Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard

by Johnny Fowler

  One of the cabins appeared to be in better shape than the one they were using. She gestured toward it. “We may want to move here,” she said. “Do you want to go look inside and see the condition of the barn?”

  He nodded. “We know they’re not between here and where we’re staying. Starting here tomorrow will save a long ride before we start looking again.”

  She turned Red Bird toward the cabin and reined him into the barn. The big horse went to a pile of hay in the corner and started eating. Arabian was anxious to join him. The hay was from the prior year, but it was still editable and the horses needed the filler.

  Man looked at the droppings on the ground and said, “None are fresh.”

  They went to the cabin and they both had to pull the door open as the snow was banked against it. Kate chuckled when she saw the inside. There was a table with two chairs and a nice bunk. There were pots on a shelf and a trunk against one wall. “Whoever was here last year intended to come back this winter,” Man said. “Likely trappers used it, and for some reason, they didn’t come back.”

  Kate opened the pots and found dried vegetables and fruit. In another, she found rice. Man went to the trunk and opened it. “Come look,” he said. She hurried to see what he’d found. It was filled with books, magazines and newspapers.

  “They stored them here to keep the varmints from using the paper as nests,” she said. She went to the bunk. The frame was made from rough-cut lumber, and was sturdily built. The bed was strips of rawhide weaved from side to side and from top to bottom. She sat on it and then lay back. “With the buffalo robe and a couple of blankets on the bottom for padding, this will beat sleeping on the hard floor.”

  They walked outside and around the other side of the cabin and found a shed attached to the wall of the cabin. An ample supply of firewood was under it. “Nice,” she said. They walked on around the cabin and found another shed with an assortment of traps under it.

  “We go back,” she said, “and move today. We have time before dark if we get moving and the trail is already forged. This is so much better.”

  They found the two horses happily munching on the hay. “That’s enough for now,” Man said as he pulled Arabian away. Red Bird had to get in one more bite before Kate pulled his head around. “Don’t be so greedy,” she said. “We’ll be back later and you can have more.”

  She turned to Man. “We’ll have to keep them in the stalls or this haystack will be gone by tomorrow morning with the two mules and these two horses gorging themselves,” she said.

  “If we manage it right, we could have enough hay for them to get some every day for a week or more,” he said.

  With hay in their stomachs, the two horses were more eager to challenge the snowdrifts on the ride back to the cabin. Suddenly, Man jerked his rifle from the scabbard and snapped off a shot. Kate had her Walker in hand by the time she heard the shot and looked to see what had caused his reaction. A buck with a nice rack took a few steps and collapsed in the snow.

  “Wonderful,” she exclaimed. “Fresh venison steak tonight.” They rode to the carcass and dismounted. Man tied his rope to the back legs and hosted the deer in the tree. Kate had her Green River skinning knife out and together they removed the hide, cut the meat into chunks, and wrapped it in the skin. They tied it behind her saddle and continued to their cabin.

  “I’ll get the mules ready,” he said.

  “I’ll put our packs together,” she said as she disappeared into the cabin. In less than thirty minutes, the two closed the door of the cabin and were on the way to their new location.

  As soon as Arabian and Red Bird saw the barn, they wanted to run. They remembered the stack of hay and were eager to get back to it.

  They let each of the horses get a couple of bites and then put them in a stall and let the mules eat hay. They were as hungry as the horses and had to be pulled away after they’d had their share for the day.

  Man removed the packs from them and Kate took one inside the cabin then came back for the deer meat and the other pack. Man was busy unsaddling the horses and taking the packsaddles from the mules.

  He picked up their rifles and walked to the house whistling a happy tune. It had been a good day even if they had seen no sign of the kidnapping killers. They would start another search tomorrow.

  He found Kate cutting the meat in manageable strips and chunks. She saw him and said, “The back strap is already cooking.”

