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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Sidewinder - 10. Chapter 10 Praises for Blue

Ecclesiastes: 4:9-11
Two are better than one, because they have good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow, but woe is him who is alone, and has not another to help him up.

                                                                                                                                                                                  ***

Praises for Blue

 

 

Night moved in and they traded old stories each knew by heart. Boone was feeling better than he had in a long time, and not only body-wise. Will, once always a presence in their lives, had become a distant shadow. Eventually, though, he tired and crawled into his bedroll. Coy did the same after feeding the fire to ward off the night chill.

As they lay side by side a few feet from one another, quiet settled in, but Boone had something on his mind. “Coy? You awake?”

“Yep. You need something?’

He heard the rustle of blankets. “No, don’t get up. I’m fine… peaceful, truth be told, and I don’t need you checking on me all night long. I know that’s what you been doing.”

“So… so what if I do? You almost died, Boone, and fevers come back, and it ain’t no chore to keep an eye on you.”

“I know, but if you’re not careful, you’re going to end up sicker than me.”

“What in tarnation you talking about?”

Boone heard another rustle as Coy shifted toward him. He did the same, thankful his hip could now handle the position. “I’m talking about you buzzing around like a summertime bee since Blue trotted into your camp. Did you sleep at all those days you looked for me?”

“No… of course not… the moon was bright enough I could search through the night… and you wouldn’t have slept either if it was me who was missing.”

“No, I wouldn’t have, but Coy, you can now. You’re plumb tuckered out, and your eyes are sunk into your head like I ain’t never seen before.”

“It’s been hard to sleep,” Coy admitted softly.

“I know that, but you have to stop worrying for me. You’ve about got me back to normal, and time will take care of the rest. Just some aches and pains now, like after getting throwed from an ornery colt, so let me do some of the stuff around here. I’ll get up in the morning and take care of the fire and breakfast. I can get the water just fine, and I surely can check on the horses.”

“Your ribs still hurting?”

“Not as much… more they’re just tender now… not enough to make me useless.”

“I got some snares to check before sunup, and you shouldn’t be hauling water,” Coy protested, showing the stubbornness Boone expected.

“I know where you set them, so I can check the snares and skin a rabbit if one’s caught. You think I can’t carry a pot or two of water?”

“No… I suppose you can sure enough,” Coy said with reluctance.

“I know I can, so you stay put and sleep as long as you’re needing to. I ain’t going to die tonight, Coy, I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to that, but you didn’t see what you looked like when I found you.”

“No, suppose not, but I know how I’m feeling, thanks to you, and I can see what you look like now. You’re plumb wore out.”

“You about done jawing at me?”

“Yep.”

“Good… you can check the snares and cook breakfast. That make you happy?”

“Yep.”

A couple of minutes later Boone heard soft snores coming from the man beside him, and he smiled to himself at the familiar sound. He soon followed suit.

 

Coy did as promised and stayed in his bedroll while Boone took care of the chores. It felt good to be useful again, especially when he returned to camp with a skinned and gutted rabbit. It went into the Dutch oven with a few burdock roots he’d dug up, some salt pork for needed fat because rabbit meat was lean and a body needed fat, and some beans that had been soaking overnight. Perfect cowboy’s breakfast, complete with hardtack biscuits cooked alongside a chunk of bacon fat in the iron skillet.

When Coy got up, he looked much better. “Smells too good around here to stay asleep.”

“Medium-sized rabbit in the pot, with beans and a few roots, and some fried biscuits. The other snares were empty, but I reset the one. Did you sleep through the night?”

“Mostly,” Coy answered, avoiding eye contact.

“You checked on me, didn’t you,” Boone accused, grimacing at his friend.

“Just the once, but only cause you cried out.”

“I did? Damn… sorry for that. I’ve been having some godawful dreams.”

“I know. You had them with the fever too, but you were more just whimpering then. You’ve cried out every night since, though.”

“So that’s why you kept checking on me?”

“Told you… fevers come back, like they did with my little brother… and the second one finished him off.”

Now Boone got his friend’s fear. “That was different, Coy. Your ma said the fever took a lot of folks back then.”

“Fever’s fever. I ain’t no doc, but I know fever,” he said stubbornly. “Anyways, you weren’t flushed or hot, and you quieted down after I spoke to you. I went back to sleep right after. I’m going to the river to wash up and clean my teeth. Need any water brought back?”

