Ninety Degrees Out

“Have you got your medicines locked up?” Jett asked without preamble.

“Why? What’s going on?” Mike picked up the pace as they walked toward the drab olive green tents.

“We have an intruder. Broke into Grant’s room and was wearing his clothes when he sat in on the town meeting. He was the guy asking questions at the end there.”

“Smart one, bold too,” Anya said. “We have everything medical locked up. Especially painkillers and other medical necessities like first aid supplies and surgical supplies, including anesthetics. We keep hoping we’ll get another doctor to show up and take on the more complex surgical issues.”

“Okay, at least that’s taken care of. Keep your eyes open. Do you two know Grant?” Jett asked.

“Sure, he’s been good about helping us move things around as we got organized. We have our diagnostic equipment all arranged because he was here. I thought that was him in there.” Anya pushed the access door open on the closest tent.

“I did too,” Mike said. “Then I heard his questions and realized that wasn’t Grant’s voice. We were discussing it when you caught up with us.”

“We’re checking on him now. Keep a side arm on you okay? At least until we figure out more about this intruder.”

“Done already.” Mike patted his holster. “Those who belong here don’t mind seeing me with a gun, and those who don’t will respect it. Hopefully, he doesn’t make trouble.”

“He went into the horse barn. Catch up to me at dinner time. I’m going to see if I can track him down now.” Jett backed out of the door as he spoke.

“Thanks for the update,” Anya called after him as he ran across the meadow.

A piercing whistle caught his attention and he altered his path, heading back toward the bunkhouse.

“Hey Jett, just checked the hallway. All the locks are in place on the doors. All the rooms are locked from the hall. I checked the windows all the way around. The only one broken is Grant’s.” Chuck explained as they met up.

“Come with me then. I want to see what’s going on in the stables. We can’t afford to lose any of our horses. It’s a blessing most of them are out with the group heading up to the homestead.” Jett said. He pulled his pistol out and double checked to see if it was load. Flipping the safety back on, he re-holstered it and approached the open double sliding doors on the dark red barn.

“Right behind you. Check the stalls first. There should be six horses inside and another half dozen in the corral.” Chuck said.

Jerry came out of the tack room door. “Nothing missing in there, but some of our bags of staples are gone from the bunkhouse kitchen. Flour, rice, dried beans. A bag of each. I climbed in through the broken window, Grant’s clothes are gone. Someone has helped themselves. But not to anything more than survival stuff. I’m not sure what to make of this.”

“Let’s check the corral. Did either of you see any tracks back there?” Jett asked.

“Just sneakers. Exactly like the ones most of us wear.” Jerry wore a disgusted look. “He’s smart. Bold too.”

“That’s what Anya said too,” Jett said.

They walked out the other end of the stables toward the shaded corral. All the horses were there.

“What’s with this guy?” Chuck asked.

“I have no idea. He doesn’t seem to mean us any harm. No hint of violence. More like what you said. He’s probably just trying to stay alive like the rest of us.” Jerry said.

“He’ll probably turn up for a meal later. Let’s see if we can corner him then. Take it easy on him if you catch up with him before that.” Jett said. “I’ll let Erik know what we figured out.”

The men nodded. “We’ll stick together. Maybe we can surprise him. Smart to wait until most of the guys are gone.”

“Yeah. I really want to know what’s up with him.” Jett headed back to the main lodge.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hakan ruffled Arimina’s hair. She stood beside him with Blue and Jazz on either side. The dogs were incredible. Ever since her misadventure a couple of nights ago they had stuck to her like glue. He had no idea how his brother made them understand, but they acted like a couple of herding dogs, keeping the little girl close to adults wherever they went.

“Are you going to ride with Terry or Eliza this morning?” he asked.

“I like being at the back with Terry. I can see everything better from there. Eliza’s wagon is in the middle.”

“All right then. You go on back.” He added, “Have you had breakfast?”

“Yes. Eliza makes the best pancakes.”

Hakan chuckled. Breakfast was a welcome surprise for the entire expedition. The enterprising cook found strawberries somewhere along the way and the sweet morsels found their way into the batter.

“Off you go then. Tell your mother to keep an eye out for more bears.”

“Okay, Uncle Hakan.” Arimina ran toward the wagon with the blue tarp tent along side. Terry had taken to sleeping in the wagon. No one in the party let their guard down when it came to Arimina anymore. She loved to explore around the camp site in the evenings, but she kept her promise. No going out of sight without an adult.

He took a moment to reflect on the last two days of travel. Two more side valleys and creeks to go with them. Both showing signs of active salmon runs. Smoked and/or salted fish were great ways to preserve the protein. He needed to ask Anya if she remembered the process for salting fish. Next question, where to find salt in the quantity they would need. He pulled his ever present note book out of his saddle bag.

Mac at Cataract Creek was happy to be a rest station for travelers between Homestead and Stargazer Ranch. Not quite as much of recluse as Randy and definitely not as crusty as the bushy bearded hermit, Mac with his handlebar moustache and red hair, was curious about everything. They rigged him a crude antenna with a roll of salvaged wire and set him up with one of the extra handheld radio.

They next creek wasn’t as easy. It would be a cairn and an Inuksuk. He sent on of his guides up the trail beside the creek to find out if anyone was living further into the wilderness. If memory served, there was a couple up there. Both of them ex military survivalists. Seems he remembered her being a top notch sniper. It wouldn’t surprise him if she had a bead on them from a lookout somewhere high on one of the ridges.

They were more than halfway to Homestead now. The map he had showed one more creek, and flatter terrain as they climbed to the plateau where his father and mother settled. As he set about helping to take down one of the large tents, he heard a rider clopping down the trail. He was riding double.

Who was with him? Another survivor no doubt. What would the story be here, and was he right about who was living up this particular creek? He consulted the map and found no name associated with this one. He’d have to ask if they gave it one.

Brent reined in, and his horse stopped beside Hakan. “I’ve got Deborah here. She’s married to Earl. And she’s pregnant. They’re about a two hour ride up the creek and she says it takes about four hours to hike it if you’re in good shape.”

Hakan reached up to give the woman a hand dismounting. The worried wrinkle on her forehead had him asking before he even thought.

“How can we help?”