Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of violence and/or their aftermath. Readers who are disturbed by or sensitive to this type of depiction may wish to read something other than this story.

Sexual Violence Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts scenes of sexual violence and/or their aftermath. Some readers may be disturbed by this type of depiction and anyone who is sensitive to this particular issue may wish to read something other than this story.

Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: There are blatant discussions, references and description of sexual relations between consenting adults. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. Some of the scenes depicted are explicit. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.

Language Warning: The language is representative of street language. Therefore is quite vulgar. You must be over the age of 18 and it must not be a crime to read material of this nature at your present location. If this bothers you, you should find other reading material.

Note: I am such an idiot I forgot to thank my friends who helped me to edit this story. I have cookie cut this part so much I forgot to put in important stuff, like thanking people who help you. So, I really want to thank Katia, Dawn and Amy, and Joseph, who are my beta readers. I'm able to write so quickly, because I don't have to edit my own writing. I couldn't do it without you guys. On this particular piece, a special thanks to Dawn and Amy did the really hard part they keep the vernacular straight, which is so important to this story. This should been on the first three parts as well. Sorry guys, forgive me my rudeness and stupidity.

willowluvyr@yahoo.com

Part 6

With a scarf over my mouth and nose to protect my face, I bowed my hed and trudged toward the barn. It warnt easy goin'. In this weather the distance warnt short. Finally I made it to the freezing barn. Normally, the body heat from the closely packed animals would keep the barn warm enough, but in this weather, the animals would freeze in hours. I went to my forge and lit her up. I pumped the bellows and got the heat agoin'. That made the barn toller'ble.

I took out four large iron pots. They were fer making soap and the like, but today thar goin' to hold wood fer far. I filled up 'em up with dry wood and hay. I lit 'em and soon had four good fars agoin'. Soon the barn war warm enough. I seed we'd need mo wood. I cut enough fer the house, but this war unplanned fer. So I hooked the wood sled to an ox and went into the woods.

It war too cold fer an axe, so I settled for deadfaw. I soon had the sled full and I noticed that the ox needed to git back. So I bowed my hed and tramped back in the direction of the barn. When I got back to the barn, I put the ox up and unloaded the sled to let the wood dry. I figgered Becca would be agittin' worried, so I plodded to the house.

When I got thar, I found Becca standin' wit a skillet in her hand and an unconscious Crow. He war wearin' my old buffalo coat and his head had large knot with a bit of blood on it. I looked at Becca and she shrugged saying, "I untied him to get the coat on and he tried to attack me. So I hit him with first thing I could get my hand on."

As I remove my coat and setch, I had to chuckle that the big bad injun had been conquered by this slip of a girl. Then my smile faded when I realized she'd conquered me too. She just dint use no skillet. It warnt smart to underrate Becca. Thar war steel in the woman. She war soft lookin', but hard inside.

Becca war movin' to treat his head while I war atyin' 'im up agin. Then I noticed that a piece of her dress was in his hand and it war burnt. Then I knowed wat happened. I broke out alaughin'. Becca looked up from her doctrin' and axed, "What are you laughing about? This is serious, I don't like hurting other people, even if they do attack me."

Then I knowed that it would hurt Becca when she found out she had hit somebody who war a heping 'er. I argued in my hed agin tellin' 'er, but I knowed I couldn't lie. I ain't had no practice at it. So I sheepishly replied, "Becca, he dint attack you. Youren dress war afar and he war puttin' out."

I showed her the burnt material. Her hand went to 'er mouth and she exclaimed, "Oh my goodness."

Then she worked as fast as she could while awipin' tears wit 'er sleeve. When she finished, she ran to the loft and war aballin'. Like I said, she war soft and hard and I loved 'er fer it.

I checked the young Crow and he war amovin' now. I explained wat happened and told 'im how sorry Becca war, but she thought he war attackin' her.

To his credit the Crow warrior said, "Ah, a strong woman is a blessing and a curse. She will make you a fine wife. I understand, I would want my woman to fight as hard for her virtue and her child."

I liked the cut of the boy; he had the makings of a fine man. So I suggested, "If you will promise to honor my camp as a guest, I will release you. "

The injun war a proud one and raised his chin as he said, "You have my word as a warrior. "

That war good enuff fer me. I released him and axed him to tend the far, while I talked to Becca and then went back to check the animals. He agreed. So went up the loft ladder to talk to Becca.