  Man smiled and licked his lips in anticipation of fresh venison. “I have some of the dried fruit I found cooking. Would a hot cobbler go well for desert tonight?”

  He hurried to her and gave her a healthy hug and kiss. She giggled as she said, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  He gave her butt a playful pat, and began taking their bed to the cot.

  Their supper was a huge success, especially the fresh venison and cobbler. When they’d finished, she jumped from the table and hurried to get the dishes in the pot she used for washing. She looked over her shoulder and saw him holding his shirt in his hand. “Wait for me,” she teased.

  He woke first and went to feed the horses. He looked outside, groaned, and quickly shut the door. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “It must have snowed another foot and it’s coming down so hard I can barely see the barn. There’ll be no searching today.”

  She stood and went to peek out the door when he opened it. She groaned at the white wall of snow and had to agree.

  “I’ll feed the animals and be back,” Man said.

  Kate was dressed and bending over the fireplace when he came back. “I need more wood before you take your coat off,” she said without looking toward the door.

  “I’ll bring in enough for today and tonight while I’m at it,” he said. He made four trips and stacked the logs beside the fireplace. I’m glad the owner of this cabin had enough forethought to cut wood before they left. It would be hell trying to chop down a tree with snow over waist deep.”

  When they finished eating breakfast, he put the trunk on the table and pulled out several newspapers and magazines. Kate started looking at the books.

  “The newspapers are from the Utah Journal from last June,” he said. “The news won’t be news anymore, but it will make interesting reading.” She selected a few books and went to the bed to get comfortable to read. Man sat in the chair, put his feet up, and leaned back as he held the newspaper in front of him.

  He read for a few minutes and glanced her way. “What are you reading?” he asked.

  “A woman’s guide to household management.” She flipped rapidly through the pages. “I don’t think I’ll get much use out of it, though. I’m never home long enough. Still… there are some interesting recipes in here.”

  “Anything on venison jerky stew?” Man teased.

  Kate chuckled. “If you can believe it, no. Nothing about preparing fine cuisine on the campfire, either.” She lifted another book. “How about Crime and Punishment?”

  “You’re kidding,” Man said. “Somebody wrote a book about our lives?”

  “Cute,” Kate said. “I think I’d rather read recipes.”

  They were both engrossed in reading until Man stood and rubbed his stomach. “Do we have any more venison from last night and, hopefully, some of that fruit cobbler?”

  “We do,” she said. “Let me finish this chapter and I’ll heat it. I’m learning how to manage a household of servants.”

  “Yeah, that’ll come in handy. I’ll go check the horses and mules,” he said and pulled his heavy coat on. He opened the door and said, “Damn it, it’s still snowing like crazy and another six to ten inches have fallen this morning.”

  She put the book down and ran to look.

  “I can’t see the tracks I made going to the barn this morning,” he said. He pushed his way out and she helped close the door.

  Chapte
r 13

  The snow didn’t stop until the following afternoon and another two feet had accumulated. “I wish we had our snowshoes from our old home near The Fort,” he said. “I’ve never seen snow this deep. It’s up to my neck. I expect there are drifts ten to twelve feet deep. It may be a week before we can start searching again and that’s if the sun comes out and it starts melting.”

  “At least we have a good cabin and ample fire wood,” she said. “But I hate having to wait. I hope Clarice is still alive.”

  “Unless she got away and died in the blizzard,” he said, “I expect they’ll keep her alive. But I hate to think of her situation. This weather is trying my patience.”

  “I know,” she said. “I’m trying not to think about it. We can’t find her in a blizzard. We’re only human.”

  Man nodded agreement but began to pace the small cabin.

  The snow clouds moved away during the night and the sun was shining brightly when Man went to the barn to feed the livestock. He came back to the cabin and said, “A Chinook came in during the night. I expect the temperature is twenty degrees warmer and the icicles are already melting. When we move out to search, we need to watch the mountainsides for a potential avalanche. A loud nose like a gunshot could bring tons of snow down on us if we aren’t careful.”

