The Five Star Ranch: A Collection of Frontier Stories.

Fire Boy

It was three thirty in the morning, the middle of a very cold night; the twenty cowboys in the bunkhouse at the Bar B were deep in sleep when Jason Colburn silently rose to tend the ranch’s fires. He methodically and quietly slipped into his clothes, put on his boots and silently fed the fire in the bunkhouse. He put on a heavy woolen coat, stooped to get through the bunkhouse door and made his way to the servant’s quarters of the sprawling ranch house. There were three fireplaces and two stoves in the house that he had to stoke, sometimes the guests would request a fire be maintained in their rooms also. Jason’s job was to keep everyone warm and happy.

After stoking the main fireplace and the kitchen stove he made his way upstairs, there was one sign out, the owner’s daughter, Marilee wanted her fire tended. Jason stepped quietly into Marilee’s room, banked the fire and stepped back out into the hallway. Next he repeated this act in the room of Wayne and Margaret McCardin, owners of the Bar B. Again the twosome did not stir, they didn’t know he was in the room.

Jason grinned slightly as he entered the final room at the end of the long hallway, the room of Marshall McCardin, Grandpa McCardin as he was known to everyone on the ranch. Without a sound Jason filled the little iron stove and opened the damper to increase the heat, the filling would last through the night nearly till noon. As Jason completed the task, Grandpa McCardin cussed in a little more than a whisper, Damn. Can’t you keep the racket down? Man has a hard time getting in his forty winks around here.

Jason stood and grinned at the old timer, he whispered in turn, You haven’t needed forty winks since you were in diapers.

The old man chuckled, put a robe on and sat down beside the stove and directed Jason to do the same, Sit a spell.

Jason sat down next to the old man, God, you’re getting big. How tall are you now?

Jason smiled at the ritual banter, "I can still get in and out of most of the doors without bending over, except for the summer cook shack and the bunk house. In the last two years I think I’ve grown a foot.

I see Marilee is home. How did she get here?

The old man grinned, happy to be on the subject of his favorite grandchild, Stage up from the railhead.

Jason warmed his hands by the fire, That had to be a mighty cold ride.

McCardin loved to joke with Jason, She had a few blankets, and I suppose every cowpoke she met on the way wanted to help keep her warm.

Jason laughed at the old timer’s joke, She always was a pretty gal.

The old man asked, How long do you have?

Jason shrugged, Twenty minutes. Need a bite to eat?

McCardin nodded, Yeah. Don’t know what the hell it is. I don’t eat much but I need to be eating all the time.

Jason rose, I’ll be right back. I’ll see if the cook has some cake.

McCardin whispered, Cake hell. See if there is any jerky.

Jason chuckled, Marilee’s going to get on you about your cussing.

The old man chuckled as Jason rose, I’ll be right back. Don’t go away.

Within minutes Jason was back with a chicken drumstick and a glass of milk, Marshal McCardin took the drumstick and the milk, No damn jerky?

Jason shook his head and whispered his reply, No jerky. When I see the cook for the hands, I’ll tell him to fix you up with a little supply of your own.

The old man nodded, Damn sure won’t get any jerky out of the house cook.

After a few bites and a sip of milk the old man inquired, How long have you been stoking fires for us?

Jason smiled, he figured the old man knew but he answered, Six years.

McCardin nodded agreement, You started when you were thirteen. When you got here you were a scrawny little crapper.

Jason laughed; he muffled his mouth so others in the house wouldn’t hear him. His nightly visits with Marshall McCardin were unknown to anyone but the two of them. When he got his composure Jason nodded, I was always a slight kid. The last couple of years I shot up a little.

The old man coughed, "A little?

I’ve seen work horses smaller than you. Your shoulders have grown as much as you got taller.

Jason explained, Woodcutting and swinging a splitting maul.

The old man smiled as he got into an area he wanted information, You satisfied being just the fire boy?

Jason wondered what the old man was getting at, "You mean, is this my life’s ambition?

