Chapter 64

The work went well. The two brothers were so adept at carpentry I soon withdrew and went about tending the fields, allowing them to do the work. That put me beyond the reach of temptation from the fetching Jonah.

During afternoon meals, we fell into the habit of sitting and talking about events in town. It became clear the renegades had neither raided nor been spotted in the territory the last few days. Perhaps Dull Lance had taken my words to heart.

By the third morning when nothing remained to be done except a little roofing, the brothers arrived with a note from Lt. Simmons informing me the major was on his way back to the fort. James intended to reverse his route and return by train to the nearest railroad depot and then take a stage to Fort Ramson to report to the commandant. There, he would recover his horse for the remainder of the trip. He was expected back within a fortnight.