  The snow started to settle and melt and by the next morning, it was down to just over waist deep. “I think we can make a short circle this afternoon,” Man announced when he came back from feeding. The horses are well rested and need the exercise.”

  Arabian knew what was expected and he lunged and plowed his way forward in the snow, but after about thirty minutes, Man saw him heaving and motioned for Kate and Red Bird to come to the front and forge the trail.

  Kate was the first to spot a trickle of dark smoke against the white background. She pulled Red Bird to a stop and waited for Man to join her. “I see smoke,” she said as she pointed.

  He pulled his binoculars from his saddlebags and adjusted them. “A cabin and barn,” he said.

  They let the horses rest for a few minutes, and then went forward. When they were within a half mile of the cabin, he gestured for her to veer to the right. He turned Arabian to his left to go in behind the barn. There were no windows in the cabin and the door was closed so unless somebody came outside, they could approach the cabin with relative safety.

  Kate dismounted, tied Red Bird to a tree limb, pulled her rifle, and went to the side of the cabin. She peeked around the front and saw Man coming from the barn. He went to the other side of the house and stopped at the corner where he could see her.

  “What now?” she asked without sound.

  He gestured for her to go behind the cabin and meet him. They met at the back to talk. “This may be them,” he said. “There’s a covered wagon and two mules in the barn as well as two horses. I saw sacks of feed that may have come from Carbon’s store. The trick will be getting Clarice out safely.”

  “A thought,” she said. “I can take Red Bird to the barn without being seen. We can wait for one or both to come out to feed their stock. If only one comes out, we’ll have only one to deal with. If both come out, we can end it here and now.”

  “Circle wide so as not to leave tracks in the snow,” he said. “There’s a door on the other side of the barn. I’ll be waiting and we can put Arabian and Red Bird inside and settle in to wait.”

  She went back to where Red Bird was tied, made a wide circle behind the cabin, and met Man behind the barn. He had managed to push the door open enough to get the horses through. He led Arabian in first and she followed with Red Bird. Together they pulled the door closed.

  They took the horses to the far side of the barn and tied them to a fence. They pulled their rifles, jacked a bullet into the firing chamber, and replaced it in the magazine. The twin Walker Colts were next and the empty slot was filled.

  They walked to the front and peeked outside the door. All was quiet and smoke was still coming from the chimney. He spoke in a low tone, even though the possibility of being heard was remote.

  “Which side do you want?” he asked.

  “I’ll take this side,” she said as she gestured. “I can sit on the sacks of feed. When one or both come out, I suggest we stand beside the door and let them come inside before we jump them.”

  “Good plan,” he said and went to his side. He found a bench to sit on and leaned back against the wall to wait. She settled on the sacks of feed.

  The sun was almost down to the top of the mountain in the west when Al Valdez came out of the house. They both saw him at the same instant and hurried to stand on either side of the barn door. Al had his coat pulled up high on his neck and his hat pulled down as a shield from the cold and blowing snow.

  The temperature was falling rapidly as the sun got lower in the sky. They let him come inside the barn a few steps before Man stepped out, leveled his pistol at Al’s back, and said, “You’re under arrest. Drop your gun belt and put your hands in the air.”

  The outlaw was fast. He dove to the ground and came up with his pistol blazing at Marshal Manchester. Man screamed in agony as the bullet tore into him. Kate fired with both Walker Colts the instant she saw Al draw, but her bullets were a split-second late to prevent Valdez from shooting.

  Both of her slugs went into his chest, but he had enough strength to bring his pistol around for a shot at her. She pulled both triggers the second time and the killer was pushed backward as his pistol fired harmlessly toward the roof of the barn.

  Kate ran to Man and removed his coat to see the wound. It was bleeding profusely from a hole in his right shoulder. She ran to her saddlebags and brought a bandage.