No. This has been a great job. I get a lot of latitude. During the summer I work a little with the cattle on my own. I can rope as well as many of the other men. When my woodcutting duties are done, I do other mending and chores around the ranch. I’ve gotten to the point where I can do just about any job on the place. Except cook.

Marshall whispered, What the hell do you do all that for, you’re just hired to stoke fires?

Jason stifled another laugh, I want to know how it all ties together. Someday I think I’ll own or run a place of my own.

McCardin smiled, he was happy with the answer, he nodded and pushed for more information, On a fire boy’s wages?

Jason had few real close friends, he figured Marshall McCardin was at the top of the list, Marshall. I’ll tell you, between the two of us. I’ve saved every penny of my wages; I’ve a friend at Ft. Benton that has made me a little more money.

McCardin pushed, Gambling?

Jason nodded, Sort of. With some of my money. He seems to be pretty good at getting a return greater than I can get in the bank. But, I’m the cautious type, I only gamble with a portion.

McCardin was getting the information he wanted, he continued to push, What gain have you seen?

Jason continued to divulge information, Amounts to as high as twelve percent, but mostly three to five. That comes from loans to people he feels has a lot going for them. Trustworthy sorts. Some in wagons for mining, stagecoach lines, he assures me this part of the country is going to continue to grow. This past year I finally invested enough to make more money than I made in wages.

McCardin wondered at the information he was getting, But you say all your wages are in the bank?

Jason explained, Yes sir. I’m gambling but not with hard earned wages, that money is all in the bank. During the summer I’m allowed to sell extra wood, I make a little there also.

McCardin asked, What is the extra wood?

Jason explained, Waste wood. That wood I cut and split on my days off.

Marshall nodded, I suppose since you don’t go to the fort drinking, you don’t get to spend your money?

Jason nodded, Right. I figure if I want to make money, I have to find ways not to throw it away. I watch my money pretty close.

The old man shook his head at the information, I’ve got a ranch management meeting today. Since you’ve been looking at the way the ranching works, how would this ranch increase our profit margin? What would you do differently?

Jason chuckled, Get rid of that cook you don’t like. You end up eating with me out in the mess hall anyway.

Marshall chuckled, My son would fall out of his chair if I suggested that.

Jason knew the boss and his wife liked to sit and have a gracious meal, it was a favored perk of ownership, What would I do differently if I were owner of your ranch? I’ve read everything I can get my hands on about ranching including all those magazines and articles you give me. Lately I have given a little thought to your ranch sort of as practice for when I have one of my own.

Marshall smiled in the semi-darkness of the room, So what would you do different?

Jason ventured his opinion, You are running about six thousand head of cattle. You can push cattle up into the slopes of the mountain in the spring and take some of the pressure off the main basin and the east range.

Marshall wondered, The main basin isn’t hurt with grazing and the slopes are a long way from the ranch buildings. Why move cattle out of the basin?

Jason continued, Remove all the cattle and fence off about four hundred acres of bottom land in that basin. Raise your own grain. That piece of bottomland will produce enough hay and grain for your ranch’s winter livestock and for finishing your cattle. That will save you the cost of buying grain and the cost in manpower to ship it in here. You’ll have enough hay for the riding stock during the winter and the farm stock the rest of the year. Who knows, in a year or so you can grind your own grain and sell instead of having your feed and hay shipped in.

Marshall figured he’d shoot a hole in the plan, Cattle would be a long way from the ranch?

Jason nodded, "Not after you build a line shack at the base of the mountain slopes and another at the east range. Move a couple hands up there to do the branding and cutting rather than moving cattle and men all the way out there from the ranch. The way you are doing things right now; there is too much time spent in the saddle. Getting to the job and moving cattle back and forth to the ranch takes too much time.

Using those slopes, overall, you should be able to increase your cattle count without harming the range to the tune of four thousand to ten thousand more head. The best thing is; if you move to make your herd purchases now you’ll save a pile of money.

McCardin thought Jason’s ideas had merit, but saving money on buying cattle, How’s that?

Jason explained, There are two herds right now that are for sale. Monty and that guy from England: Bingham? I heard neither of them likes the winters and right now they can’t get rid of their cattle. Market is way down and there aren’t any local buyers and others don’t want to move them this time of the year.

