Antebellum BK 1 (43 page)

“
The Mormons believe in what they call Plural Marriage,” Jack agreed. “But I’ve never heard of them kidnapping women.”

“
Well, I ain’t takin’ the chance,” the same voice replied.

“
Agreeing to a small detour and a few days delay is less risky than a fight,” a woman replied.

Jack looked over his shoulder. “There’s no time for a debate. Let’s have a show of hands. Who’s in favor of the detour?”

“
Wait,” a man toward the front called out. “Do we have to abide by majority rule?”

“
No,” Jack said. “I’ll abide by the majority decision. Everyone else can do as they please, but I think we should know what everyone thinks.”

“
Shit,” Clementine grumbled.

Coyote looked at her but didn’t comment.

June 3, 1855

Columbus, Ohio

I
n 1853, the
Columbus and Xenia Railroad
and the
Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad
built Union Station on the east side of High Street just north of North Public Lane. Three seedy hotels had sprung up nearby, the seediest being the Union Hotel. “Can I help you?” the desk clerk asked. He was wearing a sweat-stained shirt with no suit coat and his tie was gravy-stained.

“
My nephew may have checked in here last night,” Anna said. She put a gold coin on the desk. “He’s seventeen, tall and may be wearing a West Point cadet’s uniform.”

“
Two-ten.” The man pocketed the coin and pointed to the stairs.

“
Is anyone with him?”

The man nodded. “Some snooty girl.”

Anna crossed the lobby and raised the hem of her dress to climb the stairs. The second-floor hallway smelled like urine. Room number 210 was the last on the right. She took a deep breath and knocked.

“
Who is it?” Johnny’s voice sounded frightened.

“
Your Aunt Anna,” she answered. “I know that Kate’s with you. Let me in.”

A moment later, the door opened. “We’ve done nothing wrong,” Johnny said.

“
Are you married?” Anna pushed him back into the room, then closed the door behind her.

“
No,” Kate replied. She was standing near the small window with her arms folded belligerently. “According to Ohio law we’re not old enough. But we’re going to Kentucky tomorrow where the law is less strict.”

Anna wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Could you have found a worse place than this to stay?”

“
It seemed unlikely that Senator Chase would search for us here,” Johnny said. “How did you find us?”

“
This seemed like an unlikely place for Senator Chase to look for you,” Anna replied.

“
I’m not going home,” Kate announced emphatically. “I want a life of my own.”

Anna looked at the rickety chair, then the bed and decided to remain standing. “I know how difficult it will be for you to be the Governor’s hostess at your age, Kate, but life isn’t always fair.”

“
That’s not the point,” Johnny said.

“
Really?” Anna looked him in the eyes. “Whose idea was it to get married?”

He squirmed. “Well…”

Anna nodded. “Kate’s so desperate to escape from her obligations…”

“
That’s not true,” Kate shouted. “I love Johnny and I want to be his wife.”

“
Even if it costs him his chosen career?” Anna asked.

Johnny waved his hand. “I only accepted the appointment to West Point because Father wanted it.”

“
I’m going to have a baby,” Kate blurted.

Anna looked at her for a moment, then turned back to fix Johnny with a baleful stare. “Is that true?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“
It is true,” Kate insisted. “And you’re the father.”

“
I told you that you cannot get pregnant from French kissing,” Johnny said angrily.

“
But I haven’t…” Kate blushed. “My friend hasn’t visited me for two months.”

“
Nerves,” Anna said. “Moving from Washington to Columbus has been very stressful for you. I’ll explain it to you later.” She looked from one to the other. “If I thought this was right for either of you I’d take you to Kentucky and see you married properly.”

“
But we love each other,” Kate insisted.

Anna nodded. “And I don’t doubt that in the least. My question is whether you’ll still love each other next summer after your father’s been sworn in as Governor, Johnny has his commission and you’ll be old enough to legally marry.”

Kate covered her face with her hands. “I hate the way they look at me.”

“
Who?” Johnny asked.

