Winter Rescue at the Line Shack

 by Danielle N.

Chapter 1        

Darkness. That’s all she saw. Where am I? She faintly remembered a scuffle, maybe? Then, it clicked. She shuddered at the memory.

✯

“Caroline, wake up! I need to get to the train station. You’re going to come help me today, remember?” 18-year-old Caroline groaned jokingly and sprang up to hug her father. She was so excited! She finally got to help him at the Visalia Train Depot! She dressed a simple cotton skirt and a woolen sweater. Then, she grabbed her boots and raced down the stairs. Mother smiled and handed her a small pail.

“Here’s your lunch, Caroline. Have fun!”

Soon, father and Caroline were in the buggy from their town of Merced to Visalia. Father permitted her to drive the buggy, which was being pulled by Caroline’s red roan mare, Sunset. She was having the time of her life! But as they were on their way to the depot, he revealed something to her that would change that life forever.

He pulled a small bag out of his coat pocket and pulled Sunset to a stop.

“Caroline, I need you to stay by me the whole time we’re at the depot. This bag is full of valuable gold dust, which I need to hand off to some businessman from back east. If anyone knows about this, it could mean trouble. I need you to be careful, alright?” He smiled reassuringly, but Caroline sensed some uncertainty in his voice.

“Yes, father.” She gave him a worried look. Father chuckled and tugged on her single blonde braid.

“I don’t think anything is going to happen, but I just want to be safe.” They got to the depot, and Caroline put up Sunset in a livery nearby. She returned to father, looking around cautiously.

They spent the afternoon hauling people’s baggage into the baggage car through the valley’s winter fog. It was fun, because Caroline got to do it with father. He never had much time for her, late deadlines and early morning trains kept him most times. But when they got to do things together, it was special.

“Mr. Slater!” One of the train conductors stopped father, and he turned his back to talk to him.

Out of the corner of her eye, Caroline saw a shadow lurking behind one of the trains. She was about to shout a warning to father, when she heard a gun’s deadly report. Father slumped to the ground as the conductor took off.

Caroline ran to him just as the shadow leaped out and reached into father’s coat.

“NO!” But it was too late. She jumped for him and tried to pry the bag out of his hands without spilling any of the precious dust.

He shook Caroline off and she hit her head on the train tracks.

 

Chapter 2

 

That’s all Caroline remembered until she woke up. A shadow moved, and she scooted to the far corner of the small space. As her eyes adjusted, she saw that she was in a small line shack, and three men were sitting around a table in the corner opposite her. One of them was the man that attacked Caroline’s father. He was scruffy, with brown hair, dark eyes, and an ill-fitting coat. The second was the conductor that stopped father. The third man looked curiously familiar. He had sandy hair, blue eyes and was wearing very fancy clothes.  

As soon as the scruffy-looking man saw she was awake, he grabbed a length of rope and tied her wrists behind her back. Caroline resisted, but he was too strong.

“That should keep ya’ out of trouble for now.” He laughed evilly and returned to his seat. Caroline twisted and squirmed, trying to find a comfortable position. But something made her stop and stare at the man in the fancy clothes. Who is he? She tried to remember where she’d seen him.

Then, it hit her. John?  Was her childhood friend really there, all the way from San Francisco? Why was he here? Was he in league with the other men? Caroline had so many questions, and no way to get the answers.

As she watched him, he got up, turned around, and walked toward some low shelves on the wall next to Caroline. He bent down, and quietly dropped a piece of paper onto her lap. Then, he rummaged through some burlap bags on the shelf, and pulled out a stack of greenbacks.

 

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

He caught Caroline’s eye and winked discreetly at her. She gave a sigh of relief. John was not one of the bad guys! She tried to peek at the burlap bags on the shelf. To her surprise, Tulare County Bank was stamped in bold letters on each of the bags! It must have been from the bank robbery a few weeks ago! The sheriff and his posse had gone looking for the robbers, but they had lost all trace of them.

Caroline caught the two other men glaring at her.

“Oh great, she’s seen em’,” the scruffy man grumbled.

“Don’t worry,” the conductor said, “it won’t make a difference anyhow. She’ll stay here and keep house for us. Or, I should say, keep shack for us. When can you find more suitable lodgings for us, Jed? It stinks like a pigpen in here.”