McCardin was beginning to see that Jason had pretty fair business savvy, Where are we going to put them?

Jason took the cup of milk off the stove so it wouldn’t get too hot, he handed it to the old man, Hopefully. You can move all the cattle you buy to the Bingham ranch, hire a skeleton crew until spring to keep tabs on them.

McCardin took a drink of the warmed milk before he stated, I ask you how to increase the profit margin and you have us spending more money.

Jason nodded, Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

Jason got up to go, I have to get out to the mess hall and stoke my fires or I’ll get fired.

Marshall did a little calculating based on what Jason told him, Hell Jason, you have nearly six thousand in the bank.

Jason figured the old man was a good listener, "Marshall. Marilee is going to raise her eyebrows if you don’t quit that cussing.

You are good at math Marshall. Actually. You didn’t figure enough on the wood cutting, I have about seventy-five-hundred. I can now buy a small place of my own and a few hundred head of cattle. Won’t be too long. If you want I can take you in as a partner. If I leave here I’ll have a hard time finding someone to talk to at three in the morning.

Marshall McCardin chuckled, took off his robe and headed back to bed, What is it going to cost me to be your partner?

Jason smiled, In your case, it won’t cost you a thing.

The old man stopped, Seriously?

Jason smiled and nodded, Sure thing. I figure I owe you and this ranch an awful lot.

Marshall shook his head, it seemed to him that everything the lad said confirmed the feelings he had about the boy, You figure out what the hell an old man like me can do as your partner, let me know. I’ll join you.

Jason smiled, Like I said, without you to talk to at three or four in the morning, I’d be pretty lost.

Jason got the fires going in the mess hall; a short time later the cook entered the door, Coffee on?

Jason noted the pot was perking, Ready any time.

The cook entered the storeroom and remerged with a slab of bacon and a pail of eggs. Jason had oil heating in a fry pan, he cut off a couple of slices of bacon and tossed them in the pan, Marshall wants you to make him some jerky.

The cook grinned, Jerky?

Jason tossed a half dozen eggs in the fry pan as he explained, Evidently the house cook doesn’t make him any or doesn’t know how to make jerky.

The cook was getting things ready for the men, Tell you what. I’ll tell you what to do. You get the jerky started before you go back to bed, later today you can finish the job.

Jason ate his eggs and bacon, cut up strips of beef and soaked them in a solution the cook had him concoct, When you get out of bed we can finish.

Jason returned to his bunk, other than filling a few wood boxes he wasn’t slated for fire making until that evening. Jason went back to bed; he’d be up about eight and make a round of the ranch making sure the wood boxes were all filled before he headed out with a team to gather another stack of wood. After bringing in a load of wood he would spend some time in the tack room cleaning and oiling leather before he was due to make another round checking on the stoves and fireplaces.

Arden Blank, foreman of the Bar B, walked by the bunk of Jason, Arden was irritated a man would still be in his bunk. Arden didn’t like the fact that Jason didn’t really answer to him, he figured Jason was dead wood. He was due to meet with the owners in about an hour, they would be talking about increasing the margin of profit, and Arden figured there is one bunk he could empty.

Wayne, Margaret, Marshall, and Marilee McCardin, Arden Blank and the family lawyer seated themselves about a large table in the corner of the living room. Wayne looked to the family lawyer, Tanner. Let’s get the meeting going.

The lawyer started, We asked Arden to come to this meeting and bring with him any measures we could take to make the ranch more profitable. Arden, you’ve had a month on the job to look over the workings of the ranch. What did you come up with?

Arden Blank arrived at the meeting without the benefit of notes, During the winter we operate with our base crew, we pretty much keep everyone busy, during the winter it may be possible to lower our number of hands by half until spring branding time.

Marshall shook his head. The men would find other places to work that would treat them more humanly. We would end up hiring new hands every spring, if we could find them.

Arden Blank understood, he shrugged off Marshall’s reply as though that was one of the things they would have to consider if they wanted the ranch to be more profitable, "Other than that, I’m at a loss. I figure the ranch is operating pretty efficiently.

