Chapter 31 Thursday Treat
On Monday at lunch Serge announced that I would take the fast track to Topock starting Friday. "Mercer is adamant Josh so let's get the gear together and you go pick out the mules and get them up here in the corrals."
"What's the rush Sarge?" I asked.
"The Administration has decided to send an Ambassador to Davis. I don't know who but Mercer told me and she's the boss." Sarge frowned, "I'll ask her to tell you why. You just go pick your twenty mules and come see me in the Post when you get them set up."
"Twenty Mules and how many people on this trip?" I asked.
"Mercer'll tell you."
I left the Kiva, saddled Barb and rode out to the mule pasture. I met Gloria coming back with the morning shift as I pulled off the main road.
I waved her over and said, "Gloria, I need to move twenty mules up to the village."
Gloria looked at me and frowned, "Shit Josh we just got off."
"Come back and help me move them and I'll authorize the overtime."
"What's that mean?"
"Another dollar today if you help me," I said and the five girls all turned around and galloped back to the mule pasture. It took a while to round up and sort out the mules in the best condition but we picked twenty and they all appeared to be sound and groomed. The mules had been in the fields for months but moved in a line down the road following the sound of the bell mare and by mid afternoon were in the corrals.
I put Barb up and went to see Sarge.
Sarge was sorting panniers and looking at a list when I came in and made my way to the back of the Post. He asked, "Josh, The mules up?"
"Yeah Sarge the mules are ready. You want me to check the pack saddles?"
"Let's go talk to Mercer; she just got back from up town." Sarge and I went to Chief Mercer's office and knocked on the open door.
"Come in Sarge," the Chief said, looking up from the papers on her desk.
Sarge walked in and said, "Chief, Josh is ready with the mules and we can get the goods packed up tomorrow. You said you wanted to brief Josh?"
"Come in Josh," she said and pushed her chair back. Her hair was nice and loose now, her smile at me friendly, "Have a seat."
Sarge and I sat in the chairs in front of her desk and I had the old grizzly bear feeling in my bowels as I looked at her.
"I suppose you're wondering why I wanted you to go on this little expedition." She said grinning at me.
"Yes Ma'am. I suppose you have your reasons."
Mercer nodded, "Yes and I'll explain them to you. First this trip has to be fast and I wanted someone who really knows mules to go along. Second you were requested by the new ambassador to Davis by name. Since I see no reason to object, you are it, as they say."
I nodded to her, "And who is the ambassador, if I may ask?"
Mercer smiled and said, "Major Amelia De Soto. I guess you know her too, Mr. Ever-ready?"
I smiled and said, "I do, but why didn't she ask for Able?"
Mercer grinned at me, "Able is going to be the new Liaison Officer to the Administration. He has to stay here. Amelia knew that."
"Oh," I said. "So who all is going to make this trip? With 20 mules I'm going to need help."
The chief nodded, "Yes you will but I'm sending Sue to be Major De Soto's liaison in Davis along withβ¦" Mercer checked the papers on her desk, "Along with Captain Linda Marston, who is Major De Soto's aid and the head Sunshine Girl, Gloria Bitterwater. That makes five of you. Sue, Major De Soto and her aid will go on to Davis from Topock then you and Ms. Bitterwater will guide a trade team back here. The trade team should be waiting for you by the time you get to Topock. I want you to make sure that the water holes are still good on the way to Topock so that the trade team doesn't have problems on the way back. It's high summer now and I don't know if the water holes we used last spring will still be running."
I thought about it and realized that many of the streams we crossed would be dust by now. I asked, "Chief, can I study the maps?"
Mercer smiled, "Sure Josh, I want you and Sue in here in the morning to go over the maps. I expect that Sue will give you the maps once you get to Topock, but I will check you both out tomorrow afternoon."
"Okay Chief, I'm sure Sue will have already been checking them out."
Mercer nodded, "Yes she has. Sarge is all the tack ready?"
Sarge who had said nothing nodded, "Yes Ma'am. Everything is in good shape and I have the panniers stacked waiting loading. I'll have Mike and Steve help me load and weigh the goods tomorrow so we should be done by supper time tomorrow."
"Very well so we should be able to get the team on the trail by first light Friday?" Mercer said.
"Oh yes Ma'am. Friday morning before daybreak they will be on their way." Sarge confirmed.
"Good," Mercer nodded. "Sarge could you close the door on your way out? I want a word with Josh alone."
"Yes Ma'am," Sarge got up and left closing the door.
Mercer waited until Sarge had closed the door then she got up, came around to the front of her desk and sat on the edge of it looking at me. She was smiling at me just a little amused, maybe. "Josh, I wanted to thank you for the hair brush," she said.