Mountain Man (Book 2): Homecoming

by Jones, Nathan

  Kristy pulled the team to a halt and set the wagon's brake, then hopped up on the wagon seat to get a better look, not sure whether to be relieved or bemused. How . . . why?

  Well, she hadn't really expected him to actually ditch them, whatever that tiny irrational part of her had been thinking. But she also hadn't expected him to appear with a bunch of goats, all bleating loud enough to wake the dead.

  Skyler and Lisa, of course, went nuts, running back shouting to try to pet the kids. Who unsurprisingly darted away quick as lightning and stood a wary distance away, bleating at their mom in distress, until Tom could coax them back.

  “Go on,” Vicky urged Kristy, when she hesitated doubtfully with the reins in one hand, not wanting to leave the wagon while she was driving. “I'll keep an eye on things, you go welcome your boyfriend back.”

  She felt her face flushing; that was the first time any of them had spoken the term, but she supposed it was true. Although it didn't seem to quite do proper justice to their relationship. Beau, maybe? Not quite fiance.

  Which was a stupid thing to be trying to figure out right then, when Tom was waiting for her. She handed the reins to her friend and hopped off the wagon, running back to him.

  Her approach once again spooked the kids, drawing a chorus of complaints from Skyler and Lisa, who'd just barely managed to coax the excitable little goats close enough to pet. Tom just laughed at that as he handed the tethers to Skyler and strode forward to meet Kristy halfway.

  To her delight, he swept her into a dizzying kiss right there on the road. That suggested, to her at least, that he viewed disappearing without a word for more than half a day and then showing up out of the blue with noisy livestock as some sort of romantic gesture.

  She wasn't sure she agreed, but that kiss sure did take her breath away.

  “Goats?” she said once they finally pulled back for air.

  Tom nodded. “From a herd I spotted on the way up. The mom is a good milker, and the kids are almost weaned so we'll be able to have all of it soon. The other doe is pregnant, so she'll have milk for us too in case the other one dries up.”

  Kristy looked at the four goats. “Glad you're so eager to start the ranch, and milk will be a good addition to our diet.” She put her hands on her hips. “But you couldn't have let me know where you were going before you left? And how much did these cost?”

  He rubbed the back of his head beneath his hat sheepishly. “More than they should've, probably.”

  “Then was this the right time for buying them? If you're worried about bandits robbing the wagon, isn't bringing along animals that can be heard for miles kind of a bad idea?”

  “Maybe.” Tom gave her a solemn look, although his gray eyes twinkled beneath the brim of his hat. “But this might be our only chance to get up here before spring. I hear goat's milk is a good substitute for babies, and we'll probably need it before then.”

  Realization dawned, and Kristy felt tears spring to her eyes. This had been a romantic gesture!

  Whatever he may feel about taking the baby, however much he'd fought the idea before finally agreeing, this was his way of saying he was on board. Fully, completely committed to the baby. And to her.

  Was he going to be ticked, or relieved, when she told him the Hendricksons had decided to keep it after all? Both?

  Kristy briefly pressed her lips to his again, then rested a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. “That's an amazing idea. But, um, as it turns out . . .”

  Chapter Nine

  Coming Home

  Life was funny sometimes.

  Going up to Utah Valley had been a complete waste of time for the Hendricksons, but had opened up a world of opportunities for Tom, Kristy, and her son. Although Tom had tried to make it up to the traumatized family by telling a white lie that he'd managed to purchase the goats for a steal, and sold the pregnant one to them for a modest sum from their dwindling savings.

  Hopefully, it would be a good start for them as they began their own herd; Tom sort of preferred cows, in any case, assuming he had better luck finding some to buy than with the goats. He figured it was probably best not to mention to Kristy that “more than they should've cost” was actually closer to twice as much; even his hard-earned skill at haggling hadn't been enough to talk the owner down much, considering Tom had made it obvious he was desperate to buy them in a hurry and was offering silver as if his pockets were bottomless.