“No, got enough for now… did my washing up already.”

Boone watched him go, feeling foolish for giving the man heck when he was the one waking him up at night. It was just like Coy not to say anything. He had to remember his friend had lost three brothers and a pa before they even met, and a ma and a brother since. Still, he did look better than he had yesterday.

 

They were eating breakfast when Boone asked Coy what his plans might be if he didn’t like what he saw with his ‘look see,’ but couldn’t pin him down. As it stood, he would ride with Boone to check out the town and tracts of land for sale in the area, and that was all he’d say. Boone couldn’t help feeling Coy was holding something back. Was he testing his sincerity about wanting him around? Despite how things seemed, had they lost the trust they used to have? Or was Coy just going to stick around long enough to make sure Boone didn’t need him?

He finally gave up and changed the subject. No sense chewing on a bone with no marrow in it, but he knew the man well enough to sense he had something on his mind.

“So, tell me how you managed to lead Blue, Daisy, and Buttercup while riding Mouse? Did you tie them in a line?”

“I didn’t lead them at all. I rode Buttercup instead of Mouse to keep Blue close, and I knew Mouse wouldn’t run off on me, and Daisy would never run off on Mouse.”

“You’re a mite smarter than I thought,” Boone teased.

“Should have left you on the river bank,” Coy returned quickly, and Boone found it funny, joking like they used to, but he saw the instant regret on Coy’s face. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. Rescuing me was plenty smart,” he said with a cheeky grin.

Coy visibly relaxed, and returned it. “I ain’t as smart as Blue, though. I swear he was looking for you right along with me. He’d graze, but stayed close to the river most of the time.”

Boone laughed. “I’m not so sure he appreciated me enough to want to find me.”

“Thought you said he liked you?” Coy asked with a straight face, but Boone wasn’t buying it.

“Yep… I did say that, cause there was a time I thought he did, but he’s been a thorn in my side ever since we took him away from Paint. I think he blames me. For leaving Buttercup too.”

“That may be, but he hung close after I found you, and he pulled the travois up without me doing much coaxing. I’m telling you, that mule’s damn smart for sure and certain. I was fit to be tied, but he never took a wrong step, and he didn’t move off till I had you wrapped up and a fire built… and even then he didn’t go very far until after your fever broke.”

Boone glanced over to where the Blue and the horses were grazing. “Well, I’ll be damned. You make him sound like a faithful old dog.”

“Yep. He acted just like my old hound would have. Kept me company while I waited for you to show signs you wouldn’t be needing a wooden box.”

Once again Boone was struck by what his friend went through for him. “So, I guess he does like me after all.”

“I’d say so. Maybe he felt bad for hauling you into the river.”

Boone stared at Coy open-mouthed until Coy started to snicker, and then they both ended up laughing like they used to. Coy’s ma used to say the pair of them made a worse racket than two possums in the night.

“Think I’m giving him too much credit?” Coy asked when he could finally speak.

Boone couldn’t do anything but nod before laughter overtook him again. It was worth a little bit of rib pain to just enjoy the moment.

The day was a good one. Boone cleaned and oiled the tack with his store of neatsfoot oil while Coy did some fishing, and for supper they had enough trout they couldn’t finish it. Conversation was easy for them again, and Coy listened while Boone talked about the order he would do things when he bought some land. Coy was interested for sure, but he more listened than talked.

He did ask a question now and then, though, encouraging Boone to open up about how he’d always wanted to build a log cabin, so finding land with suitable trees was foremost for him. So was a good spot to build it. He also wanted to be close to a water source, one that would keep a well filled and fresh, as well as being able to keep an eye on his stock. None of this was exactly new to Coy, yet he appeared to want to hear it all again, so Boone obliged.

He also needed a food cache where food could be stored safely and at a cool temperature, maybe built into a hillside. Hobbling worked well enough, but he wanted corrals for horses, and for a milk cow and a few beef cattle. He’d need pens for chickens and pigs, and a barn he could keep oats and corn in, as well as a place for tools like a plow, harness, axes and such. It would also have to serve as well as a shelter for animals in bad weather.

