Yankton

Chapter 43

Chapter 43 Déjà Vu All Over Again

I hadn't planned on staying in 2014 that long, but there were several things Melinda had ordered, and hadn't arrived yet, plus the Days of 76 rodeo was upon us, so I decided to stick around a little longer. Craig and I finally settled on a design for the boarding house, the heating being a sticking point. Originally, there had been talk of a fireplace, but due to safety considerations, the central area would be heated by a large wood stove. There would be a regular stove for the kitchen, along with small stoves for each room, each venting into its own brick chimney. This resulted in several separate chimneys but neither of us were overly keen on running stove pipe through the building as was the practice then. Craig wanted to line each chimney as well, another modern innovation. He felt comfortable doing a lot of the brickwork, but thought another mason would probably be needed.

"We're gonna' have chimney's sticking out of the place like a damn porcupine," he said, but overall things will be a lot safer. Also, the room stoves would be situated in a corner with a brick base and two wall backstop which would help deflect heat as well. Brick was going to be expensive, but in the end, it only made sense.

Montana had warmed considerably to my sister seeing in her, a modern equivalent of herself, both would often head for one of the casino's to play poker, or blackjack, never winning a whole lot, but then never loosing anything either. Montana looked on it as "broadening" her experience and skill, while Melinda seemed to prefer keno, or the slots.

Sometimes I would go along, with Jake and Craig going as well which would usually end up making an evening out of the trip. I also noticed Montana growing more comfortable with modern life, although riding in my truck still bothered her, with other cars and trucks moving along in the opposite direction, as well as the speeds at which we traveled. Jake, on the other hand, demanded more time "behind the wheel," gradually learning the modern experience of driving. I thought that maintaining a steady course would be a problem, but instead it was using the brake. Naturally, all this driving took place in empty parking lots, but the skill of brake/gas pedal, befuddled him.

At one point I offered Montana the opportunity to drive, but she would have none of it, both she and Jake were both awed by our ability to drive down a busy street and not crash into someone or something, as well as being able to stop properly, and know what all the lights and signs meant. Now I know what high school driving instructors go through, trying to explain proper had and foot coordination to Jake was a real trial, not that he was ever going to be allowed to take the wheel on his own, but he was happy just being able to do something no one else in 1877 could do. With the weather being so nice, I took the opportunity to use my charcoal grill, preparing steaks, chicken and especially hamburgers.

The concept was an old one, but not a typical way of cooking meat (other than spit- roasting) in the nineteenth century, however, both Jake and Montana loved my grilled sirloin's, and braised and grilled chicken breasts. Hamburgers were another matter, and although they had both eaten McDonald's burgers, the whole idea of eating these things with your hands baffled them.

Although sandwiches were not unknown in 1877, they existed as dainty little things as in tea sandwiches. Big juicy burgers simply threw them for a loop, although Jake warmed to them rather quickly, Montana preferred to cut her's into quarter sections and eat them with maybe just a little mustard and a sliced pickle or two on hers.

Finally the opening day of the famous Days of 76 rodeo came, the one time Jake and Montana could wear their 1877 garb and not attract attention. Melinda had gotten Jake to shave his beard very close not fluffy like the men wore them back in the day, but he slicked his hair, and wore the clothes he arrived here in 2014 in. Brown canvas trousers, a red Flanagan shirt, and canvas suspenders. Actual boots made in 1876, and a beat-up slouch hat completed his wardrobe. I had a little trouble getting Montana to wear her authentic traveling outfit consisting of a grey moiré outing jacket and skirt, a white Gibson girl blouse with a cameo pin, and a matching grey riding hat. Craig and I wore the same clothes we wore in 1877, but they were modern Carhartt duck canvas dungarees, western style shirts, and leather vests.

Montana was skeptical about the celebration until I told her,

"This is a celebration of something people like you, Melonie, sheriff Bullock, Calamity Jane, and all the others started. Look at it as a tribute to your efforts." We all went down early to see the parade being formed, and as I was pointing to a group of Indians for Jake, a couple men came up and asked,

"Pardon us, but Jim and I are in charge of organizing the parade, and we saw you folks standing here, "indicating Montana's outfit and nodding towards Jake, the man said,

"Those are outstanding costumes, would you two like to ride in our stagecoach, there's room for two more, it would look more authentic." Before Montana could object, I replied,

"Of course they would, the lady here knows what stagecoaches are like, don't you Abbie?"

If looks could kill, I'd be dead, but she shrugged and accepted her fate. Jake eagerly accepted as well, so we all trooped off to where the coach was. As it turned out, there was only room for one more, in the coach, I assisted Montana up inside, as the driver told us all about the coach.