  A shot rang out from the front door of the outlaw hideout and clipped her leg. It burned, but she wasn’t injured seriously. She rolled away from Man as another bullet plowed up the dirt where she was kneeling. She jerked both Walkers and fired twice. The two bullets slammed into the cabin door, but neither drew blood.

  The door closed and she scrambled back to Man. He was unconscious, but alive. His breathing was shallow, but she could see his chest moving. She hurried to the barn door, filled the bandage with snow, hurried back, and put it on the bleeding wound. She hoped the cold would help stem the loss of blood.

  She managed to pull him up enough to see his back. The bullet had traveled upward and exited on top of his shoulder. She packed the exit wound with snow and knew that was all she could do now. Her primary concern now was Bob Engledow, and getting Clarice out alive.

  She reloaded the pistols and went for her rifle lying on the feed sacks. It could become a stalemate with Bob inside the cabin with Clarice and Kate in the barn with Man wounded. Bob clearly had the advantage. Thankfully, he didn’t know Marshal Man was down and out of the fight.

  Kate went back to Man while she had a chance and found the bleeding had almost stopped. She replaced the snow packs on both wounds. With grim determination, she went to the barn door. “Bob Engledow, give it up. Valdez is dead. You can’t escape. We have the cabin surrounded. Come out with your hands in the air.”

  She knew he wouldn’t give up so easily, but she had to try. There was silence for a few seconds and then she heard a woman scream in pain.

  Bob Engledow shouted from inside, “If you don’t leave, the woman dies a horrible death.”

  Clarice screamed again. “Kill this bastard. He’ll kill me anyway, regardless of what you do. Riddle the cabin with bullets now. He’s in front of the door.”

  Kate didn’t shoot. She suspected Bob had Clarice in front of him as a shield in case they shot through the door. It became deathly silent inside the cabin.

  “Come out now,” she ordered, “or I’ll burn the cabin and force you out.”

  “If you do that,” Bob threatened, “Clarice will burn alive. I have her chained and she can’t escape.”

  “I don’t care,”
Clarice shouted. “Burn the cabin. Anything is better than what I’ve been through.”

  While she had a moment, Kate went to Man and found he was conscious. He managed to whisper, “I can’t move. It’s up to you now.”

  “I know,” she assured him. “I never dreamed that little bastard could draw and shoot that fast. I’ll get him. You’ll be fine.”

  “How bad am I hit?” he asked. “I can’t feel my right arm.”

  The bullet went into your chest on the right side, angled, and came out the top of your shoulder. It’s high enough no vital organs were hit.” She hoped. “I got the bleeding stopped by packing the two wounds with snow.”

  He nodded, his eyelids drooping.

  She looked around, trying to slow her spinning mind. She needed to hurry, get this situation over with, and get her husband to a doctor. “What do I do?” she asked. “I can’t really burn the cabin down. If he has Clarice chained where she can’t escape, she’ll burn to death.”

  “Is smoke still coming out of the chimney?” he asked.

  She hurried to the door to look and came back, “Very little and it’s white now. Why?”

  “If you stopped up the chimney, it would smoke them out. But you need to wait until he puts more wood on the fire. You need a ladder. No trees near enough to climb.”

  She quickly searched the barn, but didn’t find a ladder. “I saw an ax beside their woodpile. I could cut a tree and use the limbs to climb up. That is, if I could get it to the side of the cabin. I think I could manage that. It would only need to be about ten feet tall and large enough to hold me.”

  “Can you help me get to the door and put one of my Walkers in my left hand?” he asked. “I want to be where I can cover you if he comes outside shooting.”

  She went to the outlaw’s covered wagon, found a blanket, brought it to the door, and spread it out for Man to lie on. She helped him stand and staggered with him as he walked to the door and sat down. His strength was exhausted. The movement had caused the wounds to start bleeding again. She brought more snow and repacked the wounds.