Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard

by Johnny Fowler

  “This is highly unusual,” the banker said. “But, I see no reason why it won’t work. We must establish trust and the two Wilcox brothers are honest men. From the comments about the two Shobert boys, I don’t anticipate any problems. I’ll keep an accurate account on the expenses.”

  “Good,” Man said. He pulled the money belt from around his waist, counted out five thousand, and placed it on the desk. “We want to open a business account in the name of K&M Construction Company. With what we have in our personal account and this, it will cover the cost until we get back. If the cost exceeds the business account, pull the short fall from our personal account. That will only happen if we are gone for an extended period of time. We’re starting two homes.”

  “That’s not a problem, either,” he said.

  “We know this may be in inconvenience to you,” Kate said. “But, I expect that whoever buys the houses will finance them through your bank, so we all win. Besides, the only way Coeur d’Alene will grow is with suitable housing.”

  “I had already considered that,” the banker said. “If I may ask, where are you going and do you know how long you’ll be gone?”

  “We’re waiting for a wire from Chief Marshal Joe Meek,” Kate said. “When Valdez and Engledow are located, we’ll be gone. Where the trail takes us will determine when we’ll be home.”

  “I see,” he said. “I heard about the Elmer Knorr case you two solved, and good riddance on Bedford Nail. He and his establishment were a black eye on Coeur d’Alene. Those gaming tables and dealers were robbing the poor fishermen and others stupid enough to gamble there.”

  Man and Kate shook hands with the banker, went out, and mounted their horses. “Where next?” she asked.

  “D&D Lumber Company,” he said.

  They were met by a clerk and Man said, “We’d like to visit with Daniel or David Wilcox.”

  “They are both here, come with me,” he said. The two marshals were shown to an office with two desks. Two men that were obviously brothers from their appearance stood when they saw Kate and Man.

  Man introduced Kate to the owner of the company. “We came to discuss business,” Man said.

  The four sat at a table and Kate and Man explained their proposition. Both of the men were smiling, especially when Man explained how the building materials would be paid.

  Daniel was the first to speak. “We’ll be happy to work with Roy and Dan Shobert. Invoices for materials will be taken to the bank every Friday, if that’s suitable with you,” he added.

  “That works for us,” Man said. “We’ll audit them when we can and if there’s a problem, we’ll come see you. You treat us fair and square and we hope to do a lot of business in the future. We have forty acres we plan to put into quality homes for good residents of Coeur d’Alene.”

  That brought another huge smile from the two men. “You can count on us,” David said. “We would never even think of anything underhanded with the two marshals that put down that skunk Bedford Nail.”

  As with the banker, they were escorted to the front door and were given a friendly pat on the back and a firm handshake. The two merchants stood on the porch and waved as Kate and Man rode away.

  “Where now?” she asked.

  “Cliff Landers’ store,” he said.

  Cliff had a customer when they walked inside. Kate started around the store looking. “We need to replenish our supplies in the packs,” she said. “While we have time, I’ll do some shopping.”

  “Remember, we’re on horseback,” he said.

  “As opposed to what?” she teased, since they hadn’t taken the wagon out of the barn in quite some time. “I won’t buy more than our horses can carry. I expect Cliff has a couple of sacks we can use.”

  She started around the store and as she selected an item, she handed it to Man to take to the end of the counter. Cliff finished with the customer, and the pile of supplies had grown to a sizable amount. Cliff began entering the amounts on a tablet as he moved each item to another pile.

  “Planning a long trip?” he asked.

  “We never know,” Kate said. “We’re getting ready to go after Valdez and Engledow when they surface.”

  A huge frown crossed Cliff’s face at the mention of the two names. “I know this is awful,” he said, “but I hope you don’t bring them back. Lucille has been through enough without having to relive that during a trial.”

  “We’ll have no choice should they surrender,” Kate said. “We’re obligated to give them that opportunity.”

  “I understand,” Cliff said.

  “We came to see you for another reason as well as buying supplies,” Man said.

  “Let me finish the tally before we move on to something else,” he said. “I have a one-track mind.”

  He picked up a sack of rice and put it on the scales. “You must like rice,” he commented.

  “It’s lightweight to carry and keeps well,” Kate said. “And a cup of rice with jerky will feed both of us two meals,” she added. “That’s important on a long trip in the wilderness.”

  “I know that,” he said. “I outfit trappers every fall and rice is a staple to them. I keep an abundant supply on hand as well as jerky, parched corn and pemmican. I have an Indian woman make it for me. There’s a big demand for it from trappers, hunters and fishermen.”

  He finished putting down the numbers and added. He wrote the total at the bottom and then handed it to Kate. “Please check my figures,” he asked.

  She finished and nodded agreement.

  Man took out his wallet and paid for the supplies. “Do you have a couple of sacks we can use?” Kate asked.

  Cliff nodded and went in the back and returned with two flour sacks. “This should hold them,” he said.

  He put the purchases in the sacks and then asked, “What was the other business did you wanted to discuss?”