She war still aballin' when I came up. I wanted her to stop, so I said, "Becca, I talked to 'im and I told 'im youren sorry and he said ya done the rait thin'. He told me he hoped his wife war as strong and rait. He knowed ya war jest lookin' at protectin' yaself and the babe."

Becca looked up with her saddest face and axed, "He forgives me?"

"Yes, Love."

Becca wrapped her arms around me and said, "Well I better git supper ready."

She war rait and a fire in the stove would hep heat the house. I yelled down to Wild Hoss and axed, "Could you hand me the baby's crib please? "

The young brave toted it part way up the ladder and handed it to me. I put him in the crib and covered him with two robes and said, "Okay, Becca, you kin cook, but leave Matthew up here to stay warm. It's best you cook stew or soup. We'll need it fer warmth. I have to go back to the barn and see if the fars are still agoin'. I'll be back in an hour."

After plodding through the snow and cold, I found that the fars war still agoin'. It looked like the tubs of far would last about four hours each. I filled the tubs wit the driest wood I could find and gathered the makins fer a pair of snow shoes.

Then I trudged back to the cabin. Onct inside, I found dinner ready. I washed my hands and face and sat to eat. When we sayed grace, I sar Wild Hoss cross hisself, so I knowed he went to missionary school.

After dinner, I set down to study my book and practisize my writin'. Today I war practisizin' my name so's this spring I could sign Bridger's book instead of makin' my mark. It done me proud when Becca found no mistakes in my writin'.

Now that I had his word, I could trust Wild Hoss to hep wit the chores. We agreed to take two- hour watches on the fars in the barn. I took first watch. While thar, I worked on Becca and Matthew's Christmas gifts. I war carvin' a wood mold for Becca's new bracelets when Wild Hoss came fer second watch.

I put my things up afore I went to the cabin. I gave the boy my extree buffalo robe, my whittling knife and a piece of wood. He sar wat I war adoin', so I knowed he'd wont to try. I let 'im and went to the cabin to practisize my writin'. The boy knowed I war atrustin' 'im and I figgered iffin he war half the man his pa war, he'd stick by his word.

On my second watch, the weather broke, the snow stopped and the temperature stopped droppin'. I finished the first mold and went to meltin' three double eagles. The design of bracelet was of two intertwined snakes. When I poured the molten metal into the mold it caught far and I dumped it into the water barrel wit a pair of tongs. When it cooled, I broke open the mold and the bracelet looked jest like I thought it would.

Then I finished carving the bracelet that looked like the eagle's talon. It war the hardest and most detailed of the three. I melted ten silver dollars and poured the second bracelet. When it war cool, I broke it open and buffed and shined her.

The last bracelet war the easiest. It war a simple hoop. I used silver for it, too. I wished fer better tools and more no-how cause Becca DE-served the best, but they'd have to do her. When Wild Hoss came to relieve me, I war finished and ready as best I could fer Christmas.

I practisized my readin' and writin' the next day. I could write my name and read my preemer now. Becca war very pleased wit my PRO-gress. She rewarded me wit a kiss that affected me to my toes. We hadn't done nuttin' since the furst night and I war a little randy. It warnt in my nature to be pushy so I war satisfied wit the kiss, but wat I dint knowed war Becca had other idears.

That night after we put Matthew in his bed at the front of the loft whar it war warmest, we went to the back of the loft with our robes and blankets. Becca took off her sleepin' clothes and I knowed wat she wonted. So I shuck my clothes and astarted afeelin' my way around wit my hand. I ran my hand over her stomach and could the slight swellin' of the baby.

Becca looked DE-sturb by my touchin' her thar and not knowin' about babies and setch I axed her, "Did I hurt ya?"

Becca smiled wit tears in her eyes and said, "No, you didn't hurt me. I was just thinking how fat and ugly I must look right now."

Well, I had to smile at that, thar war no woman mo beautiful than my Becca and now mo than ever. So I said, "Becca, y'all the most perfect lookin' woman I ever knowed and ya make me proud to call ya my wife. I love ya. Youren my only reason fer livin'. Afore, I lived fer the feud, but now I live to make ya and the younguns happy and safe. That thar swellin' ain't ugly. That thar swellin' is one mo thin' fer me to live fer."

Becca pulled me to her and kissed me to like I never been kissed afore and held onto it like the mane of wild mustang. I cupped her breast gently in my hand. She took a deep breath at the contact. Her breasts war swoll a bit from milk. I feel a bit of it as I tenderly squeezed a nipple.

