Yankton

Chapter 49

Chapter 49 It's Good to be Home

Mark and I demonstrated our rifles, as well as our night optics to Marcus and Davis, drawing stunned silence from both. They knew they were looking at weapons and devices that their minds simply couldn't explain.

"We don't know where you feller's came from…And we don't wanna know, but them's some mighty fancy shootin iron's ya got there, but them fancy binoculars , to be able to see like that at night." I patted Davis on the shoulder,

"All I can tell you is that a lot of inventors have been hard at work for well over a hundred years developing and improving things like these. I you two came from where we do, things like these would be common knowledge."

From then on, both men looked at Mark and I with a mixture of fear and awe, but they never asked to look at or examine our "toys" again. In the morning, we rounded up the horses, and packed up all the guns and gear we found on the four men. Splitting the money they had on them, each of us got roughly ten dollars each. Marcus and his partner took one of the handguns, and a couple of knives. I replaced our packhorse, and the poor nag Dollinger gave us with two of the captured horses. While removing one of the saddles, I noticed that it was a J.B. Sickles saddle, a very sought after item. They were very popular here in 1877, but expensive, costing around thirty dollars or more, I expected a lot more than that at auction in 2014. With Marcus's help, we got the new horses to pull together, making better time, and giving our packhorse and Dollinger's horse a much needed break. The rest of the trip went reasonably well, other than some repairs that needed to be done on the harness. On the last night out, both Marcus and Davis brought up more stories concerning army life in the Civil War, then Davis asked,

"Was it pretty much like that for you fella's?" Mark and I looked at each other, before I answered,

"What can I say, war is war. Tactics and weapons change, that's pretty much all I can tell you Davis."

We parted company near Custer City, but I reminded both of them to stop by Purgatory some time so I could record their stories. We all shook hands, as they headed east and we went north, as I watched them move off, I sincerely hoped that I'd see them again. By now the horses were broken in to pulling the wagon, but we still couldn't go any faster, due to the fact that the wagon was just about ready to fall apart, we considered ourselves lucky it held together this long, but by luck and pluck, we came rolling into Lead late the next evening, where we checked in with O'Rourke. We then transferred all the goods to O'Rourke's small warehouse, before sitting down and sharing a bottle with him, all the while recounting our tale.

"You two are going to make the grim reaper jealous folks is startin' to take notice, here looka this!" He tossed a copy of the Black Hills Pioneer at us, and said,

"Take a look!" Just as I was afraid of, there was a short article describing the shoot-out we had had with assailants unknown the night we left Cheyenne three of the men had been identified as someone named Indian Joe, Elmer Jenks, and Oswald Peebles. The bodies were taken to Cheyenne where the sheriff made the identifications. The gist of the article seemed to indicate that they had simply run afoul of the wrong people…Damn right they did.

O'Rourke told us that he probably wouldn't be shipping anymore gold in any amount for at least another couple months, before paying each of us $375.00, three for the gold, and seventy-five for bringing up the supplies. Well anyway, we were happy, and he was happy a good deal all around. Since it was late, and he didn't think it a good idea to be wandering around town with all that money he let us crash in his office while he went home,

"I'll be around in the morning to let you boys out."

Once again we were forced to throw together make-shift beds, but they were still better than a lot of places Mark and I have slept on. Sometime during the night, Mark woke me claiming that someone was trying the back door. We drew our guns and listened, but heard nothing, in the end; we just lost sleep for the effort.

We stopped in Deadwood to deposit the money, and inquire with sheriff Bullock about Annie O'Donnell.

"She stayed on the coach, so I can only assume she got off in Purgatory," he reported,

"You gentlemen have any difficulties getting home?"

"Well let's see," replied Mark.

"There was the train ride from hell, and having to nurse a sick wagon all the way up from Cheyenne."

"Any trouble?" Mark and I grinned,

"Nothing we couldn't handle," I said.

"Trouble just seems to follow you two don't it?"

"Sorry sheriff," I replied, "But sometimes justice comes out of a box. Sometimes it's a jury box, sometimes it's a ballot box, other times it has to come from a cartridge box!" Bullock gave me a funny look, then just said,

"Get out of here, go home!" Before leaving town, I stopped by the cabin to make sure it was all right, then hit a mercantile store to pick up some decent clothes for Caleb.

The closer we got to home the more nervous I got, wondering if Annie had indeed stopped off or Montana had hired her. Caleb was the first one we saw as we rode up to the stable. I could see him busily raking the area, when he spotted Mark and I we stopped what he was doing and came rushing over.

