by Pete Thorsen
My life is certainly different from what it was back in the day when I lived amongst all the hustle and bustle of that modern life. Who could have ever thought how things would turn out? Now I have been living alone and seeing almost no one for many years. Living in an area that—while never containing a whole lot of people—it did have its fair share of residents and tourists. Now it is just me and local animals that share the land. I guess I am living the life of a hermit.
I suppose many people would say that I live a lonely life but I don’t feel that way at all. I just live the life that I have been dealt and I sure don’t consider myself lonely even though I do live totally alone. I talk to some of the animals and birds when I see them. Mainly just to hear my own voice and so I remember how to talk. I don’t know, does that mean that I am crazy?
Chapter 8
I was walking on my way to one of my RV outposts when I got the “feeling.” I felt someone watching me. I know that I am not psychic, but I have learned to go with my hunches. I think most often a hunch is just your subconscious mind correlating information that you do not realize that you have. Like this time maybe I heard the noises of footsteps in the distance behind me but just did not realize it. Or I caught a glimpse of movement behind me out of the corner of my eye but again I did not realize that I had actually seen something. But past experience taught me to trust these hunches.
So I did not turn around but just kept walking on my route. I did reach down while I was walking and slipped the thong from the hammer of my old revolver that holds it in place in the holster. Now it is free and I can very quickly draw and fire the hand gun in a fraction of a second.
Then I stopped and looked intently ahead of me. I was staring at a fair sized (for the area) juniper just ahead of me on the trail. I took the bow and quickly strung the string and nocked an arrow. Doing this I never took my eyes from the small tree ahead of me. With the bow ready to shoot I crouched slightly and slowly approached the green tree.
As I came abreast of the tree I took a step towards it and brought the bow to full draw. Next I stepped quickly around the tree. On the now hidden side of the tree I eased the bow back to a relaxed state and turned to look at my back trail. I could partially see through the branches of the small tree and I looked very carefully at the trail I had just walked. I also watched on both sides well away from the trail.
At first I saw nothing. Then I detected movement well back from my location. I saw two people, but they were far enough back that I could tell nothing else about them. I saw what I needed and did not want to arouse their suspicion so I walked back out from behind the tree and, shaking my head, I unstrung the bow again. Anyone close enough would just think I saw a rabbit but that it had eluded me. I then continued my trek.
This trail led to one of my RV camps but I saw no reason to lead these people to that camp so I turned at an opportune spot and walked up and between two hills to the right of the current trail. As soon as I topped the ridge between these two hills and dropped down again far enough so I could no be seen from behind I doubled back and crept up behind some brush that was thick enough to break up my silhouette.
I looked back towards the trail I had been walking to see just what the people I had seen behind me would do. If they had no interest in me they would continue walking down the trail and we would very likely never meet. If, instead, they turned and started up towards my current position, then they likely had evil intentions and we would be meeting soon.
I was surprised by seeing these two men and that they obviously were about to try and kill me. Just a couple weeks ago or so I had gone through this same scenario with another lone man. That time when I had confronted the lone man he had made an attempt to shoot me with what turned out to be an empty, scoped rifle. That man had very little of value with him. I took his backpack and other items which did not amount to much. The rifle was worthless but I did take it and leave it at my closest campsite. I couldn’t bring myself to just leave it lying out in the desert. The scope I did take off to use as a telescope, something that might be useful.
That time though the man was roughly my size. His clothes and shoes were rags. I did take the pants because, though the front part was about shot, the backs of the pant legs had pretty good material and I could use that material to patch my own pants (something I had grown adept at doing).
I did not have long to wait for my answer. The two people walked down the trail and then turned up towards me. They were now close enough that I could see they were two men and each had a bow they were carrying along with, each having a pack on their back. I had seen enough and eased back and down out of their sight and picked up my pace heading down this side of the ridge while working on a plan. I soon came up with a simple plan that would tilt the odds further in my direction.
Not too far away was one of my mine camps. This one was somewhat special and would play a big role in the plan I had come up with. This side of the ridge was fairly open and when I reached the flats I stopped to get a drink from my canteen. While drinking, I looked around and glanced back up behind me. As I suspected, the two men, upon seeing how open this side of the ridge was, had stopped near the top and I could not see them. They would fall back some as I had suspected so they would not be easily seen.
After my drink I continued my trek to my new destination. I had an impulse to hurry but I did not give in to that inclination. I kept the same easy pace I had earlier, so as not to arouse any suspicion that I may have seen the two men. It was pretty open along this route and I doubted they would take the chance to advance any closer. If they did have evil intentions they would hang back and wait for me to stop and set up a camp. If they wanted just to talk, they would close the distance some and announce themselves as soon as they got within earshot.
I walked for the next hour or so and was soon approaching the mine camp entrance. There was a small, semi-permanent crick that right now had a small amount of flow in it just below the mine entrance. I walked down and washed up at the crick a little and then went up and into the old mine. After I walked well back into the darkness I turned and looked out at the small section of outside area I could see from here.