He was beginning to consider that Blue might make a good plowhorse if he worked with him enough. That way he wouldn’t need to be feeding a team over winter, and he was smart enough to know he shouldn’t bite off more than he could chew in the first year. It was one of the few times Coy offered an opinion, and it was that Blue would be able to pull a plow as well as any saddle horse. It made Boone chuckle… the gray mule had a supporter in the man.

He finished up saying he expected to work hard, but he wanted to enjoy life too. He wanted to fish and hunt and ride… explore and camp when he could. He searched his friend’s face for a reaction to the end of his longwinded talking, and what he saw was a small smile that was unreadable.

“You make it sound so nice, Boone.”

“I do?”

“Yep, and I hope you get every bit of it.”

“Would be nice.”

The night sounds took over, and before long a sigh came from the man across from him.

“When do you want to ride out from here?”

“If I said tomorrow would you throw a fit?”

It took a while for Coy to answer. “As long as you can ride, I see no harm in it. The weather’s good, and I can tell you’re itching.”

“I am, but I don’t want to rush. You went through a lot, so maybe we should rest another day or two.”

“I don’t need rest… so you can stop fretting over my sunk-in eyes.”

“Hey, I said they were sunk in… they’re not anymore.”

“Then there’s no reason we can’t get back on the trail.”

“Fine with me, but I’m not sure we should go the same way I did before.”

“Why not?”

“Cause there’s a missing piece to the trail, and I didn’t see a good spot to cross the river. We might consider fording right here and following along the other side.”

“We don’t want to be doing that, Boone. There’s a big loop to the south that eats up a day or more to get around it. You didn’t come down that river in a straight line.”

“That so? I knew it winded along a bunch, but I reckon a day’s travel is too much to lose.”

“We can take your trail and find a way further north of that spot to cross the river. Same difference.”

“Yeah, likely we can and that’s what I was going to do, but I swear I ain’t going near no cliff that overhangs the water. It happens ground doesn’t always stay put.”

Coy laughed. “Good to see you can learn. Ready to turn in?”

“Sure am, once I’ve had a good draining.”

They walked away from camp together and pissed side by side. The night air was beginning to chill, and Boone shivered. “I’m really thankful you followed after me, Coy.”

After a long sigh, the man took his time in speaking… long enough Boone thought he’d said something wrong. “Wasn’t sure I was doing the best thing a time or two, but I reckon I made the right decision after all. Lord knows what I’d be doing if I hadn’t taken your trail,” he said in a sad kind of tone.

Boone pondered what might be behind the words as his stream finished and he buttoned up. Again, he had the feeling Coy had something weighing heavy on his mind. “Well, I’m pretty sure I’d be doing nothing right now if you hadn’t.”

“It’s a pretty spot here, don’t you think?” Coy said, changing the subject away from Boone’s near death.

“Kind of familiar, being alongside a river.”

“Lot better land here… good grazing, bigger trees, and a lot more game… and real peaceful… the river runs quiet.” A lone coyote howled a few miles off as if to argue his words, and they both chuckled.

“Might be he wants us to move along and stop taking his rabbits.”

“Nah, that sounds too lonesome to me. He’s calling for a mate, more like.”

The howl sounded again, and Boone had to agree. It was a lonely call for sure, and gave him another shiver for a different kind of chill. Now that he had him back, what was he going to do if his friend decided not to stick around?

 

 

*

Thanks for reading... I hope you enjoyed this latest installment. Please share your thoughts if you can. Who'd have thought Blue would be anything but a pain in the ass. The people in these times relied heavily on their animals, and those bonds could be the difference between life and death..
Copyright © 2020 Headstall; All Rights Reserved.
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

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  On 11/18/2020 at 6:57 PM, KayDeeMac said:

Yep - a very good chapter with a few "telling" points for both our boys. I'm optimistically seeing a tighter bond developing from the near death experience they both felt!

Those kinds of experiences have a way of making everyone take a step back and reconsider what really matters and what is important in life!! 

Great great writing Gary!!  Thanks, David.

