After putting several miles behind him he stopped for the night to tend to the boy’s wounds. Placing rocks in a circle he gathered some branches to get a fire going, once the fire was going strong, he boiled water and warmed up a knife. Removing the boy’s shirt Red Wolf laid him on his stomach, before very carefully he removed the arrow head. Once the arrow was out he placed the hot knife on the spot to cauterize the wound. Red was stunned to think that this small boy never woke or screamed from the pain, as he placed a bandaged on the wound so that no dirt would get into it. Very carefully he rolled the boy over onto his back so he could check the gash above his right eye in the shape of a crescent moon. Red put a few stitches in it but no matter what there would always be a scar. Pulling the blanket up over the boy to keep him warm, he made himself something to eat before getting ready for bed.

Checking the boy one more time before going to sleep, he found that the boy was running a fever so he walked down to the river to get some cold water. During the night the fever had increased and he bathed the boy face to keep him cool. That night Red barely got one hour of sleep, yet it was a sacrifice he was willing to give.

Looking at the boy, Red softly spoke calming words and read from the journal, discovering who Garrett’s father was, how he met Blue Dove and the date and place where he was born. Reading the journal made Red realize just how much Wolfgang loved his wife and what he sacrificed for her, yet the day of Garrett’s birth on August 3, 1860 Wolfgang’s life seemed complete. His son was named for his father and for his mother beloved grandfather Firewalker.

“… Garrett Firewalker Starc…. It fits you.” Red smiled looking over at the boy. “You will never know what happen to your parents or how they died. But when the time is right and if you want to know, I will tell about them. That your father was Wolfgang Starc, an Irish immigrant and your mother was Blue Dove, a Blackfoot Indian with a strong will and that they loved you. I promised her that I will raise you as my son, Garrett Starc… my Little Wolf.”

            By the next morning dawn Garrett’s fever had gone down, yet he was still quite warm to touch luckily Red Wolf knew the worst part was over and that his new son would live. Leaving Garrett to sleep Red quickly ate his breakfast of biscuit and coffee, before saddling his horse and getting the pack mule ready for the final leg of the journey to his home. Heading back to the campsite, Red poured the rest of his coffee on the embers and wrapped his son in the blanket he laid on. Gently picking up the boy, Red carried him to the small bush where his horse and mule were waiting. It was quite awkward trying to mount his horse while holding the boy but eventually he managed to climb onto his horse without dropping Garrett. Looking out into the valley before him, Red figured it would be a good day before he got to his cabin. He mumbled to his horse that they were not stopping till they got back to the cabin.

His calculations were right, for it took him nearly a day to get down to the valley where his cabin rested. And it would be another half hour to get down the hill to his cabin, the journey back from town took longer than expected and yet Red couldn’t help but feel that someone had put him on this journey.

Traveling through the forest the thought of the cabin mere yards away was a welcoming thought for Red. For his horse, mule and he were all exhausted.

Coming through the trees he paused for a moment on top of the hill to scan the area to see if everything was untouched. The last time when he came back from a trip into town a group of natives ambushed him and stole some of his supplies which infuriated Red for a time; however now with a son he couldn’t take any chances. The local tribe who lived near him always liked to raid the place when he was gone into town, now he began setting booby traps whenever he went on a long haul. Even when he goes to check his trap line for you can never ‘trust those sneaky bastards’ he came to think at least towards some of his Indian neighbors, whereas others became good friends almost like family.

Not wanting to stay in the open any longer Red got a little more speed out of his tired horse and mule, heading for the front of his cabin. No sooner his horse stopped he climbed down and left his animals standing in front of the door. Before opening the door to his home he stopped check the traps by the door, to see if any were set off. With a sigh of relief he noticed that none of the traps were set off – this time. Opening the door he carried the fragile boy to his bed where he gently laid Garrett down. Readjusting the blanket Red softly caressed the boy’s hair and still warm forehead; to his surprise for he hoped the fever ran its course by now.