  A small price to pay, for a romantic gesture that turned out to be pointless, since the argument had also turned out to be pointless. Although to be fair, he preferred having the goats to an unspent fortune any day of the week, and they hadn't cost that much.

  And the gesture may not have been all that pointless, since Kristy had certainly appreciated it. Although Tom figured that even if the ultimately pointless argument had given them a chance to reaffirm their feelings for each other, he could've done without opportunities of that sort.

  Life was just funny.

  It took them about eleven days to get back to his valley using the more roundabout, less frequented roads he knew. And true to his prediction, they'd certainly had to do some clearing to get the wagon through in places. But in spite of Bob's cursing at the hard work, and his complaints that they must've loaded the vehicle with lead bricks to make it this unwieldy, the man respected their privacy and never so much as asked what was in there.

  Although Tom had a feeling he might suspect a few things. After all, the Hendricksons had known Kristy and Miles for a long time and might've overheard things.

  When they finally got back to the winter lodge, about noon on the eleventh day, the Hendricksons finished the move into their new cabin. At that point, Kristy had insisted on Tom finally moving back into his own home, specifically the sleeping nook in the entry room, while she and Skyler shared the back room.

  Although when the young woman suggested the move she'd hinted, with an endearing mixture of shyness and coyness, that if things got to the point that Tom had a certain question to ask her, and she decided on a certain answer, and they said a few certain important things to each other in front of friends and an officiator, then Skyler could move into the sleeping nook so they could have the back room to themselves.

  She'd also strongly hinted that with the nights getting colder, that might be an arrangement they'd both prefer sooner rather than later.

  That certainly got his attention, and he had to work pretty hard not to give away his own hints about the engagement ring and wedding bands burning a hole in his pocket. Seemed as if he was expected to use them before long. Although for the moment he was just happy to finally be enjoying sunsets with her every evening again, if anything with even more affection and intimacy than they'd enjoyed before the fight.

  Now that they were back home he was feeling the itch to prepare for winter. He usually would've gotten started before this point, honestly would've been working at it throughout the summer, but events hadn't really gone as planned. In a pinch, he could head to Emery and purchase winter supplies from Brady, and he needed to go there in any case to hire Brandon and any Knudsens who wanted to help build a barn.

  But a stubborn part of him didn't want to let wealth change the way he lived, and he hated the idea of buying food he could just as easily hunt or trade for.

  As a first priority though, Tom needed to get out there with Skyler and find a place to cache Miles's treasure. They'd been forced to stow the wagon on a tiny road a ways north of the valley, since there was no way to get it anywhere near the winter lodge, and the idea of it just sitting there was driving him to distraction even after just one night.

  So after talking it over with Kristy, he and Skyler saddled the horses and set off early the next morning. Before leaving he let Bob know they'd be dropping off the wagon in town, and while they were there buying some supplies and talking to the folks they'd planned to hire for the barn. With luck, they could get started on that project within the next few days, so their animals had a warm p
lace to sleep before it started to get cold.

  The man seemed amenable to the plan. He didn't ask how Tom planned to pay for the hired help, or for that matter what he planned to do with all the stuff still sitting in the wagon. On top of that, he also hadn't expressed any curiosity about them leaving all that stuff behind in the first place, taking just a few things on to the lodge that altogether were far less than the animals could carry if they loaded them down.

  That's what you call a good friend.

  Skyler seemed ecstatic about a chance to head out on another adventure. Tom couldn't help but be amused by the kid's seeming tirelessness, considering the trip to Utah Valley and back had left him feeling every day of his 36 years.

  On the plus side, taking care of the stuff in the wagon wasn't going to be too difficult, to begin with. Ultimately, Tom wanted to move all of it into the high mountains, near his summer retreat, which would be the safest and most convenient place for it. But getting everything there would either take multiple trips or more pack animals.