  “I’ll get right to the point,” Man said. “We have started a home construction business as you know from talking with Lucille. We marked off home sites this morning and Roy and Dan are going to start two houses. If you’re interested, we would be happy to build one especially designed for you and Lucille.”

  “I’m definitely interested. I haven’t asked Lucille to marry me, but I intend to do that this weekend. How much are you asking for the houses?”

  “That will depend on a few things. The size of the house, types of materials, and how much finish work you want, fireplaces and such. Also, you’ll need to decide on the lot size. If you’ll sit down with Lucille and the boys and decide what you want, then we can give you a reasonable bid.”

  “I understand,” he said. “I need to talk to the banker about financing, as well,” he said. “When do you need to know?”

  “I expect Roy and Dan will start construction soon, but we’re building two homes at the same time. They can start on the other, but it would be cheaper on you if Roy and Dan can sub-contract two foundations and fireplaces for both at the same time. That will get us a discount on the bid.”

  “I understand,” Cliff said. “Would Monday be soon enough?”

  “Of course,” Man said.

  Cliff reached for Kate’s hand. “Do you think Lucille will marry me?” he asked in a low voice.

  “Kate had to stifle a chuckle and wanted to say, hell yes, in a heartbeat, but held it in check.

  “Ask her,” she said. “That’s the only way to find out. Should she say yes, then it will be the right time to discuss the housing issue.”

  “I know where I live now is much too small for us. I have one room behind the store. And her house is little more than a shack. I’d like to start our new life right. I want to give her, and the boys, a proper home.”

  Kate nodded and smiled at him.

  “I hope we don’t have to leave before Monday,” Man said. “If we do, we’ll have to wait until we
get back to start your new home. We have to be in agreement on the price.”

  “I appreciate that,” Cliff said.

  He helped carry the two sacks out to the horses. They tied a sack behind each saddle.”

  “Where now?” Kate asked.

  “Unless you have another place to go?” he said. “Home.”

  “I don’t. We did everything we intended to in town.”

  Man touched Arabian’s sides with his spurs and turned toward home.

  They found Roy and Dan hard at work building fences between the home sites. They stopped and talked with them. “We have everything squared away at the bank and with D&D Lumber,” Man said. “We talked to Cliff and he said he would give us an answer on building a home by Monday.”

  Roy nodded, his eyes sparkling. Dan turned away and went back to work.

  “If Lucille says yes,” Kate added. “Cliff wants to discuss the house plans with you, both of you, and your mother. He wants a place big enough to include you boys while you’re still at home.”

  Roy nodded, as if he already knew this. But Dan glanced over his shoulder, listening in. His expression had changed from stubborn defiance to uncertainty in an instant.

  “I really think he’s trying to do right by not only your mother but you boys, as well,” she said. She was overstepping her bounds, but couldn’t help herself.

  Dan lifted his hammer and brought it down hard on a post.

  Man cleared his throat. “When we know what they want,” he said, “we’ll make an offer on price. When you finish the fence, start work getting ready for the foundation on the second house. That should take you until the weekend. By Monday, we will know Cliff’s decision.”

  “Yes, sir,” Roy said.

  Man turned Arabian toward their home.

  She rode beside him and he reached for her hand.

  “Think Dan will come around about Cliff’s intrusion into their lives?” she asked.

  “In time,” Man said with a nod of certainty. “Once he decides to trust Cliff. Those boys have had a hard life. All we can do is try to help them make it better and mind our own business.”

  “I hope you’re right,” she said, looking back at the boys. Roy was hard at work, but Dan had stopped and was absently tapping his hammer against his thigh as he stared off into the distance.

  “When we get home,” Man said, reaching for her hand to redirect her attention. “I have three things I want to do.”

  “Make love,” she said with a laugh. “And what are the other two?”

  “Heck, forget the other two,” he said, sending her a sly glance. He spurred Arabian. “Now I can’t even remember the other two.”

  ***

  Sunday afternoon, Man heard a noise outside and went to look. It was Cliff and Lucille in his buggy with Roy and Dan in the back.

  Kate and Man went outside to greet their guests. “Come inside where it’s warmer,” Kate said. “That north wind feels like it’s off of ice.”

  Dan took the lead rope for the horses, tied it to the hitching rail, and followed the others inside.

  Kate motioned toward their table and asked, “Coffee anyone? I have a pot ready to make.”

  She didn’t wait for a reply and put the big pot on the fire, then came to the table, and sat beside Man.

  Cliff pulled several sheets of paper from his pocket and handed them to Man.

  “I take it Lucille said yes,” Kate said with a grin.

  Cliff reached for her hand. “Next Sunday afternoon,” he said.

  “Congratulations,” Man and Kate said in unison.

  “Thank you,” Lucille said. “If it hadn’t been for you, this would not have come about. You saved my life.”

  Man spread the papers out on the table. Roy and Cliff took turns explaining what he and Lucille wanted.

  When they finished, Man asked, “Roy and Dan, do you have an estimate on materials and labor?”

  Roy pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. “This is our best estimate,” he said.

  “How much land,” Kate asked.

