Wagon Train Orphan

By David Dockter

Growing up in the west as an orphan was hard but Mike Fagan has to do just that. His father was killed in an Indian massacre in which he and his dog Wolf were the only survivors. With the help of God and friend, he meets along the way Mike fulfills his father's dream and grows into a man along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Sep 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781959165460

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WAGON TRAIN ORPHAN

Copyright © 2022 by David Dockter

Published in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

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Chapter

one

Ma died when I was six and Pa never was quite the same after that. Oh he didn’t take to drink or anything like that, he was just restless. One day the next fall he brought home a rifle for me. It was not like anything that I had ever seen before. It looked like a Kentucky long rifle except it was smaller. He told me Mickey this gun was made especially for a feller just your size. It’s about time you learned to shoot.

All that winter except when I was in school he had me practicing shooting and loading. When the weather was bad I would practice loading in the house. Not really loading it just going through the motions, until I could do it pretty fasts, at least a couple of times a minute. Pa said that that was pretty good but I could still do it faster.

Learning me to shoot and bible reading seemed to be the two things Pa enjoyed most, and I tell you he made sure that I could do both. By the spring of 1849 I was just turning eight, and had read all sixty six books as well as memorized a good chunk of the bible.

The day after I turned eight Pa told me he had sold our farm and we were going to California, to get us some gold. He brought home a Conestoga wagon, and four oxen. He also brought four new pistols; they were a new kind of gun as they could shoot six times without reloading. He called them cap and ball revolvers. Keeping two for himself, he handed me the other two and said, Don’t let anyone see them, but you better use them if there comes a need.

Two weeks later we were packed up and left. Pa let me ride his saddle horse while he drove the wagon. Getting to the Tennessee River Pa hired a raft to take us on to Saint Joe. That is when we met Jim Collins. He had been west before, trapping beaver, but he had come east to spend the money he had made on a good time. Being broke now he was headed back.

Pa asked him how are you going to make it back out there with no outfit and only your rifle?

Oh I will hire onto one of the fur companies they will supply the outfit. Only thing is you can’t make much that way as they take a big chunk of your pelts.

We are headed for the gold fields of California,Pa told him, you look like an honest man to me, why don’t you come along with us?

I would like to Luke but I can’t afford an outfit.

Pa told him,Look I need another driver and you have experience in the country we will be going through, come with us. It will be good for both of us. I will pick up another saddle horse in Saint Joe and we’ll be on our way to getting rich.

Let me sleep on it Luke I will let you know in the morning.

Hey son that’s a pretty big pistol you are trying to hide there, let me see it.

No sir and I am not your son. Only one that can see my guns is Pa. I don’t know what I thought he would say or do but I didn’t expect him to laugh.

Good boy never give up your weapons to anyone. Luke you’ve a right smart boy here.

Looking over to Pa I said,sorry Pa I thought they were out of sight.

That’s ok you will just have to try harder, he said. Then he started in on his favorite bible book Proverbs. A wise man takes correction and learns from it. A fool gets angry and does not take correction.

Always liked Proverbs myself, Jim said. There are a lot of good words there to live by. Just remember not all people out here especially the Indians will believe that way. Oh they have their Great Sprit, but it’s not the same. Where we have the commandments to guide us, they have no such thing. Stealing from the enemy is looked at as good, but they won’t steal from their own. Murder is also good, with most tribes you can’t be considered a man until you’ve taken a scalp or stolen some horses in a raid. To them the word for stranger and enemy are the same. They are not bad people really just have a different way of looking at things. The one thing they respect is courage. I know a man that rode up on a raiding party once. They had not seen him or he them until they was right on each other. Well my friend started singing one of the old Welsh ballads and rode straight through them. He said that he didn’t know if his singing paralyzed them or what, but they let him ride on and keep his hair. Yep those savages do respect courage in a man.

Well let’s hope we don’t meet up with any, Pa said.

Getting back to the boy, the guns look like dragoons only their not quite as big. What are they?

Holding his hand out Pa said let me have it Mike. So I did. A man I know took the design and made these; I don’t know what you call them. They don’t buck as much as a dragoon. You can change the cylinders faster too.

