#333
Slow as molasses in January, the ferry inched it's way back to East St. Louis with it's cargo of team and wagon heading East. Mark watched through the binoculars as Toby, Milo and Gary helped Tess load her wagon and team. All three mischief makers were tied by a rope around their belt loops and attached firmly to Millie's hand. As they started across, Millie got out candy and cookies for an impromptu picnic, as a way to keep the little rascals under control; and to ease Tesse's burdens as they crossed.
The sweet candy treat had been Hattie and Oren's inspiration, and Punky and Max could hardly wait to board the ferry so they could dive into their candy feast. The out and out bribe was a lure for all the young ones, and they were impatient to get on with business.
On the bank where the majority of the wagons were still staged, the men in charge decided to send Abby as the third wagon, instead of Rennie. Toby and Milo were uneasy with the amount of interest the clan was receiving from passing people; the consensus was that the clan was crazy for wanting to go West.
Toby and Milo made the call to send Abby and her cargo of weapons as the third wagon, giving the smaller numbered group on the opposite bank more of an advantage, should they be attacked.
It took four days to ferry the clan across, and by that time; everyone was heartily sick of town and it's resultant problems. Town kids, curious about the traveling band of kids, attempted to run in and out among the wagons, causing the dogs to bark nonstop, and mother's to snap at their own kids for being so careless around the fires, the stock and in general impatience.
Toby, Milo, Gary and Robert drew straws to see who would be the last wagon, and Gary won the short straw. Every crossing had gone well, except the last one. The cow was having none of that squirrelly business of getting on a piece of wood and go floating across a fast moving current of water.
They had to drag her on, the cow skidding her feet and bellowing in fright. She went down on her knees in front, from pulling back so hard on the securely tied rope. The noise attracted quite a number of onlookers that had a hundred suggestions of what and how to get the cow to cooperate. Some quick thinking gentleman started taking bets as to what would happen.
Personally, Gary was thinking that the only suggestion worth considering, was the one that involved a strategically placed bullet. Then, just as the ferryman was getting impatient and getting ready to cast off, forcing the cow to swim or drown; through the crowd came a dirty brown streak of large mastiff dog and with one mighty bite on the cow's hind leg, the cow bellowed in surprise and jumped forward into the enclosed pen.
David and Scotty were yelling for joy, "dog, dog, you made it." and just like that, the last Linderman wagon started it's journey across the Mississippi. Dog sat on the back corner of the raft, and showed his teeth, when Gary went to the back of the wagon.
"I'll shoot that dog if he comes after me," the ferryman announced loudly, and dog growled low in a return warning.
"He won't bother you if you don't look at him and ignore him," Gary cautioned. "He belongs to the boys, but he doesn't allow petting or touching."
"Spooky sucker," the ferry man muttered, "I don't lik'en like that. Too unpredictable, you cain't ever tell what they is thinkin, er what will set them off."
"I'm surprised to see him, we thought he was gone for good when we started out. From the looks of him, he ain't had much to eat, I think we have a couple of pancakes left from breakfast, I get those for him." Gary went to ease around the wagon and it's sister smaller wagon driven by Robert.
At the back of the wagon, the cow was looking at Gary with hate in her eyes, the young stud colt tied to the back of the small wagon looked hopeful that some oats might fall in a pan. Gary thought that might be a good idea for both animals, and it did seem to cool ruffled tempers. Dog ate the three pancakes and David and Scotty sat at the back of the wagon and sent loving looks toward dog.
Robert looked over his brothers family and thought the two strange little boys had an equally strange dog, but they all seemed to get along. Gary and his wagon had the worst time of crossing. They were just into the center current, when a huge floating tree and entangled amount of brush and trash headed straight for the raft.
The ferryman blew his whistle frantically and waved a red flag. The teams pulling on the banks, were slapped with the reins to pull as hard and fast as possible. The ferry got bumped and for heart stopping moments, the raft and the tree were entangled, straining the ropes and cables holding the ferry steady.
The ferry man was screaming, "push, Push," as they maneuvered poles to try and dislodge the tree from the over taut cable. "It's gonna break the cable," the old man was screaming, "we'll drown fer sure."