Part 3 of this series, for best understanding of this story you'll need to start at the beginning in Ch. 01. Thanks for all the positive comments and all the feedback on this story!
All editing was done by me, and I damn near flunked out of Language Arts in high school, so it won't be perfect. All participants in any sexual situations are at least 18. Also, no permission is given to copy, print, publish or use any part of this story series.
Previously in CH. 02
Monday rolled around pretty quickly, and I was anxious to get on down the trail. I had all my gear and supplies packed up on Ed and Buddy and had just given everyone a hug and a heavy-hearted farewell. I was off, on my way to the unknown, I was excited, to say the least!
I saddled up, pointed my horse West, gave a couple clicks with my mouth and some heel pressure to Buddy's flanks and I was off!
*****
I was saddled up on Buddy when I took off from home. As I lost sight of town it hit me that I may never see this place again. It was a somber moment but was soon replaced with thoughts of what may lie ahead.
I had been making good time and since I was in an area, I knew like the back of my hand, I let my thoughts wonder back to Mrs. Kroner....... "Damn Buddy, she was quite the woman, you shoulda seen her in that yellow dress. Hell, you shoulda seen her outta that yellow dress, she was a vision of perfection. I guess you don't think much about that kinda stuff anymore though.... Huh! I mean, well what I'm gettin at is.... you don't have your nuts anymore, so I guess you put all that behind you."
I swear Buddy got a sour look on his face and turned his ears away from me. "Damn Buddy, I'm just funin ya. You don't have to take it so damn personal."
As the day grew long, I continued my conversation with Buddy, pretty much leaving Ed out of the conversation. I figured he didn't have anything intelligent to add to it anyway.
By the end of the first day, I'd made it 25 miles and crossed the Gasconade River at a low water crossing, making camp just outside the little town of Freeburg. I was in no need of supplies, so I went on through town and camped a couple miles West of town.
That next mornin I figured to give Ed some time in the saddle. I saddled Ed before loading Buddy up with gear. After I was done loading Buddy I went and pulled a couple more inches of slack up on the cinch strap on Ed's saddle, he had a bad habit of blowing up his stomach when I first saddled him. If you didn't go back and re-tighten that cinch, you'd find yourself with a mighty loose saddle, and more than likely looking between his front legs instead of his ears.
We set off at a trot and the horses were feeling pretty good in the cool of the mornin, Ed was eager to move out on down the road. The weather was bearable in the mornings but come noon time it became pretty miserable with the Missouri heat and humidity. We made good time and didn't have to cross any rivers, I was hoping to make the 30 or so miles to Iberia by nightfall.
We were in the afternoon heat and ole Ed had a slight lather to him and wasn't quite as anxious as he was earlier. When all of a sudden, he bowed up his neck and broke out into an uncontrolled run. I planted my feat solid in the stirrups and pulled the left reign back to my leg, pulling Ed's head with it.
"Damnit Ed, what the hell was that all about! When are you going to quit acting like a dumbass?"
By pulling his head close to my leg I got him back under control. I looked back at Buddy, he was right behind us, I didn't have much doubt he would be. When I looked back, I noticed a tree branch that was barely hanging on, a breeze was blowing it around while still hanging from the tree.
I figured that was what spooked Ed, so I turned him and had him walk towards the swinging branch. Ed's ears were twitching, and he had his head up high, nostrils flaring, and staring at the branch, he tried to turn away from it, but I got him back facing the branch. I stopped him right in front of it and let him check it out, rubbing his neck and gently talking to him telling him it was nothing to be worried about.
After a bit he settled down, realizing it was nothing that would hurt him, and we turned and headed out back down the trail. We were mainly heading West but slightly South as well. We didn't quite make Iberia but were within a few miles and made camp for the night.
The next morning, I saddled Buddy up and got Ed loaded down, then we hit the trail, we made it to Iberia by 10 that morning. We went down the main street, hell it was the only street, nothing more than a dirt path, probably weren't more than a half dozen businesses on it! I wanted to stop in at the general store to pick up another canteen, I only had one with me and felt I needed at least one more. It can get dry in August, and I wanted to have plenty of water just in case I couldn't find clean water for a couple days. I knew the further West I got the dryer it would get.
I found the general store and hitched up the horses and went inside. I grabbed a few things besides the canteen and put it up on the counter to pay. As I was paying the clerk, an older gentleman, began making conversation with me. "You're not from around here, are you boy?"
"No, just passin through, headin West." I replied, being vague as to where I was going, figured I was safer not letting people know exactly where I was headed.
"Well good luck to ya and I hope you have safe travels," he replied as he handed me my items. I thanked him and walked outside to where I had my horses hitched. As I was putting away my items, I noticed three men riding up to a saloon. They looked rough, like they'd been out on the trail for a good while, they had that outlaw look about them and I figured they were trouble. Two of the horses looked somewhat familiar but I couldn't quite place them at the moment. I saddled up and headed out, back down the trail.
About three hours later it hit me, that the horses I recognized were the two that got away from the fracas at the Jaeger's place. Oh well I wasn't about to go back now; it gave me some comfort to know they weren't anywhere near my family.
The next town I was headed for was Hog Eye, otherwise known as Nevada. It was a pretty big town of around 1200 people or so, but it was a little over a hundred and twenty miles away. I hoped to make it in four or five days.
Five days later I made it to Hog Eye, I trotted down the main street about nine in the morning. I was determined to find a place for a bath and a shave, although I probably didn't really need the shave. I was about halfway through town and just across from the general store when I noticed a big, covered wagon nearby. It had a pair of red roan mules that were some of the finest looking mules I'd ever seen. Up on the wagon seat was a beautiful girl with light brown hair, she was keeping watch over the team of mules, she had a Henry rifle propped up by her and there was an older man, about mid forty's or so loading supplies in the back of the wagon.
She was sitting, but from what I could see she was a well put together girl of about sixteen to eighteen years old. She was wearing her "trail" clothes which consisted of pants and a cotton button up shirt and she had on a straw hat as well. Her clothes looked a little tight, I'm guessing she outgrew them a couple years back. I guess I unknowingly just stopped dead in the middle of the street staring at her, I was momentarily struck dumb by her beauty.