I do have a question with one of the hands. The fire boy. I figure you can save his salary if we tended our own fires in the night and divided up the wood cutting with the rest of the boys.

Marshall McCardin snapped an answer, I don’t feel like getting up in the night and I prefer just one person traipsing through my room in the middle of the night.

There was silence for an uncomfortable time, Wayne McCardin shrugged; We were looking at something more considerable, and in the area of cattle production or utilization of manpower. Thank you Arden. You can go back to work now.

When Arden Blank left, Marshall McCardin grinned, I figure we need a little better advice than we got out of Arden.

The lawyer nodded agreement, I expected more.

Wayne McCardin looked to Tanner, Well, where do we go from here?

Tanner shrugged, he was a lawyer not a rancher, Hire someone else to look the operation over.

Marshall chuckled, How does this sound for increasing our profit margin?

Marshall went through Jason’s suggestions step by step, when he finished, his son Wayne, held up his hands, "Dad. Have you been sitting on that plan? Makes a lot of sense to me.

Who have you been talking to?

The old man grinned, I have my own financial advisor.

Wayne McCardin laughed, Dad. You haven’t been off this ranch for four months.

The old man squinted as if he had trouble remembering, You are right. Too damn cold.

Marilee was indignant, Grandpa!

The old man patted Marilee on the shoulder, Sorry Marilee.

Wayne McCardin smiled at the exchange between his father and his daughter, Dad. Who have you been talking to?

Marshall looked sheepishly at Marilee and answered, The one Blank wanted to fire.

Wayne McCardin seemed astonished, The fire boy?

Marilee asked, Jason Colburn?

Marshall blinked and happily asked, You remember Jason?

Marilee was again indignant, Grandpa. Of course I remember him. He’s always been very nice. I always roped him into playing cards with me in the dining room.

Marshall looked out the window, Right. I bet you wouldn’t even know him if you saw him. You’ve been away for the past two years at school.

Marilee shook her head, I know he couldn’t have changed that much.

Marshall pointed out the window, There are three hands out there, which one is Jason?

Jason was on his way to the cook shack, another was currying a horse in front of the bunkhouse. Another cowboy was cleaning the hooves of a horse, Marilee shook her head, Trick question Grandpa. None of the three.

Marshall went to the door, Jason. Would you come up to the house for a minute?

Jason turned about and walked to the house, Marilee’s mouth opened, That is Jason?

Marshall chuckled at her reaction, That’s Jason.

Marilee continued to look, He’s grown up. My, has he ever grown up!

Jason entered meekly with hat in hand; he was greeted at the door by Marshall. Marshall extended his hand; Jason grinned, took his hand and whispered, Jerky will be ready tomorrow. Should have some ready to taste by three in the morning.

Marilee couldn’t hear what they were saying, What are you two talking about?

Marshall shook his head, Private investment advice. Jason. You remember Marilee?

Jason smiled broadly, "I shall never forget Marilee. She is even prettier than when she left.

Marilee. This ranch is a nicer place because you are here.

Marilee shook her head, Good night Jason you’ve changed.

Jason shook his head, No. I am the same. I just look different.

Marshall grinned at Marilee’s response to the fire boy, "Come on in. We are having a family discussion.

I told them about your ideas about the grazing of cattle up the mountain, setting up a couple of line shacks with separate crews for the three major parts of the ranch. I told them about raising our own grain and hay. Maybe in time grinding our own grain and selling it. I didn’t tell them about spending more money.

Seated again at the large table Wayne McCardin was a little taken aback at his father, I have never seen you two talking before. When do you get all this planning done?

Jason looked to Marshall to answer, He stokes my fires. I wake up and we sometimes chat a bit.

Wayne wondered, At three or four in the morning?

Marshall shrugged, We all march to a different drummer and Jason works all hours of the day so sometimes we meet during meals at the mess hall. The cook makes a beef stew I’ve taken a liking to.

