A Rocky Mountain Christmas

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Pueblo—January 15, 1894

An article appeared in the Pueblo Chieftain:

Track Cleared, Ten Bodies Recovered

The Denver and Pacific Railroad has cleared the track through Trout Creek Pass of the terrible wreckage left by the avalanche, which has, for these last three weeks, rendered traffic through the pass impossible.

Our readers are well aware of the ordeal the passengers who took the Red Cliff Special five days before Christmas, with the intention and full expectation of spending Christmas with their loved ones have endured.

The nefarious scheme of Michael Santelli and the four brigands he had enlisted to aid him ruined Christmas for the innocent passengers. They suffered great hardships during the time they were trapped in the train, with no food and little fuel for warmth.

The train was subsequently reached by Smoke Jensen and Duff MacAllister, their bravery supplying a happy ending to the unhappy adventure. It may also be said that poetic justice was served, as the perpetrators of the crime: Michael Santelli, Felix Parker, Roy Compton, Gerald Kelly, and Melvin Morris, were all killed by avalanche. Their mangled bodies were found in the wreckage.

Also found were the bodies of five innocent men: Deputy Braxton Proxmire, Dennis Dace, and Andrew Patterson of this city, Paul Clark, Deputy City Marshal of Red Cliff, and Fred Jones, a colored porter.

Red Cliff—January 16

Abner Purvis was a passenger on the first train to make the trip to Red Cliff after the pass was reopened. He walked the seven miles from the Red Cliff train station to his father’s farm.

His brother was out feeding the pigs, and was the first to see him. He reacted in great surprise at seeing his older brother coming down the road toward him. “Abner? Is that you?”

Abner held his hand out toward Aaron. “Don’t disturb yourself. I know that I walked away from my inheritance. I know the farm is yours. I want only to be treated as a hired hand.”

Aaron smiled. “Come with me to see Pop.”

Abner followed his brother into the machine shed, where their father was working on a plow shear.

“Pop, look who is here,” Aaron said.

Arnold Purvis looked up to see who Aaron had brought to him. There was only a second’s hesitation before his face was wreathed by a huge smile.

“Abner? Abner, my boy! You have come home!” Arnold cried excitedly, getting up from the workbench and hurrying over to embrace his son.

“Aaron, run quickly to tell your mother. Tell her I will kill a hen, so she can make chicken and dumplings.” The elder Purvis looked back at Abner. “I know that is your favorite meal.”

“Pop I’ve already told Aaron. I’ve no wish to deprive him of the inheritance. The farm shall rightly be his.”

The elder Purvis looked at Aaron with a confused expression on his face. “You haven’t told him?”

“No, Pop. I haven’t told him.”

“Told me what?” Purvis asked.

“Abner, I have an appointment to West Point. I’ll be leaving soon. I don’t want the farm. It’s all yours.”

“Welcome back, son,” Arnold said with a wide grin.

Pueblo—January 18

Luke had suggested they get married in the Colorado Social Club. Jenny was hesitant at first, but then she thought, why not? Adele Summers had been a very good friend to her, as had all the other girls who worked there. It was a bit unconventional, but Jenny didn’t care. For those who declared themselves her friends, no explanation was necessary. For those who were openly hostile toward her, no explanation would be understood.

Adele had gone all out to decorate the club, and insisted the girls dress demurely as if they were going to church.

Father Pyron of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church had never been in Adele’s establishment before. While he was drinking a cup of coffee before the ceremony, he admitted he was looking forward to it. “I always wanted to know what this place looked like inside. This way I can come here without compromising myself.”

Father Pyron wasn’t the only one whose appearance in the club had caused no small degree of curiosity. Troy, Julius, and Pete were also there, the first time anyone of their color had ever set foot through the doors.

Senator Daniels and Millie were there. Becky was very proud to serve as Jenny’s flower girl. Also in attendance was Herbert Bailey, who was no longer a railroad conductor, having been rehired as a telegrapher for the town of Higbee.

Smoke, Matt, and Duff were present for the wedding, and Duff had volunteered to play Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” on his pipes. It was the first time anyone had heard the traditional wedding song played on the pipes, and so beautifully was it played there wasn’t a single dry eye among the girls of the Colorado Social Club.

After the wedding, everyone went down to the train depot to wish the happy couple well as they left by train on the first leg of their wedding trip.

“Where in the world is Samoa?” Adele asked. “And why do they want to go there?”

Nobody had an answer.

As Smoke turned to leave the depot, he thought he saw an old man dressed in buckskin, carrying a long-barreled, Hawkens .50 caliber buffalo rifle and wearing a coonskin cap.

When he blinked, the man was gone.