Captive Hearts

By Evelyn Grant

12 year old Carrie Ashton is headed for California with her parents. Leaving Independence, Missouri in early April, 1855 they are on an ill fated wagon train. After a brutal massacre the only survivors are Carrie and Whip Harding, a handsome scout for the wagon train.
Whip is left for dead by the Comanche and Carrie is taken captive by a Comanche who wants her for his wife. Follow her struggle as she tries to escape and return to civilization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evelyn Grant
• Release date: Jan 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476301914

Evelyn Grant

Evelyn Grant lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband. She enjoys writing, photography, woodworking and other crafts. Evelyn has dozens of stories in her head and they are all begging to be told. Her first book, Captive Hearts, was published in 2011 as a Kindle ebook and on Smashwords. The sequel, Eagle's Wish was published in February, 2012. There are now six books in the Captive Hearts Series. She welcomes your reviews and comments.

Book preview

CAPTIVE

HEARTS

By

Evelyn Grant

Copyright 2011 by Evelyn Grant

Smashwords Edition

Electronic Edition

Copyright © 2011 by Evelyn Grant

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

CHAPTER ONE

INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI 1855

It was a cool day in late March. The sun was shining, casting shadows along the sidewalk of the street Carrie and her mother were walking down. Carrie's mother, Josephine, was looking for the last few items on her list. The wagon train was scheduled to leave Independence in just one week and there were still a few things Josephine had not found. She had all the staples their small family needed, and she had plenty of blankets, cooking utensils, tools, and everything else that the wagon master, Mr. Wesley, had listed. What she was looking for now was a couple of good laying hens so that her family could have fresh eggs for breakfast and maybe an occasional fried chicken to break the monotony of biscuits and hardtack that she had heard were the usual fare on a wagon train. Of course, Frank, Carrie's father, would be bringing in fresh meat that he would hunt while she and Carrie drove the wagon. But Josephine didn't much care for wild game and she was going to find some hens. She sent Carrie into the general store to get more sewing needles and thread and a few lengths of cotton and broadcloth to make some dresses while they waited out the last week.

Carrie was twelve years old and already on the way to becoming a beautiful woman. Her young body was just beginning to fill out with feminine curves. She wore her long blonde hair in two braids which fell half way down her back. Her cornflower blue eyes were always shining with excitement. She was looking forward to this adventure with her parents. Her only concern about the trek across the country was the Indians she had read so much about in the dime novels. There were some awful atrocities she had read of, not only in the novels but also in the newspapers. But she knew that Daddy would protect her and her mother and never let anything happen to them. As she entered the general store she spotted Mr. Harding who was the scout for their wagon train.

Carrie thought Mr. Harding was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Though he was a little old, at least twenty-five, maybe even a few years older. It was hard to tell with men who worked outdoors. They always had lines around their eyes from squinting in the sun. Still, he was handsome and she liked to watch him. He moved with the grace of a cat and looked dangerous with his two Colt six-shooters strapped to his hips. Carrie was sure he could fight off a whole tribe of Indians all by himself and come out of it without a scratch. She dawdled over lengths of cloth while she studied him and wondered if maybe he was part Indian with his jet black hair. But his skin was too light, she thought. Even with his tan, he really didn't have the coloring of an Indian. Mr. Harding shortly left the store and Carrie finished picking out material, needles and thread and went to find her mother. She was still thinking of the scout when she bumped into Josephine on the street.

Carrie, her mother said, whatever took so long in the store? I've already got the hens and have been waiting out here for ten minutes.

I'm sorry, Mama. Carrie answered. I just couldn't make up my mind about the material for the dresses. There were so many to pick from. She could feel herself blushing over her thoughts of the scout and hoped her mother wouldn't notice.

Well, let's get back to the wagon and see what we can do about some supper for your father.

They found Frank at the wagon struggling to get the extra wagon tongue and axles stored under the wagon bed. When he finished Josephine and Carrie had dinner ready and the small family sat down to have their meal.

Frank and Josephine went over the list of supplies again to make sure that they had everything they might need. The list was long and included blankets, feather beds, tools to repair the wagon, food, medicinal supplies, rain gear, boots, and a host of other items. They also had a cow that would provide them with fresh milk.