It was enough to see the two men walk closer and then stop and talk some. One stayed put and only walked behind a mesquite tree where he had some partial concealment while the other walked down towards the crick. A few minutes later the man from the crick rejoined the other and both then stayed hunkered down behind the mesquite. While there was still plenty of light outside (it was close to sundown) I carefully looked over the land, using my binoculars all around, and especially behind where the two men were located.
Having seen what I needed to see I put away my binoculars and, going farther back in the mine, I reached down and grabbed one of the several brush twists that I had previously left there. I lit the very dry twist of brush on fire and used that light to go farther back into the mine. Thankfully I encountered no other residents in the mine. I walked quickly as these small pieces of brush lit easily but burned down fairly quickly. I got near the end and dropped my bow, my pack, and the still burning twist of brush. I reached my homemade ladder and ascended.
There was a vertical air shaft at this end of the mine and, previously, I had made a makeshift hanging ladder, using short pieces of heavy-enough branches and barbwire from a nearby fence. A very heavy piece of pipe was across the top of the shaft and the barbwire ladder hung securely from that down to the bottom of the mine. Making the ladder had been a simple and relatively quick project and gave me a way out if, for some reason, there was ever a cave-in while I was inside. Today it gave me a way out that could not be seen from where the two men were hiding.
Once out of the mine I used the diminishing light while it was available to walk well away and make a big enough loop so I could sneak up behind the two men, hopefully before they advanced on the mine entrance.
It was getting harder to see as I slowly approached the two hiding men. I had my heavy revolver in my
hand as I came upon them. Their talking hid the small amount of noise I made as I approached.
“We should wait another hour at least to make sure he is asleep when we go inside.”
“I got a stout branch from down by the crick. He will never even know what hit him.”
I had heard enough and I wanted enough light so I could see what I was shooting at. I held the trigger back as I pulled the hammer back on the revolver so it would not make the easily heard clicks. Once the hammer was back all the way I lined up the just-visible barrel on the farthest man and squeezed the trigger to release the hammer.
The slow, heavy bullet struck the man and he toppled over as I swung the heavy handgun on the other man, pulling the hammer back again as the gun was moving. He was frozen in shock at the bellowing noise of the shot and I gave him no time to recover as I pulled the trigger again.
Both men were now on the ground and I holstered the pistol and drew my knife which I used to finish them both off. I only took their packs, bows, and arrows for now and went back to the mine to have my supper and get a good night’s sleep. I would also clean my pistol because that had to be done after every time you shot it using those black powder cartridges. Water is what I used to clean the corrosive black powder residue from the pistol and even the empty cartridge cases. In the morning I would take whatever was worthwhile from the two bodies. Clothes, belts, footwear, and anything else that they may have that I might be able to use, if anything was even worth taking that is.
Chapter 9
It was less than two weeks later that again I noticed someone following me. Why couldn’t people just leave me alone? This time it appeared to only be one and I decided not to wait around to see if they were friendly or not. I immediately turned off the trail and walked downhill to a mostly dry wash. It was not flowing but there were still pockets of water in small pools here and there along it from a recent rain. I went here because of the additional brush and small trees along the wash which would give me plenty of concealment. Where I came down to it there was a very steep bank with about a nine or ten foot drop down to the sand and rock-filled wash below.
I took my pack off and laid my bow on top back in the brush a ways so it would be out of sight. Then I took my pistol out and I just laid in wait for the person if they decided to follow me down here. I was not in a happy mood. If they wanted to live they would have to convince me pretty fast that they were friendly and only wanted to talk.
I heard the person coming, so they were definitely following me and not just the trail I had been on. When the person walked up to the edge of the drop off I stepped out and held the pistol, ready to shoot at an instant.
“Why are you following me?”
The person spun around at my voice and stepped back when they saw me and the gun. Unfortunately, they stepped back too far and tumbled off and over the steep bank of the wash. I rushed over and looked down to see the person lying below and not moving. There were several very large rocks near their head and it looked bad for them.
I scrambled down to the bottom of the wash and went over to check on the person to see if they were dead.
It was a woman!
I could hardly believe it was a woman. She was dressed all in leather, maybe buckskins would be a better term. I checked her neck and found a strong pulse so she was alive anyway. I lifted her head carefully and my hand found blood on the back of her head from hitting a rock. I went to move her onto the soft sand and when I lifted her she did not wake but let out a small moan it sounded like. One of her arms was under her body and when I moved her and placed her arms along side of her body one looked odd. I felt along that arm very, very softly and I could feel that the arm had quite a crook in it. The arm was surely broken.
I sat down for a minute to think things through clearly. Though I never touched the woman I felt some responsibility for the condition she was in now so I would do everything I could to help her. Her bow was unstrung and she had not been hunting me it appeared. That quickly decided what, exactly, I should do next. The closest camp was my main camp back at the community where I lived. That was good because that was where I had the most supplies of all kinds. Getting her there would be a problem because she was unconscious and I certainly could not carry her that far.