Wayne thought his father was more involved than he had been in some time, So Jason? What is the other part of your strategy for increasing our profit margin? The part where we have to spend some money?

Jason advised the purchase of the two herds of cattle, Wayne nodded his head, Sounds good. What if the price drops next year?

Jason shrugged, The market right now is way down. You will be buying two herds. Neither of the owners can sell the entire herd at the present market price. They should recognize the cost of holding them over during the winter and the possibility of loss if the winter is real harsh. You are one of the few people that can afford to commit the capital. Both sellers have to move the cattle together not piecemeal, there is no immediate market in the area for that many cattle. The cattle are being sold at a variety of ages, from marketable, to unborn. You are not buying all marketable cattle so you can pretty much dictate your price, and, if the price is too high you can back out. The issue for the sellers is complicated a bit because there are two herds; with the competition the price should be lower than market price and both owners should recognize that problem. Given the market price and no buyers, everything is to your advantage.

Wayne McCardin had a slight grin on his face, What do we offer?

Jason knew the price of beef and he understood what would be needed to gain a profit, Anywhere from fifteen to seventeen dollars a head and you should make out well.

Wayne balked at the estimate, That sounds like an insult.

Jason explained, "If the herd is on your land and healthy, and you can market them properly, you are right.

But, figure a cow to be worth twenty-five, it is a gamble to produce a head of beef in two years worth thirty dollars out of that cow. The started calf at her side, three to nine dollars, you have to wait six to fifteen months to capitalize on the calf. The average in the herd should be from fifteen to seventeen.

Wayne nodded, agreeing with the estimate, Why should we buy?

Jason smiled and shrugged, Because, as Marshall told you earlier, you have space, the capital, and you want to increase your profit margin. The other thing is; by spring you should be able to market from a fourth to a seventh of the two herds to cover some of your cost or unexpected expenses that come up. Gain could be such that you could get your money back nearly in the first couple of seasons. Of course the cows and their offspring will produce income as long as you are in business.

Marshall smiled and asked, You going to make the offer?

Jason shrugged, If you would like.

Jason grinned, What percentage of the purchase do I receive?

Marshall McCardin grinned, Three percent.

Jason smiled, That’s more than fair.

Marshall McCardin nodded, But to show your commitment to this plan. How much are you willing to invest?

Jason smiled, I’ll go out on a limb. Since I have confidence in who I am dealing with, and if I have a place to graze them, I’ll throw in seventy-five hundred.

Marshall Mc Cardin nodded, My! Agreed. We run your cows with ours. Payment will be made for your marketed cattle each time when our herd is sorted and sold.

Jason chuckled; he realized the old man was tying him to the ranch for a considerable period of time as a partner in a not so small portion of the operation of the ranch, Agreed.

Wayne McCardin enjoyed the fact that his father took the initiative in the dealing but he didn’t exactly know what was going on, Dad. What did we agree to?

Marshall McCardin looked to the lawyer who all this time was sitting and watching and writing without responding, Tanner. Do you want to put our agreement into terms we can all understand?

Ray Tanner nodded, It was simple enough. Jason gets three percent of what he is able to purchase when those cattle are sent to market. Jason invests seventy-five hundred of his money to purchase a portion of the herd. Jason’s percentage is three percent plus whatever number the seventy-five hundred is able to purchase. It will only take a minute to write that up. Now, I’m sorry Jason, but, I have to do my part as a lawyer and advise the family.

Jason smiled and got up to leave, Marshall shook his head, Sit down Jason. You can hear this.

Ray Tanner looked to Wayne McCardin who shrugged noncommittally, Tanner continued, I’d advise the family to try to do the purchasing on their own and save themselves the confusion and loss of income and control with the involvement of Jason. Figuring this out mathematically won’t be a problem, but the ranch owes nothing to Jason legally.

Marshall looked to Jason whose smile remained, Marshall. I just want you to know. I’ll do the purchasing for nothing. Just as a friend. No financial commitment is needed.

Marshall smiled at Jason and asked, On the other hand… You’re entering into an agreement whereby you are investing all of your life’s savings, you stand to lose everything. Are you sure you want to do this?

