Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – B.J. Cassady

December 30, 2006

              The Search for Christmas

B.J. Cassady
 
    Paul was only thirteen years old but he had to grow
up fast.  His two sisters were eleven, and ten  and his
brother was just seven.  His father and mother were dead
just about five hours ago when the savages attacked
their small wagon train.  His uncle, aunt and the other
three wagons, every one else dead.  His father saw the
attack coming and thrust his colt 44, cartridge belt
and canteen to Paul and told him to take care of his
siblings, to make for the ravine before the attack came
and if he had to .... kill the children before the Indians
got them.  Paul had some jerky, biscuits and the time
to do this took about one minute and he and his siblings
running for the ravine.  All this happened as they were
crossing the New Mexico region south of
Sante Fe in mid December.
 
     The attack was brutal and Paul made the children
cover their eyes, but the sounds of the attack and the
slaughter were   brutal..  It was all he could do to keep
the children from crying out loud.  The Indians cleaned
out the wagons, burned what they didn't take and rode
on, leaving the children    behind.
 
     Paul made a cold camp that night.  They ate from the
jerky and drank a little from the canteen.  They huddled
together to keep warm.  Paul would not allow the other
children to go to their parent's wagon... the condition of
their parent's bodies would be too grim to view.
 
    "We must walk West.  Continue with our journey.  We
will find a town or some other people.  We cannot go
back."  stated Paul.
 
     So with the dawn the four litt! le babes started to trek
to the West.  Stops had to be frequent to rest the little
ones, but the way of the West was hard and they were
already harden by their journey.   The evening of the first
day, they came upon a fast running stream and by the
stream they saw a young man who was apparently injured.
 
    Jessica, the eldest of the girls tore a piece of her
dress and applied a wet bandage to his head while Paul
stayed back a bit with his colt ready if needed.  Jessica put
some water to the stranger's lips.  Eventually he stirred and
opened his eyes..blinked and finally focused.
 
    "What is this?  Children?  Who are you?"  Asked the
stranger in a confused but soft voice.
 
    Paul replied, "I am Paul, this is my sister Jessica, and my
brother John and my other sister Sally.  Our parents were
killed by Indians yesterday about five miles back and our
wagon train was butchered.  What about you and your name."
 
    "I am an idiot.  My horse stepped in a prairie dog hole and
threw me.  My name is Jason Johnson, but I am known as
the Durango Kid.  My horse probably is not too far away from
here.  We can use a horse as you are on foot.  We can put the
three young ones on the horse and you and I can walk.  It is
about fourteen miles to a stage coach station there we can
get some real food and I can buy us a horse or two.  Where
are you heading?  What are your plans?"   Queried Durango.
 
    "Gosh, I haven't thought about that.  Our whole family
was in that wagon train....aunts and uncles.  We are totally
homeless.  We were just walking west.  I know where we
came from was barren and would not have worked so I
thought west was as good a choice as any."  Paul mentioned.
 
"Damn bad luck.  You have a good head.  Tell you what,
I will take you to my home place.  The little lady will figure
something out.  One thing is to keep you together.  None of
these orphan homes that's for sure.  Well let me go find my
horse.  You stay here and start a fire and when I get my horse
we will have some bacon and coffee." 
 
     A while later when Durango returned the smell and
sounds of crackling bacon and the warmth of the fire was
overwhelming.  The children started to let go of their feelings
and started to finally cry.   Durango really didn't know what to
do...so he just let them go.  "Darn strong kids to survive the
way they did."  He thought.  "They deserve better."
 
    After a good nights sleep, Durango put the three youngsters
in the saddle and led his horse and walked with Paul and
chatted about his home their home and the ways of the west.  
About noon, they ran across a old prospector riding a horse
and pulling a mule.
 
    "Howdy, Ole timer!"  greeted Durango.
 
    "You be Durango, ain't you?"  asked the stranger.
 
    "You got me there."  Smiled Durango.
 
    Saw you once in .. I think it was Silverton.  A shootout
with a hardcase name of ... can't remember his name.  You
got him and his two compadres before they cleared leather. 
Best shootin' I ever saw.
 
    I don't want to be remembered for that kind of thing
stranger.
 
    Don't get me wrong.  They were pushing me at the bar. 
I was drunk and they were pushing me and you stepped in
to protect me. 
 
    Oh I remember now.  You had a broken leg at the time.
  & nbsp;  Yes sir that was me.  I always hoped to run into you again
some time and some place to show you my gratitude.  I had a
sack of dust to give you for saving my hide.
 
    "I don't need anything.  It was the right thing to do."  said
Durango.
 
    Look at me Durango.  I am older than dust.  I have no kin. 
What do I need with all the gold I have?  This is one bag of
dust.  I have a lot of gold.
 
    Tell you what I will do pard.  These kids had their family
killed by Injuns a while back and I will use the gold to make
sure their life is a good one.  To make certain they get a
decent education and have good clothes and such.  How's
that pard?
 
    Jesus, you are good.  Here is a second bag of gold from
me then.  These young'uns need it.   Where are you headin'
the stage coach station?
 
    Yes sir that was my plan.
 
    Skip it.  The injuns burnt it down yesterday and killed
the keepers.
 
     Damn we will have to go to Mill City then.  That is another
twenty miles.  Where are you headin?
 
    Guess we are travelin' together.  We will want one of the
young'uns to ride the mule and another to ride on your horse
while one takes turns riding one mine while you and I take
turns walking.  We should always head for water in this land. 
Keep one eye on water, one eye out on Injuns and one eye
out for each other that my motto.
 
