The hoofbeats made soft thuds in the grass for the next few moments until Revelation came to a small grass-covered knoll. She could hear the splashing, bubbling sound of the river they had been following.
Revelation dismounted and climbed to the top of the small hill so she could look down at the water just on the other side. Here, the river was fairly swift, and strewn with rocks. The water bubbled white as it tumbled over and rushed past the glistening rocks. The white feathers in the water glowed brightly in the moonlight while the water itself appeared black. The result was an exceptionally vivid contrast, which made the stream even more beautiful at night than it was by day.
Revelation felt drawn to the water, and she walked all the way down the knoll until she found a soft wide spot in the grass. There, she sat, pulling her knees up under her chin. The constant chatter of the brook soothed her, and she enjoyed the contemplative silence.
“I thought it was you I saw ride over this way,” a voice said.
Revelation was startled by the sudden intrusion, and she turned to see James standing at the top of the knoll behind her.
“Aren’t you supposed to be watching the herd?” Revelation asked.
“They’re quiet,” James said. “What are you doing out here so late.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Revelation answered.
“As hard as you’ve been working and as early as you have to get up, I can’t imagine you having trouble sleeping.”
“I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Are you thinking about Mark?”
“A little,” Revelation said. “Don’t get me wrong, Mark was certainly no saint. None of my brothers are. But that doesn’t stop me from grieving for him.” She sighed. “Besides, someone needed to. Matthew, Luke, and John didn’t seem to take notice.”
“I’m sorry about your brother,” James said. He walked down the knoll to sit down beside her. “He turned out to be a pretty good worker. All of your brothers have.”
“Which was a surprise to you, I suppose,” Revelation said.
James chuckled. “Yes, it was. I admit it.”
Revelation looked right at James. “What do you really know about us, Mr. James Cason, son of Colonel Garrison Cason, biggest land owner and wealthiest rancher in Bexar County?”
“Not much, I guess,” James said. He was somewhat put off by the ire of her question.
“Let me tell you what you think you know. No doubt you have heard that we are a shiftless and lazy bunch. That we are cattle thieves and worse.”
James cleared his throat. “I’ve heard words to that effect,” he admitted.
“I will admit that my father and brothers have made some questionable deals in Mexico, buying cattle very cheaply without regard to how the seller came by the cattle. But they have never actually stolen any cattle, nor bought any cattle that might have been stolen from any of their neighbors.”
“I guess that’s something in their favor,” James said.
“My mother and father were from Boston, did you know that?”
James shook his head. “No, I didn’t know.”
“In fact, my mother was a Prescott, an old, proud, fine family. Grandfather Prescott was in shipping. It broke his heart when mother married one of his ship captains.”
James looked surprised.
“That’s right. My father was a ship’s captain in my grandfather’s merchant fleet. But when he married my mother, my grandfather was so angry that he fired him. My grandparents pleaded with my mother to allow them to get her marriage to my father annulled, and when she refused, they disowned her. That was when my mother and father came out here.”
She was silent for a moment. “You have to understand that my father was a man who was used to absolute power, for no one is more powerful than a ship’s captain at sea. He was also used to the respect a ship’s captain received.
“Here, he had none of that. Here, he learned that power and respect come only to those who possess land and cattle. But my father was an impatient man, as powerful men often are, and he had no interest in building his empire slowly. That is why he took shortcuts.
“I admit, that doesn’t excuse him from becoming a”—Revelation couldn’t bring herself to say the word cattle thief—“what he was, or causing his sons to follow in his footsteps. But it may explain a little of who he was.
“My mother died shortly after I was born. My father said she died of pneumonia, but I think she died of humiliation. She was from one of the most influential families in New England. Presidents had dined in my grandparents’ home and yet, here, she was looked down upon. She couldn’t live with the contempt heaped upon her by her neighbors, by people like the Swans, the Murbacks . . .” She paused for a moment before she continued. “And the Casons.”
“Revelation, I pass no judgment on you or your family,” James said.
“Oh, but you do,” Revelation said.
“How so?”
“I see it in your eyes every time you look at me. You think I’m a pretty woman, and you are a little flattered that I made a fool of myself, by throwing myself at you. But it is very obvious that, no matter how flattered, or interested, or intrigued you might be, you will never allow anything to develop between us, because you don’t think I’m good enough for you.”
“Now hold on, Revelation, I never said anything of the sort,” James said. He put his hands, tenderly on her shoulders. “Actually, I think you are a rather uncommon woman, and I—”
“Uncommon,” Revelation said, with a dis missive chortle. “Horned toads are uncommon creatures. You can’t turn a woman’s head using that kind of language.”
“Revelation, please. You aren’t being fair,” James said.
Revelation’s face softened. “I know I’m not. I shouldn’t have thrown myself at you the way I did.” She held up her right hand. “It was not very ladylike, and I’m sure you found it rather unsettling. I’ll never do it again, I promise you. From now own I’ll just be another one of the hands.”
Revelation got to her feet and started up the side of the little knoll.
James waited until she was at the top of the hill before he called to her.
“Revelation?”
She turned to look back down at him. Again, her face was illuminated by the moon, so that her skin was a contrast in pearl and shadow. Maybe it was James’s imagination but, at this moment, he didn’t think he had ever seen anyone more beautiful, despite the men’s clothing she was wearing.
“Maybe I don’t want you to be just one of the hands.”
“I’m sorry, James,” Revelation said quietly. “It’s too late for that now.”
James watched as she disappeared down the other side of the little knoll. A moment later he heard the sound of hooves as she rode away. He turned, picked up a handful of small pebbles, then tossed them one by one into the water.
Revelation was right. He hadn’t thought she was good enough for him. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized what a snob he was. He vowed right there and then, to be less judgmental from now on. It was an epiphany.
Dakota Territory Thursday, August 14, 1862:
Kris Dumey had enjoyed a good day in his diggings. Coming out of the tunnel he had dug into the side of the mountain, he was carrying a sack that was filled with gold nuggets. He had no idea how much it was worth, but his head was spinning with the excitement of it.