Angel of Mercy: Calamity Jane?

By Gladys Swedak

I wrote this to answer questions I had after reading one line while researching smallpox: Calamity Jane saved six men from smallpox at the white rock cabin. There were no answers to my questions, who, how, why, so I answered those questions including others I had. That is the fiction as there are facts about her also.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889601050

Book preview

cover.jpg

Angel of Mercy: Calamity Jane?

Gladys Swedak

Copyright © 2024 Gladys Swedak

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-88960-094-7 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-105-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

About the Author

To all who used their precious time to help with Angel of Mercy: Calamity Jane? thank you. I realize I promised you all a personal thank you but over the years there are too many of you to name but you know who you are, I will keep you all in my heart with love and appreciation.

Thank you all because without your help Angel of Mercy would not be what it is.

It took all of us to write this story.

Also thank you Page Publishing for their part in getting Angel of Mercy to the public.

Thank you all for your help

—Gladys.

Chapter 1

M artha Jane, Frank, call your horses and get the bridles from the barn, Robert's voice called from the coral.

Is it time, Pa? Is it really time now? Ten-year-old Martha Jane Cannary asked excitedly. Can we ride today?

Not today, sugar, Pa said, but go and get the bridles.

Martha Jane and her brother, Frank, a year younger, went to the barn and whistled for their ponies, Chocolate and Biscuit. They got the bridles they had made out of rawhide and returned to where their father waited.

As Martha Jane and Frank came out of the barn, Chocolate nuzzled Martha Jane's hand, wanting his treat. Martha Jane put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a carrot. Biscuit did the same to Frank.

Now, Pa said, take the scarf off your ponies' necks and put the bridles on. Lead them around the yard for a few minutes.

Martha Jane and Frank did as they were told, then led the ponies around the yard, showing off to their younger brother, Willie, and sister, Lottie.

See, Martha Jane said. When you are old enough, you can do this too.

Then Pa said, Let them go now, back to the field.

But, Pa, Martha Jane pleaded, you said we— She had been waiting a whole long year to ride her pony, Chocolate. Pa had told them that when the horses were two years old and she was ten, she could learn to ride.

No, I didn't, Pa said. You asked and I said not today. I've told you over the years that this would take time. You want Chocolate to love you and, if necessary, give his life to save you.

Martha Jane reached up and hugged the two-year-old's sleek brown neck and kissed his soft muzzle and whispered. I don't want you to give your life for me, she said, but I would give mine for you. I'll be your guardian angel. I think that is what Pa means when he talks about love. She released him and let him follow Biscuit into the field.

Pa continued explaining to his children about taking time with the training. You can't make them your friend by throwing a saddle on their backs and riding them until they stop fighting. That is just an ordinary riding horse. Anyone can do that.

Like the horses you train for the Army? Martha Jane asked. They just want riding horses.

That's right, sugar. The Army just wants horses to ride. Time for you to help your mother with dinner. Frank, come with me.

Martha Jane went into the kitchen where her mother was stirring the stew for dinner. Can I help, Mama? she asked.

Yes, dear, Mama said. You can get some butter from the churn. It should be ready to use now. Then get the soda buns out of the warming oven.

Are we having school after dinner? Martha Jane asked.

Yes, dear, Mama said. Tell me what you remember from yesterday's lesson.

Martha Jane recited the sentences she had learned the day before. "Ma, why did you teach us the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog? It seems like such a silly sentence."

Well, Martha Jane, think about it. It has every letter of the alphabet in it, doesn't it? It helps you with your handwriting. You get to write every letter in one sentence.

Yes, it does! Martha Jane said in amazement.

Go call your father and brother for dinner. Mama turned toward the living room, where Willie had just come in and sat down with his baby sister, Lottie. Willie, wash Lottie's hands and bring her to the table for dinner, please.

It was another long week of waiting for Martha Jane and Frank, but now they were riding their horses. Charlotte taught her daughter to ride her sidesaddle. That was a treat for Martha Jane, as she was the only one to ride the polished leather and silver saddle.

You have to take care of it, Mama told her. Remember that the other girls will want to learn, too, when they are old enough. You will have to share it.

Yes, Mama, I know, but for now, it's mine. Riding sidesaddle is completely different from riding astride.

Yes, dear, it is, Mama said. You don't have a leg on either side of the horse as you do when you ride astride. With the sidesaddle, you have both legs on the left side of the horse with one knee hooked over the pommel, which is the only hold you have to the saddle. It is the only way ladies ride in the east when they ride a horse. It is too hard to ride astride in a long skirt.

That's funny, Mama, Martha Jane laughed, thinking of her mother in a long skirt riding astride a horse. Did you ride this saddle when you were my age?

No, dear, my father, your grandfather, gave that saddle to me on my sixteenth birthday. He thought it was time I learned to ride like a lady, not the tomboy I was. I would ride with my skirt up around me knees, and Papa didn't like it. He didn't think that was very ladylike.

You never told us about your pa. What was he like, Mama? Martha Jane said as she lovingly put the sidesaddle away.

Well, dear, Mama said, my pa was a caring, loving man, who believed in learning by doing. If you made a mistake, you would learn from it and not make the same mistake again. Her eyes misted over for a minute.

Mama, are you all right? Martha Jane asked.

Yes, dear. I was just thinking of your grandfather and how much he would have loved you, your brothers, and your sisters. How much I love him still. He died before I married your father. She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief as she walked toward the house and said, Come, dear, it is time to start dinner.