However Red wasn’t giving up.

Turning quickly around he went to the hearth to get a fire going to warm up the cabin. Once the fire was going strong, Red went back out to bring the supplies in, placing them on the table to be put away at a later time. As he went back and forth Red noticed that the wood pile in the cabin was low so he went back out to get a couple arm loads of wood, for it was going to be a long and difficult night. Rechecking the boy once more he saw that he was still sleeping so he pulled the blanket up some more and tucked it in around him to keep the warmth in and hopefully break the fever for good.

Once more he headed outside to attend to his animals that were waiting patiently for him to come and get them into a nice warm barn. The days now were starting to cool off and the evenings were getting colder for it was getting close to the first snowstorm of the year.

Leading his horse and mule he went to the barn, and opened small the door so the animals could get in. Taking his horse to his stall he took the saddle and blanket off placing both on the side of the stall. While he was rubbing his horse down Red talked to him about how his whole world had changed and how he was now responsible for someone who needed him. Every once in a while his horse would bob his head as if he knew what Red was talking about. Throwing some oats in a pail he let his horse have a treat as he threw some fresh hay into the corner of the stall, along with a pail of water in the other corner for him. After his horse was done he went to his mule and did the same for her.

When everything in the barn was complete he went back to the cabin to look after Garrett and start his life once again, however this time he wouldn’t be alone. Taking a deep breath he stepped into the cabin and his new life.

Once in the cabin he felt the heat from the hearth which gave some relief to his aching bones and muscles. Kneeling beside the bed, he pulled the blanket back so he could take the boy’s sweat and blood soaked clothes off replacing them with a shirt of his own, before laying him back under the covers so he would be more comfortable. With nothing more he could do for Garrett, Red walked around his cabin thinking about his home when he first built it so many moons ago. When first built Red imagined that one day children would run around its floors, but that was so many years ago that now it was only a thought of an old man.

Yet, in some ways it was ready for a family because when he built his cabin so many years ago he made sure the water pump was inside the house instead of outside. This made it easier for his woman at time and it also made the water not so cold either. Just the thought of standing outside in the cold pumping water made him shiver.

Grabbing a pail off the floor and proceeded to pump enough water to fill it. Pouring some water into a pot he put it on the stove to boil so he could wash the boy off later on. While that was heating up he started to make his supper and some broth which would stay on the stove to keep warm. While he ate his supper he watched the boy sleep and hoped he was doing the right thing by him.

Putting his dishes in the tub he poured some hot water over them to let them soak for a while. Taking a bowl off the ledge, he filled it with cold and hot water to make it warm. Walking over to the boy he sat the bowl on the floor and proceeded to wash the dried sweat and blood off along with the memories that were associated with it. After he was finished, Red pulled the blanket back up and tucked it in around Garrett keeping the heat in.

Going back into the kitchen he washed his dishes then made himself a pot of coffee for it was going to be a long night. When the coffee finished boiling he took a cup and grabbed a chair on the way back to the boy. Placing the chair beside the bed he sat down to drink his coffee and watched the boy to see if there would be any changes. After a while Red started to doze off and on, however he awoke with a jolt when the boy started to mumble words in his sleep. Words which made the tough, old, mountain man’s heart nearly break in two.

Pulling the blanket back he checked the wound on his back to see if it was infected. There was no infection but the wound was a bright red and had begun to furrow. It was starting to heal, however it would be a while before he could have full use the arm again. As for the deep laceration above his eye it would remain with him forever, a reminder of what happened that fateful day.  However it would also be what makes him stand out among the villagers and an outcast.

As the night grew long Red fell back to sleep once more, waking not until dawn. The next morning, Red was able to get Garrett to open his eyes slightly, sit up and take some broth in, yet even the small mouthfuls were too much for him. His strength was just not there – yet. He laid the boy carefully back down and in matter of seconds Garrett was fast asleep.

Sleep was the best thing for him right now.