Free Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard by Johnny Fowler Page B

before we see you again, you know what to do.”
    “Yes , sir,” Roy said.  “You can count on us giving you a fair day’s work.  Please go find our mom and bring her home safely.”
    Kate put her arm around the shoulders of both boys.  “We promise to do our best.  There’ s no way we can make promises.  Those two are killers and what they’ ll do before we find them is anybody’s guess.  But, I can promise we’ll do our best to bring her home safely .”
    A few tears dribbled down Roy’s cheeks.  “We unde rstand.  We saw what he did to M om earlier and how he hit Cliff .  He’s like a mad dog.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
    Two days later a police officer came to their home. He handed Man a wire.  Roy and Dan anxiously waited for him to open the envelope.
    Kate saw the police officer and came ou t in time to hear Man read it.
    “Suspects reported by a con stable in Lewiston,” Man said.
    “That’s on the road toward Boise,” the police officer said.
    Kate rushed back inside and began changing into her work skins.  She was buckling her twin Walker Colts on when Man came into the bedroom.  His buckskins were on the bed.  “I’ll have our two packs ready by the time you get ready.  Winter is overdue and I have our extra blankets, the buffalo robe and bear skin ready.
    “I asked Dan and Roy to get the mules ready and saddle our horses,” Man said.
    When they walked out, the two mules and horses were ready.  Man and Roy put a pack on one mule while Dan and Kate did the same on the other mule.
    “Take care of things while we’ re gone and make sure Cliff ’s horse is fed and watered,” Man said as he pointed Arabian south.  He reached for the lead rope of one mule and Kate took the other from Roy.
    “Bring M om home,” Roy said.
    Kate turned back in the saddle and gave a shor t wave.  “We’ll do our best.”
    Man pulled up at the telegraph office as they passed through Coeur d’Alene and sent a report to Chief Marshal Meek.
    They pushed hard and rode into Lewiston at noon the next da y.  Kate pointed toward a sign.  “T here’s the constable’s office.”
    An older man with a full white beard was seated with his feet propped up close to the pot-bellied stove.  A cold north wind blew in during the night.
    He stood when he saw the badges.  “You would be Marshals Man and Kate.  I go t a wire you were on the way.  Do you w ant a fresh cup of coffee?  I just made it.”
    “Yes,” Kate said.  “It’s cold out there.”
    They sat at a table and the old-timer brought cups and put them in front of Kate and Man.  Without being asked, he said, “I was out serving a warrant and spotted a covered wagon hidden off the road about a hundred yards.  I had seen the notice to be on the lookout for a wagon with two men and a woman.  They spotted me and one of the men shoved a woman in the back of the wagon.  Her hands were tied.  The other pulled his rifle and aimed at me and I turned tail and got the heck out of there.  I’m the only law within fifty miles and at my age, there was no way I could take on two armed men with rifles.  All I had was my ol’ .45.   I came back to town and sent a wire to Chief Kincaid and to Chief Marshal Meek.  I got a reply that you two were on the way.”
    Man and Kate had finished the coffee.  “Will you show us where they were camped?” Kate asked.
    “Of course,” the constable said.  “Since I was expecting you, I’m ready to ride.   By the way, m y name is Constable Shad Dasher.”
    “ Nice to meet you Shad,” Kate said.  “We’re tied up in front.”
    “I’ll get my horse and meet you,” Shad said.
    He led the way out of the small community.  “They’re gone by now, of course,” he said. “ I came out after I sent the wire to see.”
    “We expected that,” Man said.  “When they saw you they knew you would notify us.  Maybe we can pick up their trail.”
    “You had better get on it in a hurry.  If the ache in