I looked up and down the wash I was in. And the answer became obvious to me in an instant. I immediately set to work and it was not long before I was ready to bring the woman home to my camp. But she was unconscious now and because of that now would be the best time to set that broken arm before moving her all the way to camp.
I was not a doctor and I had never broken a bone in my life. But I had read every medical book I had ever found and now I searched my memory to remember all I could about setting a broken bone. I gathered three small, stiff branches to use as splints for the arm. I got stuff from my pack to pad and bind the arm. I was ready. I was scared.
First I had to very carefully expose the broken arm. Though it was winter it was warm enough so both me and the woman had no coat on and were just wearing shirts on our upper bodies. Her buckskin shirt was unfortunately a pullover design. It should come off before I tried to set the arm. I had already removed her heavy backpack and now I lifted the bottom of her shirt and was relieved to find a light undershirt beneath the leather one. Being as careful as I could, so I did not hurt her, I removed the leather over shirt. Next, I retrieved my jacket from my pack and laid it next to her.
There was nothing left to do other than to set the arm. Now that it was exposed I could see the terrible crook in the arm, roughly in about the middle, between the wrist and the elbow. I pushed the crook back straight again. The woman did not wake but did make a small noise again. The arm stayed straight when I released it. I wrapped it in my makeshift padding and then, holding the short branches, I wrapped it again holding the branch/splints in place. Next I put my jacket on her one good arm and rigged a sling to hold her broken arm snuggly against her body. Then I zipped my jacket, covering her all up and hoping the jacket would also help in immobilizing her broken arm while also keeping her warm.
Next I loaded her onto the Indian style travois I had made to get her back to my main camp. I lifted the two poles, had the pull rope across my chest, and started walking towards camp a few miles away. It was easier than I had hoped. Her backpack and mine too were tied next to the woman on the travois with one on each side of her to help hold her in place.
The trip back to camp was tiring but otherwise it went very smoothly and we made it to camp in the early afternoon. I opened the big motor home where I always stayed and got things ready before carefully carrying her in and laying her on the bed. I removed the jacket, her shoes, and the belt with several holsters or pocket attachments. Then, putting her head on a pillow, I covered her up with a blanket.
Next I brought our packs (and both of our bows and arrows) inside. I put her pack right next to the bed where she was lying still, either sleeping or unconscious. I then put her leather over shirt, her shoes, and the belt with attachments on top of her pack where she could find it all easily.
Everything was done that I could do for the woman. I realized that I had not eaten since morning and set to making some supper, hopefully for both her and myself.
Chapter 10
I’m in a bed. Oh, my head hurts. I don’t know where I am. I’m in an actual bed and inside what looks like it might be some kind of big RV of some kind. My left arm feels odd and it does not want to move. In an attempt to look at it, I use my right arm to throw the blanket that covers me off my upper body. My left arm does not really hurt and I see it is wrapped up and fastened to my chest. Then I realize that my shirt is off and I just have my thin undershirt covering me.
It is almost dark in this room and what light there is available is coming through the windows. It is either sundown or sunrise. The bed is very comfortable and I am tempted to try and go back to sleep but my head is throbbing. Reaching up, I feel with my right hand and there is quite a lump on the bac
k of my head and I can feel the dry crusted blood there. Touching it does not make my head feel any better I can tell you.
I don’t know how I got here but I remember following a man when he went down by a crick or wash. He spoke and I spun around to find a bear of a man with a big beard and long hair and a gun pointing at me. I stepped back and that is all I can remember. And I also remember that the man was big and very scary looking.
It must be sundown because it is getting darker. While there is still a little light I have to find a weapon. I slide to the edge of the bed and get my feet and legs over the side. When I try to stand my head gets worse and I almost pass out again. I just sit on the edge of the bed for awhile. I see my belt! Slowly I reach over and grab my belt and check that everything is still intact. I cinch it tight around my waist. I feel much better already now that I am armed.
Sitting upright for a bit my head is clearing somewhat. My pack is sitting here but I see a man’s shirt that looks clean and I put that on instead of trying to get my leather shirt on over my aching head. I leave my left arm tied up where it is and just put my right arm in the sleeve of the shirt and manage to button it up, covering my left arm.
I slide down until my feet are on the floor. My head is spinning again and I am glad I have the bed for support. Again, I just wait until my head clears before I drop my shoes to the floor. I am smart enough not to try and tie them on my feet but I do manage to get them on without leaning over too much so I don’t pass out again and fall to the floor.
Again I just stand, leaning heavily against the bed. I think I feel some of my strength returning. Or maybe it is just wishful thinking. I have been hearing quiet noises coming from the other side of this bedroom door so I know that I am not alone. Hoping I am now strong enough I step away from the bed using baby steps. I am tipsy but I do not fall. My strength IS returning. At least some of it anyway. At first I just lean against the door before opening it slowly, and as quietly as I can.