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Hey, David. Shared experiences can open up all kinds of things. I believe both men feel lucky they have a second chance to enjoy their friendship. So yeah, they are reevaluating. We shall see whether their paths continue to converge... or diverge. :)  Thanks for the encouraging words, buddy. Cheers! :hug:  

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Blue has to get credit for his part in the rescue....one could also say (as Coy pointed out) that Blue also should get the blame for the accident so maybe it’s a wash? 🤷‍♀️ 😄 

I like to think under the great canopy of stars these two explorers sleep under every night, there is a twined or conjoined set....one that gives off more blue light, one that gives off more green, that together shine brighter than they ever could apart;  That will guide them to a place of promise for the future.♥️♥️

 That was my fanciful way of saying I’m very happy Coy and Boone are back together, lol.  I know the stars change with the seasons but I wish for that dual star to be their guide and guard on their journey because like your bible quote and my romanticizing, these two are simply better together and I dare to say that Coy may be made more like Boone than either of them know, even if he’s only made that way for Boone.  Even if he isn’t, friendship like theirs is more like kinship and is a rare blessing, even today.  
🍻

Larkspur ahead!!  What direction (geographical and otherwise) will our intrepid travelers take? Will the rest of their journey be drama free?  Will Blue and Boone kiss and make up?  *Tune in next week to find out on the latest, exciting installment of....Sidewinder*  🐍

Edited by FanLit
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  On 11/17/2020 at 3:06 AM, rockycs said:

Good Lord.  Rabbit, rabbit and more rabbit. 

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The skinning of the rabbits, though obviously necessary, grosses me out.
 There are chickens who’s necks need to be wrung and feathers plucked, the dismantling of a whole cow, pig or deer for hides and meat....I think if I lived during frontier times I may have become a vegetarian, lol.  

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  On 11/17/2020 at 4:11 AM, Headstall said:

Hey, Rocky! Lol. They did have some prairie chicken too, and Boone had grouse, snake, prairie chicken, and rabbit on his journey, and fish is also a main part of their diet. :P  In summer, traveling alone, you wouldn't want to bring down a larger animal like a deer because it would go to waste in the heat, unless you took the time to smoke it.

I'm pleased you brought up scurvy. There are lots of foods that have vitamin C... and in this chapter they have burdock root in their stew, which contains about ten percent vitamin C. It's also in things like peppers and chilis, wild blueberries, black berries, apples, potatoes, cattail roots, etc. There are also many wild greens that pioneers were well aware of and foraged for. :)  I did a lot of research for this story. :yes: 

Thanks, buddy... I love getting a chance to delve deeper and talk about this stuff... cheers! :hug: 

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These type of details flesh out stories and characterize the environment, showing how they can serve as protagonist or antagonist to the main characters.

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  On 11/19/2020 at 5:24 PM, FanLit said:

Blue has to get credit for his part in the rescue....one could also say (as Coy pointed out) that Blue also should get the blame for the accident so maybe it’s a wash? 🤷‍♀️ 😄 

I like to think under the great canopy of stars these two explorers sleep under every night, there is a twined or conjoined set....one that gives off more blue light, one that gives off more green, that together shine brighter than they ever could apart;  That will guide them to a place of promise for the future.♥️♥️

 That was my fanciful way of saying I’m very happy Coy and Boone are back together, lol.  I know the stars change with the seasons but I wish for that dual star to be their guide and guard on their journey because like your bible quote and my romanticizing, these two are simply better together and I dare to say that Coy may be made more like Boone than either of them know, even if he’s only made that way for Boone.  Even if he isn’t, friendship like theirs is more like kinship and is a rare blessing, even today.  
🍻

Larkspur ahead!!  What direction (geographical and otherwise) will our intrepid travelers take? Will the rest of their journey be drama free?  Will Blue and Boone kiss and make up?  *Tune in next week to find out on the latest, exciting installment of....Sidewinder*  🐍

Expand  

Yep. Blue gets credit and blame. :P  The mule is very trying, but we really can't blame him for being frightened of the storm... Boone definitely was. And as far as credit, animals should be given more... sure, Blue likely walked into Coy's camp because of Buttercup, but there is still a part of me that thinks he might have known what Coy was doing as he searched. I have had incredible bonds with my horses, and have many stories to tell of how much I could rely on them. 

I like the way you romanticize, my friend. It's beautiful, and ties in to my bible quote. These men are stronger together for sure... they shine brighter because of that special bond they share. What it turns out to be is their decision... I just tell the story. :) 

On to Larkspur is right, and I'll give you a little hint/warning... there will be no more storms, and the pace will be easy... ;)  Thank you, FanLit, for another thoughtful comment. Cheers! :hug: 

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  On 11/19/2020 at 5:57 PM, FanLit said:

The skinning of the rabbits, though obviously necessary, grosses me out.
 There are chickens who’s necks need to be wrung and feathers plucked, the dismantling of a whole cow, pig or deer for hides and meat....I think if I lived during frontier times I may have become a vegetarian, lol.  

