglas tough, and not easily intimated. So when the six foot five, two hundred and fifty pound Henry, wealthy and powerful as he was, stepped onto the scene in the smoke filled room that evening to show off his brazen qualities, the six foot, hundred and fifty pound Douglas didn’t bat an eye. And Henry picked up on it right away. He gazed at the young blacksmith with squinted eyes as the smoke from his cigar covered his face. It was an instant showdown in masculine character that Henry was determined to win, and he figured the best way to dehumanize the young Douglas was to whip him at poker.

Henry slammed his fist down on the table upon taking his seat. Because I just sat down, we’re starting a new game! he yelled his command out at the other gentlemen. Douglas rolled his eyes at the boisterous Henry after Henry caused a scene from the other bystanders in the tavern due to his uproar at the table. Henry caught the little gesture from Douglas. This infuriated Henry, and it now caused him to plant a bull’s eye right on the young blacksmith’s forehead.

Deal! Henry shouted as he continued chewing and puffing on his now short cigar. Douglas just sat on the opposite side of Henry, tapping his fingers on the table with squinted eyes directed right at Henry. Henry looked through the smoke of his cigar at Douglas with a crooked grin, as if to say, You’re mine little fella.

As the cards were being dealt, Henry moved his right hand down under the table. Henry chuckled. Don’t worry, boys, I’m just fixing my change, he said as he noticed the other players, including Douglas, eyeing the suspicious Henry after he placed his hand under the table. Suddenly, through the smoke filled air of the tavern, the silhouette of a woman began to appear upon the eyes of the men sitting at the table. Douglas was especially noticing of the woman’s appearance as she came closer to the table. There’s my girl! Henry shouted out as a blonde headed, five foot nine inch, woman came to Henry’s side. Douglas had never before seen anything more beautiful in his life. His eyes suddenly went from the cards being thrown about the table to this beautiful, fair skinned, mysterious woman. Douglas was just waiting on his opportunity for the voluptuous woman to turn her eyes in his direction. She finally did so. When she did, Douglas’ heart began beating out of control. Now was his chance to woo this attractive woman, but would he choke in the process?

I remember it all too well, Douglas recalled. Her eyes just seemed to penetrate right through me. I’m not sure if my mouth was open, like some idiot staring at a chocolate sundae, but one thing I do know, my eyes confidently gazed upon the woman as she stared at me. If I was going to look stupid, at least I wanted to go down having said that I looked her right in the eyes. When our eyes met, I automatically felt a sudden charge of electricity flow right through my body. It was magical. The smoke that saturated the tavern, as well as the men at the table, including that old coot Henry Johnson, just seemed to fade into the background. It appeared as though it was only me and this mystery woman. The only thing I knew about her at this point was that she seemed to belong to Henry in one capacity or another. I wasn’t sure if she was his sister or lover, and I really didn’t much care. I just had this gut instinct inside me that when we locked eyes from across the table that sooner or later she would be mine. I also had that same gut instinct that Henry would be in the way regardless of what her relationship to him was. I felt I was up to the challenge however. That’s what a powerful impact she had on me in what seemed like just a twinkling of an eye. I no longer cared about winning the game, and what had preoccupied my mind before I saw this dream woman, beating Henry Johnson. I only cared about first getting her name, and secondly, trying my best to see if she would go home with me. But I was jumping the gun, I realized that. How would I even get her away from Henry long enough to talk to her? Plus, how would I let her know that I was interested among a tavern full of men? I knew it would be a daunting task to say the least, but I was up for the challenge. My hard work ethic didn’t get me this far to only back down from the eyes of a pretty woman, even though they were so mesmerizing that they were indeed intimidating. I noticed as I was gazing on the woman, that out of my peripheral vision I could see Henry once again reaching down underneath the table, seemingly digging for something in his pocket. I knew the man was up to no good the moment I laid eyes on him. He had that look of pure evil in his eyes, and that menacing grin only added to his already vileness countenance. The thought crossed my mind that he had some cards stashed in his pocket, but I was so enthralled in looking at the woman, especially since she was staring right at me, that I forgot about my suspicions of the old man.

