Chapter 18
Abe Harrison was traveling by train to Angel Falls.
He felt like everyone was staring at him because of his size.
He always felt on display. He had all his life, but now more than ever.
He was on crutches. He was still getting used to them, and he was awkward.
He had his saddle bags and Logan had managed to get Caesar on one of the baggage cars to make the trip with him.
He had paid the baggage carrier extra to make sure that he was well cared for.
He wasn’t in any shape to take care of him, but he was getting there.
That horse has saved his life more than once during that damn war.
He closed his eyes to shut out the cries of the battlefield that still haunted his dreams and waking hours.
The doctor said it would get better the longer he was away from it.
But so far, it hadn’t been any better. Course, he was in a hospital where he could still hear the cannon fire and the shots of the guns going off every day and every night.
He was glad to be seeing his friend, Travis Buchanan again.
Travis and Logan were the only two men he had ever met who didn’t make him feel different or bigger than anyone else.
They even teased him about it…one time, Travis called him Tiny and they had all cracked up laughing.
Course they were in a foxhole at the time and thought they were all going to die before morning.
Travis told him they were going to dig him a tiny little hole to put his body in when he died, and they had all started chuckling and couldn’t stop.
They had survived, but only because they had covered each other’s backs all the time.
He feared for Logan without anyone to watch his back with both Travis and him gone.
But as he left, Logan told him not to worry…
the war couldn’t last much longer. He only prayed that he was correct.
He moved around in his seat trying to get comfortable with his leg or what used to be his leg.
The doctor’s called it a phantom ache or pain.
How it could still hurt when it wasn’t even there, he didn’t know, but it did.
First thing he was going to do when he got settled was to whittle him another leg.
To hell with these crutches telling everyone that he was a cripple.
He’d learn to walk with a peg leg and get along just fine.
He wondered where Travis found for him to live.
He sure hoped that he didn’t get him a room in a boarding house…
he hated being around a bunch of people.
He sure hoped that Travis remembered that.
It’s not that he was a hermit, but they made him feel weird.
Having a cabin out in the woods would be just fine.
Colorado was sure a pretty land, he thought as he watched the land pass through the windows.
Mountains in the background, lots of trees…
woods…game, he even saw some buffalo, lots of deer.
Lots of streams of clear water that he couldn’t wait to go fishing.
He hadn’t had time to go fishing for years.
He had loved fishing when he was growing up…
trout were good eating cooked just right with a little butter and baked in the oven or over a grill.
He watched more birds and eagles soaring in the air.
He wondered what an eagle felt like flying like that without anyone to threaten them or laugh at them.
The conductor came through the train and made the announcement that the next stop would be Angel Falls.
Abe was glad…he’d be glad to get off the train and be able to walk again.
It was hard to sleep sitting up and he was worried about Caesar being trapped for so many days in a baggage car, but he hadn’t been in any shape to take care of him or even go and see how he was doing.
“Angel Falls! All off for Angel Falls!” The conductor called as they pulled to a stop at the depot.
Abe pulled himself to his tall six-foot seven-inch height. He pulled the crutches to under his armpits. He walked slowly to the door. The conductor stood there to help if he needed it, but he sure hoped he didn’t need it…he wasn’t sure how he could help the huge man.
As soon as he cleared the door, he heard his name being called.
“Abe! Abe, I can’t believe you’re finally here!
” And then he was engulfed in a huge hug by Travis.
Abe didn’t mind. It felt good to be hugged and Travis didn’t hold back.
He didn’t mind that Abe was so much bigger than he was or that he was on crutches.
This was his friend and he had sure missed him.
“You going to let me get out of the way of the rest of people on this train?” Abe asked him with a tear in his eye. He didn’t want Travis to know how much it meant to him to see him again.
“No, I’m going to stand right here and make them go around us. Course, I’m going to get out of their way. Did you get to bring Caesar home with you?”