“
Never mind that.” Anna crossed the room and put her arm around Kate. “I’m going to visit Columbus as often as possible this summer to teach you how to manage your father’s business and social affairs.”

“
What?” Johnny said. “Anna. You can’t do this to me.”

“
I’m not doing anything to you, Nephew; I’m doing it for you. And Senator Chase has extended an invitation for you to visit Kate. You will, of course, be chaperoned. But not so closely as to prevent a few stolen kisses.”

“
Bloody hell,” Johnny grumbled.

Anna could see the relief in his face. “Come along, Children. The stink of this place is about to make me ill.” She led Kate from the room by the hand with Johnny following close behind.

June 3, 1855

Salt Lake City, Utah Territory

U
nlike other western towns that had sprung up like weeds in a haphazard fashion, Salt Lake City was being built to a master plan. The walled, ten-acre Temple Square, containing the massive sandstone foundation blocks of the future Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dominated the city’s center. Around it, neat wood-frame and masonry buildings were aligned with cobblestone roads, gutters and sidewalks. Two narrow streams meandered prettily through the town to the nearby Jordan River which flowed northwest to the Great Salt Lake.

Governor Brigham Young’s executive mansion was a two-story adobe and sandstone building called The Beehive House. In addition to being the seat of Territorial and City Governments, the house also contained apartments for the wives and children of Governor Young.

Upon their arrival in the City of Salt Lake, the men of the Van Buskirk Party had been taken to meet Brigham Young in the executive center while the women were entertained individually or in small groups by his wives in their individual quarters. Clementine had been ushered to the quarters of Lucy Ann Decker Young, and was now drinking her third cup of tea.

“
We have petitioned the Federal Government to name our state Deseret, which is another word for Honeybee,” Lucy Ann was saying. “Utah is such an unfriendly name and it implies ownership by the Ute Indians.”

“
I didn’t realize that the territory was that close to being granted Statehood,” Clementine replied.

“
We’re hoping it will be soon,” Lucy Ann said.

The women were alone in a neat parlor. A silver tea service for two was set on a small table between them.

“
I don’t want to be rude, Mrs. Young,” Clementine said, “but what’s this all about?”

“
What is
what
all about, Mrs. Van Buskirk?”

“
Making us come here.”

Lucy Ann wrinkled her brow. “You were invited to come. No one forced you.”

“
There was an implied threat from your militia.”

“
Oh dear. That won’t do. I shall speak to President Young about that.”

“
Let me ask you the same question in another way. Why did you invite us?”

“
To invite you to join us.”

“
Join your church, you mean.”

“
Proselytizing is our duty, of course, but our church is not open to everyone. Our city is.”

“
Except to Indians and Negros.”

“
That is a common misconception. The Lord has cursed Cain’s seed with blackness and forbidden his descendants from the Priesthood, not from the church nor the city. But all must pass the tests.”

Clementine rolled her eyes. “How long must we stay here?”

“
There are no conditions imposed on you or the families accompanying you, Mrs. Van Buskirk. Anyone who desires to leave may do so whenever they wish. Those desiring to learn more about our life and beliefs may stay as long as they wish.”

“
So you’re saying that we’re all free to go whenever we want to?”

“
Of course.”

Clementine sipped her tea. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“
Yes.”

“
How does it feel to share your husband with other women?”

“
It feels very natural.”

Clementine was about to ask another question when a door at the back of the room opened and a boy came in. “Mother, please forgive the intrusion. May I speak to you a moment, please?”

Lucy Ann stood up. “Will you excuse me, Mrs. Van Buskirk?”

“
Certainly.” Clementine waited until the door closed, then got up and quickly found her way outside to where Coyote was waiting. “Let’s get back to the wagons. This place makes me itch.”

“
It does what?”

“
Never mind. Let’s just go.”

“
Is there going to be trouble?”

“
I don’t think so but – no, I don’t think so.”

“
Who are these people?”

“
A religious cult called Mormons. They came west because they were persecuted for their belief in polygamy.”

“
What’s that?”

“
Polygamy? The men can have more than one wife.”

“
Persecuted?”