Chapter 13 #3
“In the morning we’ll head back north,” Grizzly went on, “where we saw the tracks. We’ll follow those tracks and hopefully catch up with them. If I remember correctly, you’re the one who made the point that we couldn’t follow their tracks in the dark.”
“I know that.” She swatted at him, but he was out of reach and was just frustrated anyway. “Let’s find a meal and get some sleep. We can be moving again before sunrise.”
Grizzly and Hester spent a few minutes studying the ground at the front of the telegraph station.
“The Marshals I’ve known ride top-quality animals, always well shod.” Grizzly crouched beside a clear set of tracks. “I’d say there are eight folks riding together. But the light is about gone now. It’s the plain truth we couldn’t have followed any tracks into the mountains.”
“Elk Point is a quiet little town. Not a lot of hoofprints, especially off on this side street by the telegraph office.” Hester nodded as she came and stood by his side. It was almost full dark, the sky moonless. “We can only see them because there’s a light on in the telegraph office.”
Right then the lantern went black, and their tracking was done.
“We’ll study them for a few minutes tomorrow at first light.
” Then, being a practical woman, she added, “Let’s get some rest. Someone opened fire on our children.
They bolted into the mountains, and whoever shot at them went after them and fast. We might find ourselves fighting our way to get to the youngsters. ”
“If we have to fight, then we’ll fight.” Grizzly swung back into the saddle and rode toward the darkened livery stable.
They hoped to find the hostler sleeping behind the stable, but if not, they’d put up the horses themselves and pay him in the morning.
“Then it’s for the best we get some rest and a good meal under our belts before heading out. And we’d better stock up on ammunition as well, just in case we need to fight a war.”
“Remember me asking who was riding with her? Which Marshals?”
“Yes,” said Hester, “you said you knew one of them, and he was a good man. Morgan Sawyer.”
Grizzly nodded. “I knew him in the war, and I only remember him because his pa and I ran the hills together as youngsters.”
“Ran the hills? You mean the Rocky Mountains?”
Grizzly turned to her. “Yep. Ma died when I was a youngster, and Pa had no heart for the wilderness. We went back east. And then I met and married you as fast I could talk you into it.”
Hester smiled. “I didn’t put up one speck of a fuss.”
“Morgan’s pa stayed here because he’d found a place he wanted to settle in. He always craved a hidey-hole, and he’d found one a bit north of here. If Morgan was in trouble, I’ll bet I know right where he’d run to. Hard place to find, but I think I remember how to get there.”
“We were riding along some mighty steep hills right where they turned off. You’re saying there’s a way up into those mountains?”
“That’s right,” he replied. “We’ll ride out in the direction of Morgan’s pa’s cabin and see if it doesn’t lead us straight to our kids.
There’s a decent chance they might have gone there if attacked and injured.
” Grizzly was quiet for a moment before adding, “I wish we had time to explore these mountains a bit. The Rockies are beautiful. Dangerous but beautiful.”
The two of them found the livery empty just as Hester had expected. They made short work of stabling their horses—stripping off their leather, brushing them down, and giving them hay and a bit of grain.
Hester stepped out of her horse’s stall at the same time Grizzly did his. She reached for his hand. “We’ll do that sometime. Maybe we can take a real trail ride and try to ferret our sons out of the mountains. You were always good on a trail, Colonel.”
“It’s a wonder I didn’t die of loneliness being away from you so much, Hester. I’m glad we’re finally done wandering in opposite directions.”
“I followed along when I could, but five children slowed me down some for certain.” Her eyes turned bright with love and admiration. “But this time I can keep up. Just see if I let you get away from me again.”
“It ain’t gonna happen.” He gave her hand a squeeze, then pointed and said, “Look, there’s a light glowing in that building there. The sign over the door says it’s a boardinghouse. Let’s see if they have a room available and can rustle us up some dinner.”
They walked hand in hand in the dark to the only place in town with its lights still on, and those were turned down low. The man who ran the boardinghouse was sitting behind the front desk, head rested on his folded arms. He woke up when they came in.
“We’d like a room if you’ve got one.” Hester did the talking.
Men had always responded better to her than to him, unless he needed to scare cooperation out of them, like he’d done with the man in the telegraph office.
In that case she let Grizzly do the talking.
But when it came to sweet-talking men, that job was turned over to Hester.
“Some hot food would be welcome, too,” she said.
The man handed over a key. “Your room’s right at the top of the stairs. And I’ve got plenty of fried chicken in the icebox. I can warm it up if you want.”
“Cold chicken is fine. We’re eager to eat and eager to sleep.”
He nodded and said, “Follow me into the dining room.”
They were soon well fed and ready for some rest because the trail ahead was sure to be a hard one.