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We do what we have to. I have no doubt you would have made a strong pioneer woman, who would hunt and forage and farm and look after her own. Our ancestors' blood runs through our veins. :) 

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  On 11/19/2020 at 6:33 PM, FanLit said:

These type of details flesh out stories and characterize the environment, showing how they can serve as protagonist or antagonist to the main characters.

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I agree. It's why research is so important. The land and the environment can definitely be a main character in a story, giving as well as taking. And, the little details matter... for example, the fact rabbits don't have as much fat as a body needs, so pork and other fats are often added to meals. Not eating the right foods can be deadly in an environment where your body needs to be strong and healthy. :(  :hug: 

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  On 11/21/2020 at 9:57 PM, LD Stratton said:

A good drama-free chapter that reveals a lot about the 2 guys, their private thoughts and their deepening interaction with each other. 

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Thanks, LD. I'm glad you liked this chapter. These guys are becoming reacquainted after a long separation. There was a lot of tension and emotion when they parted back at Red Bluff, but now they are conversing like they used to. There will be a lot more conversations ahead. :) Cheers! :hug: 

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  On 11/22/2020 at 5:53 AM, ColumbusGuy said:

Some memories dredged up in this one, G-Man!  We raised some rabbits when we first moved into the country, and one year my Dad dressed them for the freezer, except for the oldest who lived for about ten years.  My Mom fried the meat like pork chops, and I had to try it once, but could never do it again since they seemed almost like pets to me since I was probably six or seven years old then.
I'm sure my parents didn't think too much of it since my father grew up on a farm in north central Ohio, and my mother grew up in the far hills of eastern Kentucky where hunting was routine.  Sorry, but I don't want to be personally acquainted with the main dish at mealtime...I'm content to buy it anonymously at the grocer's.
Perhaps more odd is the fact that I tried fish once or twice then, and won't eat anything that comes from the water, be it fresh or salt.  Perhaps that comes from fishing with my parents and grandparents as a kid?  I'd have to have somebody else bait the hook for me, then take the fish off because I wouldn't touch it....

Yep, I'm a real survivalist, so long as pizza counts as a food group!

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I like when the details are ones readers can relate to in some small way. It was a different world back then, but there are still people who live as hunter gatherers. We can romanticize these time periods in movies and books, but the fact is life was a constant challenge for most. I so admire our ancestors, but, like you, I would rather not know personally what I'm eating. 

Cheers, my dear friend. :hug:  xoxoxo   

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  On 12/3/2020 at 7:06 AM, Sherye said:

Glad they finally rested plus Boone has gotten better from the fall. And now it is time for me to rest. I will read the next chapter tomorrow but right now I am going to say good night!

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Good night, Sherye, and thanks for all the wonderful comments and likes. Sweet dreams of handsome cowboys. ;)  Boone is on the mend and the world is looking brighter. Cheers! :hug: 

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  On 12/3/2020 at 3:11 PM, drpaladin said:

No point in chewing on a bone with no marrow in it.

Loved that.

Boone is lucky he's young and heals fast. But he's also used to living a rough life. How many of us could bounce back so fast?

There are still many uncertainties and Coy is markedly unwilling to make any long term commitments.

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Thanks. :)  I love when readers quote something from a story. 

Cowboys had no choice but to bounce back, and when you're used to being in the saddle, it's not as hard as it would otherwise be. I used to show horses with a very problematic back. But, yeah, that was when I was a lot younger. :unsure: 

Coy is being cautious, but the important thing is they are talking. He can't do what he doesn't see as possible.... Lots of journey left.

Thanks for the support, DP. I'm really enjoying your comments. Cheers! :hug: 

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A good chapter. The guys needed a little time to recover, and to talk a little. Coy seems to have some things on his mind he's not up to discussing yet, but Boone is patient, if a little bit worried about what those things might be. But the feeling between them is a good one, so I think they can both move on from this camp successfully.

