In order to pass the time away, Red built a new bed for his son and placed it on the opposite side of the room. After staring quite a bit at the bed, he moved the bed beside the window so that the stars could shine down on him. Yet close enough to receive the warmth from the fireplace as well. 

With the bed frame in place, he went about filling a mattress with corn husks after it was stuffed he placed it upon the bed. It was a perfect fit. Taking some blankets from his chest as well as a heavy wool blanket and feather pillow from the storage area he went about making the bed. Going back to the storage he grabbed the heavy bear skin blanket to keep Garrett warm during the snow months. Walking over to a sleeping Garrett, Red picked him up and carried him to his own bed. Placing him in the center, he pulled the wool blanket up along with the bear skin. The warmth of the skin aroused something in Garrett. For the first time in days he seemed too snuggled down into the warmth of the blankets by himself almost like he was beginning to stir.

Looking down at the boy, Red thought to himself “What am I doing taking this boy and raising him as my own. What was I thinking when I promise Blue Dove that I would.” Shaking his head he walked back to his bed where he striped the sheets off and put fresh ones on. 

As he made his bed Red looked out the window to see a bright full moon, a sign of good luck and new beginnings. Looking at the pile of clothes on the floor he figure it was time to do the wash now that there were two, but it could wait till morning because now it was his time to sleep.

By morning Red was up early sorting the clothes into two different piles making it easier for him to do. The first pile was the boy’s clothes and his while the last were the sheets on the bed. Heading for the store room, he dragged one of the two tubs out and placed it in the center of the room. With the pot of boiling water on the stove he poured the water into the tub and added the clothes. Walking back to the store room he checked on Garrett but found that he was still sleeping. Dragging the second tub out he placed it beside the other tub to which he poured cold water. When the clothes were done he put them in the cold water to rinse, before taking the clothes outside to hang on the line to dry. Shaking his head with each pin he placed Red kept thinking to himself “Here he was a tough mountain man doing woman’s work”. Work he had to do because he had no woman in his life. 

Not anymore.

Heading back into the cabin his mind wandered back to his woman Meadow Lark, who was killed by a rogue bear many years ago after their homestead was built. Consumed with grief he tracked and hunted the bear down for weeks, killing him satisfy his need for revenge for Meadow’s needless death. Now that bear is a rug in his cabin and he walks on it all the time giving him satisfaction but only for a moment because Meadow was still gone. 

Red left the sheets to soak in the hot water, as they soaked he went back outside for fresh air. Outside he sat in his rocker to rest for a while, washing clothes was hard on the back, at his age. Woman’s work for sure he thought. After a bit Red stood up and went back inside to finish the wash and to clean up the place before Garrett woke.

As he walked in Red saw something very unexpected Garrett’s eyes were open and full of fear. Wanting Garrett to feel safe he brought him a drink of water and some broth so he could get some nourishment in to him and see that he was a friend. Not wanting to push the young boy he returned to his washing while the boy watched him from the bed. 

Saying not a word.

When all the washing was done he hung the sheets out to dry before emptying the tubs and putting them back in the store room till next time. Before he realized it Red needed to put the supper on and while it was cooking he brought the dry clothes in to be folded and put away. 

As he put the wash away Red couldn’t help but notice Garrett never said a word or even let out a cry. The night passed by and Garrett fell back to sleep without saying a word or even leaving the bed. What Red didn’t know was that inside Garrett was crying, missing his mother with each passing moment, only seeing her when he closed his eyes.

The days slowly slipped by and Garrett was starting to be able to sit up for short periods of time but he still didn’t talk. Red started to think that maybe he was mute or perhaps the shock of the massacre had rendered him speechless. It wouldn’t be the first time it had happened nor would it be the last this young country. 

Nearly five days after he first brought Garrett home, Red back came inside from doing the morning chores to see Garrett was walking around the cabin and looking at the collection of books that were his pride and joy. Red noticed that he was walking very stiff legged and sore, but at least he was moving around. Garrett went to the door of the cabin, walking nervously past this stranger to step outside to get some fresh air and to see where he was. With lungs full of fresh mountain air he turned around and came back in to help with the cleaning. Thinking he was now a slave. Despite wanting his help Red told Garrett not to use that arm too much till it was healed, another week at most.

Glancing at his books Red took down one of his favourites about a pirate and lost treasure and gave it to the boy to read. Garrett eagerly took the book and went to the settee in front of the fireplace where he sat to read but just looked at the pictures. For he could not read that good and didn’t want to ask the strange man to read it too him. After a while Red noticed the boy flipping the pages over and over as he put the supper on. With everything done for the moment he went to the boy, and sat down beside him. Taking the book from him, Red started to read it to Garrett who listened to every word that he said with great intrigue and wide eyes. From that moment on Red was determined to teach the boy to read if only he would talk to him.

Before long supper was ready and as they ate supper Red explained to the boy who he was and how he found him. However he left out all of the more gory details as to how his parents died, because he made a promise to himself and Blue Dove that he would never tell the boy. He only said that they died protecting him. Red had never made a promise that he couldn’t keep; especially to a dying woman.