"We brought this out of the museum, for those of you who don't know, it's an authentic coach, actually used on the old Cheyenne to Deadwood route." Standing next to the coach, I grinned at Montana, who was still glaring at me,

"You know it's quite possible that you've ridden in this thing before,"

"What exactly am I supposed to do?" She asked.

"Just smile, and wave at the people," I then lowered my voice, "How ironic, you come one hundred and thirty-seven years into the future just to ride for free in a coach we may very well see on our return." Meanwhile, Jake had talked himself into getting to sit by the driver, apparently impressing everyone with his knowledge of hitching a team of horses, as well as driving them. I took plenty of pictures of him sitting up in the driver's seat as well as Montana looking out of the coach window. Craig and I followed the stagecoach as it traveled down the main street waving to Jake and Montana, who only waved a little, Jake on the other hand really got into the spirit of the thing, waving and tipping his hat. Following directly behind them were brightly dressed Indians on painted up horses, he didn't see them at first, all his attention being focused towards the front, but at one point, I saw him turn around, to see them, then scrunching down in his seat right afterwards. After that, I watched him keep turning around to see what the Indians were doing.

"What's the matter?" wondered Craig, "Jake looks nervous,"

"He sees Indians," I replied, the only kind he knows are always looking to lift up your hair."

I then started humming "Dreary Black Hills, "For big Wallipe or Comanche Bill will lift up your hair in the dreary black hills!" We followed the coach along with the other wagons and assorted riders to the end of the route where Montana was talking to another woman dressed much like she was, and obviously her husband dressed like a banker, or maybe a doctor. Jake on the other hand was still eying the Indians who had now dis-mounted, and were talking amongst themselves.

"Say Jake," I announced, "Let's go talk to those Indians over there, I want to ask them a couple questions." He looked at me like I was crazy,

"I don't have nuthin to say to them injuns, I like my hair just like it is." Both Craig and I laughed,

"Jake, they won't do anything to you, the Indian wars ended a long time ago." Reluctantly he followed Craig and me over, where we introduced ourselves, and I began to ask them about ancestral artifacts.

Before long, I was in a deep discussion with Nathan over Sioux tribal history. I think at first, they thought I was just some hick tourist, but when I began to describe war paint markings, and the particulars of buffalo hunting, they discovered otherwise. Little did they realize that my observations on paint worn by actual Indians came from my 1876 experiences. We ended our conversation, when I made an offer to Nathan,

"I come across actual Sioux artifacts from time to time, is there anything you might be interested in? Mind you, if I can find it I'll offer it to your tribe totally free of charge, I know that sometimes things can just go way beyond what they are actually worth, this offer is no bullshit, I'm being totally on the level." Once they recovered from their astonishment, Nathan thought a moment, then said,

"To own a full set of buckskins, both male and female. I'm not talking about anything ceremonial; we have some of those things, but just a warrior's battle dress."

"Well Mr. Plain Feather," I replied, "I may be able to make your wish come true, although not at once, let me have your number, and I'll contact you whenever I come across something."

He could tell I was being very sincere, and reacted accordingly. As we were about to part, one of the other men asked me,

"This guy with you, we seem to be making him very nervous." I smiled,

"Well, Jake here happens to be from a place where the Indians aren't very friendly, and will lift up a guy's hair…Later guys."

Montana was still talking to not only the woman dressed like her, but another woman who, I know realized was the reenactor who portrayed Calamity Jane. I didn't see the woman's husband, probably got bored and wandered off, but Montana was really holding her own. Edging into the conversation, I quickly discovered that the woman (who introduced herself as Ellen Hankins) collected antique clothing, and was no slouch when it came to local history. However, I noticed that both she and "Calamity Jane" were speaking of Deadwood's past as historians, while Montana was speaking in terms of things as recent events. I'm sure both women thought of Montana as a reenactor, who was quite well-informed, and knowledgeable on old Deadwood. I chuckled to myself, just thinking of what was really going on here.

After the women parted, Montana asked me,

"Who was that other woman the one with the hat pulled down over head?"

I shook my head, and chuckled, I'm ashamed at you Montana, I think her name is Jerri Starks; she works for the city portraying Calamity Jane. She's part of the actor's troupe that puts on the Trial of Jack McCall, I think it's playing down at the theatre, tonight, want to go see it? Montana sniffed,

"Perhaps, but that was not Calamity…I."

"I know, I know, I injected, "You know her personally, I think Jake has run into her on occasion, but that's my whole point, you two know old Deadwood and the old west as people who actually lived it, everything you see around you here is based on legend. Sorry to say, Deadwood as you know it simply wouldn't be acceptable to modern sensibilities, we'll go the show this evening, you'll get a better idea of what I'm talking about." We watched the rodeo for a bit, again, Montana and Jake were unsure as to what the point of it all was supposed to be.

Again, I explained to them rodeo's came out of the legend of the cowboy, trail drives, and ranch work.

