Chapter 17
The Mill Lives Again
“What are we gonna do Doc? I don’t remember a day when I couldn’t hear the mill runnin’,” said one of the lumbermen sitting around in Doc’s front yard.
“I know what you mean, it’s awful quiet. I guess I really didn’t want to believe Miss Foster was gonna go through with it,” answered Doc.
“She did it in spades, Doc. Packed up her belongings, locked up the mansion, and had old Gus put a match to the mill,” said a large tree of a man with newly developed slumping shoulders.
“Pure spite and evilness, Rex, that’s all it was,” said Doc as he shook his head in disbelief. “I guess maybe she was afraid we’d start up the mill once she was gone.”
With all staring at the ground in a fit of despair, a thought began to wind itself around and through each one sitting there.
Doc was the first to put words to the thought, “What about some kind of Co-op? Since settin’ a match to the mill would tell a reasonable man that Miss Foster no longer wanted any of the contents, I would say that any salvage would be open to anyone who could use it. There maybe a couple blades that are still in good enough shape to be used along with a lot of other tools. I’ve got a little money saved up and I suspect we all have something we could invest into the operation.”
“Yes Doc, by God you're right!” said the group in unison.
“The property just behind the Cooper place was never purchased by the Fosters. Hell we could re-build the mill there and carry the equipment over. We wouldn’t have to uproot the settlement at all.”
A shout went up from the gathering as the revelation of their salvation was at hand.
“Now we need to plan this thing out good and proper,” said Doc as he rubbed his two hands together. “We’ll need to establish a man to run the operation and a counsel to oversee that man.”
“We’ll run it just like they do back in Washington DC!” came a voice from the back.
“I vote for Doc to be that man!” came another voice.
Many voices chimed in, “Yes Doc would be perfect, I agree, Doc is the one.”
“Hold on, hold on!” said Doc as he raised his hands for quiet. “Already we’re headed toward error. We must make this official; we will have an election that will vote in the man we need to run this camp. Everyone needs to have a say,” explained Doc.
The group began to crowd in to discuss their future enterprise. Word soon spread and the rest of the settlement came running in the direction of Doc’s home, full of hope and excitement.
-CKS-
“So Miss Foster, thank you for allowing me to accompany you to New York. I will stay with you until you are safely aboard ship. I will then tender my resignation and find work more suited to my station,” spoke Phillip respectfully.
“Nonsense, besides, we’re not going to New York, Phillip,” said Samantha as if there was no need for further discussion.
“But I thought you said you were going to California. For a lady, the only way is by ship,” explained Phillip.
“Our plans involve the hiring of an Overland Stage to take us to Southern California.”
“Our plans, Miss Foster?” questioned Phillip with a sick feeling growing in his stomach.
“Our plans, Phillip. We must be in California before Cooper arrives. By the time we catch a train headed east, book passage on a steamer, wait for its departure, and then the long sail down around the horn and up to California, we could be too late to greet Cooper with our little surprise,” smiled Samantha.
Phillip had seen that smile before. It caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.
“But Miss, it was my intention to find other work now that you are no longer of need of my services. I’m a house servant madam and that is all I know.”
“Well Phillip, we’re both going to be learning new things, aren’t we. You promised my Pa that you would look after me and I’m holding you to that promise.”
“But Miss, I don’t believe he had any of this in mind. He meant for me to keep your house in top shape not ride off to California in a stage coach wagon,” whined Phillip.
“Hush now Phillip, and make this carriage go faster. I want to be in Missouri and at the Overland station as soon as possible.”
“But why a stage coach and why Southern California?” Phillip inquired.
“Gus told me after I provided him with some moving capital, that Mrs. Cooper, Ray’s mother, headed for Pueblo de Los Angeles to live with her sister. Cooper and his bunch of murderers must need money so they’re working their way by wagon train across the plains. The gunmen I hired sent me a wire just before they left that said Cooper was still with a wagon train due into Ft Laramie any day. But once at Salt Lake City, they should move to horseback and ride the southern route to California. The Overland promises twenty-two to twenty-five days to California. I should be able to get there with time to spare.”
“Yes Miss, I can see your thinking. It does however, place me in an awkward position, as there will be no other type of employ for me out there, and with my promise to your Pa, I guess I am in this to the bloody end,” sighed Phillip, feeling trapped with no way out.
“Phillip, I have never heard you speak like that before. “To the bloody end?” questioned Samantha.
“By the time this is over Miss, I believe you will see and hear a lot of things you have never heard before. Getty up there!” said Phillip as he snapped the whip in the air over the horse's backs.