They sure are a thing of beauty Luke, but the boy will never keep them hidden like that. Some pole cat will try to take them from him. Do you have any extra canvas in that wagon of yours?

Yeah I do, why?

I’ve got an idea how he can keep them under cover.

Pa got the canvas sailcloth out and Jim said, Give me your shirt Mike I need a pattern. So I shucked my shirt and handed it to him. Laying it on the canvas he marked around it with a piece of charcoal. Then he cut it out with his knife. Now Jims knife was what we called a Bowie knife, invented by Jim Bowie who had died in Texas in 1836, A foot long, two inches wide, sharp enough to shave with and as deadly as any blade ever made.

Well sir after he had cut it out I could see he was making some kind of vest. He reached into a pouch that he carried on his belt and came out with a needle and thread. Learned to sew from my Pa, he was a sail maker in Boston. IT comes in handy sometimes. I’ve stitched up clothes and people time to time, Jim said. Come over Mike and pay attention you might need to do this someday. I could tell he knew what he was doing, his hands were as quick and nimble at it as any woman I’ve ever seen. In no time he had it all sewn together and hemmed up.

Then he laid it out and, Mike I know I asked you before to see your guns, but I need them to mark out a holster for them.

I looked over to Pa and he nodded, so I handed Jim my pistols. Marking a piece of sailcloth for each one he gave them back. Jim stitched that cloth to the inside flap of the vest, and then sewed a pocket on the outside to cover the stitching. Last thing after I tried it on he put a tie on it just low enough that I was able to reach inside and grab the handle grips of my guns. The whole thing was a little bulky, but I was big for my age and it just made me look a little heavier.

After thanking Jim, Pa said, that sure was a nice vest and it does keep his pistols undercover.

Even the man who owned the raft agreed. I don’t always hold to younkers like him toting a gun, he told Pa, but that is a nice rig for it.

Two days later we pulled ashore early in order to make camp for the night, There is a rough stretch ahead, the rafter said. I don’t want to be caught on it in the dark. We will just wait until the morning.

Sitting around and talking after we had a bite to eat pa asked the rafter, what are you going to do when they got to Saint Joe.

Sell my raft and wait for my boys they are bringing three more rafts, and then we are headed to California.

Well about that time nature called so I went into the woods a little ways. I could still here the men talk. What’s this I’ve been hearing about river pirates, Jim asked?

They are around but I have never been bothered and this is my third trip this year.

Well what do you know third time’s the charm, a strange voice said. Just sit still I don’t want to shoot you yet, at least not till I have all of your valuables. That is a right nice wagon and oxen ought to bring a good price in Saint Joe. What else you got?

Now Pa had preached at me for over a year to always have my rifle with me, even now it had become second nature almost like it was a part of me.

I heard Pa say Not much.

Looking through the brush I saw that the river pirate was a big man, he stood at least six inches over Pa, and Pa was six foot in his sox’s, and he was broad enough to make both Pa and Jim. Off to either side I could see two more of them pirates keeping pa and the others under the cover of their rifles’ just to make sure.

The big man said, I am going to kill you all three and through your bodies in the river no one will ever know.

By then I had started cat footing it up behind the big man, what kept the other two from seeing me I don’t know. They were looking at the three by the raft and keeping them covered. Pa had seen me and was snaking one of his pistol out on his shadow side, so the pirates really couldn’t see it either.

Suddenly one of the other pirates yells Curley behind you! Well I shot then, as big as he was at that range he was dead before he hit the ground.

Pa and Jim had got the other two.

The raft man said, That boy of yours is mighty quick to shoot aint he?

Is when there is a need to be. Pa said.

Pa read over the dead men and said We will take them with us into Saint Joe and let the sheriff take care of them. Don’t feel bad Mike you had to do it. Just don’t ever get where you think it is fun or you just don’t care. Let’s hope and pray that you never have to do it again."

Alright Pa,that was the first man I ever killed, but sadly it would not be my last.