  Anyway, that seemed more like a project for next spring when the first snows weren't breathing down their necks, threatening to trap them in a sudden storm. It was still a bit early in the year for that, but there was a lot to do around the winter lodge before then anyway.

  So with Skyler's help, he sealed everything back in the tarps, then found a nice secluded spot not far from where they'd parked the wagon and dug a few big holes for new caches. Once they'd buried it all, and made a few subtle marks they could remember when it came time to come back for it once the snows melted in six months or so, they did their best to hide the holes and all traces of what they'd been doing.

  Then Tom hitched Horse and Mary to the empty wagon and got them started for Emery. He even let Skyler drive, figuring the kid should learn sooner rather than later, even if they did plan to finally sell this wagon. Seemed like a useful skill to have.

  It was a lengthy trip, more than half a day, and combined with the time spent caching Miles's treasure meant they wouldn't reach the town until late afternoon; on the trip home they'd have to ride the horses hard to get back to the valley at any reasonable hour, and it would still involve hours of traveling after dark.

  Oh well. Gave him and the boy an opportunity to shoot the breeze as they traveled. Or just enjoy some silent contemplation of the harsh but in its own way beautiful landscape around them.

  There were a few items of business Tom wanted to take care of in town besides selling the wagon, and since they were approaching the town from the north and it was on the way he decided the first would be visiting Brandon and the Williamson siblings. He wanted to see how they were doing, of course, but he was also eager to talk about hiring on the two young men and any of the Knudsens who wanted work building the barn.

  The Knudsen farms looked peaceful, almost idyllic, as he and Skyler rode up on the wagon. They were all built along a stream that ran down from the mountains, not the one from Tom's valley but one just northeast of it. That water was the only way farming was in any way feasible in the dry, harsh climate east of the mountains on the border between Central and Southern Utah, although he imagined it wasn't an easy prospect even so.

  The fact that the Knudsens claimed the stream for their family was the main source of their success, and messing with it was pretty much the fastest way to get the normally easygoing clan pissed off at you. Tom had learned that the hard way when he'd tried to water Horse, his old one that is, there without asking at one point. Although after the confrontation was diffused and he politely asked for permission, the family had been generous enough with their water.

  The houses were all ones built before the Ultimatum, obviously old but maintained carefully and lovingly. The various fields and gardens had been wedged in around them for most convenient access to the water, and in spite of the clan's attempts to make everything look symmetrical was still a bit haphazard.

  He could see several women, including Fiona, busy around an outdoor table beneath the shade of a large maple tree preparing dinner. It looked as if, like Kristy wanted to do for the ranch, the Knudsens all ate together outdoors when the weather permitted. He had to admit there was a certain appeal to the idea.

  Brandon, Logan, and a few other men were busy in a field when Tom rolled up in the wagon, and immediately abandoned their work to come out to greet the new arrivals. The two young men from the convoy were both grinning broadly at the sight of him and Skyler, waving eagerly.

  From where she was working Fiona also waved, although she stayed put chopping vegetables. From that same group of women a girl about Skyler's age, maybe a bit older, ran over to join the men as they approached, long golden hair flying behind her. She was obviously interested in meeting another kid her age, big blue eyes peeking out at Skyler curiously from behind the back of one of the Knudsen men.

  Brandon was there to shake Tom's hand, as he set the brake and climbed down from the wagon. Then he gestured past Logan to the three men behind him. “Good to see you, Tom! You know Logan, Fi's brother, of course. This is Teddy Knudsen,” he motioned to a man in his mid-twenties, who offered his hand, “his brother Dennis,” that man was a bit older, late twenties, with a firm grip, “and their cousin Andy Warrens.” The last was a young man probably around Brandon's age, maybe a bit older.

  “Good to meet you,” Tom said politely as he finished shaking Andy's hand and stepped back.

  “Likewise,” Dennis said, then nodded to the blond girl who'd been hiding behind him as she moved over to stand near Logan. “This is my daughter, Tabby.” Tom tipped his hat to her, and she waved shyly.

