by Joel Baker
The banks of the river were littered with logs and old tree limbs. James thought the logs would give them a head start as a source for firewood. Someone had built stairs leading down to the sandy strip along the sides of the clear, cold water tumbling over the rocks and gravel.
Shannon was tired, and decided to rest next to the entrance to the canyon with Molly. Dalton, Matthew, and James disappeared around a curve of the river along the side of the canyon. After about a half a mile from the entrance to the canyon, they came upon the Winchester place.
While the walls to the cabin were still standing, the snow from the last two or three winters had caved in the roof. The corral fences had survived, although most of the cross pieces were scattered on the ground.
The one building still structurally sound, was a large barn housing a buckboard wagon, rip saw, and what seemed to be the scattered parts to an old windmill. It was dirty, dusty and seemed to be home to every rodent and pigeon in southern Colorado. The men began to move some of the timbers, and found them solid enough to be reused in the new cabin.
The dogs arrived shortly after Matthew and the others had found the well head, with a serviceable hand pump still attached. The leathers would have to be replaced, and the pump primed, but at least they wouldn’t have to drive another well until spring.
Matthew told the others that Jezebel had stayed back with Molly and Shannon. He also reported that one of the older female dogs was going to have pups about the same time Shannon was to deliver.
James and Dalton looked around the homestead site and decided it would do nicely for their cabins. They’d already decided they wanted to build two cabins connected by a covered walkway if they could.
“It’s going to take more wood to heat two places, isn’t it?” Matthew asked.
“A little, maybe,” James said. “But with the new baby, the privacy will make everyone more comfortable.”
“Besides,” Dalton said. “The higher slopes above the canyon walls have a lot of pine and aspen. We should be able to get all the wood we need fairly easily.”
I keep forgetting how high we are here,” James said. “This place must be at about five thousand feet. I bet it get really gets cold here at night. Matthew, tell Jezebel to have the women join us. We need to set up camp.”
***
Four days later, the three Walker brothers arrived with two wagons. The first wagon was loaded with tools, and building supplies to help in the construction of the buildings and fences.
The second had a brown milk cow tied to the back and a large cage filled with chickens in the bed of the wagon. There was also a smaller cage with four barn cats that seemed one step away from being wild as bobcats.
Lester rode in front of them and waved his hat as they approached. He rode a beautiful snowflake Appaloosa that must have stood sixteen hands high. The white markings were distinct, and dappled the gray horse.
“Hello there,” Lester called.
The Colters had raised their tents next to the river. They kept a central campfire burning with drift wood carried up from the banks of the river. They knew someone was coming, when all the dogs in camp suddenly disappeared.
“Hello there,” Molly replied, going up to the milk cow. “Oh, Lester, This is a beautiful milk cow. You shouldn’t have. This is so kind of you.”
“Well, Molly,” Lester said. “If I hadn’t brought you something, I would have really caught it when my wife got back.”
Matthew, James, and Dalton walked down from the area they had staked out for the new cabins. They had razed the old cabin, but salvaged the logs and timbers worth saving. It made quite a pile. They’d staked out the perimeters of the cabins, and leveled the sites. Dalton had suggested they build a small structure around the well head so it would be protected from the weather.
“Hello, Lester,” James said, walking up to the Walker wagons. “You’re just in time. We’re getting ready for some serious work.”
“We were held up,” Lester said. “We got hit by that pack of wolves, again. They took down two more of my cattle.”
“Sorry to hear that,” James said. “Anything we can do to help?”
“Whatever happened to those dogs you told us about?” Lester asked.
“They’re around,” James said. “They tend to avoid strangers. Matthew, can you bring the dogs in?”
Matthew turned and faced north for a few moments and then turned back. Jake and two of the other adult dogs came trotting around the curve in the river. They trotted up to where James stood with Lester, and sat down next to each other. Lester reached down to pat the nearest dog on the head.
“Don’t,” Matthew said, watching Lester pull his hand back quickly. “Our dogs don’t like to be touched, not even in a friendly way.”
“You’re serious?” Lester asked. “I know you said your dogs are different, but that’s just weird.”
“I guess it is,” James said laughing. “The Colters have a long history with the dogs, Lester. It goes back for five generations. Suffice it to say, they’re friends of the family. We don’t really own them. They look out for us, and we look out for them. The good news is they’ll take care of your wolf problem.”
“Is there just these three dogs?” Lester asked.
“No,” James said. “There are others. But they’re busy right now. These three should be able to do what’s necessary.”
“Well, okay,” Lester said. “I’ll take your word for it. Now pull those wagons up to the site, and let’s get busy building some cabins!”
***
The Lester boys were hard workers, and managed minor miracles in the five days they were in Colter Canyon. It was obvious they worked together all the time. They worked independently, yet in a coordinated fashion. One would finish preparing a log for placement just as another brother finished notching the receiving logs.
The roof went up on the main cabin, just before the Lester boys had to return to their normal duties. That left Shannon and Molly doing the dirty job of chinking the spaces between the logs, with a mixture of clay and prairie grass. At the same time, the men repaired the barn, strung fences, and repaired the corral.
