Trego, page 26
“How soon did the Doctor say I can get up, I have to do something about that Hugh Longo.”
“That’s all been taken care of also.” Brie said, with a sweet smile.
“Taken care of? What do you mean?”
“I mean the bunch of them is either dead or they lit a shuck for healthier climates.” Brie said.
“What about that saloon they built? Or did you burn it down?”
“Well, there is so many people here now, we figured the town needed another one, so I talked Lafe into running it. He knows what he’s doing. Of course he’s not alone, Bayard is in partnership with him.”
“What about Hugh Longo, did you kill him?”
“No, I couldn’t find him, he is one of them that left with his tail between his legs.”
“Damn, I have a feeling I haven’t seen the last of him, a person like that holds on to a grudge till they throw dirt in his face.”
“Oh, by the way there are some more that has been waiting to see you, can I bring them in?”
“Sure, if they don’t mind how I look.” I said.
“I’m sure they won’t care how you look.” Brie said, as she got up from beside me and went to the front room. I heard claws on the linoleum, and knew right away who it was.
“There he is, just don’t jump on him.” Brie said as Jake and Wolf came into the room. Jake came up and licked my face, Wolf sat back more reserved. But still smiling. I gave him a hug with my left arm. Then looking at Wolf, I said, “Aren’t you going to give me a kiss?” She slowly came over and kissed me just as wetly as Jake did.
“There’s one more that just can’t wait to see you, but I’m not going to bring him into the house. He will just have to wait, that’s Jim. He has been staying in the lean-to beside the house, ever since you got shot.”
“What about the money, who’s watching that?” I said, with a groan.
“You have, its under the bed.” Jake and Wolf laid down at the foot of the bed. I knew Brie would have a hard time getting them to move.
Of course when the word got around that I was awake, there was a steady stream of visitors. I didn’t know I was that popular. The last one was Doc Hoeffer. He undid the bandages and put some kind of stinking salve on the wounds.
“What’s that stuff?” I asked.
“Some salve that Harry Little Light had, he says that it heals wounds fast, heap fast. So, the stuff I had, I knew was slower than a dung beetle waiting for a constipated cow. So what the hell, being your half Indian, I thought it wouldn’t kill you.”
I thought to myself, ‘yeah I bet you were hoping that it would though.’ Of course I didn’t say it, why bite the hand that feeds you, or cures you in this case. When everything quieted down that night and Brie was in bed with me, I asked her-
“So how is the town doing? That ore still holding out?”
“Yes it is. Seems were on the way to becoming a little city.”
“You know, I was thinking about that; each generation, or age you might say, is passing. Now take cities. They are temporary or transitory things. They seem to rise out of the dust, then matures, grows older, then some fade and just die. Much like us humans really. Have you ever passed a mound of sand and broken pieces of pottery and ask yourself, what was here? But no answer to your query, except what you can glean out of the blowing wind, and sometimes a faint echo from far off.”
“What in the world are you talking about?” Brie said, snuggling closer to me.
“Well, I had this dream, or something while I was out, Honey, Coolidge is just a flash in the pan. That ore will peter out, I don’t know how soon, but it will, its only common sense that it will. And then Coolidge will become a town that exists only in our memories.”
“But maybe I don’t want it to, what then?”
“Well, all change is difficult, is resisted. But people can’t remain where there is nothing to hold them, no hope. You see they will go where there is land to till, to feed their family, where they can build a future. It is all of creations nature, even the animals will go where they can survive.”
“How did you get so wise?” Brie said, while nibbling on my ear lobe.
“Wise? No, I’m not. But I like to think that I at least have as much sense as the animals, I know I can’t eat dust.” She was still kissing me, “Honey, I don’t think that will do you much good, I’m not even sure it still works.”
“Oh yes it does. The girls got a good laugh, when they were washing you, it got big, they thought it was funny, but it made me ache for you.” She was right, it still did work…..