"Welcome home Mr. Yankton, you too Mr. Sedgwick!"

Dismounting, I smiled and tussled his hair,

"Hey Caleb, how's things? He shrugged,

"Miss Montana has a new lady," This immediately grabbed my attention.

"How do you know, you weren't over at the saloon were you? You know what I told you about going there."

"I didn't, Miss Melonie told me." I immediately felt a whole lot better at that news,

"Looks like Montana came through afterall, commented Mark."

"So what else has happened?" "Colin's been showing me how to strum a banjo, and Steinar won't play with me, cause he says I'm mean." Well are you?" Caleb shrugged and replied,

He was crying one day, and I called him a big baby for cryin'" I bend down to meet him at eye level.

"That wasn't nice Caleb," I said sternly, "Both he and his sister lost their parents very tragically in what we think was an Indian attack, think of it Caleb, he and his sister probably watched their parents being murdered, I want you to apologize to him."

"Aww do I hafta?"

'You do Caleb and the sooner the better, I want you to do it in front of Mrs. Meijer as well, and I'm going to ask her about it too. Now, Caleb, do you know much about horses?"

He nodded,

"Plenty,"

"Well go take a look at that horse over there, and tell me if you think you can bring him back to health." We walked over to Dollinger's horse, and Caleb started looking him over.

"He's not too good Mr. Yankton,"

"I can see that, do you think with the right food and care he can be brought back to health?" Caleb looked at his hooves, and felt around the animal's ribcage.

"It might take awhile but I could do it."

"Well good," I replied, I'll see that he gets some good food and grain, but if you can get him back in shape, I'll give him to you, your own horse, what do you think?" Colin gave me a little smile,

"My own horse?"

"Yes Caleb, your very own horse, I don't think he has a name, so you can name him as well. Do what you can for now, I will see that he gets some special horse food which should help him regain his strength, and help him grow a nice winter coat. I got you some decent clothes as well, oh and one more thing, take a look at this." Opening up a padded rifle case, I produced the Spencer I had taken off one of the bandits I had shot back in Nebraska.

This is your's Caleb, but I'm not going to give it to you just yet, not until we go out and shoot for awhile, and I can teach you proper handling." As I handed him the rifle, Caleb's eyes lit up, and a big smile grew on his face. I had him hold the rifle checking it for proper length. He was awkward at first, but the fit was within tolerance, and I wouldn't need to cut down the stock.

"It's a good starter rifle for you Caleb, once you get in some practice I'll take you hunting."

This appealed to him as well, as I asked.

"Is Sockie giving you enough to eat?"

"She sure is a good cook, yes sir, I really like her food, Miss Melonie let's me eat over there." Then he announced to Mark,

"I don't get no food on anything either Mr. Sedgwick!" Mark grinned, and replied,

"That's good of you Caleb; I see you got your hair cut, who did that?" Caleb blushed,

"Umm Miss Melonie did sir." Mark inspected her handiwork,

"Looks good son, I'll have to complement her, looks like she's got hair dressing talent as well."

Caleb helped us unpack everything, commenting on all the guns I had brought back,

"Gosh, where'd you get all them guns?" He asked.

"From people that won't be needing them anymore Caleb, now that I'm back, we're going to sit down and have a long talk. There are things you need to know son, I'll tell you more about myself, and some of the people around here, but for now, you can help me carry some of this gear over to my tent cabin." After that task was completed, I gave Caleb a brownie from one of the rations I had been saving for him.

"Thank you sir…Er, I mean Mr. Yankton,

"Your welcome Caleb, don't forget to apologize to Steinar in front of Mrs. Meijer."

"I won't."

I wasted no time heading for the saloon stopping to greet Colin and Jake, who were splitting wood,

"Go easy there Colin," I said, "Don't want to over do things."

"I'm feeling my old self again Brian, Miss Bishop says things is looking fine."

When I entered the saloon, there were several men sitting around drinking and playing cards, I saw Narcissa working her Faro table. Montana didn't appear to be around, or Sockie for that matter, but stepping into the small kitchen behind the bar I found her talking with Annie. Playing it to the hilt, I asked,

"Hello Sockie, who's this?" Annie looked at me as a big smile began to form.

"This is Annie O'Donnell Mr. Yankton, Montana just hired her, Kitty and Maggie was complainin' about bein' overworked, Annie here told her she could help with that, she also tells me she's a pretty fair cook as well." Grinning at Annie, I replied,

"Is that so, well Annie, I was planning on going hunting sometime in the next couple of days, let's see what you can do with a venison stew."

