Free Absolution River by Aaron Mach Page B

his guard and came to his feet. He noticed that his ankle was feeling much better and it was even holding his weight. He moved to the tree line and scanned the area. Jack sat quietly in a concealed area behind some bushes with a clear line of site to the cabin and to all of the avenues of approach. He heard some rustling and cussing coming from the north and he moved to see what it was. Something began to come busting out of the brush fifty feet from his position and he lay low until he could determine the source.
    “Son of a bitch! Damn stupid–cockamamie!” shouted Eli as he was dragging a large deer out of the brush. Jack relaxed and walked over and surprised Eli.
    “What the! Where’d you come from? Get over here and grab this, you lazy bastard,” Eli said, exasperated. Jack walked over and grabbed the deer, and they dragged it the next five hundred feet to a line outside of the cabin. They proceeded in cleaning and gutting the deer expertly.
    “You done this before?”
    “As a boy.”
    “Ah, so he speaks, and he was a boy at one time, well shoot!”
    Jack had the slightest of grins almost imperceptible under the beard.
    “We gotta get you some shoes so you can help me do some real work now you’re feelin’ better.” They finished with the deer and cooked the best cuts of venison and drank some more of the homemade whiskey. Eli came out of the cabin as Jack was sitting out front, relaxing in the shade of the hot Montana afternoon.
    “Here,” Eli said as he handed Jack a pair of moccasins he had made years back. “Made these too big, take ‘em.”
    Jack took the moccasins that were light tan in color with a tread that Eli had fire hardened. He placed them on his feet and they fit perfectly.
    “Ah, perfect,” Eli said. “Come on’ get off your lazy ass and help me clean this deer.”
    As they got up Jack’s ears perked and said quietly, “You expecting anyone?”
    Eli shook his head, “Had some folks come by yesterday, can’t say it was a friendly neighborly visit though.”
    Eli stepped down off of the porch and glanced around the row of trees that lined the dirt road leading to his house. He could see a faint outline of an SUV with a great deal of dust behind it. The vehicle was moving quickly and would be in front of the cabin in moments.
    “Not sure who-” Eli stopped as he turned and noticed Jack was gone. “What the-”
    The vehicle skidded to a stop in the open dirt area in front of the cabin. The door opened and there was a tremendous amount of dust that followed the visitor. Eli put his arm up to keep the dust out of his eyes. Through the dust came a beautiful woman.
    “Ma’am, you runnin’ from somethin’ or to somethin’?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry, neither. Just wanted to get here as soon as I could. Left early this morning to find you but got turned around, glad I found you today though.”
    “Got a name by chance?” said Eli.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, the name’s Marie,” as she extended her hand to shake his.
    Eli made a grunt, nodded, and returned the gesture, “Would you like a drink or something?”
    “Love one, thank you, ran out of water a while back. Didn’t think I’d be out this long.”
    “These mountain roads have a way of taking you into them, drawing you in and never letting go. As you can see,” as he was walking away from her and his arm outstretched to show all that he had.
    As they walked up the porch Marie asked, “You been here long?”
    Eli stopped at the door, “Wait here.”
    A few moments passed and Marie glanced at the surroundings. Eli emerged with a glass of tea of his own concoction, “Oh, not long, forty years maybe,” as he went to sit on one of the rocking chairs.
    “May I?” Marie asked pointing to the other chair.
    Eli gestured to her and she sat. They sat for a moment. “So…what can I help you with miss?” Eli asked with a big grin short of a few teeth.
    The smile surprised her and she said, “Well, I’m with the Department of