As the train drove further and further away from Jasper, Garrett and Red were nearly back on the path to home and far away from the Edwards. From the moment they left the store Red complained nonstop about the new storekeeper and how they were treated especially towards his son. Garrett was only half listening to his father’s complaining for his mind was on the beautiful girl who was in the store. Despite her shuttering in disgust at him, he still couldn’t help but think about her blue eyes and fair skin no matter how much she shuttered, he still could not release her from his mind. Beautiful as she was he still couldn’t help but think about what he did wrong, when Red had finally calmed down enough so that he could talk to him. He decided to ask him some questions about the townspeople and women for the first time.

“Father, did you see the look the townsfolk gave me?” Garrett asked softly. “Do I really make people cringe that much when I come in to town? Am I really that hideous to look at? Are they afraid of me?”

“I saw that look the first time we went to town together when you were just a boy.” Red sighed deeply letting go of his anger, as he waited for Garrett to ask this question for years. “People look at the scar, your clothes, and the color of your skin; they don't see the person inside. The person I see, the man that I raised. And no you are far from hideous, you are my handsome son and any woman would be lucky to have you. You are a man son and not like the ones in town, they are but men in gender only not in deeds.”

“…but father I can see the fear in them…in Genisis.” Garrett mumbled towards the end.

“Yes they are because of who you came from but please my son never let their fear change you. Be the man I know you to be; you are strong, generous, kind, brave and strong willed. ”

“Father, do women change? Do you think that there is a woman out there for me?” Garrett tried to change the subject.

“Son, women are fickle creatures. They forever change one moment they hate you the next they love you because things change. Yes there is a woman for you, just don’t go looking for her let things happen naturally and you will find each other.”

Red’s words somehow brought comfort to his heart that maybe there is hope for him and Genisis, one day. For now he needed to focus on his father’s safety and the tasks at home. “Father, next time we go to town, I think it would be for the best for everyone if I stay home or at least outside the town’s limits.”

“No, we go together or take our business over to the store in Hannah. The one that’s run by a retired lawman, he is a good and fair man from what I hear.” Red stated forcefully for he had no time for ignorance and his son feeling of worthlessness.

“Hannah? You told me long ago that it was too far to ride, especially with your back being the way it is, old man.” Garrett joked to lighten to atmosphere.

“Garrett… I know what I said. However that Nathan sure ruffled my feathers, the way he treated you was as if you had some disease.” Red started to feel the anger burning again. “Son listen to an old man, if you run away from bullies like that you will never stop running. Sometimes it’s better to stand your ground and show them that they do not bother you because you are better than they are, since they are the ones who have hate in their eyes and hearts. Saying that we don’t need to take their money for the money in Hannah is not tainted.”

Seeing how strong his father was in his words. “Okay father we will give it a chance but I do think it would be best in the end to travel too Hannah.”

“We’ll see son, we’ll see.”

 Garrett tipped the brim of his hat to cover his shyness before asking the question he longed to know. “How do you talk to a girl, father? What do you say and how do you approach one?”

“I know who you are asking about Garrett, I saw that look in your eyes the moment you saw Genisis. I would tell you to find somebody else but I can tell you have set your heart out for her. The best thing I can tell you is to be yourself, don't put any airs on, treat her with respect and talk to her as if she is your equal. Never feel embarrassed because we are all unsure when it is our first time. Whether it be talking to a girl or making love. But I caution you Garrett she might not feel the same for you because of the stories she would have heard by now. Take your time and give her some to see you and know you, not the man everyone says you are. Let her come to you in her own time.”

Red smiled as he looked over at his son, because he knew Garrett would be okay.

“I'll try the next time we go to town, father.” Garrett replied looking down and seeing not the smile on his father's face. “If I am aloud in…”

Words were seldom spoken afterwards as they rode through the forest and the falling sun. It would take them an extra day to get back to the cabin for his father claimed that the horses were tired and needed to rest. When in truth it was actually his father who wanted to stop because his back was bothering him after riding for so long. While his father rested, Garrett went about scouting the area for game. Finding that there was very little game in the area, because of wolverine tracts in the mud, fresh ones by the look of them. By the time he got back to where his father was laying, Red had fallen asleep. Giving him a slight nudge waking him and sitting up, looking at his son he smiled and told him that his eyes were just tired. Garrett just shook his head and told him that there were a lot of wolverine tracts in the area. No sooner he mentioned that word Red was up in flash and was ready to get home. In all his years of trapping Red knew the wolverine was the one animal you don't mess with. If this is their territory then they should let them have it, and move on.

Garrett looked at him having never seen his father move so fast, especially for a man his years. However he understood the fear as wolverines despite their size were vicious.

In only matter of minutes they had left that area and were heading to their valley which laid two hills over, however one of the hills was very steep making it hard for the animals to climb. Both Red and Garrett got off of their horses to lead them up and over the hill so they had less weight to carry up, the mules however were not able to shift their burden and were starting to struggle. When they reached the top they let the mules and horses have a rest before continuing down into the valley now that they were far away from the wolverine’s territory. The last hill was not quite that high but it was still a climb. Topping the hill they could look down on their home, still far away. The trip home was far quicker than before, then again they had motivation but it would still be several hours before they were home.

By the time they reached their cabin twilight was setting in, making it hard to do the evening chores but not impossible. Stopping at the cabin first to unload the bundles, Garrett placed them on the step so that Red could take them into the house. Grabbing the mule’s reins as well as their horses he headed to the barn to put the animals in for the night. Stepping into the barn he turned to the right to light a lamp so he could see what he was doing in the darkening light. First he took the saddles off both of the horses and gave them a rub down before putting them in their stalls. Then he turned his attention toward the mules and took off their rigging before giving them a rub down as well. Leading them to the corner stall he put the mules in the pens and grabbed a pitchfork to fork some hay in for them. Carried a couple of forks full for the horses after everything was done in the barn he went to the cabin to help his father.

Before he entered the house, Red checked the booby traps he had set to see if anyone had been in their home. None of the traps were set off so he undid them and went into the cabin to put the bundles on the table. By the time he got all of supplies unloaded, put away and had started the fire it was dark outside. Walking to the cool room he took vegetables, potatoes and some wild onions off the shelf to add to their stew for their evening meal. Making the stew more filling for them and when Garrett came in he was about to make the biscuits and set the table.

When he stepped into the warm cabin the smell of the stew greeted him causing his stomach to growl. Red looked up from setting the table and he gave him a sheepish smile as he heard his stomach too. Quickly Garrett washed his hands and started to help in making the biscuits. All the time you could hear Red mumble that he was a bottomless pit because his son would have the biscuits gone by the time they went to bed.

As they ate their meal both men laughed and talked, about everything and anything just not about what happened

By the time the sun came up the next day both Red and Garrett had put aside what happened to start over fresh. Though both understood the town would perhaps never change and so too wouldn’t the Edwards, this was something both men knew was out of their control. But it was something neither one really wanted.

Over the next four years, they went into town twice over the first year to unload their pelts since expanding the trap line further north, there were more furs now. However after the last time Red made the choice that Hannah would best serve their business as the Edwards had all but run the mountain men from their store. Now they only go into Jasper if they need to. So in the months of May and October they packed things up and went to Hannah. Despite rarely going into Jasper neither Garrett nor Genesis lost their feeling for each other since they first met four years ago. Even though they never shared word they often looked at each other longingly though Genesis hoped that this would change like Jasper just differently. It was town that was forever changing, but not for the better at least not yet.