The Cogan Legend (7 page)

The next day when Ann brought it up again, Charles suddenly asked, “Where do you intend to go since you have already seen most of this area?”

Knowing her father, Ann realized her comment about geography had turned the tide in her favor.  “You've often mentioned a town named Sunbury.  It's probably the biggest town in the area, isn't it?” she asked.  

“Sunbury, that's a full hard day of travel.  I don't think so, young lady.”  Charles said.  “That could be terribly dangerous; two pretty young ladies traveling about the countryside unescorted.  No, absolutely not.”  

“But we wouldn't be unescorted; Lewey would be with us.”  

Charles sighed.  “I'll think about it.”

“When can you tell me, Father?”

“Don't push it, young lady,” Charles responded angrily.

Ann danced away to tell Rachel.  She was sure her father would give in and allow them to go.  Alone with Mary that evening, Charles decided to discuss Ann's request.  “You've heard Ann's request to visit Sunbury.  What do you think?”

Mary looked up from her knitting.  “What do you think, Charles?”

“I'm afraid she'll pester me until I say yes.” Charles admitted.  “I'm not good with this punishment thing.  By always giving in, what good is it doing her?”

“Do you find it that hard to tell her no?” Mary asked.

“Impossible!” Charles frowned at the floor.  “She's like a bulldog when she gets an idea in her head.  I could tell her that we have to bag a deer before I allow any trips, but that won't serve any purpose but to alienate Rachel from Ann and me.”  He looked at Mary pleadingly. “What would you do?”

“Are you afraid for their safety if they go, or just afraid they'll not see this trip as punishment?”

“Both, I suppose.”  Charles admitted as he glanced out the window.  

“I see.”

He looked at his housekeeper.  “Then perhaps you might have Lewey accompany them as their guardian.”

Charles stared at Mary.  He read something in her face and realized she knew him better than he knew himself.  “That sounds like a good idea.  At least it will stop Ann's pestering for the time being.”

The look on Charles' face told Ann she'd won even before she asked.  She didn't say anything during breakfast knowing she didn't have to.  When the meal was over, she looked at her father.

“Ann, I've thought about your request.  You may go with one stipulation; Lewey will be escorting you everywhere.  You must adhere to this, or I won't allow you to go.”  

“Of course, Father,” Ann replied.  

Charles summoned Lewey to the lodge.  “Ann and Rachel want to take a trip to Sunbury. You're semi-familiar with the country between here and there; you know there's always the possibility of danger – although I've not heard of any problems.  I've decided to let them go if you'll accompany them everywhere they go as their guardian.  If you don't want to go, there'll be no trip.”

Even though Lewey enjoyed the peace and quiet of the area, he too was ready for a change of pace.   After a few seconds he nodded.  “I'll make sure they don't do anything I feel is unsafe.”

This reassurance made Charles' decision easier.  

After they received the news, Rachel and Ann immediately started packing.  Rachel knew exactly what she needed for the trip, but Ann was unsure.  “Should I take all my best fashions for the trip?” she asked Rachel as she looked through the wardrobe filled with clothes.

“We're not going to Philadelphia, Ann.”

“Make sure you have plenty of leggings to wear, maybe long underwear, and one fancy dress.  We must dress for the cold not style.”  

That evening after dinner Charles asked Lewey, “Is the team and coach ready for a long hard trip?”

“Oh yes, I went over the coach today, and the team is fresh and ready to go.”  

Charles spread out the maps of the area to make sure Lewey knew the exact routes.  “There are two ways to get to Sunbury.  One is the road to the village of Millersburg, where you were the other day.  That's straight down the valley and north along the river, but that's a two-day trip.  The other route is the Hanes Gap route through the mountains toward a town called Herndon and north to Sunbury.  The Hanes Gap route is the shortest, but it could be rough due to the lack of travelers.  You'll need to make a decision about three miles down the road as to which route you want to take.  I'll draw you a map should you decide to take the shorter route, but be alert, and make sure you have your pistols.”  Charles gave Lewey ample cash to cover the entire trip and spending money for the girls.  