Chapter

two

A week later we arrived in Saint Joe. By that time them Pirates were getting pretty ripe I tell you. The sheriff identified them as known pirates with a price on their heads. He told Pa that it would take a few days to get the money. And in the mean time we could keep their weapons and other truck.

When the sheriff left I asked Pa Isn’t that blood money?

Yes Mike it is but if we hadn’t of killed them they would have killed us, and sold our stuff. That would have been blood money too, our blood. Now people are safer on the river with fewer scoundrels. Mike wherever we go someone will try to take things from others, as long as they can get away with it. The job of decent God fearing folks is to protect the weaker ones and stop ternary. That is how these United States were formed. Where we are going is not the United States, but it is up to us to bring the principles of justice and liberty with us.

Curley had a Bowie knife like Jim’s, Jim said that it should be mine and Pa agreed. The rest of their stuff we were able to sell, except we kept the best rifle.

Pa said, You never know when an extra loaded rifle would come in handy. This rifle was shorter than Pa’s and not a well made, but still it was in good shape.

Jim took his share of the plunder and disappeared for ten days. When he came back he was riding on a horse with a saddle and some other things.

I Traded an Indian for the horse. I know Luke you said that you would get another one but a man just needs a horse of his own. I got that Indian to through this in to boot, reaching into a bag that he had tied to his saddle he pulled out a pup. He is part wolf and part Indian dog, Mike he is yours if it is ok with your Pa."

Pa said it is alright, but he is your responsibility I don’t have time to take care of a pup.

Now that pup looked more like a wolf than a dog the only difference being a white blaze ran down his face.

What you going to call it, Jim asked?

Why I think His name will be Wolf, I said. So Wolf joined us he was not much good for anything except company at first, but as he grew I was ever so glad to have him.

While we waited on the bounty money, Jim found a piece of board somewhere and used it for target practice with his knives. He would through his Bowie Knife and stick it every time. Then he would pull another knife that he wore down the back of his neck and stick it.

I was watching him when he asked, want to try it? So I took out my Bowie knife and tried, I hit the board, but handle first.

No no, Jim said, come over here. Take it like this and follow through.

After a while I was beginning to get the hang of it and was sticking it more than I was missing it. Then Jim showed me his neck knife, it was a flat blade with no handle except for the shank.

This is made for throwing, and is just a little extra when you need it. Sometimes Mike it does not make any sense to let folks know everything it can pay to have the difference.

When the sheriff finally borough the bounty money out he told Pa, That fifteen hundred dollars is a lot of money. Those pirates had friends here in Saint Joe and they know you have it. Be careful and leave as soon as you can.

Pa told him We will leave day after tomorrow, there is a wagon train leaving then.

That is good news, but be careful until then. The sheriff replied.

After he left Pa gave Jim his share and told me he would keep mine with his. Pa had hollowed out a spot in the wagon bed where he kept our money; if you did not know it was there you would never find it.

Pa asked, before we leave Mike is there anything you want?

I told him I would like a neck knife like Jim’s.

Pa laughed and said let’s go and find one then.

There was a gunsmith in town that also made some good knives. He had two of them throwing knives made up, so Pa bought them both.

Don’t sell many of those but I like to keep a couple on hand, The smith said. Most folks just think they are toys or something.

Pa told him These are not toys and people that treat them as such are stupid.

I like that now I do. I have something else that you might be interested in. While pulling out two double barreled derringers out from under the case to show Pa. These are 45 caliber just like your sidearm there, and can be carried in either your boot of your pocket.

Pa and the smith dickered back and forth for a bit, upshot was he bought both of them and another hundred rounds of cap and ball.

Back at the wagon Jim was gone so Pa gave me my neck knife and one of them derringers saying, Now Mike we are a heavily armed as an army. We are the Fagan army.

Pa left me with the wagon, telling me that he had some more business to take care of but he would be back soon. I was waiting and playing with Wolf. That pup found an old piece of leather somewhere and we were playing tug of war with it, all of a sudden he growled a ferocious growl.

I heard behind me, "Alright kid get your hands up in the air!