I held the kissed and worked her breasts fer several minutes, still very unsure of wat to do. So, I started running my hand down the length of her body and parted her legs wit my hand. I felt her moisture and started strokin' her mound. She arched her back welcomin' me, but all her moans and sighs war eat up by tongue probing her mouth.

Slowly I moved my fingers inside her and her moan filled my mouth. She must've been athinkin' about this all day cause it warnt no time atoll til she juices were spirting in on my hand. Several times Becca thrust her hips forward and then she relaxed and closed her eyes. I released my kiss and my hold on her. She opened her eyes, looked at me and smiled. I could feel the thank you.

My woman pushed me on my back and said, "I've never done this, but I read about once in a book my sister had gotten while she was in Europe. You just close your eyes and relax. I think you'll like this."

Suddenly I felt sumtin warm and moist pullin' on the nipple of my breast and it felt good. I knowed it war Becca a sucklin' on my breast. I opened my eyes and watch as my Becca snaked her tongue from one to thather while living a soft trail betwixt the two.

I watched as she began to suckle my other breasts. The warmth and the moisture of her mouth war causing the heated flow to start betwixt my legs. I started to reach fer my mound, but Becca took my hand and put it on my unattended breast. I closed my eyes to feel wit my everythin'. I felt soft, moist lips flit about my body.

I resisted openin' my eyes as I felt small hands part my legs and massage my thighs. I never knowed the feelins I war havin' rait now. I felt her tongue lick my belly button and circle around my stomach. I felt her lips lightly kiss a path toward the center of my passion. Finally, I felt her take my moist flesh betwixt her teeth and lightly bit the sensitive flesh.

This time I arched my back to force mo contact. She obliged me by putting her tongue inside me and swirling it around in me. I could my hooded flesh hardened until it was exposed to the cold air. That temporarily cooled my augur until she the now exposed flesh into her mouth and suckled it. It war too much and I lights exploded in my head and felt a rush of liquid burst out of me.

I don't remember fallin' asleep, but I musta, cause I woke up with my Becca in my arms as we held each other under the robes and blankets.

Christmas morning I fetched my gifts from the barn. The big mirror made her happy, but the bracelets made her cry. At first I war confused, cause she war acryin', but she said she war cryin' cause she war happy. I put the bookshelf war she could reach and git a book from her cushioned rocker.

I had three new rawhide shirts and pants. They war special cause of the beadwork on 'em. All three of 'em had a blue eye DE-sign over my left pocket and a hoss on the back. I dint like fancy duds much, but these had majik and I could feel it. Even the young Crow could feel it, he said, "No arrow or bullet will mark those clothes. I can feel the power in those clothes. I will tell all the Crows that none can hurt Warrior Eyes anymore, because of the magic of the Magic Weaver. "

Becca handed the young crow his gift. She had DE-cided that in keepin' with the season, the injun needed a gift. So I fetched some of my trade goods from the storage shed. We gived 'em, a small pack of needles, some balls of thread, a bolt of cloth and a new hatchet. He looked at us like we war idgits, but nodded his thanks. He knowed with these presents he could impress some young squaw with how Warrior Eyes and Magic Weaver gifted these to him personal.

The boy war walkin' a little now and he loved apullin' that thar wagin wit a string. He called Becca Mama and me Mahra. It war fittin' though Becca thought maybe the boy should called me Mom or sumtin, but I say why confused the boy. Hell, I've been called worst.

Becca dint wont to hear it and I really dint wont to go, but it war time fer me to go atrappin' agin. Plussed I needed to git Wild Hoss back to his pa and see iffin the treaty war aholdin'. So I told Becca I would be agoin' at first light. She had no truck wit me agoin'. She sar no point in it. Now, I knowed we dint need nuttin', but it warnt rait that a body should not be adoin' his work.

That night fer the first time since we met we went to bed mad. Becca slept in the loft wit Matthew and slept in the barn wit the hosses. By first light I war a wondering iffin Becca warnt rait, but I had enough cussedness in me to wont to prove her wrong.

So's not to waste a trip, I packed most of my trade goods to trade with the Crows. I ain't never traded wit the Crows afore, but I figgered like most Injuns they wanted metal goods and they'd have plenty pelts and the like.

That's when Becca and me had tuther argument. She wonted to go wit us. I dint like it. She war wit child and startin' to show, but she insisted she dint wont to be alone in her condition. Not knowin' anythin about pregnant women, I figgered it would be safer fer her to come wit me. I found out later, she'd tricked me good.