"Oh I think you will love it Mr. Yankton."

"Well I'll leave you ladies for now, by the way, where's Montana?"

"In her office," replied Sockie.

Montana was sitting at her desk paying bills when I entered.

"Well you made it home in one piece I see," came her response.

"Got something for you," I replied, as I laid an envelope with $350.00 next to her. Montana opened the envelope and briefly looked at the money, then standing up, I could see tears in her eyes, time for action. Pulling her to me we embraced and kissed.

"Oh God I missed you so much," she sobbed, "You know how I hate it when you leave like that."

"I know you do babe, but I can't turn down the money." We said nothing, but continued to embrace and passionately kiss each other,

"I just worry you're going to leave sometime and never come back," she moaned. I wasn't going to say anything, but her sadness changed my mind.

"I've got a confession to make Abbie…"

Pulling away from me she gave me one of her looks.

"It's about Annie, isn't it?" Although I tried my best not to over react I knew Montana sensed she had hit the mark.

"How did you know?"

"She told me. Oh I know, she told me not to say anything at first, but when I heard her story, something just broke in me, and we both had a good cry. Relax, you're forgiven, I heard all about it. What am I going to do with you Brian; you're like a little boy who's always bringing stray dogs home. Shrugging, I replied,

"I can't help it Abbie, I'm just a sucker for damsels in distress." Montana sighed,

"I doubt she'll be around for very long, once word gets out she can cook, men will be lining up asking for her hand."

"Is that so bad?" I asked, "Seems I know someone else in a similar situation. Look, your right, I got her out of the same situation you were in, but I told her I'd cover her coach fare up here but the rest was up to her." Montana snickered,

"She didn't have to try very hard; I guess you're not the only "sucker" around here."

"So how's Narcissa working out?" I asked, hoping to change the subject,

"I'm not done yet, you owe me mister…Big time!"

"Uh what did you have in mind?"

"Among other things, an expensive dinner at that place you took Melonie and I."

"Consider it done Montana; does this mean you need to wash your hair again?"

"That, and I need to see that hair dresser your sister took me to."

"I've ruined you Abbie!"

"I know."

I then called Annie into the office giving her no indication of what I was thinking or my mood,

But she caved immediately.

"I'm sorry Mr. Yankton, I couldn't help it!" I held up my hand,

"Don't worry about it Annie, I should have known, Montana's simply too sharp for us. So, what do you think, was I B S'ing you?"

"Well I haven't been here that long, but everyone seems nice enough, I guess I shoulda kept my mouth shut about cooking, now Sockie wants me to do the cooking and Mrs. Meijer has asked me to cook for her once her boarding house is built." I looked at Montana,

"You're the boss around here Montana, what say you?" Looking at Annie, she replied,

"Like I told you, once all these men find out Annie can cook she won't be around here long."

"Don't I get a say in all this?" replied Annie

"Well of course you do," said Montana but you have to face the facts; you're going to have more marriage proposals than you can imagine.

"What if I don't want to get married?"

"Well that's your prerogative," replied Montana, "But at some point you're going to start thinking about putting the whoring behind you and settling down, Kitty and Maggie talk about it all the time, then look at Ingrid, she finally had enough. Most women in our situation don't have much choice, some simply decide to end it all, others drown themselves in liquor or opium. Those of us that are blessed with a skill, or have the Lord smiling down on us are able to leave intact, but like I said, the choice is yours.

"It's too early to tell yet," said Annie, but I want to ask you two a question."

"Go ahead," I replied,

"I heard Kitty talking to Melonie the other day about you and your friend Mark being from the future or some such humbug."

Montana and I looked at each other,

"So what do you want to know?" I said.

"Well is it true?" I shrugged, Montana rolled her eyes,

"At this point Annie, I will neither admit nor deny that, it's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. Both Montana and I do ask that you keep all of this to yourself, consider it privileged information not to be shared in any way with your clients or anyone else for that matter, is that understood?" Annie looked at both of us, and replied,

"You have a deal, but if it's true, I want to go!"

"Go, go where?" exclaimed Montana.

"Why to the future of course."

"And what do you think you're going to do there?" I asked,

"See all these wondrous things they were talking about silly." I looked at Montana and shrugged,

"Talk to Jake first, then I'll introduce you to my sister the next time she comes, then we'll see."

"So where's your sister?" This caused Montana and I to both start laughing,

"Where do you think?" I replied.