"Them boys do all that to break horses, and brand steers, I knew a fella what done it down Wyomin' way, didn't sound like it were all that fun, just damn hard work." After the rodeo, we stopped at Saloon number ten for drinks, both Montana and Jake marveling at the place. As we sipped on our beverages, Melinda gave me a glare, then said,

"Ever since Brian gave me this job, I've been reading everything I can about old Deadwood, the gold strike, Custer, and the Wild West in general. I think what my brother is trying to explain to you two, is that you're living the Deadwood legend, before it became a legend, and it's confusing you. Everything you see around you all comes from legends and stories of things you people are doing right now, and as you see it it's all just a lot of hard work, and just day-to-day living. All these so=called legends started out as stories with the facts twisted around, writers came west, and wrote stories for folks out east, unfortunately, they exaggerated a lot to liven up the dull and routine, to sell newspapers and books, this is all a result of that."

Neither Montana nor Jake commented much about Melinda's observation, until after we took in "The Trial of Jack McCall." Before that, we saw the "Colorado" Charlie Utter Show over at the Bullock Hotel which surprisingly everyone enjoyed. One of the elements of the show was the reciting of Deadwood history, which for the most part was accurate,

"I find it all rather interesting," commented Montana, "Those fella's are talking about things we know took place only a few months ago , and events that are happening right now…odd"

The "trial," also impressed the two "76er's" Jake enjoying it immensely,

"I wanted to go see the trial, I most certainly did," explained Jake, "But pa wouldn't hear of it, I had wood cutting to do."

"Well now you got to see it after all," I replied, "One hundred and thirty-eight years later." Jake gave me a strange look.

"I was just down the street in a dry goods shop," added Montana, "I heard shooting, then people shouting that Hickok had been shot, naturally I felt bad for the man, I ran into him once on the street, he tipped his hat to me and said, "Morning ma'am, he must have already started drinking, I smelled it on his clothes as he passed by."

When I told them there was Calamity Jane show, as well as a reenactment of Hickok being shot, Montana and Jake wanted to see those presentations as well, so the next day, we saw them as well.

We made it a full day, and despite the heat, Montana wore her original outfit again, but we stopped to take frequent breaks. After watching the Starks woman perform Montana sought her out as she was taking a break.

"I want to commend you on your rendition of Martha Cannary," she said. Then introducing herself, she added,

"My great great grandmother actually knew Martha; she would never call her Calamity, always by her given name." I thought at first the Starks woman would merely thank Montana for her kind words, but instead, she pressed Montana for any detail of Calamities life she could remember. Using her fictitious great great grandmother as a foil, Montana revealed a number of facets concerning Calamity. Most the woman already knew, but Montana told her some things not generally known.

"How did your great great grandmother know Calamity?" asked Starks.

"She was a dance hall girl working for Mr. Miller at the Bella Union for a short while, then she went to work for Dora DuFran, then one of her customers asked her to marry him, she did, until her husband was kicked by a horse he was trying to shoe and died." The sincerity of Montana's voice convinced Ms Starks that what Montana was telling her was the truth.

As they parted, Montana said to her,

"I have a few sentiments Martha gave my great great grandmother, she passed them down and I have them put up. It's been so long since I've looked at them, I cannot tell you exactly what's there but I will locate them and let you see them." Jerri Starks became very interested in the offer, and told Montana she would be in Deadwood until the end of September and gave her phone number. That night as we lay in bed together, I brought up the subject again.

"Obviously you were quite taken be Ms Starks performance?"

"I'm truly impressed with all that that woman knows about Martha, her performance was quite realistic. Now keep in mind I'm not close with Martha, however I've had numerous conversations with her, as well as those who also know her, but there is very little that is false."

I had met Calamity as well, but I didn't think the Spears woman looked much like her,

"Were Martha to desist from drinking, she would more closely resemble that young woman," said Montana.

"Do you actually have things Martha has given you?" I asked,

"Not really," replied Montana, but that can be easily remedied."

Two days later, everything Melinda had ordered had arrived; one thing she wanted me to give to Colin was a blue Notre Dame "hoodie" that had the famous "Fightin' Irish mascot on the front.

"I wanted to get him something special," said Melinda, so I browsed the internet, and came across this, I think it's very appropriate don't you?" I did think he might like it; it would certainly keep him warm. We left the next day, the transfer chamber packed to the ceiling, with everything from booze, and food, but mostly various building materials for the boarding house. Melinda and Montana hugged each other, but Jake got a big long kiss for which Craig and I had to turn our backs on his account. She promised him that she would come with us on the next trip and that she loved him. Both Craig and I grinned as Jake glared at us, out of self-consciousness I suppose, but I ignored it.

"Next stop, 1877!" I called out.