Chapter 2

Charlotte's Death

Acouple of months before her fourteenth birthday, in 1866, Martha Jane was showing her sister, Lottie, how to sit in a sidesaddle.

Grace was watching from the other side of the fence. When is it my turn to learn, Martha Jane? she asked.

When you are ten years old, Grace, Martha Jane said, looking up at Wendy, who was only eight but had persisted until Martha Jane gave in and let her sit in the saddle. Maybe in two years, you can sit in the saddle like Lottie is doing now.

The girls were just taking the saddle off the pony when their father called from the house. Martha Jane, come here, please.

Yes, Pa, she said. Is it, Mama? She hasn't been feeling well lately.

Right, sugar. That is why I called you in. I've got to go to town for supplies and need you to look after things while I'm away.

Yes, Pa, Martha Jane said and followed him out into the barn, where her brothers, Frank and Willie, were letting the cows out into the field after the milking.

You boys are doing a good job taking care of the cows, he said as he hitched the horses to the wagon. You can do as well while I'm away. Don't worry about the cattle in the field. They will be fine. Just keep an eye on them. The five children stood, looking at their father.

Frank and Willie said, Yes, Pa, we can do it while you are gone.

Their big shaggy bear of a dog, Bad Boy, who had black-and-brown patches and a white bib that ran from under his chin down his front legs ending in dirty-white feet, bounded into the barn and nuzzled Pa's hand. Keep an eye on them for me, Bad Boy, he said as he patted the dog's head. He then turned to his children and said, Listen to him. He will warn you if anything is wrong. If he barks angrily, get the gun, but be sure you see what you're shooting at. Don't shoot until you see what it is. Remember what I taught you about shooting. I don't want you to shoot a neighbor by mistake.

Yes, Pa, Martha Jane and her brothers said together.

She was anxious and scared that she couldn't handle what Pa was asking her to do. Mama usually helped when Pa was away, but this time, she was in bed and had been for most of this pregnancy. Martha Jane was very happy to have Bad Boy.

They watched their father get in the wagon. Be back in a few days. I have faith in all of you. He slapped the horses with the reins and drove out of the yard.

The children waved to their father as he drove away. Gloria, Lottie, and Sara stood behind their brothers and sister.

Sara, who was four years old, asked, Where is Pa going? When will he be back?

Martha Jane gave her little sister a quick hug. He went into town and will be home in three or four sleeps. Now let's get to the work we have to do. The busier we are, the faster the days will go! Martha Jane said, hoping that would be true for her as well.

Frank called Bad Boy to go with him, and Sara asked, Martha Jane, why does everyone call the dog Bad Boy? He isn't a bad boy. He is a good boy.

Martha Jane laughed, as she remembered the tiny puppy her father had brought home shortly after he had bought the farm. You see, honey, when Pa brought Bad Boy home, he would get into everything he wasn't supposed to. Mama would shake her finger at him and say, ‘You're a bad boy.' Or she would say, ‘Bad boy, stop that,' or ‘Don't do that.' We hadn't come up with a better name, so it became his name.

Sara wiggled loose of her sister's hold and said, You mean like when I do something wrong, Mama says I'm a bad girl, but she loves me anyway?

Yes, that is right, Sara, Martha Jane said as she went into to check on her mother.

With the work that had to be done and looking after Mama, the day went by very fast. When Martha Jane went to bed, she prayed that the next few days would go just as fast.

It was later that night that Bad Boy's barking woke the children. Martha Jane called to Frank, Are you awake? Let's go and see what he is barking at. Oh, I wish Pa was here.

They went down the ladder, Frank first. Martha Jane said to her sisters, who were sitting up in bed, You girls, stay put. We'll be right back. Willie, you watch them.

Martha Jane, their mother called from her room as Frank took the rifle from the pegs above the door.

You go to Mother, Frank said as he went out. Bad Boy, where are you?

Martha Jane went into her mother's bedroom. Everything is okay. Frank has gone to see what's bothering Bad Boy.

A few minutes later, Frank came in, replaced the rifle, and went in to his mother's room. Just a fox or coyote wanting a late-night snack, but Bad Boy chased it away.

You children, go back to bed. Bad Boy will be on guard, and everything will be fine, their mother said. Martha Jane, may I have a glass of water, please. My throat is so dry.

Yes, Mama, Martha Jane said as she went into the kitchen and got a glass of water and handed it to her mother.

Good night again, Mama, Martha Jane said as she took the glass back into the kitchen and went back up the ladder to her bed.

The next day after morning chores were finished and breakfast dishes were put away, Martha Jane had just finished washing the floor and was thinking about making lunch when her mother called, Martha Jane, come here.

What is it, Mama? Martha Jane asked as she went into the bedroom.

The baby. I can't sit. I can't stand or lie comfortably for the pain. It is too early, Ma said as she lifted herself off the bed with difficulty. Oh, that hurts. She put her hand to her abdomen.

Martha Jane put her arm around her mother's waist and supported her as they walked around the bedroom. Mama, what should I do? I don't know what to do.

Everything will be all right, dear. Don't worry, Ma said in a calming voice, then winced as another pain grabbed her. We can manage as we have before.

But, Mama, Martha Jane said, it's too early for the baby to come. I'm scared.

As they walked, the pain increased, and