“Oh, hush your face. You should be grateful ya’ have any place to stay.” Jed came over and squatted in front of her. He put his finger under her chin and looked Caroline in the eye. She tried to return his gaze without a hint of fear.

“So, you’re Slater’s daughter. Git up an’ fix us some grub. We’re half-starved.”

Caroline wasn’t about to obey this crude man. She glared at him and scooted backwards as far as she could go.

“You’re an uppity one, huh?  Never mind. We’ll teach ya’.”  He cut Caroline’s ropes with his pocketknife and pushed her towards the cupboard.

“Fix us some grub now and be quick about it. We’re hungry.” She glared at him and started to make some biscuits, knowing she had no choice.

 

Chapter 3

 

The next few days passed like this, and Caroline wondered when John would hatch his plan to get them out of here. It sure was taking him long enough. One day, she was sweeping the cabin, when a young man a little older than her walked in and sat at the small round table with the other three men.

“Ah, Micah. You’re here.” The conductor, who Caroline had learned was named Joe, stood up and shook his hand. “Caroline, meet Micah, my son and your fiancé.” He smiled broadly and clapped Micah on the back.

“What?” Caroline gasped and froze in horror. My fiancé? They’re going to make me marry this man? John also looked shocked.

In desperation, she cried “John, no! Help me!” The three men looked at her.

“Who is John?” Joe narrowed his eyes at Caroline. He glanced over at the other men and glared at Jed.

“You’re the imposter!” He cried. Jed looked frightened. He put his hands up to defend himself.

“N-no, I swear, I’m not!” Joe whirled around and grabbed John, before he could reach the door.

“So, it’s you! Well, we can lock him in the back room.” The three men dragged John into the back room and locked the door. Caroline could hear thumping around and a groan now and then. She slumped to the ground and sobbed. When the men came out, Caroline tried to see into the room, but they slammed the door before she could. They grabbed chairs and sat around the table, discussing what they should do next.

Joe and Jed went to get supplies and left Caroline with Micah.

“So, you’re the gal Father set up for me.” He looked her up and down while she scrubbed the floor.

“You’re not too bad, you’re actually kinda nice-looking. Come on, Father and that Hatton fella are gone. Let’s go have some fun in town.” Micah grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door.

Caroline resisted, but before Micah could get her outside, there was a loud crash behind the cabin, and the leaves began to rustle, coming nearer and nearer. Micah let go of her arm and started on the run down the narrow trail, desperate to get away from whatever was coming. He tripped and fell on a tree stump, and John appeared around the corner of the house. He raced over to Micah with a yell, and lit into him, but it wasn’t necessary. Micah was out cold. He had hit his head on a rock.

Caroline stood rooted to the spot. Her lips trembled, and she shivered in the winter valley air. John looked over and smiled at her, then grimaced. Caroline noticed for the first time that John had bruises all over his face, a black eye, and numerous cuts and scrapes. She gasped and ran to hug him.

They embraced for a moment, when they heard footsteps coming around the bend in the trail. Joe and Jed were coming!

 

Chapter 4

John dragged Micah behind some foliage then looked around wildly, trying to spot some cover.

“Over there, by those bushes!” Caroline pointed out some large bushes by the side of the trail. They ducked behind them just as Joe and Jed rounded the bend.

They were laughing, and Jed was chewing a hunk of tobacco. Joe was carrying a burlap sack of what looked like to be supplies. Caroline shuddered and scooted closer to John.

“You play a mean game o’ cards, Jed,” Joe was saying, “those others were sore losers. Better watch your back!” Jed laughed his warning off, and the two entered the cabin.

John and Caroline saw their chance to escape. They crept along, ducking under bushes and behind trees until they were a good distance from the cabin. When they heard a shout, they knew their absence had been discovered. Joe and Jed would soon be on their tail.

Caroline ran as fast as she could, ducking under tree branches, and pushing shrubs aside. Her legs and arms were covered in scrapes, but she was grateful for her boots. A light snow began to fall, but she paid no heed. Caroline and John were out of breath when they reached the town. John was about to pay for the stage when Caroline motioned for him to follow her.