I packed the wagin with extry goods and buffalo hides and blankets to keep Becca and Matthew warm. Becca insisted on drivin' her wagin, so I jest let her be. I let Wild Hoss use on of my string until we got his hoss from a valley arroyo that he left her in. I hoped it had come out whole.

When we got to the arroyo, we found that his hoss'd faired well. The arroyo war much lower than the cabin and had a natural roof that protected it from the most severe weather. I war impressed by his selection, the boy showed promise.

It took twelve days fer us to reach the Crow's winter camp. We camped in the luxury of Becca's wagin full of robes and blankets, while Wild Hoss slept under it wit two robes and his blanket. The young Crow thought a lot of Becca and done wat he could to make her comfortable.

I'd be jealous iffin the boy hadn't been so skeered of me. I war like one of his ancestral heroes; I war to reverenced and feared all at one time. In his mind, he war no longer worthy of being my enemy.

I needed to make an impression on the Crows, so I put on one of Becca's new outfits. I sar the effect it had on Wild Hoss and figgered it to have the same effect on the other Crows. I put on all my pistols and carried my Colt revolving shotgun and then we rode into the camp with Wild Hoss in front.

I rode into the camp with shotgun cradled in my arms. Becca'd her double barrel settin' on her lap as she drove the wagon. Wild Hoss jumped from his hoss and walked proudlike up to his pa and said, "Father, I was at the mercy of Notaxe Ma'exanestse and he did not kill me. He brought me to his home fed me and gave me gifts. I have seen him work and make God things. I now know what you tried to tell me. This one is the Chosen of the Great One."

"My son it pleases me that you have found wisdom, " replied the proud father as he walked toward me awatchin' my shotgun, "Why have you, Notaxe Ma'exanestse, come to dressed in magic clothes armed for war?"

"I came here to trade and ask if our treaty is still good. Your son came to take my scalp. So I came to ask do we have peace or do we have war, " my tone made it clear I war ready fer either?

The old Injun looked to my woman and said, "Will you not come and rest for I can see that you are with child? "

I dint know that Becca had learned a few words and phrases from Wild Hoss til she said, "Thank you, I hunger and water need. "

Wild Hoss speaked up and said, "We must honor this one father, because she has power. She made the magic clothes. I saw her in a vision and she was called Magic Weaver. "

This seemed to impress the elder chief, who yelled, "Prepare a feast because tonight we honor our guest and tomorrow we will trade with our new friends. "

It war a fine feast. I had to talk to Becca tonight, so I kept a clear head and stayed away from the corn liquor. I needed to tell her that as my woman, she'd haveta handle the trading. It wouldn't do fer a married warrior to be atradin'. I'd be gamin' wit the other warriors, while Becca done the tradin'. I shore hoped she could handle it cause my woman needed to be a tough bargainer.

That night I talked to her, "Becca, tomorrow it will be expected that ya will do all the tradin' wit thather women. I'll be tradin' wit the hunters and warriors, but y'all haveta handle the women. Remember anythin' metal is worth as much as ya kin git. Don't be amakin' trades to be amakin' trades. The women'll wont the needles, the thread, the cloth, the pots and pans and the beads."

Becca war laughin' at me and said, "Mar, I believe I know what women what more than you do. They will want those things, but they want knives for cutting meat and vegetables and hatches for cutting wood and bone as well. Don't forget buttons. I imagine a button would really useful.

Mar looked me and said, "Well, I see the knife and hatchet. But Becca they wont know wat to do with a button. They use ties."

Becca jest smiled and said, "Then I'll show 'em."

I left Becca wit the women to go to play wit thather men. I hoped she would fair well. Becca speaked very little Crow, but she war confident so l left her to do her job. The first thin' Becca done war set up some sewin' and finished a dress wit buttons. Thather women watch and war fascinated as she showed 'em how the buttons worked.

She traded the dress for three new injun blankets and two fox pelts. Then she traded every button and needled she had. The cloth and thread went next. Then she traded all the knives and hatchets I'd left wit her. Finally, she brought out the pots and pans.

She war arguing wit a young squaw over a large frying pan. The squaw pulled a knife, but Becca dint flinch. She jest sat and looked hard at the young woman. I eased my gun from my belt, but it warnt necessary cause Becca jest reached out and took the knife from the woman. I walked up and Becca smiled at me and axed, "Mar, is this gold?"