Jason smiled and nodded, Yes. I’m sure. I know I could suffer a loss.

Marshall squinted and asked a question he thought he knew the answer, Why would you go out on a limb?

Jason looked squarely at Marshall, I fully trust you. I fully trust all of you.

Marshall shook his head and lost a bit of his smile, Tanner. Thank you. I know you are trying to save us money, but, write it up the way we discussed.

Wayne McCardin nodded his head, "I agree wholeheartedly. This decision wasn’t even in our thinking until Jason and Dad spoke up.

"Jason. Thank you. If you make a deal, Ray will transfer the money.

Mom and I are going for a sleigh ride before lunch. Marilee. Do you want to go along?

Marilee was amazed at the change in Jason, and she wasn’t willing to go for another ride after the previous day’s stagecoach ride, No thanks father. I froze all the way here. I want to thaw out a bit for a day or so.

Jason reached across the table and offered his hand to Wayne McCardin, Thank you sir. I appreciate your confidence and your generosity.

Wayne nodded, I hope we will all do well, this is your doing, and you deserve a fair share. I hope the investment works out well for all of us. I realize you have a lot more to lose than we.

Marilee inquired, Jason. When are you going to talk to the two owners?

Jason didn’t take long to consider, he thought the faster the better, Tomorrow, I’ll leave in the morning. I should be able to contact both owners within the day.

Marshall smiled, How about if Marilee tags along?

Jason shrugged, That would be very good. Give the family stamp of approval during our dealing. Marilee, you know the sellers personally. You can read their response, if it is perceived our offer is insulting, you can signal me, or you can help put salve on any wounds. I think your involvement is a very good idea.

Marshall McCardin nodded, he rose, tapped Marilee on the shoulder and reminded her, "Marilee. You remember. Jason does the dickering. If you are sympathetic, show your hand only to Jason.

I’m going to take a nap.

Tanner moved a paper in front of Jason, Sign this Jason. Good luck. If you arrive at a price, I can wire an acceptance agreement and money to the sellers wherever and whenever they choose. You can write me a draft on your account.

Tanner left, Marilee took Jason’s arm, "Jason. Let’s get a cup of coffee.

You’ve grown up since I last saw you.

Jason smiled, took the cup of coffee and sat it on the counter, he was about to sit at a stool in the kitchen when Marilee spoke, Let’s go in the dining room, I love the view from there.

Jason smiled, Some things never change. When I started working here six years ago, that’s where you always sat.

Marilee was surprised, You remember such things?

Jason took a seat opposite her favored place, "Yes. I do. I always appreciated the fact that your family treated me with respect. You and your grandfather in particular.

Do you recall the times you invited me in when you needed someone to beat at cards?

Marilee laughed, I thought you always won?

Jason shook his head, "No. I still have scars. I never play cards in the bunkhouse because of all the whippings I took in the dining room here.

You always sat in the same place you are sitting now. It’s the scenery, the mountains, that’s why you took that seat?

Marilee looked out the window and smiled, Yes. It is. Just look at the expanse with the mountains in the background. It’s beautiful and I never get tired of looking.

They talked for nearly an hour before Jason rose, "I’d like to talk to you all day, but, I have a job to do and I’ll have to get prepared for tomorrow.

Your grandpa talked you into going with me; you haven’t ridden a horse in some time. You’ll be eight hours in the saddle. Will you be all right?

Marilee wondered, Do you want me to back out?

Jason was quick to answer, Oh goodness no. With you along the trip won’t be work, it will be great fun even though you won’t be able to beat me at cards on the way. I just didn’t want you in pain, it’s quite a ride.

Marilee smiled at his consideration, he had not changed; I’ll do fine. Thanks for worrying about me.

Jason wanted to get there about noon, How early can you be ready to go?

Marilee shrugged, Comfortably? Eight.

Jason figured eight would get them into town a little past noon, Eight it is. I’ll have the horses ready.