    The motley crew headed out in northeastly direction as
water was rumored to be in that region.  A few days of hot
and dusty traveling and the group found themselves at the
edge of a mighty river.  "I think that is the river that cuts!
thr ough Taos but I am not sure."  said the old timer. 
 
    "We could do no better than follow it north and west. 
Wherever there is water there will be food."  Suggested
Durango.
 
     So on an on they continued.  The climate started to be
colder each night and rain turned to snow.  Mountains that
were far away now loomed closer.  A patch of smoke in the
distance drew them forward.  As they arrived upon the
scene they found a man mortally wounded, his young wife
who was obviously expecting a child.
 
    "What happened ma'am?"  asked Durango.
 
    "Apaches attacked us.  My husband fought them off, but
he was wounded. Will he be alright?"  The lady pleaded.
 
    The old-timer, whose name was Joseph, shook his head
and covered the husband's head with a coat.  "Sorry
ma'am but your husband took care of you until help arrived
then he moved on to greener pastures.  What is your name?"
 
    "Mary... Mary Grace Hill and my husband's name is Howard. 
Could you give him a decent Christian burial?" 
 
    "We will do that ma'am.   Jessica you and Sally help the
lady here.  Get some bacon and make do with the fixin's
while Paul, Durango and me take care of Mr Hill."
 
      They buried Mr Hill close by a nearby cottonwood tree and
placed a simple marker by a pile of rocks.  A simple ceremony
for a simple man, during simple times.  Yet this man made a
sacrifice for his family that was not simple. 
 
      Durango turned to Joseph, we need to pow-wow.  I don't
think Mary can be moved.  She is pretty far along.
 
     I understand.  The cottonwood tree tells me there is water
close by or underground.  Let's see what we can do here.  I will
get my shovel and dig around.  Get Paul to find some wood and
the girls to find some buffalo chips.  You can go hunting while I
make this a little more homely. 
 
     A while later Durango came riding back with an antelope
slung over the rear of his horse.  Paul had trapped a rabbit and
Joseph had found an underground spring at the base of the
cottonwood tree. 
 
     Real sweet water if I do say so myself.  Jessica found some
wild onions so we will have some stew tonight.  Mary will have
herself a child in a day or two.  Anybody know what day it is?
 
     Durango pulled out his book and looked at it.  Well I'll be
darned.  It is Christmas evening.  Here we are with four kids, a
lady with a child to be born you and I.  I will need to keep an
eye out for Apaches though.  They have been around us from
day one.  It is almost like the Bible when the king wanted to
kill all the newborns.   I just realized we have a Mary who is
going to give birth, and a Joseph.  I might give some of my gold
to the baby as a gift since the father is gone.
 
    Gosh darn it there you go again Durango.  I have the gold,
more than I will ever need.  I can give the gold.  I remember
the story.  We don't have any incense or that other stuff.
 
     Jessica walks over....I have a small amount of perfume I
have kept.  I can give that.
 
     Help, help!  The baby is coming...! 
 
     The night comes .... Paul builds a warm fire.   Durango keeps
watch.  Joseph holds Mary's hand.  Jessica and Sally assist as best
as they can and John just gets things as they are needed.
 
     Shadows are moving in the night....
 
     Durango pulled out his Winchester and stood in the shadows....
 
     Clink, clink, clink...  a herd of sheep started to pass by with a
border collie and a man with staff herding them.  Hey I mean no
harm.  We justa pass this a way to rest the night.
 
     That is all right.  Are you Basque? 
 
      Yes, my name is Ricardo.  I see a fire and thought maybe
you a like company.  I notice you have children and a lady
trying to give birth.  I help many women at my village with
birthing.  May I help?
 
      We would love it.  We are new at this.  We have some hot
water, but little else.
 
      Ah, it is Christmas morning, I am a shepherd.  She is a
giving birth, it is the most natural thing in the world...just
give us some time.
 
      Joseph comes walking over to Durango..Ricardo kicked me
out of there.  He said the baby is about ready.  He said any
minute now....
 
      "WAAAH" 
 
      "It's a boy!  Mary wants to name him Immanuel, Manuel
for short."
 
      Durango, Joseph, Paul, Sally, Jessica, John all walk over
to where Mary is laying with the baby wrapped in old clothes. 
Joseph true to his words gives a small bag of gold dust to the
child.  Jessica gives her bottle of perfume.  Paul gives his Bible
to the child.  Mary is tearful with her thanks.  What can I say?
 
     Durango responds, You can come with us to my ranch! . 
The kids have no home, you can raise them and cook at my
ranch.  The misses and I can build you a home there if you
want.  The kids can go to school, learn how to work a ranch
and help us out, what do you say?
 
     Mary looks at Durango through tear-stained eyes, if it is
okay with your wife, I accept.  How about Joseph?
 
    Heck he will come along also and manage the place.  He
has the gold, he can be my partner.
 
    Joseph responds.  You mean it?  I can have a place to
retire to?  Shucks sounds, heck great to me.  A family.  I
was alone just a few days ago, now I got younguns and such.
I bet the misses will get a surprise.  She had just you, now
she has a whole passel full of people.  Merry Christmas!!!
Joseph shows Durango the gold he has on his burro...
 
    Joseph you have enough gold here to buy a town.  With
this our family will be okay.  I think you are Saint Joseph
and that our search for Christmas is at an end.
 
    The end

B.J. Cassady

BJ.Cassady@af-group.com