Not exactly a convention western, but here goes.

A Ouachita Mountain Adventure

April 15, 1886
On this day we passed across the Line from Arkansas into the Indian Territory. There was no change in the Scene to mark it. We are riding still through the same wooded Ouachita Mountains as we have been. I hardly know what to expect! The land has such a reputation for lawlessness that I feel as if there must be a Horse Thief or a Bushwhacker or some such lurking behind every tree. I remember often what Mrs. Owens said about Father’s Folly in proposing to take Mother and me through such a dangerous Country on our way to Texas. Father has reassured us that the Territory is much safer than it was some Years ago and that his ties of friendship with the Choctaw Nation will keep us safe and well. I pray that he is right.

April 16, 1886
We made good Time today. Our only Misfortune occurred when Blackie stumbled as we descended a steep turn on the Trail and we feared that he would go over and take Bessie and the wagon with him. But he kept his footing and Father brought them to a halt with no Harm done. Father told Bill that this is why he does not let him drive the team on these tricky places in the mountains.

April 17, 1886
Continued past a Farm where lived some Choctaw folk. They were welcoming to us and provided us with some welcome fresh bread. I was surprised to see them live so much like folks back home, as they are Indians and all. Father had said that these Indians were a settled and civilized People, but I had not believed it until I saw for myself.

April 18, 1886
We observed the Sabbath today and so rested from our Travels. Father had Bill read from the Book of Exodus again. We are at the point where the Israelites worshipped the Golden Calf. How foolish of them after all the L--d had done for them! Bill went to shoot some Game and brought back a turkey. I was proud of my Brother for his success. Tho of course I would not say as much to his face!

April 19, 1886
This day we met a Man who offered to sell us a Horse for what he called a good price. When we would not buy it, he suggested that he might attach himself to us and accompany us a way. Father did not like the look of him and suggested that he “clear out.” He took his leave with a most foul Oath. Father said that he figured no good would come of having ought to do with him.

April 20, 1886
Last night we had some excitement. Late in the evening after we had all retired we heard a Commotion at the edge of the camp where Blackie and Bessie were tied. Father lifted his Rifle and fired a shot into the air. We heard a cry and a sound of movement through the brush on the edge of the Clearing in which we were encamped. Father handed Mother the shotgun and told her to stay with me and the younger children while he and Bill went to see what was the matter. It seemed quite some Time before they returned. I was most frightened. Little Paul was crying, and I was trying to comfort him, and Letty and Clara were trembling with fright and clinging to me. When Father and Bill returned they said that they saw Signs of somebody’s having tried to steal the horses. Father supposed from the precipitate Flight of the Thieves that they were Cowards and would not be back. He and Bill nonetheless took it turn and turn about watching over the camp for the rest of the night. I hardly slept a wink myself.

April 21, 1886
Along in the evening we met two U.S. Marshalls from the court in Fort Smith. They had a Prisoner with them. He was the very same man who had offered to sell us the horse the day before yesterday. The Marshalls said that this man was a notorious Horse Thief that they had been tracking for some Days, and that he was wanted also for murder. Father accused him of being the same one who had tried to steal our horses, but he would admit to nothing. His name was Frank Nelson. Father invited the Marshalls to stay and have coffee with us, which they did right gladly. One of them was named Morgan and the other Davis. Mr. Davis got to talking with Father and we learned that he had served in the First Arkansas Loyalist Regiment during the War Between the States. This was the same Regiment in which Uncle John had served during the War. Mr. Davis was glad to hear that, tho he had never met Uncle John during the service. The Marshals said that they would stay the night with us, which made Mother and me feel much relieved.

April 22, 1886
The Marshalls and their Prisoner took their leave of us today. They were headed for Fort Smith to place the man Nelson on trial for Murder. Father said it was likely that the man would be hanged for his crime. It is a terrible thing to think of such a punishment, and yet it is the just Reward for Crimes such as this man has been accused of. We made more good Progress today. I hope that we have had our main Excitement for this journey already and will have an uneventful time of it the rest of the way.

I'll read this Thursday night and get back to you, D.L.

I like the tone of this. It feels like a diary. The only thing I would suggest is that "Bill" sounds like he's about 14? If so, he probably would have been hunting for a couple of years. If he was younger than 14, his father wouldn't have let him try to stay awake for a watch shift. Otherwise a very nice read.

I like it a lot. Tons of detail and a very consistent voice, throughout.

You may have a point there. The fact that his father had him help keep watch does suggest that he already had a good deal of competence with a gun. I edited the sentence so that it doesn't make Bill sound like a newcomer to hunting.

Kids grew up pretty quick back then. As I recall Annie Oakley was a crack shot at a very early age (just looked it up - age 9) and hunted for food for the family. Driving a team would take a bit more power than a nine year old would have, though. I could see a mature 12 year old helping keep watch.

Nice story, DL. I really like the diary tone and the colloquial capitalization is spot on.

This was very good, and I enjoyed reading it, D.L. The capitalization of certain words threw me
at first, but I got used to it. I am not familiar with the period, so I am assuming that it was done
as it was done during that time in such travelogues. I especially liked "L--d" written as a such
out of respect. The only thing I wanted to change as I read it was "They were welcoming to us
and provided us with some welcome fresh bread." And, only because of the repetition of the
words "welcoming" and "welcome." Still, as it is travelogue, I shouldn't expect someone to
carefully select language to be someone that they are not.

Might "William" be a better choice for "Bill," no matter his age?

Anyhoo, I enjoyed this and would continue reading more.

The idiosyncratic capitalization was not uncommon among pre-20th-century writers. And "Bill" had long been a common diminutive of "William" by that time. I wasn't really happy with the "welcoming" line either, but I wrote this in a hurry and somehow couldn't think of a better way to put it.

Thanks everybody for your comments. BTW, if you want to see a really good unconventional western written from an unusual first-person point of view, read Charles Portis' True Grit . It's the basis of the John Wayne movie, and a wonderful book. It really captures the characterizations and language of the time. And the heroine is from Yell County in Arkansas, where I spent my early years.