The homestead wasn’t far ahead. Jim saw smoke curling up from the chimney. They passed by the cattle, and Jim couldn’t keep from counting them. Evidently, Ellen’s father had done a good job watching them. The wolves hadn’t claimed any more. The grass was coming up thick and bright green. Soon the valley would return to its full summer glory.
Ellen’s parents met them outside the cabin, followed by the children and Martha. Abigail looked hale—no shade of the illness remained. David seemed like a man reborn. His cheeks were tan and unlined, the worry that haunted him all winter now gone.
Walt and Alma raced to hug Ellen first. Jim smiled when he saw Walt glance over at his sister and slow a step to let her win.
He’s a good lad.
Walt kissed his mother’s cheek, then shuffled over to Jim. He extended a hand and Jim took it. “You kept an eye on things?”
“Two,” Walt said. “No sign of those wolves. All except that gray one.”
“The gray one?”
“He’s got a limp. I was riding with Grandpa and saw him near the cattle. He wasn’t bothering them, though. I felt bad for him.”
“Oh?” Jim said.
“I don’t think he’s eating much. He’s not fast enough to catch anything, and I didn’t see his pack.”
“It’s a hard thing getting old and crippled up,” David said.
“He doesn’t seem old, just hurt,” Walt answered.
“Did you and Ellen have any luck?” David asked.
“Where’s Colton?” Abigail chimed in.
“Colton sends his best, Mother,” Ellen said. “He hired on with some freighters.”
“That’s good,” David said and smiled.
“How long will he be gone?” Abigail said.
“Two or three months before he’s back this way,” Jim said.
Abigail seemed to deflate with the news, but David wrapped an arm around her.
“He’ll be back soon enough, and with a pocket full of cash,” David said.
“Maybe a pretty girl on each arm,” Ellen added. Then she took a wrapped parcel from behind her saddle. “Martha, I brought you something.”
Martha took the parcel and unwrapped it to reveal a folded square of red-and-blue plaid cloth. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to say thank you for watching Walt and Alma. I know how much you wanted a new dress.”
Tears welled up in Martha’s eyes as she held the cloth to her chest.
“Well, let’s all go inside and you can tell us all about it,” David suggested.
Jim told them about the flooding, the new gold discovery, Colton’s job, and Ellen talked about her work at the store and Jim’s rescue.
“It’s a rough lot heading into the gold fields,” Jim said.
“Gold,” David said, and leaned back in his chair. He’d made several in the long winter months. It seemed he had a knack for carpentry. “Wouldn’t that be something…finding gold.”
“I’m not sure I’d know gold if I saw it,” Jim snorted.
“Yellow, of course—I’ve seen it—heavy, too, and it shines even if you shade it with your hand. Pyrite—fool’s gold they call it—won’t do that. It’s more of a black color when you take it out of direct light.”
“I’ll leave the gold hunting to you,” Jim said. “I think I’ll try my hand at cutting some timber. The town’ll need it to rebuild.”
“More of a sure thing than striking it rich,” David laughed. “I think I’ll help you. Chasing gold is a young man’s game.” His eyes had a far-off look, though. Then he added, “Gold…boy, wouldn’t that be something?”
Chapter 5
Jim and Ellen enjoyed the next few days together before she had to return to work. And when the time came, Jim rode down into town with her, made sure she had a room, then they said their goodbyes.
Sam agreed to sell any timber Jim brought to town.
He started with some trees he found blown down and well seasoned. He took the limbs off, then cut them into long lengths. By the end of the first day, he knew two things. One, he needed a saw instead of the axe, and two, cutting timber was hard work.
Jim had done hard work before; though he’d gotten a little soft during the winter, he would quickly adjust.
As for the saw, he’d have to pick one up from Sam when he went to escort Ellen home.
A week passed, then two. Jim and Ellen fell into a routine. He would escort her to town, spend a day looking for work, find nothing but a few odd jobs, then for the rest of the week he’d hunt or fell timber.
He was more successful hunting than looking for work. The family ate well on elk, deer, and the rare mountain lion.