They decided on a sod roof for this winter, and used some of the boards off the south side of the barns for the floors of the cabins. This left the barns with only three sides, protected from northern winds, but open none the less.
The fireplace was added the following week, and consumed all the rock and brick from the old Winchester cabin. Fortunately, rock was plentiful in the sides of the canyon. It was needed to finish the massive fireplace, filling most of one wall of the main cabin. The firebox alone was over six feet wide and five feet tall.
Only three of the windows could be salvaged from the old cabin. A fourth window was found in one of the barns. The cabin had two small bedrooms, each required a window. The main room of the cabin was split between kitchen, eating area, and a sitting area in front of the fireplace. Four window openings were cut in the main area, even if they didn’t have windows for two of them. Those two were covered with cheesecloth and shutters, until glass windows could be located.
Sod was cut and brought to the cabin in a wagon. The strips of sod were overlapped so water would drain unimpeded from the roof. It wasn’t until the sod roof was in place for a week, that Molly discovered the downside of a sod roof.
Each morning the tables, counters, dishes, chairs, and every other flat surface had a fine coating of dust drifting down from the cracks in the boards holding the sod in place.
After a fairly heated discussion, it was decided that James would be replacing the sod roof with cedar shakes, as a top priority, the next spring. In the meantime, Molly had James and Dalton place posts on the corners of the beds, and erected canopies over them. Everyone hoped that when the snow and cold came, the dust would be less of a problem.
***
Dalton and Matthew spent the second week of September, scything and raking the long prairie grass in the canyon. Molly and James
hauled it back to the barn, and stored it in the loft for the winter. The cats had taken over the barn, and were clearing out the local rodent population in good order. As typical of barn cats, all anyone ever saw of them was the occasional flash of color or glowing eyes in the dark.
Shannon wasn’t feeling well again. James, Molly, and Matthew decided they would take a small trip to see if they could pick up signs of the wolves that were killing Lester’s cattle. Matthew took Jake for a walk the night before they left. He wanted to discuss what the dogs needed to hunt the wolves. Matthew sat down on the dirt ledge above the river, just out of sight of the cabins.
“Well Jake?” Matthew asked. “What do you think?”
We know the wolves are around, Jake said. They visited the canyon when we first got here. I don’t think they knew what we were, so they withdrew.
“I don’t understand,” Matthew said.
Wolves are used to having things their way, Jake said. They seldom take on anything they don’t understand. They’re bullies, really. But if they encounter something new, they will pull back and study it. They’re clever in that way.
“How many of you can go with us?” Matthew asked.
Enough, Jake said. We will take four dogs. Jezebel will stay here with Shannon. She worries about Shannon and the baby. We also have a female that is about to whelp. Another female will look after the young dogs till we return. We have three adult dogs to take on a pack of fourteen wolves.
“I thought you said we would take four?” Matthew asked.
I’ve asked Max to go with us, Jake said. He is only a yearling, but he can change when he wants. That is something no other dog can do. We will have to look out for him though.
“Why?” Matthew asked.
He’s as big as an adult, but still a young dog, Jake said. He forgets his age, and is too eager for his own good. He takes chances.
“Maybe we should leave him here,” Matthew suggested.
He needs to go, Jake said.
“He sounds like trouble,” Matthew said.
He’s the future, Jake said. He has evolved ahead of us. He has abilities the rest of us lack. We need to educate him. In a short time, Max will lead.
“What about you, Jake?” Matthew asked. “What will you do?”
I will follow Max, Jake said. Just like everyone else.
Chapter 16
It was during the third week of September that they left to kill the wolves. Frost was still on the grass. As soon as Molly, James, and Matthew came over the last ridge and onto Walker lands, the dogs disappeared. The three rode till well past three in the afternoon. They found a small copse of woods, pitched their tents, and gathered firewood.
“How long do you think it will take for the dogs to find the wolves?” Molly asked.
“They already have,” Matthew said.
“What are they doing?” James asked.
“They’re watching the wolves,” Matthew said. “I think Jake wants to make sure they find their den.”
“Won’t the wolves fight harder, protecting their den?” Molly asked.
“The dogs hope so,” Matthew said. “They want to make sure they kill them all.”
“Even the pups?” Molly said.
“Especially the pups,” Matthew said. “If one or two of the wolves get away or survive, and the pups are dead, there’s no reason for them to stay in the area. They’ll want to get as far away as possible from this part of the country, and the dogs.”
“I’m still afraid for the dogs,” Molly said. “Lester said there were so many of the wolves.”
“Jake knows what they’re up against. These wolves are killers. But wolves hold back unless they have their prey outnumbered,” Matthew said. “Put four or five wolves up against a single buffalo, and the wolves win.”
“Will the wolves run off when they see what they’re up against?” Molly asked.
“Some might,” Matthew said. “Most won’t. That’s why it’s important the fight starts close to the wolves den. Wolves are incredibly smart. They only fight, if the odds are in their favor.”
“Or if their pups and den are threatened?” James asked.
“Exactly,” Matthew said, followed by silence.