Harry’s salve did work wonders, two days later I was out talking to Jim. Of course I couldn’t get my hat on. I had to tie one of Aunt Garnet’s scarf’s around my head. All I needed was an Eagle feather to stick in it, then I would be back among my people. Well, half of my people anyway. At times I didn’t know just who I was. Ancestor wise anyway. Otherwise, I knew damn well who I was. Me, Trego Shelby, husband to Brie. That was enough, most people had trouble even knowing that.
Brie came out of the house, “Hey, Sam Benbow just got back, he’s over at Bayard’s, he wants you to come over, do you feel up to it?”
“Sure, let me get my guns first, where are the girls?”
“They are already there, they are suspicious of strangers, they took the tie downs off of their guns.”
“Did you tell them that Sam was alright?”
“Didn’t do any good, but they’ll warm up to him, when they see he doesn’t mean you any harm. Since you got shot, they feel protective of you.”
I wasn’t walking all that fast, but I moseyed along, so people wouldn’t know how weak I was. Harry was sure right about that salve, my wounds had stopped oozing all together. But like I said, the head wound kept me from putting on a hat, so the scarf would have to do.
Jake and Wolf came with us, they wouldn’t let me out of their sight either. Everyone greeted us along the way. Sam was setting at the table we always sat at, the one in the back corner. He stood up and pulled two chairs out for us.
Janie and Melinda had been standing at the bar, but when we came in, they came and sat at the table also. Sam said, “Wow, you have quite the Deputy’s. They have been giving me the evil eye ever since I got here.”
“Yeah, did they introduce themselves?”
“No, not really, but when they undid their tie downs, I didn’t push it any.”
“Right, this is Janie and Melinda, they are our adopted daughters so to speak.”
They all shook hands, the girls seemed to relax a little bit. I said, “Well Sam, how did it go in Chicago?”
“About like we thought it would. All except the U.S. Marshal’s office didn’t get the chance to prosecute him. When that Gold and Silver came up short, Evan’s friends got some upset, they killed him. The Marshal’s office got to arrest them for murder and they even got the crooked bank manager.”
“So Sam, are you still on the U. S. Marshal’s payroll?”
“Nope, I quit, I’m my own boss now.”
“Well, perhaps we can work something out for you. Brie and I have been hashing a few things over in our minds. But more on that later.”
“Bayard told me that the mine is running full bore ahead, is that right?”
“Yep, sure is.” Brie said.
“Well, where is all of the profits going to go, since Blythe is out of the picture.”
“Blythe’s bunch never did own it. Brie’s first husband did. When Evan and his cronies killed him, they didn’t follow up. You see, her husband had filed on the claim with the mine office in Helena. With Brie as his partner. They didn’t know it, but they should of killed Brie also. Brie owns the mine. We settled all of the paper work when we were in Helena. Not many people here know that, we have been keeping it quiet.”
“Wow! No kidding? Shucks, I’m talking to some rich people here. Did you get that gold and silver to Helena alright?”
“Yep, sure did. While we were gone, they found a new vein of ore. I guess it’s pretty rich. The stamp mill is running three shifts to process it.” I said.
“Bayard told me they almost killed you, but you look pretty good to me?”
“Yeah, a little wobbly, but at least I’m upright. Can’t get my hat on yet, but Brie likes the way I look in this scarf, said it makes me look like a pirate.”
“He said that you got the three that shot you, but that you’re Deputies cleared the rest of them out of town.”
“Yeah, I guess. Come to think of it, I don’t have any of the details on that.” I said, while looking at Brie.
She said, “Well, you know Trego got those three, but there were eight more of them. Hugh Longo got away, but we got five of them.” Brie said.
“Are they in the Jail?” Sam asked.
“Uh, no. I didn’t mean we captured them. They wanted to shoot it out, so we obliged them.”
“The three of you?” Sam said, looking at the girls.