“Logan put him in a baggage car. Here’s the ticket. Can you go get him for me?” Abe asked him and smiled. Travis knew him so well. He knew that he wouldn’t come without his horse.
Travis took the ticket and ran to get Caesar.
Abe smiled and watched him go. That was Travis.
He only wished he could run again. He heard Caesar’s whinny as soon as he saw Travis.
He also heard the clop, clop, of his hooves as they came down the wooden ramp they had put down for him to get out of the baggage car.
He whinnied again to finally get out of the train.
Travis walked him to Abe. Caesar almost knocked him over he was so glad to see him again.
Abe scratched his nose and behind his ears to let him know that he was very glad to see him again.
“I think he’s missed you, Abe, although I can’t imagine why.” Travis teased him. He looked Abe over and couldn’t believe how much weight he had lost. Even his face was much thinner. “Are you ready to meet my family before you head out to the cabin we made ready for you and Caesar?”
“You got a cabin for us? I like the sound of that. I was worried that you got a room for me in a boarding house and a livery for Caesar. I was hoping that you knew me better than that.” Abe told him and smiled.
“I’d like to meet the woman that hobbled you, Travis.
I also see the star on your vest. So, you’re a deputy now, I can’t imagine you being a lawman.
Telling people what to do, yes, knocking heads together, yes, not just shooting them, no. ”
Travis laughed. “That does sound like me. But I had to make a living for my family somehow.” He led Caesar while Abe walked on his crutches.
He stopped a way back from the train depot.
“This is my woman and wife, Angie. These are my boys, Will and Bobby. Honey, this is Abe Harrison. The man who saved my life more times than I can count.”
Angie stood on tiptoe and kissed Abe on the cheek.
“I can’t tell you what a joy it is to finally meet you and to thank you for getting Travis through the war and home to us.
I will be forever in your debt for his life.
” Angie told him and didn’t seem at all put back from his height.
Neither did his boys. They just politely shook his hands.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Will told him. “This is Zeus. He’s a wolf pup, but we trained him for you. He likes to sit in front of the fireplace at night and sleep.” And he gave a leash to him with Zeus on the end of it.
Abe didn’t know what to do with Zeus. Zeus just looked up at Abe and sniffed him and then sat down at his feet as if he accepted him as his owner.
“Thank you, Will. I’ve always wanted a dog or rather a wolf. Will the owners of the cabin where I will be living permit me to have a wolf?” Abe asked them with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Well, since you’re the owner of the cabin, that depends on you.
I bought the cabin and put it in your name.
So, if you want the wolf pup, he’s yours, if not, we’ll take him back.
I found him on one of my rounds of the farms and ranches.
His mother and sister had been killed. He was almost dead himself.
I brought him back with me and fed him. He’s been with me ever since.
I always thought of you as I fed and took care of him.
I remembered that you said that you always wanted a dog.
There’s also plenty of room for Caesar to roam, too.
” Travis told him and saw him smile. “Before we head out to your cabin, I’d like you to meet my brother and sister-in-law.
This is Tate and Sam. They own the mercantile and have five children.
They also helped put in pumps in your cabin and clean it up.
Tate and Sam also brought in some supplies to get you started.
Tate, Sam, this is my friend Abe Harrison.
Abe…my brother, Tate, and his wife, Sam.
I’ll tell you now, Abe, that Sam is a better marksman than you are!
She would be the deputy here in town if she were available, but Tate prefers her just being his wife and mother to his children.
His children are Chris, Cam, Cassie, Charlie, and Cara.
They are aged eight to three. Chris helped chop you some firewood, Cam gathered you some kindling, and Cassie cut you some paper for your outhouse. ”
Just like Angie, Sam stood on her tiptoes and kissed Abe on the cheek.
“Thank you for watching over Travis’s back and sending him back to us in one piece.
We really like having him around and know what a pain in the ass he can be.
” She told him and Abe broke out laughing. He really liked Travis’s sister-in-law.