I looked at the thumbnail size nugget and nodded, it war the real thin'. Becca then held out the pan and took a pouch and the knife from the young woman. Becca looked at me and said, "You can go. I'm fine. She was just trying to show me how tough she was. I live with the toughest person in the World and it suddenly dawned on her that she was in over her head."

I walked away smilin'. She'd twict the furs and blankets I expected. This here war gointa be a good trip. Iffin she hadn't clean out the camp, I might be able to make enuff in trade to stop trappin' fer the winter. I stopped in my tracks and looked back at my woman and remembered our argument. I had to wonder iffin she had set this all up so she could have her way. The thought jest made me smile.

While Becca war atradin', I went to play some games wit the men. The first game war provin' who war the best wit a bow. I brung my bow and quiver jest fer this game. We set up a skinny pole about two hundred yards away. I got the honor of agoin' last cause I war the guest.

Plenty of the 'em nicked the stick, but only one of 'em hit it. They all looked to asmilin'. They figgered that he would win the first bet. I took careful aim and held my breath. I eased my release and the arrow flew true and split thather arrow. They all war pattin' me on the back and payin' thar bets.

The second game war hatchet toss. It warnt even close. Then we played spear throw. I lost thatin to the biggest Injun I ever sar. He outdistanced me by twenty feet. Next, we rassled. The big Injun he could take me. He war strong, but he DE-pended on his strength. I DE-pended on my skills. I danced around him til I found an openin' and then I knocked him down.

We ended the day playin' Injun favorite game. Thar war a ball made out of fur and sticks. Ya hit the ball wit the stick til you hit one of the post at thather side of the field. Whichever side hit the post the most won and ya done it from hoss back. It war a rough game. After several bruises, my side won out six to four. I scored three times.

All the Crow warriors war atalkin' and apattin' me on the back asayin' they never seed no one better at everythin'. The tradin' went easy. They figgered it war better to be my friend than to be my enemy. It looked like Becca would git her way and I'd be astayin' home through the winter. I really warnt all that sorry.

We stayed wit the Crow fer two weeks, but I knowed we need to git back. As it war, it would be nigh onto February and the worst part of winter afore we got back to the cabin. So I loaded up out truck to git ready to leave. I had to refuse several offers of hep. I jest wonted to be alone wit Becca and dint wont no company.

We war four day from the Crow camp when the storm hit. There war no way we war gonna travel fur in this here weather sos I DE-cides to make a run fer the tree line. When, we got thar, I had Becca wrap up wit Matthew in the wagin, while I made us a shelter.

I found a clump of sapplins and I cleared a space betwixt 'em. Then I laid down my three oldest buffalo robes and cut a hole in the center one. I pick six small strong sapplins and bowed them down lashed 'em together sos to make the frame of a round hut.

Then I used furs and buffalo hides to make walls on the hut until thar war only a small opening at the top fer the smoke to go through. Next I used a stiff fur fer a hood over the hole, which I propped open with by tying it to an overhanging tree limb. I made shore thar war two layers of furs. Hell, we'd plenty of furs.

I looked around and found the driest wood I could find and put at the back of the shelter. Then I dug a hole in the ground war I made the hole in buffalo robe. I put rocks around the hole and fetched our horde of dry wood from the wagin. I quickly made a small far and fetched Becca and the Mattew from the wagin. Becca toted blankets and a couple buffalo hides from the wagin. I brung the campin' truck and food and water.

While Becca cooked dinner. I found a good stand of trees and move the animals thar. The trees would keep the wind off and the overhanging branches would supply a roof. I took two grain bags from the wagin and poured them in the space fer the animals. Then I moved the wagin to provide a second wall fer the animals. I unhitched the team and unloaded the mules into the space I made fer them. While they et the grain. I used the bundles of furs for a third wall for the animal shelter. Then I put several buckets of water out so the animal could get a drink. I made a rough gate and tied her to the wagin and a convenient tree.

With the animals protected the best I could, I went inside to git warm and eat. I war plum wore out. Becca had made a nice thick stew. She war a smart girl, she knowed it would warm my innards and fill my gullet. I built the far a little higher to built some warmth a bit. I had one mo thin to do afore I could rest.

After I et my fill, I went and got two water barrels. I used to wet our shelter down. A thin coat of ice'd keep the snow from apilin' on our temporary home. I left the empty barrel open to ketch snow and ice that we could melt later fer drinkin' water iffin we neededta. The second water barrel I brung inside. We'd need to keep on barrel from afreezin'. I dint wont to waste our energy meltin' ice and snow fer drinkin' water. We war gonna need all our strength to survive.