“Well, Harry Little Light got one of them. He’s also a Deputy, he keeps store at the jail. The other two that got away were leaking a little bit. I think Hugh Longo cut and run before the shooting started.” Brie said.
“Have you got a room yet?” I asked.
“No, but I was wondering, does Jane and Mary still live with your Uncle?”
“No, they work at the boarding house, Margaret runs it. But I bet they could probable find you a room, being that its for you.” I said.
“Has Jane said anything about me?”
“Well, why don’t you just beat it on over there and find out.” Brie said. That was all of the encouragement that he needed. He got up and hurried out of the door.
“That was quick,” Melinda said, then added, “we have to make our rounds, its time.”
“Huh? Time? Have you been making your rounds at the same time every day?” I asked.
“Yes, the people expect us to, don’t they?” Janie said.
“Yeah, that’s just the problem. You’re leaving yourselves open to be drygulched. Vary the time, and vary your route, never the same time or the same way. Make it haphazard. Never get set in your ways. That’s what almost got me killed, I should of went out the back door. I let myself get lulled into a sense of security. We’re not some sleepy village back east. This town is full of people from every walk of life. Some of them are murder’s from back east who left their home one step in front of the law. Consider everyone dangerous until their proven different.”
“Why Trego, that’s so unlike you. Blackstone’s Law, considers people innocent until proven guilty.” Brie said.
“Well, this ain’t no court of law, this is survival and only the discreet will survive.”
“Discreet? I don’t understand what that means.” Melinda said.
“Let me put it this way, do you remember from the Bible the parable of the ten virgins?”
“Some, not all of it?” Janie said.
“Well, you don’t need to know all of it, the part that counts is that before going out in the dark, they all took their lamps, but five of them failed to bring extra oil for the lamps. But the discreet one’s, thought ahead, and brought extra oil. So you see being discreet, is being ready for anything.” I said. Strange things from the Bible always popped in my head at times.
“Now Pops, don’t get all het up, we’re not complete dunces, we’ll do like you said, its only common sense. And I’m afraid we probably fell into a rut, everything being so peaceable the last couple of weeks.” Janie said, as they kicked back and put their feet on the table.
Brie said, “Girls get your feet off of the table, where are your manners. You’re not some cowboy in off of the range, you’re young ladies, act like it. Besides, setting like that, you can’t get to your guns fast enough, use a little horse sense.” They both set their chairs down with a bang.
I stood up and rubbed the girls hair, “Come on, the three of you can walk me home, I’m feeling a little light in the head without my hat.” Jake and Wolf crawled out from under the table and followed us.
As I was shuffling home, I asked, “so Brie, how did the books look at the mine?”
“Good, they were all in order. And I checked the ledger against the ingot’s in storage, they all matched. We’re getting a lot of bars stacked up. I hired two more guards. We ought to start thinking about what we’re going to do with it all.”
“I suppose, that’s one of the problems with material things, the more crap you get, the more you have to worry about. Is it keeping you awake at night?”
“Nope, the only thing keeping me awake at night was worrying about you.” I smiled at her and said, “guess we’ll just have to think of something else to keep you awake at night.” The girls both snickered.
But she did bring up a valid point. We were getting ourselves in deep, the more you get the more you’re responsible for. Like all of those people working for the mine. They were our responsibility. We had a duty to do right by them. And like I said before, nothing lasts forever. And I spouted off about being discreet. What were we going to do when the mine petered out? Now I know what Evan Blythe would of done, he’d grabbed it all and skedaddled out of here.
But we weren’t him….
Chapter Thirteen
We had Uncle Lambert and Aunt Garnet, and of course Jie-Li to supper that night. I had a few things I wanted to run by him. After we ate and were drinking our coffee in the den. I asked, “Have you ever heard of stock?”
“Well of course I have, you’re talking about cattle, aren’t you?”