“Listen, the dogs can take care of themselves,” Matthew said. “But right now, I’m thirsty. When I was on the far side of the trees, I heard the sound of running water. There must be a stream over that way. I’m going to take a look.”
***
Matthew found the stream of water. It was more a brook, than a stream. It was just deep enough for Matthew to take off his clothes, and lay on the bed of the stream. It felt good after the heat of the day. The water was not a part of the snow melt runoff as he first thought. It was spring fed and probably dried up during the spring and early summer.
Matthew let the water wash over him, lost in thought. Things were moving fast for the family, but he felt left out somehow. He felt like he was a small part in someone else’s life story. He wondered when his story would start, and would he be ready.
He envied Shannon, who had found someone to love. The lack of prospects was one of the reasons he was so glad to leave New Liberty. There were plenty of interesting girls there. It’s just that Matthew had grown up with them. It was hard to get romantic with the girl who beat you up in third grade.
To make matters worse, now the family had moved to a place so remote, the only girl is from a family of ogres. Not a lot of options here, Matthew thought. Oh, well. At least I’m young.
***
The next morning Matthew rolled out of his bedroll to the smell of buffalo bacon sizzling in the iron skillet sitting over the fire pit. Molly had a large knife and was slicing a loaf of sourdough bread on a cutting board. A huge metal coffee pot was set off to one side.
“Where’s Dad?” Matthew asked.
“Over by the stream washing up,” Molly said. “You may want to join him. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
Both men returned, just as Molly was passing out plates loaded with bacon, and bread dipped in the pan grease. After breakfast, Matthew cleaned up, while Molly and James went for walk upstream. Matthew was scrubbing the frying pan, when he saw two riders approaching from the east.
The rising sun made the ground shimmer in the distance. The riders appeared as dots on the horizon. As they drew closer, Matthew was pretty sure one of them was Lester Walker. The other appeared to be a girl, riding sidesaddle.
Matthew first thought she was a part of the sun rising behind her. Her long golden hair curled on her shoulders. Her smile dazzled, and her blue dress complemented her blue eyes.
“Hello Matthew,” Lester said, as the two riders came into camp.
“Ah... ah... Hello Mr. Walker,” Matthew finally managed to say, still kneeling by the skillet he was scrubbing.
“This is my daughter, Rachel,” Lester said, smiling.
“Ah... ah… Pleased to meet you,” Matthew said, looking up.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Matthew,” Rachel said, now looking curious. “Do you stutter?”
“Not usually,” Matthew said. “I just wasn’t expecting… company. Can I get you anything, Mr. Walker?”
“Maybe a drink of water,” Lester said dismounting. “I wanted to come out and see how your dogs were doing. Rachel and her mother returned from their visit, so I thought I’d bring Rachel along with me.”
“Well? Isn’t someone going to help me down from this horse?” Rachel asked. “Really father, I don’t see why we couldn’t have taken the buggy out here.”
Matthew stood quickly, wiping his wet hands on his jeans. He quickly walked over to Rachel, and held his hands up to help her down. Matthew lifted her off the horse as if she weighed nothing, and set her gently on the ground.
“My,” Rachel said. “You are tall and strong.”
Matthew blushed as he turned back to Lester. Rachel smiled, knowing the effect she had on men. It had been that way for as long as she could remember. Finally, sh
e’d come across a handsome young man she found very interesting. She was enjoying the discomfort Matthew was going through.
“Would you like for me to go get my folks?” Matthew asked.
“No,” Lester said. “We can wait for them to get back.”
“I’ll get you some water,” Matthew said, as he headed off towards the stream with a pail.
***
“You didn’t tell me how good looking this Matthew Colter was, daddy,” Rachel said, when Matthew was out of sight.
“Rachel, don’t you go and hurt this young fellow,” Lester said. “These are nice folks and we need some good neighbors.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rachel said, flipping her long hair. “Shush, he’s coming back.”
***
“So Matthew, what do you do besides scrub frying pans?” Rachel asked, flashing her incredible smile.
“I help my parents, my sister, and her husband as much as I can. So far, we’ve moved around a lot. We’re hoping to make a home here,” Matthew said. “Mr. Walker, we call the canyon we live in now, Colter Canyon. Do you think anyone will have a problem with that?”
“Not at all,” Lester said. “Nobody really liked old Winchester, all that much. I’m sure everyone will be alright with it.”
“That canyon isn’t very big,” Rachel said, looking pouty. “Our spread is just enormous. Don’t you feel all cramped in that little, tiny place? I mean you being so tall and everything?”
“He’s not that tall,” Molly said, as she and James walked into camp behind where Rachel and Lester stood. “Lester! What a pleasant surprise.”
“Molly, James, this is my daughter, Rachel,” Lester said. Rachel, this is Mr. and Mrs. Colter.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Rachel said, flashing her smile at James.
As Rachel shook Molly’s hand, Molly’s mother alarm started ringing. There was something insincere in the girl’s smile. Molly thought she seemed to be hiding something. I may have to watch this one, Molly thought.
***
“Is anything wrong, Lester?” James asked.
“No, no.” Lester said. “I just wanted to come out and see how you and the dogs were doing.”