He unloaded the Colt and Winchester, then began cleaning each of the guns. As he worked, he avoided thinking about his recently developed theory of what had caused his parents’ deadly fight and its aftermath. He couldn’t slip into daydreaming about Sara, either. He needed to concentrate on the search for his father.
The guns and ammunition were the first step. When he was with the boys for supper, he’d ask Charlie to prepare enough food for a week and add some trail food for backup. He’d leave a pannier for him for the food and fill the other with his clothes and other personal necessities. He wasn’t planning to do any cooking, so he wouldn’t need to weigh Vulcan down with those heavy items. Vulcan would carry the Sharps, but he’d keep all the ammunition in his saddlebags. The black gelding would also carry two canteens, a long coil of rope, his bedroll, a spare blanket, and his small tent. Aside from a couple of large canteens, Mars would only be carrying himself, his Winchester, a rain slicker, and another pair of large canteens.
He had a compass and a pair of field glasses in the house but didn’t see the need for either. He’d be taking the westbound road to Fort Shaw before he headed south on the road to Helena. It was possible, but highly unlikely that his father had taken the northbound road out of Fort Shaw. He wasn’t even sure that the small town of Woman’s Breast even existed anymore. He suspected it was only on maps now because of its titillating name.
It was Helena where Jake expected to find his father. Although there was the possibility that he’d continued south until he reached the Union Pacific rails, Jake thought it was unlikely. His father was as smart as he was hard and confident. It was why Jake found it so difficult to understand why he’d run off. Jake was almost certain that his father had stayed in Helena, whether he was planning to return or not.
With his weapons cleaned and reloaded, Jake walked to the office and picked up the panniers before heading to his bedroom. Ten minutes later, he carried the stuffed pack to the kitchen along with the still-empty pannier. The one loaded with his spare clothing and other necessities wasn’t nearly as heavy as the bag he’d carried out of Bannister’s.
After setting them both down near the door, he stepped onto the back porch to see if the boys were returning yet. He could see some of them far to the north but didn’t know how many were there. So, he returned to the kitchen, grabbed the two panniers, and headed for the barn. After leaving the loaded pannier near Vulcan’s pack saddle, he carried the empty one out of the barn.
Bill Jackson waved as Jake passed the corral, so Jake returned his wave before entering the chow house.
Charlie was wearing his heavy apron and Jake could tell he’d been baking by its splotchy white coating.
Charlie grinned as he said, “I’m fixin’ you up for your long ride, boss. I’ve got some biscuits in the oven and some of that hard, crusty bread you like.”
Jake set the pannier on one of the bench tables as he replied, “Thanks, Charlie. I was going to ask you if you could give me about a week’s worth of food and some trail food for backup. That’s why I brought the pannier.”
“I probably made more’n that. You know; just in case you need it.”
“I hope I won’t have to have that much. I’d like to get this done as quickly as possible.”
“I reckon so. Miss Smith seems like a good woman for you.”
Then, after a short pause, Charlie said, “Jake, I know that Dave is tryin’ to get you to stick around, but most of the other boys understand why you gotta go. We’re all gonna miss you, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
Jake smiled as he said, “That’s true, I suppose. But I got the impression that everyone else thought just like Dave did and wanted me to stay.”
“A couple of the fellers do, but Dave asked us not to tell you ‘cause he didn’t want you to get hurt. But I figgered that you’re leavin’ tomorrow, so I don’t reckon Dave is gonna get mad at me for tellin’ you.”
“Thanks again, Charlie. I won’t let him know you divulged his secret. They should be here shortly, so if you see Dave, tell him I need to talk to him before I go. Alright?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
Jake turned to leave then stopped, did a sharp about face and asked, “Charlie, why are you and most of the others calling me ‘boss’? Just a few seconds ago, you called me Jake, which is what you everyone always called me. Why the change?”
“Dave said we should all show you the same respect we showed your pa now that you’re in charge. I thought it was kinda silly, but he’s the foreman.”
“Well, I agree with you, Charlie. I’m not even twenty-one years old yet. I’m almost five years younger than Mike Tucker and a lot younger than most of the others, including you. I think you’re twelve or thirteen years older. Am I right?”
Charlie smiled as he nodded, then replied, “Yup. But we’ll keep callin’ you boss unless you can convince Dave it’s alright to call you Jake again.”
“I’ll mention it when I see him.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
Jake grinned, smacked Charlie on the shoulder, then turned and walked out of the chow house.
Rather than head back to the house, Jake decided to visit his mother now rather than at sunset or sunrise tomorrow. As he walked to the northwest, he glanced to the north to see if the cowhands were returning, but
