sun?”
“That might be nice,” Duff said.
“I can sell you ever’thin’ you are goin’ to need, supplies and tools, and I’ll ship it out there for you, too—it’s goin’ to take two wagons at least—for . . . ”—Guthrie began figuring on a piece of paper—“a grand total of one hunnert and three dollars and fifty cents,” he said.
“It will take two wagons?”
“Yes, sir, I think so. We might be able to get it all on one wagon, but it would put quite a strain on the wagon and the team.”
“No, two wagons are fine. But I shall have some additional purchases to make and ’tis wondering I am if there might be a little room on one of the wagons.”
“If we use two wagons, there will be plenty of room,” Guthrie said. “You’ll be goin’ over to the mercantile, I take it, so just tell Fred, he’s the owner, Fred Matthews, just tell him to get in touch with me. I’ll see to it that your stuff gets on one of the wagons.”
“Thank you. When I make my additional purchases, I shall so inform the merchant,” Duff said.
Reaching into his pocket, Duff pulled out a wad of money, then began counting it out.
“How soon can you get the material out to my site?” he asked.
“I can have it all out there by noon tomorrow,” Guthrie replied.
“Good. Please do so.”
“Yes, sir,” Guthrie said as he picked up the money. “It has been a pleasure doing business with you.”
“I have fifty cents in change,” Duff said.
“Yes, sir, don’t you worry, I wasn’t goin’ to forget that.”
From the Guthrie Lumber and Building Supply, they went to the Chugwater Mercantile, a large store that had a sign out front boasting that they sold “GOODS FOR ALL MANKIND.”
“You’re the fella that played the music for Annie’s funeral, aren’t you?” Fred Matthews, the proprietor said.
“Aye.”
“That was some kind of pretty, real mournful, like it should be for a funeral. That instrument you used, a bagpipe?”
“Bagpipes, though often we just call it pipes.”
“Yes, sir, well, I’ve heard of them things, but this is the first time I ever actually heard one played. Has kind of a strange sound to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s real pretty, but it is kind of strange sounding.”
“I agree that the music the pipes make is quite unique.”
“Unique. Yes, sir, I reckon that’s what I’d call it, too. Unique.”
Here, Duff bought the things he would need to furnish the house. He bought a potbellied wood-burning iron stove that would serve both for warmth and as a cookstove. He bought an iron skillet, two pots, a coffeepot, a water bucket and a dipper, and two plates, two cups, and two sets of flatware. He also bought a washbasin, a small table, two chairs to go with the table, and a rocking chair and footstool. Finally, he bought a Winchester .44- 40 lever action repeating rifle, six boxes of .44-40 cartridges, a double-barreled Greener shotgun, and six boxes of twelve-gauge shotgun shells.
“Would you be for having any .47-caliber ammunition?” Duff asked.
Fred Matthews stroked his chin for a moment. “Mister, I not only don’t have any of that, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of .47 caliber. Don’t know as they make such a thing.”
Duff pulled a round from one of the bullet loops on his belt and showed it to Matthews. “This is a .47-caliber bullet,” he said.
“What sort of gun would use such a bullet?” Matthews asked.
Duff pulled his pistol and showed it to him. “This is an Enfield Mark 1,” he said. “I’m told that it is the weapon of choice for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
“Is it now? The Royal Canadian Mounted Police? Well, in that case, I expect I’ll be able to find some. I don’t have it now, but I will put some on order for you.”
“You have my gratitude, sir.”
“How do you plan to get everything out to your place?” Matthews asked.
“Tomorrow Mr. Guthrie will be taking all the building supplies I need out to my place. He has agreed to let me ship additional purchases on one of his wagons.”
“Fine, I’ll see R.W. and get it all set up with him.”
“I’ll be taking the rifle and the shotgun with me,” Duff said.
“Of course.”
While Duff was busy making his purchases at the mercantile, Falcon had been over at the general store, buying food they would need over the next several days. He came out of the store with two large cloth bags that he draped over his horse, just forward of Lightning’s saddle.
“Did you get everything all taken care of?” Falcon asked.
“Everything will be delivered tomorrow,” Duff said.