Raising my hands and slowly turning around there stood a man almost as big as Curley had been and he was holding a pistol on me. You and yours killed my brother, Curley weren’t much good but no one is going to get rich on blood money for him. Where is it kid?"

I I don’t know, I stammered.

Look kid I know it was you that shot my brother, that rafter can’t keep his mouth shut. He is telling everybody. So I think I will just cut you up some until you talk.

Pulling out the twin to the Bowie knife that I now carried and holstering his pistol he started towards me. Wolf picked that moment to attack biting the man’s leg.He tried to kick Wolf and that gave me a second when his eyes were not on me. I drew that neck knife and threw it.

First time but I guess my practice with Jim helped a lot. It stuck right into his heart. I had killed my second man and it was only four months past my eighth birthday.

Felling sick I was bent over and throwing up when Pa and Jim both appeared out of nowhere. It’s alright, Pa said. He came looking for it. He was pretty much a coward in my book going after a kid, but just like David slew Goliath so did you slay him.

I told you sometimes having the difference makes all the difference, but I never expected you to need it so quick, Jim said.

I was checking Wolf over to make sure that he hadn’t been hurt when the sheriff arrived. That’s Curley’s brother, there are no papers on him but there ought to be. I warned you that something like this might happen. There is enough witness to prove self-defense so the boy is in the clear, here is his knife. Take his pistol and Bowie, but you leave town not day after tomorrow but by morning, or there might be more of this.

We are leaving sheriff within the hour. Do these two have anymore kin that might come calling?

Not that I know of but they did have a lot of friends so keep your eyes peeled.

We will, Pa said taking the Bowie from the sheriff. Looking at it his face clearly showed that he was shocked. Mike let me see that Bowie you are packing. Giving it to him he turned them both over and over.

Anything wrong, the sheriff asked?

Sure is, you see these marks on the blades HF, that is my uncles mark. He passed a few years ago but made these for his boys. See here, LF and MF on the handles. That is for Mark Fagan and Laurence Fagan, my cousins. They went west last year; I was hoping to meet up with them in California. Guess they never made it. Mike we really are the Fagan army, all that is left of it anyway.

The sheriff said, Well I’ll be at least there are back with the family now. Not that you are not good people but I will be glad to see you on your way,too much excitement following you.

Ok sheriff, I get your point. Hitch up the wagon Mike and let’s get started. The sheriff stood by while we loaded up and waved goodbye to me as we left Saint Joe.

Chapter

THREE

Once we were outside of Saint Joe Pa said, "I planned on leaving tonight anyway. That’s where I went I was talking to the wagon master and making arrangements to meet the train at their first nights stop.

Good idea, Jim said, but let’s be sure to keep an eye on our back trail. I will scout around. Let Mike keep watch out of the back while you drive Luke.

Good idea, Pa answered.

After Jim had ridden off a ways I got to thinking, Pa this here extra rifle, do you think we could fix it like the moneybox and hide it under the wagon bed?

Whatever made you think of that?

Well it’s kind of like our neck knives and derringers, it never pays to let people see everything.

Now that is some right smart thinking son, when we make camp we will work on it.

By dark we were ten miles out of town. The road was in good shape and we had a full moon so Pa said that we would keep going for a while. The wagon master had planned to make thirty miles the first day. Not all days would be that good, some days we would be lucky to make five and some days we would make camp still in sight of our last camp.

When the moon had set we reached the spot where we were to meet the other wagons and made camp.

Jim came in, I didn’t spot anyone following us but I think it would be a good idea to keep watch.

You are right, Pa answered. Mike can you stay awake for a couple of more hours and take the first one?

Now all boys at that time wanted to be men and handle a man’s job. Pa had always given me responsibilities that some claimed that I was too young for, so I was egger to prove that I could handle a man’s job. Of course I can Pa.

Good boy, wake me in a couple of hours and I will take the next one. Keep Wolf with you he will hear more than you can.

I will take the last one before dawn, Jim said. That will be the time they will try it if they do.

I would like to say that that first watch was easy, but it had been a long day and was near midnight. It was a powerful struggle to stay awake. I had to keep moving around stopping by the fire every so often to get some coffee that