Miss Annie And The Chief by Joany Kane Page B

house?” Emmet inquires.
    “I gave it to
the church. It was built for a family and a family should live in it.”
    Emmet helps
Annie up into the wagon.   He hops
up next to her.   “You got the money
for yer passage?” Emmet asks.
    Annie hands a
small bag of coins to Emmet.   “Half
now and half when we arrive at Beaver Creek.”
    “Fair
enough.”   Emmet giddy ups his
horses.   The wagon moves away from
the homestead.   “We're meeting up
with some abolitionists who will be riding along with us.”   Emmet shares with Annie.
    “Escorting
teachers, missionaries and abolitionists, Mr. Howes?   I think the good Lord has already recruited you,” she
smiles.
    “Now that's just
plain not true.” Emmet scoffs.
    The wagon rides
down the road, heading away from the homestead and away from the rising
sun.   Annie does not look back,
only forward.
    *****
    Emmet’s wagon
reaches a crossroads.   Another
wagon waits by the side of the road.   There seems to be some sort of activity happening in the back of the
covered wagon, unseen to anyone.
    Emmet's wagon
approaches and pulls up alongside the waiting wagon.   He calls out.   “Ain't the best time to be professing yer love for each other, you
abolitionists.”
    Peter and Jenny
Newton, a middle-aged couple, hop out of the back of the wagon. They're careful
to close the flap so no one can see into their wagon.
    “Good day.” Peter
greets. “I'm Peter Newton and this is my wife Jenny.”
    “It's a pleasure
to meet you.   I'm Mrs. Annie
Landon.” Annie warmly shares.
    Emmet adds.   “She lost her mister in the war.   The day ain't waiting fer us, you all
have your "good book" with ya and ready to go?”
    “If, Mr. Howes,
you are referring to the words and wisdom of some of the great
transcendentalists, then yes, we have good books with us.” Peter retorts.
    “Transendlists?’
I thought you was abolitionists.”   Emmet scratches his head.
    Peter and Jenny
hop up into their wagon.   Jenny
peaks into the back of her wagon as if making sure all is okay.   The wagons proceed down the road -
heading west.
    Several days
into the journey west the two wagons reach the mighty Mississippi River.   The wagons load onto a barge and begin
the river crossing.
    Annie stands
near the edge of the boat, looking out at the river.   She holds the letter that Aunt Selma had written her about
the excitement she had felt in crossing the river.   She rereads the letter when Jenny joins her.  
    Jenny studies
Annie.   “It takes a special kind of
spirit to travel alone, Annie.”
    Annie hands the
letter to Jenny for her to read.   “My Aunt Selma traveled alone.   She's very forthright, determined.    I have always admired her for that and for her
strength of character and her wisdom. She's my inspiration, my moral compass.”
    “Watching how
well you have handled this vigorous trip has been my inspiration.   There have been times I wanted to turn
back, but watching you focused on the destination and handling everything we
have encountered with steadiness and conviction has been heartening.” Jenny
shares.
    The ladies see
that they are now closer to the western bank of the river than to the eastern
bank.   “Once across this river I
know there is no going back for us now.” Jenny tells Annie.
    “I will never go
back.” Annie responds.   “Pennsylvania holds more painful memories for me than pleasant ones.”
    *****
    The travelers
have made camp for the evening out on the plains.   The sun is just starting to set on the horizon and the sky
is aflame with color.   Annie and
Jenny marvel at the sight.   “’Nature always wears the color of the spirit.’"   Annie quotes.
    "’It's not
what you look at that matters, it's what you see.’"   Jenny adds.
    Emmet scratches
his head.   “What are those two
chickens squawking about?”
    “The ladies are
quoting Emerson and Thoreau, respectively.” Peter elaborates.
    “I ain't never
heard of no