I'll certainly be back to see! :)

 

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  On 12/4/2020 at 4:15 AM, Geron Kees said:

A good chapter. The guys needed a little time to recover, and to talk a little. Coy seems to have some things on his mind he's not up to discussing yet, but Boone is patient, if a little bit worried about what those things might be. But the feeling between them is a good one, so I think they can both move on from this camp successfully.

I'll certainly be back to see! :)

 

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Boone is not the only one who has suffered trauma from his near death. Coy has been deeply affected too. So yeah, they need this kind of time to reconnect, talk a little, and begin to heal on the inside, as well as reestablish their solid friendship.. I think Boone recounting his dreams and plans was good for both of them. That said, there is a lot more conversation to come. :) Thanks, Geron. Cheers! :hug: 

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  On 12/28/2020 at 7:04 PM, Timothy M. said:

Blue the mule may have been at the center of their talk, giving Coy and Boone a chance to joke and laugh, as well as reconnecting and reestablish their closeness and friendship. But most of my praise goes to Coy who acts grown up and caring in a way that resonates with Boone. They seem more like equals the further we go.

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As Boone says in his thoughts, Will was becoming a distant shadow. Coy finally has a chance to be the person he needs or wants to be. I really liked how, despite what they had come through, they were able to poke fun at one another. Coy is definitely a hero, and yes, I think that makes him feel good about himself. He needs that. Thanks, Tim. Appreciate the comment. Cheers! :hug: 

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  On 12/31/2020 at 3:24 AM, nix said:

I totally agree with the other people on the comment section who deemed this chapter as drama-free. If this was a tv show this would have been a filler episode, but it was a nice to be able to breathe for a bit from all their issues, and I actually found myself relaxing as I read the whole chapter. On to the next!

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There are downfalls to serial posting. If you were reading an actual book, this chapter would have been a nice blip, so I'm pleased you found it that way anyway. Too much drama can have us skipping the truly special little moments. Cheers and thanks, buddy... and happy reading. :hug: 

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As others already said, they needed the down time, to heal and to think. For me the most important sentences were:

Boone was feeling better than he had in a long time, and not only body-wise. Will, once always a presence in their lives, had become a distant shadow. 

Will was a constant thorn in their relationship. I hope it will be easier for Coy to consider / dare to explore possibilities.

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  On 2/10/2021 at 11:27 AM, aditus said:

As others already said, they needed the down time, to heal and to think. For me the most important sentences were:

Boone was feeling better than he had in a long time, and not only body-wise. Will, once always a presence in their lives, had become a distant shadow. 

Will was a constant thorn in their relationship. I hope it will be easier for Coy to consider / dare to explore possibilities.

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Hey, Adi! Will did a lot to destroy lives in his short time on earth, and Coy has been left to deal with the damage. So yeah, I agree those were important lines. It might take him a while longer to get completely over the guilt and shame for what his last family member had been capable of, but time is our balm... and Will had receded for the moment.

I agree too that they need this time to heal and rebuild a very special friendship. Coy has to learn who he is without influences, and I suspect he's doing that. We can certainly see Boone's importance to the man. :) 

Thanks for picking this story up again. Cheers... Gary.... :hug: 

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I feel hope now for the direction the two guys are heading.  Their emotional growth is spurred by a new honesty with each other, and clearer understanding of the other.  I am rooting for Larkspur.  I do have to comment on the great research you have done to get the info on the locations and history to write this story. Thanks for another very good chapter well time to give us a breather before the next adventure.

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  On 11/13/2021 at 11:53 AM, raven1 said:

I feel hope now for the direction the two guys are heading.  Their emotional growth is spurred by a new honesty with each other, and clearer understanding of the other.  I am rooting for Larkspur.  I do have to comment on the great research you have done to get the info on the locations and history to write this story. Thanks for another very good chapter well time to give us a breather before the next adventure.

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Hope is good. :)  I think all that turmoil in Red Bluff over the deaths of Wes, Lee, Dan and Will is starting to ease, and both men are starting to look outside their tight little worlds. It's human nature. 

Thanks for the kind words about my research. There were constant hours of pouring over articles and documents and trying to piece everything together, so it's nice to hear that's appreciated. I love this time period... it's raw and wild and innocent... but the people are still people, but ones used to fightinghard for everything they get. It was a tough kind of life, but it could be a good one too. Cheers, my friend. :hug: 

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