Sunday evening, Will and Jonah lay on their blankets. Joel sat beside the nearby campfire, smoking a cigarette he’d rolled.
“Joel?” Jonah murmured drowsily.
“Hmm,” his brother responded.
“I aim to stay with you in Jacksonville this winter.”
Joel puffed the cigarette and released a cloud of smoke. “I told you, I ain’t sure I’ll stay in Jacksonville.”
“Ain’t you going to prospect?” Jonah asked, rising on one elbow to stare at Jonah.
“Maybe not,” Joel said. “I ain’t decided yet.”
“What would you do instead?” Will asked, curious, though not involved.
“Maybe take you boys back to Oregon City. Stay there the winter,” Joel said. “We got to let Esther know where you are.”
“But if’n you stay in Jacksonville, can I stay with you?” Jonah asked. “I ain’t tried my hand at prospectin’ yet.”
“Minin’ ain’t easy,” Joel said. “Can’t find gold just sittin’ on the ground, like back in forty-eight and forty-nine. Easy pickin’s are all gone.”
“But men still make fortunes, don’t they?” Jonah asked.
“A few do,” Joel said. “But I ain’t never made mine.”
Will remembered Mac telling him Joel had made and spent several fortunes, while Mac saved and invested his earnings. “Mac says the real money is in serving the miners,” Will told Jonah.
Joel pointed his cigarette at Will. “You remember that, McDougall.” Then he turned to his brother. “And you, too, Jonah. If I was as smart as Will’s pa, I’d be sittin’ in the lap of luxury in San Francisco right now. If you make money, keep it. Don’t do like I done and spend it all.”
“What’d you spend it on, Joel?” Jonah asked.
Joel grinned wickedly. “You boys ain’t old enough for me to tell you.”
Chapter 57: Reunion
The expedition moved into Klamath Valley on October 17 and camped at Gabb’s Springs. “We’re only a few miles from Fort Klamath,” Sergeant Moore said to Drew. “Shouldn’t we ride on tonight?”
Drew gestured at the night sky. “It’s already dusk. We’ll camp here and ride in tomorrow morning. Tell the troops I want everything spic and span by dawn.”
“He still ain’t in a hurry to get to Klamath,” Joel muttered. “Moon’s bright enough to light our way. I still wonder what he’s hidin’ from.”
Will shook his head. Drew never mentioned his orders to attend the treaty negotiations.
Despite the frosty evening, every soldier and packer unpacked and repacked his gear, stowing everything as neatly as possible. Will was glad the mules’ packs were considerably lighter after the monthlong journey from Boise. The men had eaten most of the provisions.
The next morning, October 18, the expedition rode the last four miles to the fort. Drew ordered the bugler to announce their arrival, which he did with gusty blows.
After entering the fort, the packers took their mules to the supply building to unload. They stored their remaining provisions and equipment where Sergeant Crockett ordered.
“Take the mules to the stables,” the quartermaster then said. “The stable master will want to make sure they’re healthy and fit.”
As Will and the others led their horses and mules toward the stables, he heard a shout. “William McDougall, get over here.”
He turned around—Mac. And Daniel Abercrombie stood beside him.
Mac spotted Will as the boy led Shanty and four mules across the fort’s open yard. Jonah and Joel Pershing were with him. Mac ran toward Will, calling his name. Still holding the leads for the five animals, Will turned to look at Mac and moved toward him.
A sergeant stepped between Will and Mac. “Not so fast, McDougall,” the man told Will. “You’re mine till you’ve dealt with your mules.”
“Yes, sir,” Will said.
The sergeant said to Mac, “This your son?”
“Yes.” Mac nodded.
“He’s a fine lad, but he has a job to do. He needs to finish it.”
Will shrugged, then followed the sergeant.
Mac turned to Daniel. “What do you make of that?”
Daniel grinned. “I’d say we have two soldiers instead of boys.”
Will was embarrassed by Mac’s shout across the stable yard. Though he was startled to see Mac, he realized he’d half-expected to be met at Fort Klamath. He’d known Mama would want Mac to find him. In fact, he’d wondered from time to time if Mac would appear over the hilltop along the trail between Boise and Klamath.
It took Will and Jonah most of the morning to get their mules inspected. Then they led the beasts to pasture. Will slapped his mules on their rumps to send them out with the rest of the herd. Shanty wanted to follow them, but Will pulled the gelding along to find Mac—they would face the music together. Jonah followed with his mare. Joel remained behind.
“Scared of Daniel, ain’t you?” Jonah taunted his brother.
“You see what’s what,” Joel said. “I’ll check on you in a bit. If Daniel’n Mac ain’t too mad, you wave, and I’ll join you.”
Will and Jonah found Mac and Daniel camped on the outskirts of the fort. The men had a noon meal cooking, and its savory scent made Will’s mouth water. They’d eaten all right on Army food, but this smelled almost as good as Mrs. O’Malley’s cooking.
Will stood apart from the campfire until Mac looked up. “You have a bowl, son?” Mac asked.
Will grimaced, but with Daniel and Jonah there, he simply replied, “Yes, sir.” He got the bowl and spoon out of his pack and let Mac ladle stew into it. Jonah did the same.
“Sit down, boys,” Daniel said. Then the four started eating.
“Why did you run away?” Mac asked after Will had taken a couple of mouthfuls.