Jason made provisions for the next day in case he was delayed afterward he continued his workday. That night he woke up at three-thirty in the morning, went to the cook shack and started the fires there first, picked up a small handful of jerky and headed to the servant’s quarters to stoke fires. A sign was hanging on Marilee’s door indicating she wanted her fire tended; he slipped into her room and completed the task, this time he glanced her way.

Marilee was sleeping peacefully, he marveled at the fact she could still be so beautiful in the middle of the night. He stepped out the door and headed to Marshall’s room. Being as silent as he could he built up the fire and closed the door on the little stove when he heard whispering behind him, Damn racket. I think I smell jerky.

Jason chuckled, The cook says it will taste a little better in a day or two.

Jason gave him the package, Do you want something to drink?

Marshall put his robe on and took his seat beside the fire, "No. I have a little water here.

You and Marilee leaving pretty quick?

Jason shook his head, No. Eight O’clock. I’ll eat my breakfast and take a little nap.

Marshall thought he would stoke a little fire of his own, What do you think of Marilee?

Jason chuckled, Listen Grandpa McCardin. I shouldn’t be talking about her, should I?

Marshall shrugged as he tore off a piece of jerky, Why not?

Jason answered, It isn’t the gentlemanly thing to do.

Amidst a chaw of jerky Marshall protested, I’m her grandpa. I can talk about her all I want.

Jason chuckled, I’ve always thought the world of your granddaughter. She’s good, patient, kind, sharp…, even when she’s sleeping she’s beautiful.

The old man chuckled, Just wondering. She’s found someone she’s fond of. He’s coming out in the spring. Met him at school I guess. He’s an engineer. City boy.

Jason asked, Have you met him yet?

Marshall quickly answered, No.

Jason looked at the old man, he wondered what he was getting at, You don’t sound too enthusiastic?

Marshall shrugged, Just an old man muttering to himself out loud.

Jason took a guess, You afraid he’ll take her back east with him?

Marshall spat his answer, Damn mind reader.

Jason chuckled, It will be mighty hard to move her away from that dining room table.

Marshall wondered, Dining room table?

Jason explained, She loves the view off to the west, the prairie, and the mountains in the background.

Marshall stopped chewing for a moment, That so?

Jason explained, When she eats, I’ll bet she sits in the chair so she can see out to the west?

Marshall thought for a moment, Remind me not to bet against you.

Jason rose, I have to get going. Anything you want while I’m at the fort?

Marshall thought for a moment, then lost some his constant flirtation with laughter, "Last time I was at the fort they had a clock with an alarm on it that sounded like a church bell. Damn thing cost thirty or forty dollars. Highway robbery.

Sure had a pretty sound to it.

Jason chuckled, What time would you set your alarm for?

Marshall didn’t hesitate, he spoke wistfully, Seven-thirty.

Jason sat back down, Why seven-thirty? You always get up at seven-thirty without an alarm.

Again, sentimentally Marshall answered, Just to hear it ring. Sort of start my day out right. Remind me of my wife. She loved the church bells ringing in Boston.

Jason rose without speaking and patted the old man on the back as if to share the moment of recollection with him. The old man stopped him, Jason, you toting some firepower with you to protect my granddaughter?

Jason nodded, I have a .44 I’ll have with me.

Do you know how to use it?

Sure. Every once in a while I take it with me to where I cut wood. I do a little practicing.

Marshall pulled the covers up and grinned, it was something new he learned, Good.

Jason completed his chores, ate breakfast and returned to bed for a couple more hours of sleep. At six thirty when the hands were moving about the bunkhouse he was still in his bed. Arden Blank saw him sleeping and roughly kicked his bed to awaken him. Jason rolled over and looked at his watch, What’s the problem?

Arden Blank was angry, Saw you go up to the house yesterday. What’s going on?

Jason rolled over to go back to sleep without answering. Blank kicked the bunk again whereupon Jason rolled over and looked at Blank, Until I learn different, you are not my boss. You want to know about me or my day, talk to the boss, but don’t kick my bed again or we’ll start the day off with a little knuckle dance.

Arden Blank wouldn’t let it go, Get your ass up with the rest of the crew.

By the time Blank finished Jason was