Free Packing Iron by Steve Hayes

took a moment to say goodbye to the ranch.
    Both were crying when they joined him.
    ‘You probably think we’re being overly sentimental,’ Ingrid said to Gabriel as he helped her onto the wagon box.
    ‘No, ma’am. Leavin’ a beloved behind always hurts.’
    ‘It’s not just my husband,’ Ingrid said wistfully. ‘There are lots of wonderful memories here. Christmases, birthday parties, anniversaries … what good times we had.’ She brushed a tear away before adding: ‘Grandpa Johan and my father and grandfather built this place from the ground up.It was our wedding present. They planned on being finished the week before Sven and I got married. But wouldn’t you know, it rained nonstop for two days, causing a flash flood, and most of the wood got washed away. Years later I remember Grandpa Johan laughing and saying how it took them hours to round it all up and bring it back here. Then they had to work like mad to get everything done by our wedding day so we’d have a place to spend our honeymoon.’
    ‘But they got it done,’ Gabriel said. ‘My book, that’s what matters.’
    Ingrid smiled at him. ‘You are so like Sven.’
    ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’
    ‘I meant it as one.’ She held his gaze for a moment then feeling herself blush, lowered her eyes.
    Raven, who’d been watching them, saw her mother blush and felt a wave of jealousy. ‘Bet you didn’t know,’ she said to Gabriel, ‘that I was born here.’
    ‘That right?’
    ‘Exactly four minutes after two on a Sunday afternoon, right, Momma?’
    ‘Yes, dear. Thank heavens it wasn’t two in the morning or your father would never have been able to get the midwife over in time to help deliver you. My goodness,’ she said, fondly brushing Raven’s hair back from her face, ‘you were such a beautiful baby.’
    ‘I was?’
    ‘Had the biggest, darkest, prettiest eyes anyone ever saw. And still do.’
    Raven, as if overwhelmed by the thought, suddenly put her arms around Ingrid. ‘I love you, Momma.’
    ‘Love you too, lamb.’ They hugged for another moment then Ingrid picked up the reins and snapped them, setting the team in motion.
    Gabriel pulled his old campaign hat over his eyes to keepout the sun then nudged the Morgan into a walk and the three of them set off for Las Cruces.
    The most direct route was an old Butterfield Stagecoach trail that had been abandoned once the railroad arrived. To get to it they had to cross five miles of open desert dotted with dry brush and chaparral. The terrain never varied. By mid morning the sun had climbed high into the naked sky and the heat was remorseless. Now and then they stopped to rest the horses and to take a sip of water. But for the most part they trudged along, eating dust, seldom saying a word.
    Finally, Gabriel found the winding, rutted stagecoach trail and signaled for Ingrid to park the wagon in a tiny patch of shade beside a rocky outcrop.
    ‘Now’d be a good time to stretch your legs,’ he advised, dismounting. ‘We got a long ride ahead of us and for the most part there ain’t much cover.’
    Welcoming the rest, Ingrid let Gabriel help her down from the wagon. When he turned to help Raven, she refused his hand and jumped off on her own. Amused, Gabriel joined Ingrid who had plopped down on a flat rock. Loosening the front of her shirt, she began fanning herself with her hand.
    ‘My God, it’s scorching.’
    Gabriel rolled and lit a smoke and then fanned her with his hat.
    ‘Oh, that’s wonderful.’ She closed her eyes, leaned back and enjoyed the cool air. ‘Days like this I wish I’d never left home.’
    ‘It doesn’t get hot in Norway, ma’am?’
    ‘Not like this, never. It can get quite warm in summer. But summer only lasts from the end of June to early August, and for the most part it’s very pleasant.’
    ‘I once read how the sun shines at midnight. ’Course I knew that couldn’t be true, but—’
    ‘Oh, but it is. North of the Arctic Circle the