"EL DORADO WEST" [PG] - Chapter Twenty-Five
The following is Chapter Twenty-Five of my story about a pair of free black siblings making the journey to California in 1849:
Chapter Twenty-Five - Temptations on the Trail
July 17, 1849
Some members of the wagon party - myself included - wanted to use the Hastings Cutoff trail, which started south of the Salt Lake. Mr. James immediately dismissed the idea, claiming we would be making a big mistake. He also reminded us that the Donner Party from three years ago had made this very mistake, which ended in disaster for them. Everyone knows of the disaster that befell the party. But I had no idea that using the Hastings Cutoff led to that disaster.
Both Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Gibson pointed out that the Donner Party's late departure from Independence led to its disaster in the Sierra Nevadas, not using the Cutoff. They had a point, except I do not recall anything in the newspapers about a late departure. Mr. James confirmed this, when he stated that the Donner party left around mid-May. He maintained that the use of Hastings' Cutoff had doomed the party. But it was his argument that Lansford Hastings had never used the cutoff before including it in his emigrant guide that finally convinced the party to ignore it. Following the noon break, the wagon party turned north and started on the road to Fort Hall.
July 19, 1849
I had an unusual experience, this evening . . . and a very close call. While Alice began preparations for our evening meal, I went to the river to fetch water. I had just finished filling both buckets when I discovered that one of Mr. Anderson's "women" had followed me. It was Mademoiselle Guilbert of the olive skin, who has apparently been harboring an interest in me for quite some time. After flirting outrageously with me, which included stroking the side of my face, she suggested that we delay my return to the wagon camp for some activity of that carnal activity.
Needless to say, I was tempted. Despite being something of a vulgar woman, I must admit that she was beautiful. And I've had carnal experience with women in the past with women who might be regarded as "disreputable" as Mademoiselle Guilbert. But my attraction to her was of the fleeting kind. And the idea of soiling myself with this woman, when there was . . .
Never mind. Nothing came of it, of course. Mademoiselle Guilbert heard voices before the Gibson children appeared near the river, carrying buckets. I turned to greet them and discovered that Miss Guilbert had disappeared. Perhaps it was just as well. I doubt that Mr. Anderson would have tolerated a free sampling of one of his merchandise. Once he learns about Mr. Cross' little affair with Miss Watkins, there will be hell to pay.
End of Chapter Twenty-Five