  “An acre and a half,” Cliff replied. “We want the southwest corner. I want enough room for a barn and stable. I’ve lived in that one room for so long, I want some space and a garden.”

  Man took the estimate and he and Kate went to the bedroom to decide on a cost figure. They came out a few minutes later and Man handed Cliff a sheet of paper. “This is our bid with no changes,” he said. “Any changes or add-ons will need to be discussed.”

  Cliff showed the figure to Lucille and they talked quietly for a couple of minutes. Cliff stood and offered his hand to Man. “We agree. Build us a home.”

  Roy jumped up and went to shake Cliff’s hand and give his mother a hug. Dan held back a moment, then went to his mother when she held her arms out to him. He gave her a long hug, then stepped back and gave Cliff’s hand a quick, awkward shake before stepping back and crossing his arms.

  Kate noticed he seemed more embarrassed than angry now, as if he didn’t quite know how to give in and accept the situation like his brother. But he seemed to be coming around.

  “We’ll start on your foundation tomorrow,” Roy said, grinning. “Your new home comes first.”

  Chapter 11

  A policeman knocked on their door early the following Wednesday. Man opened the door and asked him to come in out of the cold. He handed Man an envelope. “The telegraph agent brought this to our office. It’s marked urgent. Dunlap told me to bring it out.”

  Kate had come out of the bedroom and stood beside Man. Man opened the envelope and read it aloud. “It’s from Chief Marshal Meek. He said Valdez and Engledow were positively identified near Boise. We’re to report to the sheriff in Boise.”

  “Anything I need to report to Kincaid?” the policeman asked.

  “Yes, tell him we’ll be on the morning train going south. I’ll notify Meek and the sheriff in Boise we’re in route.”

  Kate had already turned and hurried to the bedroom to change clothes and pack. Man pulled on his coat and walked out with the policeman. A light snow was falling. He glanced upward at the heavy overcast sky and moaned. I hope we don’t get a snow like the last time we were on the trail. That last few miles home when the train stopped at the big cut was awful. Stirrup deep snow was hard on the horses as well as us.”

  “I can relate. My brother and I got caught in a snow like that a few years ago when we were hunting in the mountains. It took us three days to get home when it should have been only a one day ride.”

  The police officer mounted his horse and waved as he turned toward Coeur d’Alene.

  Man went into the barn to saddle Arabian and Red Bird and put the packsaddles on the two mules. Kate had the two packs ready, except for last moment items. He led the animals to the hitching rail near the house where Kate met him and handed him one of the packs. He tied it on one of the mules and then went for the other. She had put the other pack on the porch.

  He went inside and saw she had his working skins laid out on the bed. He saw a pair of long underwear, as well. She was already dressed in her buckskins and had her Walkers on her hip. She was pulling her heavy sheepskin coat on. His was on the bed.

  “I packed extra blankets in with our buffalo robe and bearskin as a precaution,” she said. “I saw the snowflakes.”

  He finished dressing and strapped his twin pistols on his thighs. He then reached for the coat she was holding.

  They checked the house and she said, “I have everything we need. The fire in the fireplace is well back and banked. It’ll be okay. He blew out the lamp and they left out the back door.

  Roy and Dan were just arriving for work. They saw the loaded mules and knew Man and Kate were leaving. “They’ve been spotted?” Roy asked from the wagon seat.

  “Yep,” Man said. “Near Boise. We’re catching
the morning train. You know what has to be done until we get back.”

  “Yes, sir,” Roy said. “We’ll keep a watch on your house, as well. Good luck and keep your head down.”

  “Thanks,” Kate said. “We need to get moving if we’re going to get to the depot in time.”

  Dan spoke for the first time and his voice dripped with venom. “I want to go with you. I’d like nothing more than to put a bullet right between Bob Engledow’s eyes. I could do it. I’ve dreamed of doing it. I wanna come.”

  “Stay here and focus on your work,” Man said sternly, a little worried Dan might try to follow along. “You do your job and we’ll do ours.”

  Dan nodded, even though his face turned an even darker shade of red and he stared imaginary bullets into the ground, anger bringing tears to his eyes.

  “They’ll get him,” Roy whispered encouragingly to his brother. “They know what they’re doing. Calm down. Stop trying to wreck everything.”

  “I mean it,” Man said again, this time pointing sharply at Dan to get his attention. “Stay here and do your work. I catch you following us and I’ll shoot you in the foot.”

  Dan let out a hard breath and nodded again. This time with resignation. “Just get him,” he said as he jumped down from the wagon and jogged to the barn.

  “Don’t worry,” Roy said. He nodded seriously. “We’ll do our work. I’ll watch him. You go do what you have to do and we’ll keep things running here. You have my word.”

  Kate and Man hesitated a moment, then set off.

  “Ah, to be sixteen again,” Kate said. “All full of spit and fire.”

  “Not for all the gold in creation,” Man said, sending her a smile. But his smile quickly faded. “But that boy’s right. We need to stop these two bastards. Let’s go to work.”

  “I’m right beside you.”

  The two marshals let the horses lope for a short distance to get the friskiness out of them before pulling them down to a ground-eating trot.