It Was 2052, High Haven (15 page)

The old man had been told that Lindsey
would be away for a while. They gathered some supplies from her
cabin, left their wagon and stuffed their packs, the three walked
away toward the distant mountains. She only had to turn once and
tell the small herd of dogs to go back. Kevin stole a glance at the
woman that had in a short time become their friend, she might've had
a moment of doubt as she left her secure home---if so, she would
never own up to it. Before they left the city, they went to the post
office and he left a letter for his parents in the out slot.

Dad and Emily,

I miss you both and all the
family. Please tell Suzanne that I hope to see her soon. Things just
aren't what we hoped, here in the city. There doesn't seem to be any
military here and the rumors say they might be in Denver. I got your
letter about Cissy. Bubba and I agree that we don't want to travel
another hundred miles into unknown circumstances. We have met a new
friend that will join us and we've decided to travel up into the
mountains, hopefully meet up with Cissy and Taylor. So, we'll not be
here to receive more letters. I promise that we will all be home
before the hard winter comes. Don't worry. I love you both and Bubba
sends his love to his family. Kevin

He didn't tell his parents that the
new friend was a feisty bantom hen of a woman. He hoped that telling
them they had another companion would make them worry less. Their
destination ahead in the murky distance, Bubba in a heavenly state to
have the woman along, Kevin doing his job of doubting and worrying
about his decision to take this journey and Lindsey---well, she was
taking this new venture on like she did everything in her life, full
on and fast forward.

Not one of them realized that lurking
far behind, tracing their footsteps were two men, one with a decided
limp and both well armed. Kevin and Bubba, unlike Taylor had no
experience with the perilous city, weren't used to being suspicious
and observant. Even the slightly more worldly Lindsey paid no mind
to the men that sat within listening distance in Mo's bar. Close
enough to hear the conversation about lost treasure. Men who agreed,
the motive being greed and vengeance for their failed attack, to
follow the three travelers to this treasure
or
as one of them
said, “If we get tired of following the bitch and her asshole
friends, we'll just kill them out there in the wilderness.”

The sun was hot here in the flat land,
Lindsey leaned forward slightly, her hands on the straps of her pack
and her stride that was only half as long as her companions still
managed to keep their pace close to a trot. Late in the afternoon of
the second day, Kevin said, “You know, gal, this might be a
pretty long trek. I think we could slow down to a good walk.”

“
Really? How long do you think
it'll take us to get to your sister's mountain?”

“
I can't even see that light
yet. Probably another day to get to the base of that first mountain,
maybe another two to get around it. If I can spot the light then, we
can move up towards it,” said Kevin.

“
What makes you think that your
sister will be where that light is?” said Bubba.

“
It's all I know to do. She'll
bust her gut trying to find what that light is, I promise you. You
have no idea how stubborn the woman is. Whatever is up there, she and
Taylor should be there by now.”

Two days later, the two shadows were
camped far out of sight of the trio's campsite in the trees
surrounding the foot of the mountain. One of the men rubbed his
foot, “Hey, I'm 'bout tired of this shit. You said we'd just
kill them and quit. When we gonna do that?”

His companion let the large blade of a
hunting knife flash in the firelight, and narrowed his eyes at the
complainer, “You wanna quit, jest go on back. I'm gonna foller
them to that treasure and then I'll kill 'em.”

The man eyed the knife, “Never
mind, you som-bitch. I'll make it.” He knew his companion very
well, he'd never let him just walk away. Bum foot or not, he would
keep on going.

By the time the two watched their
marks enter the town of Secret from a hidden viewing place, the man's
foot was swollen like a melon and he was sweating profusely in the
cool mountain air. He had accepted it was going to be death for him,
one way or another---just as he figured was in store for the three
they stalked for nearly a week.

Kevin and his two companions had
approached Secret with the same astonishment at it's existence as his
sister and Taylor had felt. It also was just a very brief time
before the sheriff made a seemingly casual appearance to greet them.
Once the lawman was convinced that Kevin was the brother of the
female newcomer he directed them to the church beyond town.

Bump, sputter, growl
---a couple
of vehicles clattered by, caused Bubba and Lindsey to burst out
laughing.

“
Thanks for the directions, I'm
very anxious to see my sister,” said Kevin to the sheriff.
“Quite an interesting town you have here.”

Shifting his toothpick and hat,
“Same's I told your sister and friend, you're welcome as long
as you cause no trouble.”

The trio walked away in the direction
of the church. The mayor of Secret stepped out from a doorway and
joined the sheriff, “Seems to me that it's getting mighty
crowded around here, Henry.”

“
Aw-w, they all seem like nice
enough folks. I can't see any problem.” The boots of the two
men clomped along the wooden walkway.

The mayor poked his finger into the
shoulder next to him, “You just pay attention, keep your eyes
on them. We're up to five people now, that didn't even know we
existed a couple of weeks ago. I don't trust 'em.”

The overall clad man stopped still,
his expression wasn't friendly, “You don't trust ANY-body and
you
don't tell me how to do my job.”

The mayor tried to get back on his
friend's good side and make light of things, patting the shoulder he
had just jabbed, “Sure, sure---I'm just not used to strangers,
ya' know.” The lawman was known to be very affable but he could
be provoked to display his temper.

“
I'm not messin' with you,
mayor,” said Henry and he stomped on ahead, “Let's get
some lunch.”

The two hidden observers heard the
conversation between Kevin and the sheriff and part of the exchange
between the sheriff and mayor as they moved away. “Looks like
we better stay in the shadows. They notice visitors around here and
aren't that glad to see 'em. We'll ease around and see if we can
locate that church they were talking about.”