After explaining everything to Garrett he suggested that they change his name from Starc to Garrett ‘Little Wolf’ Johnson so nobody would know that he was from the wagon train, for the stigma of a survivor would haunt him. Garrett sat at the table eating his supper listening to every word that Red was telling him, understanding now that he was not a slave or captive. When Red was done, Garrett sat at the table in deep thought, trying to figure all the things he was told and come to some conclusion but it was hard, especially for a boy his age. Sighing in frustration Garrett looked up at the mountain man and spoke for the first time in days. 

“I…understand…” 

Caught completely unawares drinking his coffee, Red nearly choked on it, after hearing the boy speak.   

 “I understand why you want to change my name. I have no family and I can’t go to my mother’s people. Can I stay with you for a while?” Garrett asked nervously. “I could help you with your traps and I can work around here for you doing odd jobs to earn my keep. You wouldn’t have to pay me”

“You can stay with me for as long as you like, son. You don’t have to ask me, I promised someone special that I would keep you safe and help you grow into a man. A man I would be proud to call my son.” replied Red as he wiped the coffee from his beard. “Perhaps when you are few years older, I will show you how to work the trap line. Now as for doing the chores around here we will do it together, you are not nor will you ever be a slave to anybody.”

“Thank-you mister…”

“My name is Red Wolf, but you can call me Red.”

“Like father and son? That would be great, father.” Garrett said quite happily as he started to pick up the dishes to be washed thinking not about the word he just said until he arrived at the sink. 

As he walked to the sink he turned his head and looked back to see Red’s reaction after what he calling him father, something that just slipped out. With a small sigh of relief Garrett smiled to himself and continued onto the sink for he wasn’t mad at all.

“Father.” whispered Red as he quickly wiped a tear from his eye before the boy saw it. He didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the boy. This wouldn’t be the last time Garrett called Red father rather it would be the first of many. And something Red would come to treasure each time.

The days and months flew by and Garrett started to open up to Red seeing him as his father, though he never forgot his mother. Over the first months together Red taught him how to handle a rifle, clean it and hit the targets right on nearly every time, and how to handle a knife in self-defence. As there were some rogue natives living in the area, most didn’t like the white men moving onto their lands. Let alone a ‘half-breed’ child. Red also taught him that the knife was also used for skinning their kill and showed him the right way to skin an animal so that the fur was not damaged. Taking Garrett to the shed that he uses for storing all the pelts from the elements and explained that once a year he goes into town to sell them. Walking further back into the bush he showed him the smoke house where he kept all of the meat from their kills for their own use.

Their long evenings were passed with Red teaching him how to read; each night he took a book from his collection on the shelf. The book he often took was the pirate book he had given to Garrett and helped him to read the story. Before long he was reading the book without help while Red listened and corrected his mistakes. At the same time he showed him how to write and sign his name. Store keepers would like to short you any way they can he would tell Garrett. Learning to write took him awhile to get the hang of doing but eventually he mastered it and his penmanship was near perfect. The easiest part of the whole lessons was when Red showed him how to do his sums. This he found was very easy and it came to him very quickly and easily. Even Red was surprise at how quick he caught on.

When Garrett was seven years old, Red took him into town for the first time to show him what Jasper looked like. At first Garrett thought it was big, crowded and a lot of people stared at him. Stares with hatred and disgust in their eyes, however he did not understand this but Red did and he knew Garrett needed to know. While they rode up to the general store Red whispered that he will explain later on the way home to why people stared. When they entered the store he let the boy browse through the store looking at the items on the shelf. While he talked to George, Red explained what had happened last time he was in nearly two years ago. George was surprised to see a child with him, knowing that Red was a loner but the thought of him being a father never came to him. He listened to what Red was telling him and simply told him he was a good person and that the boy deserved to have a happy life and a family they both did. George could see that Garrett would one day become a man of honor just like Red.

Just as he promised on the way home he explained to Garrett why the town folks stared at him. The simple reason was that he was part Indian and not too long ago a group of native had raided the town. Which resulted in buildings being burnt and a lot of lives were lost, but that he should not let it bother him for they were to narrow minded to see anything other than hate. Red’s words somehow brought comfort to Garrett, now each time they went into town he knew that he was safe because their stares could not hurt him. Still each time they went into town Red made sure to watch his son’s back for hidden dangers.

Before long, time went by and their annual trip into town was coming up once again and their furs supply was getting quite large. There were a lot of beaver pelts, rabbit, few bear skins and deer hides. It was a good hunting and trapping year for a change, as the last few were pretty thin compared to when Garrett first arrived seven years ago. Their food supply was now getting low but not that bad for at least for another few weeks. The only thing they were low on was coffee but it could be stretched to last a few days more. A mountain man can’t get the morning started without a good strong cup of coffee, Red always told Garrett. One so strong that it will curl your hair for that was the only way to drink your coffee – at least to Red.

This soon became the norm for the father and son with each trip for the next several years. With those years passing by before Red’s very eyes just like the seasons. But like the season change, so too did the people and some for the worst…