The Ashtons were fortunate that they were not strapped for funds as were so many of the other families in the wagon train. They were able to afford a larger than average wagon. Most people had a ten or twelve foot long prairie schooner. The wagon the Ashtons had purchased was about fifteen feet long and nearly five feet wide. They also had three teams of oxen to rotate pulling the wagon. Most others had only two teams, some only had mules or horses. And Carrie had her beautiful black gelding, Midnight, to ride when she was bored with sitting in the wagon. Frank also had his stallion. Josephine did not care to ride on anything without wheels. She would drive the oxen or walk alongside the wagon while Carrie drove.

As the family settled down to sleep that night, Josephine thought how lucky she was that Frank had always been a good provider and had invested his money wisely. She would have preferred to stay on their horse breeding farm rather than venture out west, but Frank had an adventurous streak in him and his mind was set on getting some rich California land and starting another ranch there.

She thought of some of the other families she had seen who had only the bare essentials for a trip like the one they were undertaking. As sleep overtook her, she wondered how many nights some of the children would go to bed hungry. Maybe she should stock some extra dried beans and flour just in case someone needed them.

While her mother thought of her good fortune in being able to make the journey in relative comfort, Carrie was dreaming of the handsome Mr. Harding and wishing she were just four or five years older. As it was, he would think her a child and not even notice her. Her thoughts moved on to the journey ahead of them and how exciting it would be to travel all the way to California and start a new life. Soon Carrie was asleep, and the night passed by in pleasant dreams.

The remainder of the week passed slowly for Carrie and her mother. There were no more provisions to purchase and Frank spent his days with the wagon master and the other men discussing the trip. Josephine packed and repacked trying to make as much room in the wagon for sleeping space and setting up a curtain to give her and Frank a little privacy during the trip. She enlisted Carrie's aid in sewing cotton sacks to the sides of the canvas top for extra storage. When Carrie could, she rode Midnight around the camp area, but she was not allowed to go too far. Independence was a rough jumping-off town and there was no telling what might happen to a young girl out riding unescorted. She spent her days grooming her beautiful horse and wishing time would hurry up and pass to the day the wagon train would begin the adventure across the country.

Finally the big day arrived. It was Monday, April 2nd, 1855. Everyone had breakfast at sunup and at six o'clock Mr. Wesley gave the order to roll in his booming voice.

WAGONS HO! He shouted.

And the long line of twenty-eight wagons (holding a total of one hundred fourteen people) began the trip to California. There were a dozen scouts riding ahead and alongside the wagon train. Behind the wagon train was the small remuda of horses the scouts needed, and a cook wagon (with a cook for the wagon train workers). The scouts would be keeping an eye out for Indians, outlaws, fresh game, and the safest, easiest passage along the route. All total, including the wagon master, scouts, cook and pioneers, there were one hundred twenty-eight people and nearly two hundred head of livestock.

Carrie was excited. At last it had begun. This would be more fun than anything else in her whole life. Josephine drove the wagon while Carrie twisted and turned in her attempts to see everything that was going on.

The Ashton wagon was eleventh in line. Mr. Wesley had explained that they would be going on a rotation basis. Each evening the train would form a large circle for safety precautions. The next morning, whoever had been the lead wagon the previous day would go to the end of the line? The second wagon would become the first wagon. This would ensure that everyone would eat their fair share of dust. Any slowpokes during the day would have to move out of line and fall in again at the rear. If there were any repairs to be done that couldn't wait till nightfall, the whole train would stop and everyone would pitch in until they could get rolling again.

By noon the caravan had traveled eight miles. They stopped for the midday meal and in just over an hour they were on their way again. Perched on the wagon seat, Carrie could still see the town of Independence. She was disappointed with the slowness of the train. By evening they had gone a total of only fourteen miles and she could still see the town in the distance before the sun went down. She knew that they couldn't expect to cover more than fifteen miles a day, and some days would only take them ten miles closer to California. The entire trip was going to take five or six months.

But Carrie didn't mind. This was adventure! This was excitement! As she snuggled in her bedroll under the family wagon she wondered where the scout, Mr. Harding was. She had not seen him since their departure early that morning.

