Fremont: Explorer For A Restless Nation

7: Western Star

"~VII~·· Western Star OCTOBER WAS RUNNING ITS COURSE, and Jessie longed to have John Charles come home. Their baby was due within the next two weeks, and she wanted him to be there when she gave birth. She knew he was on his way, that the expedition had reached St. Louis safely. News of his return had traveled ahead of him, and it seemed that all Washington had heard that Lieutenant Fremont was on his way back from a great adventure. He had been a traveler on the Oregon Trail, a man who had crossed South Pass and then went all the way to the Shining Mountains. This was the greatest adventure in many years, and citizens of Washington longed to hear about it. But adventure was only one reason for Jessie's longing. The months of waiting had not been easy. Her handsome black-haired husband had been gone for a short time when tragedy struck the Benton household. Jessie's mother had suffered a stroke. Three days and nights she lay in a coma. The attending physicians had to tell Senator Benton it was their considered opinion that his wife might never regain consciousness, that she might linger in a coma until her body ceased to function. Jessie's father was overcome with grief. She had never seen him so helpless. This powerful senator, this strong man who held his ground when weaker men gave way, was reduced to a humble, praying husband who remained by his wife's bed and refused to leave. Her father's reaction was a great shock, and Jessie realized she would have to be the strong one in this time of need. All her father could do was sit by her mother's bedside, hold her icy hands, and stare at her face for some indication of consciousness. Finally, after these anxious and desperate hours and days, there was a sign of recovery. At first it was only the slight movement of an eyelid. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, Jessie's mother managed to speak a few words-words that were almost unintelligible, but they were words. As Mrs. Benton became fully conscious, two things were quickly apparent. She had suffered a great deal of brain damage. This impaired her intelligence and left her paralyzed to the point where it was difficult for her to speak. But WESTERN STAR even in this state, she made it clear that she wanted Jessie to take care of her. Jessie took over, while her father stood by trying his best to be cheerful in front of his wife, but retiring to his room as a grief-stricken man when he was out of sight. To help Jessie, her eldest sister Eliza took over the running of the Benton household. All that summer while John Charles was somewhere along the Oregon Trail, Jessie was her mother's constant companion. But as summer turned into autumn, as September drifted into October, Jessie became larger and larger with child. Before long, it would be time for her to give birth. Where was John Charles? That was the thought ever present in her mind. He was on his way home, and she felt that the days had become longer than they had been during the first months of his absence. But then, she was not so close to her time. Now, with the baby kicking and moving about, with the changing position of the life inside her, she was impatient for his return. In the last few days of October Jessie wondered if John Charles would arrive on time. Her father tried to assure and comfort her; and even her invalid mother, who was able to rest on the couch by the window, had regained enough of her faculties to share in the excitement of the expected return of Fremont. Then on October 29 the front door of the Benton home opened, and Jessie's happiness was so great that she began to cry. She saw the tanned and handsome John Charles standing and smiling at her. He was home! Home in time for the birth of their nrst child! Two weeks later, Jessie felt the beginning of labor pains. It was going to be only a matter of hours before she would give birth. It had to be a boy, a boy she would name after his father. On November 13, 1842, Jessie gave birth to their nrst child. But it was not a boy. It was a...