“I think we'll take the shortest route,” Lewey said after tucking the money away.  “Don't worry, sir. I'll protect them with my life.”

At midmorning, Lewey was loading the bags onto the coach as Charles came to the coach door.  “This is dangerous territory.  The only reason I'm letting you go is because Lewey is with you.”  He studied them sternly.  “I want you to stay with Lewey.  He is your chaperone. He'll protect you.  Should you see anything that looks suspicious let him know.” Charles tried not to look worried.  “Lewey has all the expense money and is in charge of all purchases.  I expect you to return by Sunday evening.”  

Lewey nodded, touching a forefinger to his cap.  “We'll be back.”  

Charles looked at Lewey.  “Go on.  Have a good time.  Don't push the team, find lodging tonight if necessary, and don't be afraid to use the pistols.  I expect you back Sunday evening.”  

Lewey touched his cap again and turned to the horses.  “Giddy up,” he yelled slapping the leads lightly on the horses' backs.

There were still several inches of snow on the ground, and it was very cold.  The girls were bundled in warm clothes and blankets inside the coach; the sun was shining through the thick glass windows of the coach which helped to warm the inside.

Ann and Rachel watched out the windows at the passing scenery.

“Father seems really interested in Mary, or I think he would've come with us,” Ann confided as the girls settled back against the stuffed leather seats.  

“I wasn't going to say anything about that,” Rachel said with a mischievous smile.  “He seems happy and content around her.”

“I don't think he should stay a widower all his life,” Ann said thoughtfully.

“I don't know,” Rachel said.  “You might end up with a wicked stepmother who forces you to do the dishes and cook.”

Ann made a face.  “That wouldn't last very long.  The last time I tried to bake cookies, Katey and Mae ran me out of the kitchen!”

“Seriously?”

“I put in salt instead of sugar,” Ann laughed.  “I'm just not cut out for cooking or cleaning or any of those kinds of chores.”  She grinned.  “And to think Father thought I would learn to knit!”

“I don't mind doing those things as long as it's for the man I love,” Rachel said dreamily.

“And you love Tom?”

“Of course, I love him. The farther away we got from Philadelphia, the more I missed him.”

“I don't know if I miss Nicholas or Richard, or any of the others for that matter.  I'm sure it's not love I miss,” Ann said as she smiled at Rachel.

“But I'm engaged to Tom, and I didn't realize just how difficult being separated would be.”  She turned to look out the window.  “It does mean that we can get married sooner,” Rachel admitted as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

They fell silent.  Rachel nodded off, head lolling against the cushions. With an envious glance at Rachel, Ann wondered if she would ever find a man she longed to be with.  

As the late afternoon approached, Lewey slowed the team.  Ann woke and looked out the window in time to see a dilapidated directional sign nailed to a post.  An arrow pointing west directed travelers to the
Cogan Road Herndon
and another arrow below pointed east to
Mandata.
   She reached over to shake Rachel.  “Rachel, I just saw a sign for the Cogan Road and Herndon.  I guess that's where Lewey is headed.  I hope we soon find an inn or rest stop; I need to stretch and go to the bathroom.”

Rachel nodded in agreement as she yawned and tried to wake up.

Lewey proceeded more slowly as the road narrowed
.  
Both girls strained to see out the window as daylight faded around the coach.  They felt the temperature dropping.    

“Let's share blankets,” Ann suggested, unfolding one from under the seat and spreading it over her legs.  Rachel gladly pulled the warm cover over her chilled body as they huddled together.  

“How does he keep from freezing?” Rachel asked as she shivered inside the blanket.

“I'm sure he has his woolens on,” Ann said.

The sides of the mountains appeared to be closing in on them as the sun disappeared in the Cogan.  “I wonder how Lewey does it,” Ann asked.  “The road is so narrow!  How does he keep from hitting the bank?”

“I'm glad he's driving and not me.”  Rachel said fearfully while looking out of the window.

“What if it plunges over the bank and into the creek?” Ann asked.  “We'll freeze to death!”

