Free The Saga of Harlan Waugh (The Mountain Men) by Terry Grosz

hurrah was over, the two boys lowered their Hawkens. But never for a second did they take their eyes off the two other fur buyers who had backed up their companion and had hurriedly gathered with the man Harlan had just let go.
    “Harlan, you and I will look over what you have to offer, and we will settle on a price,” Fraeb said loudly, hoping to defuse the tension in the air. “After all, that hell-raisin’ ain’t no good for business.”
    With that, Fraeb started grading Harlan and the boys’ furs. He found himself looking at many very well-dressed, blanket-sized beaver plews. After the first two packs had produced only very large plews, Fraeb looked up at Harlan with a big grin.
    “You and them boys have done very well if this here sample is representative of what you brought to trade,” he said.
    Harlan, still mad over the comments by the first fur buyer, just nodded, but he never took his eyes off Fraeb and his fur grading.
    “Harlan,” said Fraeb, “as I said, you and your’n have really done exceptionally well. I will say this hoard of furs will bring ... about six thousand in trade!” Without giving Harlan time to think over his answer, Fraeb added, “That gives you three dollars for each buffalo hide, four dollars for the beaver, three for your otter, and thirty-three cents a pound for the deer skins. I can only give you twenty-five cents for each coon skin and twenty cents for each muskrat hide, though.” Fraeb stood back and intently looked at Harlan for an answer.
    “That be fair,” stated Harlan after a long moment figuring what they might need for the year and its potential cost. Even at Fraeb’s prices, they would have more than enough for all they needed and some left over. Little did Harlan realize at that time how great the need would be for that little bit left over.
    “That be fair,” repeated Harlan as he and Fraeb shook on the deal.
    The boys still kept their eyes on the two fur buyers who had taken offense at Harlan’s knife moves on their mouthy friend. They were still in heated conversation with the first offender, and all three were casting dark looks at the boys. Big Eagle had the feeling that they hadn’t seen the last of those men.
    Harlan and the boys led their horses to the purchasing zone of the rendezvous and began looking over the goods and wares. After getting funny looks from several of the merchants, Harlan walked the boys a short distance away and said, “As long as the two of you wear the markings of a Crow, we will continue to be looked upon with suspicion. However, the Crow to my way of thinking are a noble people, and if you want to show your heritage through the beadwork on your clothing, it is fine with me. Just be prepared for trouble from those who are offended by your race or what your race has done to them in the past.”
    The three of them turned and walked back to the trading as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. However, because their dad had backed the boys’ decision to display their heritage, they found their love for the man growing by leaps and bounds after that day.
    Before the trading was done, Harlan and the boys had purchased six 25-pound kegs of powder (the mighty Hawkens swallowed a lot of powder) and 150 pounds of lead pigs (the Hawkens ate a lot of lead as well). They purchased two dozen Green River skinning knives for trading with Indians, enough horse and mule shoes for their string for a year (two cents per pound), a keg of shoeing nails (five cents per pound), and 100 pounds of cornmeal in 25-pound sacks.
    That was soon followed by two 10-pound sacks of pepper, 150 pounds of salt, 50 pounds of brown-sugar cones, 100 pounds of dried apples, and another 50 pounds of raisins. After the boys had tasted the strange-looking items for the first time, Harlan saw to it that 20 pounds of hard rock candy was also purchased.
    Getting serious once again, Harlan purchased 100 pounds of flour, three Hudson Bay five-point winter coats