Chapter 13The cold days of isolation and boredom wore on. Back in the States, President Lincoln declared the first Thanksgiving holiday, and word reached Alder just in time to celebrate the new holiday, at least in the homes of Northern sympathizers. Emissaries of President Lincoln arrived with news that the gold rich area had drawn the attention of government, and the area was to be organized into a territory of the United States. Sheriff Plummer hosted a Thanksgiving banquet for this group, which included an energetic lawyer named Sanders. The Ferguses attended this banquet, and later Andrew regaled Jane with a description of the magnificent feast the Sheriff provided.
After that, Alder settled into a winter tedium. The male population drank and played cards, fought and made up, spun ya