They crept into the livery and Caroline quietly saddled Sunset and mounted up. John left some money for Sunset’s care, then mounted behind Caroline. They galloped away, just as Jed and Joe burst out of the woods, gaping in disbelief as the pair left them in the dust.

Caroline didn’t look back. She laughed with tears streaming down her face as she rode Sunset over the rough road towards Merced.  I’m free!

When they reached her home, the first thing Caroline saw was her mother hanging laundry on the line. She had a blank, listless expression on her face, and lines were etched on her pale cheeks from weeks of worry and grief. At first, she didn’t look up.

“Mother, I’m home! I’m home!” Caroline jumped off Sunset and ran to embrace her. Mrs. Slater stared for a moment, before gasping and being smothered by her daughter’s enthusiasm. Sobbing with relief, she collapsed in Caroline’s arms, and John picked Mrs. Slater up and carried her inside as if she was as light as a feather. 

When they had recovered from the joy of being reunited, they were met with dark news. Mr. Slater had died on the way to the hospital. Mrs. Slater told Caroline that her father’s last few minutes had been spent whispering an old German hymn that they often used to sing together by the fire at night.

 

A mighty fortress is our God

A bulwark never failing

Our helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe

His wrath and power are great

And armed with cruel hate

On earth is not his equal.

 

When she had regained her composure, Caroline knew that her father was not alone, he was with Him, their Helper.

 

 

Chapter 5

 

A few weeks later, it was spring, and Caroline and John were taking a walk around a small lake nearby. Thomas, Caroline’s 4-year-old brother, skipped ahead of them in the warm sunshine. Caroline and John talked and laughed about when they were young, and Caroline’s family had lived in Visalia.

John stopped and motioned for Caroline to sit with him in the grass. He smiled and began to speak.

“I know you’re probably still wondering why I was with those men back there. I had come back to visit my folks in Visalia, and the sheriff there asked me if I could help them track down the guys who robbed the bank. He wanted someone who didn’t live in town and wouldn’t be recognized by the robbers. I couldn’t turn them down, so I began searching.

I eventually found them and won their trust. That’s about the time you showed up. I knew about their plans to steal the gold dust, but I didn’t know it involved killing anyone. When they came back with the gold dust and a pretty girl however, everything changed. The goal was now to get you out unscathed. I planned carefully, but everything fell to pieces when Micah showed up.”

“But how did you get out of the cabin?” Caroline asked.

“There was a fairly big window in there, so I just knocked the glass out with a chair and crawled through.”

“Thank you for doing that for me.” Caroline smiled shyly at him and watched as Thomas splashed in the lake.

“Oh, it was nothing.” John looked away and started pulling apart some blades of grass. He swallowed, unsure of himself, then turned back around and looked into Caroline’s blue eyes.

“Caroline, I’ve been wanting to ask you this for a long time now.” He paused, then continued.

“I’ve already spoken with your mother, and I have his permission. Will you…”

“Yes!” Caroline almost shouted. John chucked.

“I guess you consent! Let’s go let your mother know the good news.” He beamed as he helped his soon-to-be wife up and they walked together towards the house, with a tired Thomas following behind.

✯

A few weeks later, Mrs. Caroline Acton smiled as she walked about her new house. It wasn’t home yet, but with some touches here and there, it soon would feel cozy and inviting. She spied a newspaper on the dining room table and picked it up. The headline blazed across the top:

 

Bank Robbers Caught!

 

This week, some men who robbed the Tulare County Bank were captured in a line shack a few miles from Visalia. Joe Williams, Micah Williams, and Jed Hatton are now in custody. Caroline Acton, daughter of Silas (deceased) and Emily Slater, was captured by the robbers, but has been returned safely home by John Acton, her new husband. He also risked his life by helping the Visalia Sheriff capture the bank robbers. The third robber, Jed Hatton, was captured but escaped to a schoolhouse in the town of Fresno. He captured Andrea Carter, the daughter of James (deceased) and Elizabeth Carter. She also bravely risked her life for one of her schoolmates. He made off with her, but after she received a serious gunshot wound, he was captured and is now returned to custody.

 

Caroline smiled. Justice had been served.