“No, no, I mean shares, like in a company. Brie and I were discussing this, this afternoon. We both are looking for ways to get out from under the Wise River Mine. In a responsible manner. We feel that we owe something to the town and the miners that work for us.”
“Why? Is the ore running out?”
“No, just the opposite at this time. But Brie says we have enough ingots to last us all of our lives. Not just us personally but all of us here tonight. Of course that doesn’t even include what we already have. Do you see what I’m getting at?”
“I think so, you want to sell shares in the mine.” Lambert said.
“You’re half right, not sell, give. Of course the miners would get a bigger share, but everyone of the original people, those that were here when I first got here, would get shares. What do you think?”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that before. But I think it’s a good idea. It would be a cooperative effort then on all of their parts.” Lambert said.
“That’s a good description, sort of a co-op, you could say.” I replied, as the women came into the room.
“Have you told him?” Brie asked. Then said, “I explained it to all of the women, they thought it was a good idea.”
“Well then, I guess the only thing is, how are we going to implement it?” Janie asked.
“I thought that Brie could work with John Derek on that. Plus I had another thought. This whole thing is too big to be ran by one man, that is after we leave. I was thinking that maybe Sam Benbow could be the CEO. What does everyone think on that?” I threw out for consideration.
“What’s a CEO?” Garnet asked.
“Chief Executive Officer. I think I heard that from somewhere, hell, maybe I just made it up. I’m not too well versed in these types of things.” I said.
Brie said, “Yes, maybe. I’ll have to do some thinking on that, what do we really know about him?”
I left that thought running around in thin air. When my wife said maybe, that meant that she would be the one to decide who she left in charge. After all, it was her mine, not mine. (Ah, the ambiguities of the English language, don’t you just love it?)
After more discussion on the various aspects of the topic. The party broke up. And as we were walking back to our place, I made up my mind, to not meddle in the cooking pot. This was Brie’s stew, what right did I have to try and flavor the taste?
I didn’t mention it again. But the next day Brie was down to the mine office early. The girls and I saddled up our horses. Leaving Harry Little Light in charge, we decided to see how Harold and Molly Specter were doing. Also the girls had never met them. The Specter place lay southwest of Coolidge. I don’t think I had mentioned that before. We forded Elkhorn Creek, that ran through the west side of town. Taking the trail through the mountains we were soon overlooking Grass Hopper Valley.
The grass was still halfway decent, being it was the first part of August. There were a lot of three to four months old calves running around with their mothers. The first cowboys we ran across were Charles and Robert Ringer. They seen us coming and rode to meet us.
“Howdy Trego, glad to see that you’re back.” Charles said, I guess it was directed at me, but their eyes were on the girls. I said Howdy back, then let the silence set there for awhile. You would of thought it would have been awkward, but shoot, it sat there for so long that it started to bother me.
“Alright, I’ll introduce you. Girls these here two miscreants are Charles and Robert Ringer, they ride for the Specter’s. And to vice the versa, this is Janie and the other one is Melinda. They are hell on wheels and will eat you for breakfast. They also are Deputy’s. And those guns they are packing are not just for decoration, so be mighty careful what you say or do around them.”
“Dad! Really!” Janie said, “you’d make them think that we are monsters, but we’re just normal girls. With normal urges, so do be careful, we just might eat you for breakfast.” That really made them blush, I do believe that was her purpose. I think Janie enjoyed deviling young men.
They finally looked at me. “Dad?, they’re you’re daughters?” Charles asked.
“Well, yeah, I guess you could call it that, our adopted daughters.” With that being said, we loped along with the two bemused Cowboy’s till we reached the ranch house. They heard us ride up. It was going on lunch time, so Molly invited us to set and eat. Harold asked where Brie and Jake were.
They’re both back at Coolidge, Brie had some business to take care of with the Mine. Jake has a new buddy, a female Wolf that joined our group awhile back. These two lovely girls are our adopted daughters, Janie and Melinda. They are also Deputy’s.”