  “I'm Skyler,” Skyler told her as he sidled over to stand near the older boy, who he'd befriended on the trip from Grand Junction.

  Dennis motioned to his daughter. “Looks as if Skyler's a bit parched from travel. You want to get him a glass of apple cider, then maybe show him the new tire swing?” She nodded eagerly, and her dad looked as if he was trying not to smile as he glanced at Logan, who looked torn between wanting to act too mature for tire swings and wanting to go with them. “Why don't you take a break and join them? You probably want to catch up with your friend.”

  As the three kids ran off, Teddy cleared his throat. “We never really spoke much in all the time you've lived around here, Trapper, but Brandon's told us a lot about you.” At Tom's surprised look the man hastened to add, “All good.”

  “Well, I appreciate you taking him and the Williamsons in,” Tom replied. “I'm glad they found a good situation.”

  Dennis chuckled. “It wasn't exactly charity.” He clapped Brandon on the shoulder. “They're good workers. Good people.”

  The young man shifted in embarrassment at the praise. “Speaking of work, you here about building the barn?”

  Tom nodded and got to business, talking over his plans for the ranch with the four men, and making it clear that there'd probably be multiple projects and he should have the resources to pay them decent wages if they were interested in some work. They spent the next few minutes talking details; the Knudsen men seemed more than happy to hire out for day labor, and there were more than enough who could find free time to help with construction projects.

  As Andy jokingly put it, “These days, if you're offering a job and fair pay you'll never have trouble finding someone to take you up on it.”

  They arranged to start work the day after tomorrow, and with business settled spent a few minutes shooting the breeze. A lovely blond woman who turned out to be Dennis's wife and Tabby's mom, Leanne Knudsen, came around to give them all cups of cider, jokingly chiding that if the men were going to take a break just before dinner anyway, they might as well cool down. After introductions and spending a minute or so chatting, mostly to ask Tom to extend an invitation to Kristy and Vicky to come to visit if they ever got the opportunity, she pointedly returned to her own work preparing the meal, leaving them to socialize.

  Tom had to admit that even with all the time he'd spent around people recently,
his over a decade of living mostly on his own hadn't exactly given him opportunities to practice small talk. Still, he had a feeling he could get on well with Dennis, Teddy, and Andy.

  But after a while, when he was done with his cider and decided he could get away without being impolite, he cleared his throat. “It's going to be a ride in the dark to get back home, and I've still got a bit of business in town. I look forward to seeing you day after tomorrow.”

  The other men nodded, exchanging handshakes and polite goodbyes. Tom was just about to go searching for Skyler when Brandon, looking a bit uncomfortable, caught his arm. “Got a minute before you go?”

  Surprised, Tom nodded and allowed himself to be led out of earshot of the others, towards a nearby fence. The young man's reluctant but determined look as they walked worried him; it was obvious he needed advice about something, but Tom wasn't all that sure how much help he could be with a lot of things. Living a reclusive life in the mountains hadn't prepared him for most of the troubles a young man might run into, even these days.

  And the way Brandon fidgeted once they finally slowed to a stop at the fence, reluctant to broach the issue, wasn't filling him with much confidence either. “Listen,” the young man said, leaning against the top rail and staring straight ahead towards the mountains, “you've been spending a lot of time with the Hendricksons, right? Maybe seen how they're getting ov-” he cleared his throat uncomfortably, “that is, how they're doing after Newpost?”

  Tom started to get an inkling of what this was about. Although he felt even more helpless on this subject; he'd seen signs of how Bob and Vicky were suffering from the trauma of Newpost, but they had mostly kept the ordeal private. “A bit,” he replied cautiously.

  His friend slumped against the fence, looking miserable. “Has Mr. Hendrickson, um, talked with you at all about, you know, how he's helped Mrs. Hendrickson with everything?”