The look of fright shown in their faces as the carriage wheels crossed an old wooden plank bridge.  Thinking they might be afraid, Lewey turned his head and yelled, “Don't worry, these bridges can take our weight and a whole lot more.”

“A bridge, is that what that noise was?” A frightened Rachel asked.

The stream meandered back and forth along the road.  Just then the wheels hit another wooden bridge and the girls bit their lips.

When the carriage continued its steady pace, Ann sensed no danger. “Oh, that was not that bad!” she said dismissively.

“But I don't see any railings on the bridges,” Rachel replied.

“Lewey wouldn't drive us into the water.  He's an excellent driver.  He's never had an accident that I'm aware of.”

“I hope we don't meet another coach coming the other way.”  Rachel stated apprehensively.

“It's not likely. It doesn't appear this road is traveled to often.” Ann said trying to dismiss Rachel's fears.   

In the dim light, the trees seemed taller than any the girls had ever seen with no branches except at the top.  Then the coach came to an abrupt stop, and the girls stared at each other.

“I hear Lewey talking,” Rachel said.

“So do I,” Ann whispered.

They looked through the window and saw a battered old livery stable sign.  

Without warning, a man's face appeared in the window.  The girls screamed as they grabbed each other and fell backwards into their seats.  Whoever it was, he was just tall enough to see in the coach windows as he peered at the girls.  He had a dark ruddy complexion with small close-set eyes.

 Lewey climbed down from the cab and stepped in front of the stranger then opened the door.  Unafraid of anyone or any circumstance, he assured them, “It's okay.”  

They heard another man calling, “Poll Soll, get away from the window, and get away from the coach.”  Clinging to each other, the two friends were puzzled.

As he approached the coach, the man they heard yelling was now visible through the opened door.  He was much taller than the other man but also had a dark ruddy complexion.  His voice was deep and rough, scary indeed.  He was an ugly man with a long deep scar across his left cheek, long greasy graying black hair, and his teeth were disgusting as he smiled.  Both men looked and smelled as if they hadn't taken a bath for months.    

“Ladies, please forgive him for frightening you.  Poll Soll is just the attendant and works for me.  He means no harm,” the stranger said.  

Lewey interrupted. “We stopped because the horses need water and feed.”  Again the big man bellowed orders at Poll Soll.  “Get some oats and hay, and then bring water.”  

“Does anyone need to use the outhouse?” Lewey asked to calm their fears.

 Both girls shook their heads no.  They did get out and stretch but stayed close to Lewey.

As they looked around they saw a two-story cabin in a terrible state of disrepair not fit for anyone to live in.  It was about eight feet by eight feet square; next to the cabin was a well and a dilapidated stable with hay and a grain box.  They watched Poll Soll as he dipped water from the well and took oats from the grain box.  He was a muscular man but not very tall, and he walked with a crippled left leg that bent with each step.

“Who owns this place?” Lewey asked the second man.

“I do, but Poll Soll lives here and I live up the road apiece.”

As if anxious to talk, the man continued, “Poll Soll ain't right.”  He touched a finger to his forehead.  “He's part Indian, and when he was a boy, he and someone else were playing with an axe.”  He made a grimace.  “Poll got hurt, and he ain't been the same since.”  

Curious, Lewey asked, “Can he speak?”

“He doesn't talk very often, but he can,” was the response.

Ann noticed Poll Soll never moving his head or eyes as he stared at her.  She drew back beside Rachel who whispered, “He frightens me; let's get back into the coach.”

The stranger asked Lewey, “What brings you to these parts?”

Lewey responded, “We're heading to Sunbury on business.”  Lewey hid the truth so as not to reveal more information than needed.  “Can you tell me how far it is to an inn?”

Pointing his finger the stranger informed him, “There are two inns close by, one north in the village of Herndon roughly two miles and another south along the river to Dalmatia also about two miles.”  

The girls were relieved and happy hearing that news.  Poll Soll completed feeding the horses as Lewey paid the man.  He climbed into the cab, tugged on the reins and they were off.