Miles has recently returned from an ordeal with three gunmen to save the life of Doctor Jones. Doc had been kidnapped to save the life of Bill Goss who was shot in a holdup attempt in Cortez. When Doc reached the cabin where the men were staying he found Goss already dead, but one other man, Chuck Mason, was severely wounded. It was apparent that the men intended to kill Doc when he had finished taking care of Mason. That is, until Miles arrived on the scene. Join with me in another thrilling tale of yesteryear in the Saga of Miles Forrest.
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That night the snow began to fall again, which was good in one way as the temperatures went up some. Upon waking and looking outside the next morning, I could see that perhaps three inches were added to the snow already on the ground. It had stopped snowing and there was only a slight breeze to be felt as I went outside to bring in an armful of wood.
I stirred up the coals in the fireplace and got the fire started. Soon flames were rising from it as I added more wood. I wanted to get the room warm before Molly got up. I went to the cookstove and fired it up as well, putting coffee on to boil. I used snow and would have to fill the pot at least three times to get enough water, but why waste the snow?
Bacon was already frying in the skillet when Molly ventured out of the bedroom. Graylight was full with what appeared to be partially clear skies. The sun was going to shine, and the snow would melt. This being February I doubted that this was the end of the snow, but at least a slight reprieve for a spell.
Molly sat at the table and I poured her a cup of coffee. “Want me to slice some bread?” she asked. She had made a loaf of sourdough bread yesterday.
“Go ahead, I’m ’bout ready to fry the eggs,” I replied watching her take a knife to the bread then place it on this metal contraption we had to make toast by placing it by the fire.
I had the eggs in the skillet and was flipping bacon grease over them to cook them on top. No need to flip them when I could do it this way. Within a few minutes they were ready as was the toast. The preserves we had were all gone, but there was still some honey left. I had placed the clay pot where we kept the honey on the back of the stove to liquify it some. As cold as it had been, that honey would be thick.
Sitting down I took her hand and prayed for the Lord to bless the day and the food. Nothing better than a simple breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. The coffee was hot and strong, so who could ask for more. I’ve often found that the simple things are the best in life. I’ve been to Denver and Kansas City and have eaten at some of those fancy restaurants, but give me taste and filling any time over fancy.
“As I was sayin’ last night, Moses said that two of those mares I brought in would make fine breeding with Star,” I started in then took a bite of eggs. “Yuh know I always wanted to be a horse breeder.”
Molly didn’t say anything, she just bit into her honey toast. I watched her chew, while I drank half a cup of coffee. I got up to get the pot to give us each a refill, then she spoke. “Miles, do you really think you would be satisfied?”
“I could finally go on that wild horse hunt with Lot Smith. He said I could come over any time.”
“You don’t even know if Lot is still alive…”
Interrupting her I said, “I could write him at Tuba City. Someone there would surely know.”
“A wild horse hunt, then wrangle the horses back here to Durango, then what?”
I didn’t answer for a few seconds, swirling my coffee in the cup to cool it a mite. “I could work on the cabin, expand it. Build a better stable, add a barn.”
“Miles,” she cut me off. “I’m with you if that is what you want to do. But just think on it for a while…at least until spring.”
I nodded, then stood up to collect the dishes. I already had a pot of water boiling to wash them. “Why don’t you go cut some more firewood, I’ll do up the dishes, “she said, then added. “What time do you plan on going to Parker’s?”
I had just put on my coat when there was a knock at the door. Opening it, there stood Alejo, Mateo’s oldest son. He took off his hat as he stepped into the cabin. “Senor Miles, come…”