We needed to keep watch over the far so Becca took first watch and agreed to wake me in four hours. I should've knowed not to trust her. She looked concerned fer me. I war wore to a frazzle.

Becca'd stayed awake as long as she could. After about seven hours, she woke me. I wonted to fuss at her, but knowed she done it fer me. So, I let it ride and her go to sleep. I looked at our wood pile and knowed we'd need mo, so I got my heavy clothes back on and went alookin'.

I dint tote my rifle wit me cause I needed free arms to tote wood back. So I took two of pistols and put them in my pockets. I started picking up deadfall that war dry as I could find. I found a large dead log and used it as a wood boat to tote mo wood.

Then, the forest went quiet. Sumtin war wrong. I turned when I heard the growl. Thar war a large grizzly. Fer a grizzly to be out in this weather meant he war hungry and looking fer food. I pulled my pistols and emptied 'em into the closin' animal.

He war hit hard, but he kept a comin'. I pulled my knife and circled the charging animal. When I got behind it, I jumped its back. I wrapped my left arm around the bar's head and plunged my knife into it over and over. I start losing my grip so I shoved my arm into the grizzly's mouth. The bar clamped down on it, but the double lined coat protected most of arm from the bar's sharp teeth.

Finally, blood lose weakened the animal enough fer me to git my arm free and plunge my knife into the grizzly's left eye. The strong animal went down wit a thud. I skinned the animal and pulled its teeth and claws. I also cut out the best meat and headed back to our shelter.

It took some work, but I pulled the wood boat back to our shelter. I took time to stretch the bear hide and hang the meat, except for a big roast which I brung inside. I figgered Becca could use some fresh meat.

I brung the roast inside and pulled off my warm clothes. I examined the sleeve and found out it hadn't been ripped. Becca'd done a good job makin' this coat. My arm'd been ableedin' war the bar had bit through. I war heatin' some water when Becca woke up. She sar my arm and grabbed it. She pulled out a bag and pulled out some clean rags. She started awarshing the wound and fussing, "What did you do? How did this happen? Well they won't need stitching this time. Honestly, I can't go to sleep without you going out getting hurt."

I could see the tears, so I tried explain and reassure her, "I dint mean to skeer ya Becca. A hungry bar just came at me while I war ahuntin' far wood. It ain't that bad, the coat really saved me from gettin' bad hurt. Hell, I'd gotten worse injuries makin' love to you."

That made Becca smile and I knowed that the fact the coat had saved me from bad hurt, pleased her a no end.

After Becca had patched my arm, she went about cookin' the bar roast. She saved the grease in a pan. We would need the fat for makin' a thick soup later on. It looked like we war in fer a long stay. We war warm and safe. We had plenty of water and food, but I knowed Becca war worried about the youngun ketchin' new-moany. So, I built the far a little hotter by putting some bar bones in it. Bone burned hotter than wood.

It took three days fer the weather to break. I'd gone and tended the animal as best I could. We lost one of the mules, but that war all. We'd been lucky. When I told Becca this, she said, "Luck is given most to those who depend on it least."

I'm still athinkin' on wat she said, but Becca war real smart so I figgered it was rait and impotent. So I started breaking down the camp. It took the better part of the day to break everythin down. So it war too late to start out that day.

I made a warm spot in the wagin fer Becca and Matthew fer one night and we et the last of the bar meat fer dinner. No use to truckin' it around.

I woke Becca afore first light and she made a quick breakfast of bar meat and hardtack fried in bear grease. Fer those tenderfoots who don't wat hardtack be, it's biscuit that are cooked hard sos they don't go stale and get weevilly. Frying them in grease kills any animals in the hardtack and softens them.

We pulled out from out temporary camp, leaving the way we found it. The sapplins would straighten mostly. With the far hole filled up, grass would regrow over it. By the end of spring thar would be no sign we ever lived thar. Nature always made me marvel.

It took us ten mo days of hard travel to git home. We got home jest after dark. So I left Becca wit our truck and I went to scout around. I cut a trace and followed it around. Somebody war visitin' and they war a good Injun.

I circled around the cabin and seed that somebody had made themselves to home. Thar two of 'em and from the tracks I could tell thar war a man and a woman. I made my way to my emergency tunnel and came up under 'em. I opened the trap door and war greeted with a pistol cock.

Continued in Part 7...