As the days wore by, Carrie lost some of her excitement. The days were monotonous and to break them up she sometimes walked next to the wagon. Other times she would get Midnight, her horse, and ride up and down the length of the train. She had made a friend in a wagon further down the line. Sara was just a year younger than Carrie and sometimes they would walk together. Sara did not have her own horse so they could only ride double on Midnight.

On the twelfth day of their journey they arrived at Council Grove. Here they would replenish their provisions and rest for a full day. Council Grove didn't have much to offer. There was just a general store, two saloons, and a few other small businesses. No one was in real need of any provisions yet, so everyone was glad when the wagon train rolled out again. The next major stop would be Fort Dodge, over two hundred miles away. It would take about three weeks to get there.

There was little danger of Indians so far. With Fort Dodge ahead of them and Independence behind them, few Indians ventured into the area. So the wagon train trudged on day after day. By the time they made Fort Dodge, the pioneers were adept at setting up their nightly circle and many evenings were spent around the large fire in the center of the circle. Mr. Wesley would bring out his fiddle and the young couples would dance and sing. Bedtime came early on the plains. The trail was tiresome and at the end of a day people were ready for a good night’s sleep.

At Fort Dodge there was another opportunity to stock up on supplies and two days of rest. Carrie and Sara spent the time at Fort Dodge exploring and playing. The next stretch of their trip would be a dangerous one. Santa Fe was the next stop and it was over four hundred miles away. They would be passing through the northern area of Comanche Territory. But Carrie felt safe and unafraid. Her Daddy would take care of her and her mother and the scouts were experienced. There was nothing to worry about.

Two and a half weeks out of Fort Dodge, the handsome scout Mr. Harding, saw Indian sign. He reported back to the wagon master and from then on the scouts traveled in pairs. Hunting was curtailed except for in the immediate area of the caravan. Each night four guards were posted around the safety circle. Children were kept near the wagons at all times. Young lovers were advised against going away from the circle for privacy. Mr. Wesley kept a tight rein on everyone and everything. He was determined to get this wagon train safely to California.

For a week nothing unusual happened. Mrs. Callahan gave birth to a baby boy in her wagon one night. Everyone's fear over the Indians being near had diminished somewhat and now all the women and young girls gathered around Mrs. Callahan's wagon to see the new child and help the mother with her chores. The men were drinking toasts to the new father and the guards weren't paying much attention to what was going on outside the safety of the circle.

Soon it was late and everyone went to bed. Mr. Wesley had said that they could start an hour later in the morning what with all the celebrating that had gone on for the better portion of the night.

Carrie and her mother slept peacefully in the wagon with a rifle at Josephine's side. Frank had crawled under the wagon with his Sharpe's rifle and his two Colt pistols. The wagon was too stuffy for a good night’s sleep he said.

Less than ten miles to the south of the circle of wagons, forty Comanche warriors were laying in wait. One of their scouts had crept near enough to the wagons to see the celebrating. He came back with the report that the white eyes were drinking stupid water and it would be a good time to raid with the morning light.

Carrie woke just as dawn was breaking. What woke me up, she wondered. She could feel a slight vibration coming from the wagon. Josephine was still sleeping. The camp was quiet. She rolled over trying to fall back asleep until Mr. Wesley's cook blew the horn for wake-up.

In another minute she heard the distant war whoops of the Indians. Then she heard something whistle through the air at the rear of the wagon. Before she knew what had happened, chaos had broken out. Men were shouting orders and running about to get into firing positions. Josephine awoke with a start and snatched up her rifle. She hollered for Carrie to get down on the floor of the wagon. Frank poked his head in and told them to stay put and stay down.

Josephine remembered Mrs. Callahan and her new baby. She would need help. She turned to Carrie, I have to go help Mrs. Callahan. You stay here. Keep the rifle with you, but stay down. Use it only if you have to.

"Mama, you can't go. Daddy

Reviews for Captive Hearts

[damarisym15 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great research and indepth detail to the indian culture. I have read the book titled Cynthia Ann Parker, excellent book. On to the sequel.