Go West, Young Man by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2021-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Leaving the treacherous Green River crossing early the next morning, the wagon train followed a distinct trail left by countless wagons before them. It led in a generally southwest direction as they headed for Fort Bridger. It took four days and part of a fifth day before they reached the former fur-trading post on Black’s Fork of the Green River. Consisting of a few crude log buildings, surrounded by a picket wall, plastered with dried mud, the post was now a critical stop for emigrants on the Oregon Trail. For Fort Bridger provided a source for depleted supplies as well as repairs for those wagons in need of them. The fort, now operated by the army, showed ample evidence of the Mormon uprising against the Union in what was known as the Utah War. Much of the original fort that Jim Bridger built had been burned to the ground. For the few people in Clayton Scofield’s wagon train who even knew about the short war, Scofield had assured them that it had all been settled a couple of years before the present day. There were several wagons needing the blacksmith’s attention, but since they arrived early in the day, Scofield felt they could get that finished and be ready to start again in the morning. It would still allow for a good rest for people and horses.

For Cal Nixon, Fort Bridger offered an opportunity to find a card game. He would have preferred a higher-stakes game, but in lieu of that, he was not opposed to relieving some of the soldiers of their army pay. Once he had set up the small tent that he brought from his wagon and turned his horses out with the others in the center of the train, he walked over to the sutler’s store. It wasn’t necessary to go inside the store, for he almost bumped into a young soldier on his way out. “Pardon me, soldier, I just rode in with that wagon train. Where can a fellow get a drink of whiskey on the post?”

“You can’t get one on the post,” the soldier answered. “You have to go to Shorty’s.” He motioned for Cal to follow him and walked out in the road in front of the building and pointed toward the river. “’Bout a quarter of a mile past your wagons down the river.”

“Much obliged,” Cal said. “If I see you down there this evening, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Much obliged,” the soldier said, “but I’ve gotta pull guard duty tonight, so I don’t reckon I’ll be down at Shorty’s.” Cal told him he’d like to buy him a drink, anyway, and gave him two bits to pay for one the next time he did visit Shorty’s.

Cal figured wherever whiskey was sold, that would be the place to find a game of cards. Because he preferred to play in the evening when the whiskey flowed more freely, he went back to the wagons. He had been invited to eat supper with Fancy Wallace.

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