Alright, here we go you bunch of worthless scoundrels, Henry said as he had one arm around the woman while his other arm was holding up his hand of cards. What’s your name, Miss? Douglas suddenly asked the woman. The question seemed to bring the card game to a dead stand still. Don’t answer that, Dear, Henry spoke up as spit came flying from his mouth and through his cigar. The woman glanced down at Henry in a disgusted manner.

I could tell right then that there was friction between her and Henry, Douglas recalled. I knew by her look that she was tired of the old man, and her mannerisms were a dead giveaway. That gave me a sudden burst of hope. I knew right then that I had a chance with her. If she looked disgusted at just a few words from Henry, I knew she was disgusted with much more from him. I felt all alone at the table once those words left my mouth when I asked her name. I knew the other boys were intimated of Henry, and that question posed by me only seemed to distance my playing buddies farther from me. But I didn’t care. I had one goal, and that was the woman who was standing opposite of me. Yes, we were playing for money, and for someone who didn’t have very much, I should have been more involved in the game, especially with such a financial powerhouse like Henry sitting across from me. But that’s why women are so dangerous. You would give up almost everything whenever you thought that you had found the woman that would still your heart. And this is where I found myself as I was eagerly waiting for her response to my question that seemed to stop the heart of the game.

Haley, Haley Myers, the woman replied with a smile directed at Douglas. Henry immediately pushed Haley at her hips and hollered out, Damn you, woman! I thought I told you to shut the hell up! Hey, watch it there! Douglas yelled out as he swiftly stood up from his chair while placing his cards face down on the table. What are you going to do about it? You scrawny, little, good for nothing, blue collar poor white trash, Henry said with a warning from his mouth that seemed to permeate the tavern. Douglas looked over at Haley who was twirling her hair while staring at the floor.

It was quite obvious that her self-esteem had been deflated, Douglas recalled. Just the mere appearance of her, all hunched down with her face hidden from everyone in sight, she had been crushed by the harsh words of that old man. I was infuriated, and as a result, I suddenly found myself standing up to a man who was twice my size. Once again, I was getting a wakeup call at just how dangerous a woman could be. But I was beaming with confidence now that I had a name to go with that beautiful face. I realized however that things were about to get out of hand, and quick. I didn’t know how powerful this man was, all I knew at that point was that he seemed to be wealthy. That should have been enough of a cue for me to back down from him, but he had hurt this woman in whom I was infatuated with, and that’s the only thing that was sitting on the front of my mind.

Sit down, you little toothpick, Henry calmly said to Douglas who was standing there with his hands clinched up into a fist position. Don’t you talk to her like that again, Douglas warned. The other men at the table all scrunched down in their chairs with the bill of their caps facing both Douglas and Henry. Henry stretched out his hand in the direction of Douglas. Or what, what are you going to do about it? What’s your name anyway? he asked. Don’t say your name! Haley shouted out as the question from Henry caused her to suddenly come back out of her shell and propel back upward, now standing straight up. The sudden movement from Haley, as well as what she shouted, caught the attention of Douglas.

Had I known back then what I know now, I would have heeded Haley’s advice and never given that old evil man my name, Douglas recalled. But I just didn’t know how dangerous and vindictive this man truly was at the time when I was standing opposite him in that tavern that evening. I should have noticed the desperation on Haley’s face when Henry asked for my name. I should have been aware of the seriousness in her voice and the panic on her face when she yelled out to me to not give him my name. I should have seen it in her face, the obvious look she gave to indicate to me just how scary this man was. It didn’t dawn on me at that moment that Haley was trapped with this man. The look on her face had the fact that she was being used written all over it. But my emotions had gotten the better of me in that split second he asked me that question. I was just too caught up in the moment to pay any attention to the desperation on Haley’s face, or the utter panic in her voice. Giving him my name would forever change the course of the direction of my life. It’s amazing the little things you can say that will forever impact your life, even when you don’t realize it at the time. Something else happened right at that moment whenever Henry asked me for my name that should have sent off warning bells within my head, something that would happen in addition to Haley’s panicky outburst. Her outburst alone should alone have sent me running for the hills. You would think the two events would have awakened me to just how unstable this man was. But like I said, I was just too caught up in the moment.