The sidekick was in a lot of pain now,
his foot swollen and throbbing. When he and his friends had attacked
the woman and two men back in the city, Kevin's bullet had grazed
across his foot, through his shoe. He never got it looked at and it
was most likely now infected. “Man, you're going to have to
find me some medicine. My foot is hurtin' like hell, probably
infected. How we gonna do that if we got to stay out of sight?”

“
S—t, you're a wussy. See
that clinic across the street---later tonight I'll bust in there and
get you some drugs.”

“
Well, I ain't walkin' anywhere
right now,” said the man in a moaning voice.

“
Fine. You just lay low here,
I'm following those three. I'll bring you some drugs later.”

“
And some food...”

“
Yeah, yeah. You stay out of
sight.” The man moved away to catch up with Kevin, Bubba and
Lindsey.

It would be late the next afternoon
when the mayor once again pushed his luck with the sheriff and ranted
on, “I told you, didn't I? Someone broke into the clinic
last night, made a mess of things, broke into drug cabinets.”
His voice got louder, “We don't have trouble like that around
here. At least we didn't, until those new folks came to town, they
don't belong here...”

Henry cut the tirade off, “I'll
handle it,” his voice wasn't loud. He caught a look from Cole
who was having his pie at the table near them. One thing that wasn't
a secret around town was that the young artist did not like the
mayor. When the mayor was gone, the sheriff picked up his warm mug
of tea and slid into the chair at Cole's table.

“
Damn, wish I had a cup of
coffee---course, don't imagine you remember good old strong coffee.”

“
Nope,” one last bite.
“You know the old horse's ass is full of it, don't you? We
both know what he's worried about.” He lightly thumped the gold
ring in his ear. “Taylor and Cissy are nice folks and I met
the brother and his friends yesterday. Same impression. I doubt any
of them broke into the clinic and why would they know any of the
precious secrets of the town
---”
he gave a disgusted
snort. “They just stumbled on us. Sounds like the brother got
worried and trailed after his sister.”

Leaning back and hooking a thumb in
his overall's strap, “Probably so. If none of the new folks
broke into the clinic then who do you think would've done that?”

“
I sure don't know. Folks get
weird sometimes,” said Cole.

“
Well, I cain't rule anyone out
for now---they are strangers, you know. If you get any clues, you'll
pass it along to me, right?”

Cole watched him go, he liked him
better than the mayor. He liked the newcomers better than either of
them.
Lot of folks around Secret are too friggin' clannish and
paranoid---but then, greed does that to people.

***

The day before, Cissy stood in the
parsonage kitchen, her hands dripping from the pan of soapy water. In
the doorway was the pastor and three visitors. The pastor looked
quite pleased with himself and it took her a moment to realize that
the bearded man beside him was Kevin. Taylor and Peaches came in
through the back door near the kitchen, the dog not bashful at all,
plowed past the small crowd in the doorway, put both large paws right
on her brother's chest.

Lindsey said, “Good lord! Is
that a dog?”

The reunion was joyful and there was
quite a bit of catching up to do and the introduction of the woman
that accompanied her brother and old friend. Before the pastor left
them to their visiting, he made it clear that the three new arrivals
were welcome. Lindsey could take the third small room and the two
men would have to sleep on cots in Taylor's room. Not only had the
man of god become very fond of the Taylor and Cissy, he appreciated
the help they offered. After all, a minister's job is comfort and
shelter and sharing his beliefs, he was very pleased to have these
folks under his roof. He moved in his gentle manner down the hall, a
whistling tune with a few words
Bringin' in the sheaves, bringin'
in the sheaves---
faded away with him. The click clack of the
dog's toenails followed. The hymn was interrupted and the pastor
said, “Come along, boy. Work to do, no rest for the weary.”
The whistling resumed. Peaches and the minister had become frequent
companions.

The five of them sat around the long
kitchen table and their stories were told. Everyone was up to the
moment concerning what had happened in the last few weeks. By the
next morning, Cissy was anxious to introduce them to Cole. The wind
with it's chilling bite howled across the mountain town today, it
rattled the windows of the comfortable cooking and dining space. She
knew that they couldn't all find shelter in the painter's small shed,
so she sent Taylor to see if Cole would join them here at the church.

When Taylor returned shortly with the
always polka-dotted man, Cissy was showing Lindsey one his paintings
that hung above the small fireplace. “Aren't they beautiful?”
said the woman that was obviously a big fan of rich colors.

“
Yes, I think he is very
talented and ...”

“
Here's the man,” said
Taylor as he tamed his wind torn hair.

Once again introductions were made.
Cole helped himself to a cookie from a plate on the table and peered
out the window above the sink, “One thing about the wind, it's
clearer today than I've seen it in a while. Guess it just blew some
of that haze away,” he plopped down in one of the kitchen
chairs.

Taylor put a couple of split logs on
the fire. The conversation stretched into the afternoon, with a break
for some lunch and the pastor happily joining them. These were people
who didn't all know each other well or at all, they were all
survivors and they were all hungry to know each other better, to know
about places they had never been.

Before the pastor left them again, he
said, “Oh yes, I saw the mayor in town this morning and he said
that someone broke into the clinic last night.”
Tsk, tsk,
tsk,
he clicked his tongue, “Now, who would do such a
thing?”

Cissy noticed that Cole seemed to
study the five faces.
Why?
---
surely he didn't think any of
them was responsible.

“
I was in town and heard about
the robbery. The mayor was running his mouth, in his usual know it
all way,” said Cole.

After the minister left, Cissy said,
“Um-m, you don't think that one of us would do this?”

There was a sigh, “Look, the
sheriff---he's a pretty good guy. He just tries to keep the town
safe. The mayor, he's a big blowhard. You are all strangers and we
don't get many here, there's going to be some suspicion and
distrust.”