Douglas, Douglas Chism is my name, Douglas said with his chest sticking out toward Henry. No! Haley again shouted to Douglas. Shut up, bitch! Henry yelled out in the direction of Haley as he had his hand reared back and ready to cock it on Haley’s body. Douglas sensed that he was going to do just that. He pushed his chair violently back with his legs and started walking in Henry’s direction at a rapid pace around the table, trying to reach Henry before he had the chance to hit Haley. Suddenly a man jumped in front of Douglas before he had the chance to reach Henry. The man placed his hands on Douglas’ chest to stop his forward movement. The man leaned into Douglas and softly spoke in his ear. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into do you, son? the man asked. Douglas leaned back and stared at the man in the eyes. He heard the severity in his voice, now, in looking at him in the eyes, he could see the deep concern that the man had for him. Douglas then looked down at the man’s shirt and noticed the Sherriff’s emblem glistening off the lights of the tavern. Finally, a man with some authority, Douglas thought to himself as he also noticed the gun that the Sherriff was brandishing. Douglas pointed at Henry while he had his other hand on the Sherriff’s shoulder. Sherriff, this man was about to hit this woman over here, Douglas told him. Douglas didn’t more get those words out of his mouth than the Sherriff grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him away from the table. The Sherriff was now face to face with Douglas, with his hand pointing right in Douglas’ face. Son, back off this, you hear me? the Sherriff warned. What are you talking about Sherriff? You’re a man of authority. Do something here, Douglas said. Listen, son, there’s nothing I can do. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Do you get the picture here, the Sherriff said, still with his hand pointing in Douglas’ face. Douglas flailed his arms into the air out of frustration. I don’t get it, he said. Did you give him your name? the Sherriff asked. Yes, Douglas responded. Damn it, son, the Sherriff said as he dropped his head. What? Douglas asked. I’m going to tell you as plain as I know how, son. Leave that man alone, the Sherriff warned. Aren’t you going to do something about this? Douglas asked. Son, I couldn’t if I wanted to, the Sherriff responded.

Like I said, I was thickheaded, Douglas recalled. With two warnings now, one from Haley, and the other from the Sherriff, I still didn’t get the picture. I couldn’t see that the Sherriff was trying his best to protect me, as was Haley. Henry was now enemy number one on my list of people to deal with, at least a person to have thrown out of the tavern, which was my objective on that night. If I could have only seen the signs that were so obviously right in front of my eyes, and it all started over the attraction of a woman, I wouldn’t have gone through all the hell that awaited me. I had made up my mind that evening, which only blinded me to the fact of how dangerous Henry was, Haley was going to be mine. I thought by running to her defense, which was why I leaped from my standing position at the table and marched over to Henry, that I would win her affections. I would win something alright, being a target and the hatred of one man, Henry Johnson.

For your best interest, Douglas, go back to your seat, the Sherriff said. I don’t understand why you won’t do anything, Sherriff. I just don’t understand, Douglas said with a wincing expression on his face. The Sherriff stretched out his arm in the direction of where Douglas had been sitting. Please, Douglas, he urged. Douglas reluctantly walked back to where he had been sitting, but not before giving Henry a mean hearted, glaring look. Henry began laughing so hard that it seem to shake the entire tavern. I figured as much, he said as he removed his cigar and placed it on the table. You son of a bitch! Douglas shouted out as he once again began his march in the direction of where Henry was seated. This time however it wasn’t the Sherriff that stopped Douglas along his journey to the opposite side of the table, it was Haley. The stunned Douglas stopped dead in his tracks as for the first time since laying eyes on Haley, he was now face to face with her, just inches from her face.