At Red's cabin things were starting to get back to normal or so it seemed that way.
Garrett slowly raised himself up for he was stiff and sore in a lot of places but nothing felt broken. Looking around he saw that Red had breakfast started and realized that he was hungry. Stretching to get the kinks out of his back he felt a pull on his right side, he looked down to see that his ribs and side was bandaged. With staggering steps he went to the bed to look on Genisis who was sleeping.
Pulling the blanket back he saw that Red had cleaned her up and removed her ripped dress. Taking the cloth off her eyes he was shocked to see how swollen and bruised her face was.
Rewetting the cloth he placed it over her eyes to help with the swelling then he pulled the blanket back up again. Treating her with respect and keeping her honor safe.
Turning around to go to the stove, Red came in at that moment carrying some wood for the wood box. When he saw Garrett standing there a smile broke across his tired face. Throwing the wood in the box he gave him a fatherly hug before proceeding to fill a plate of food for him.
“Boy, don't do that again.” said Red as he caressed Garrett’s face. “I was dam worried about you.”
“Sorry, father.” replied Garret who ate his breakfast as if he was starved.
“You have been out for four days. If anything had happen to you I don't know ... I don't.” as he came to a stuttering halt.
“I am alright father.” said Garrett as he placed his hand on top of Reds and gave it a squeeze.
Clearing his throat Garrett finished his breakfast while Red made some fresh coffee for them to drink. Gathering up his plate he walked toward the tub and put the plate in the hot soapy water to soak. While Red took the cups of coffee to the table in front of settee and sat down to wait for his son to come.
While they were sitting there drinking coffee Garrett explained what had happened on that day. Half hour later he was finished telling his father everything but Red was so furious that he was trembling with rage. It seemed like it was hours before Red finally calm down to tell him about his injuries. It has been four days since the incident had occurred but it was fresh in his mind like it happen just the other day. He told his son that he had a lot of minor cuts and bruises but the slash on his right side was the deepest and it had to be stitched up. Later that night fever had set in and for the next two days it was touch and go. I thought I was going to lose you for sure so I did something i hadn't done in a long time. I prayed. During the night of the third day the fever finally broke and you settle into a deep resting sleep.
As for Genisis, Red shook his head for he didn't know where to start or how to start. Taking a drink of coffee he said I took off that torn dress and put one of your shirts on her to cover her up. She has a lot of bruises on her body but the majority of them are around her eyes and face. Her cuts have healed up quite nicely but the one behind her ear did the most damaged. It was enough of a blow to put her in a coma. It will be awhile before she comes around and for the swelling to come down. For the last two days, she had been running a fever also with a lot of tossing and turning as if she is running away.
“She will stay here till she is ready to go back to her parents.” stated Garrett as he looked into the fireplace.
“She is in no condition to be moved. If we move her now it could cause more problems.” said a worried Red who looked at the bed where Genisis laid.
“Think it is about time for me to take over the trap line while you rest.” said Garrett as he looked at his fathers tired face.
“No, I'll finish out the week which is only another two days. This way your side can heal some more before you do any heavy lifting.” said Red. “I don't want you to rip open that slash again.”
“Are you sure, father? Well I'll do the barn chores as well as the house chores that way your load will be lightened a bit.” offered Garrett. “I will also look after Genisis too.”
Red nodded his head in agreement then went to the kitchen to get some more coffee. But this time he put a shot of whiskey in it to settle his stomach which was starting to bother him. Finishing his coffee he told his son that he was going to check the trap line before it gets to dark and that he would be back soon.
As Garrett and Genisis were recovering, back in town a different story has been unfolding.
In town the search party had just come in from searching the surrounding area of the town. Four groups of ten men went in each direction for about five miles. Then they decided to go two miles up into the mountains looking for her tracks. If the men had continued on for two miles they would have found her berry baskets. But they decided that to go any further up into the mountains was a waste of time for it was just dense forest and very thick but also they didn’t think Genisis would go that far.
After a lot of soul thinking, the Sheriff Mac called a halt to the searching for it almost been a week and there was nothing, not even a footprint or any sign to say where she was took. The members of the party were farmers, ranchers and store owners who took time off from their business to look for her. The group of men had agreed among themselves that she was attacked by an animal or abducted by the Indians that roam the area, there had to more than just Garrett who might have took her.
With a heavy heart, Sheriff Mac walked to the general store to inform the Edwards about the decision that was made. This was the one task he hated to do with all of his heart. Taking a deep breath he climbed the steps to enter the store. Looking around he noticed that there was no customers in the store, he then he turned the sign over placing the store closed. Quickly he walked to the counter and removed the key from its place in the drawer, in order to lock it.
Once again he sighed with remorse and went into the kitchen area of the store. There was Edward and Louise having some coffee and talking about their daughter. Looking up Edward saw the sheriff come in and bombarded him with questions one after another.
“Did you find our daughter? Where is she? Is she at the doctor's office after the abuse that dam Indian had done to her?” demanded Nathan.
“Mr. Edwards, please let me sit down so we can talk.” said the sheriff.
“Please, Nathan calm down and let him talk. Do have a seat and bring him some coffee honey.” asked a worried Louise.
“Thank you, madam, coffee sure sounds good.” said Sheriff Mas as Nathan poured the coffee and placed it front of the sheriff. “The party has searched all around the town in every direction for five miles. It was also decided to go two miles up into the mountains to check also. Any further into the mountain was impossible cause of denseness of the trees.”
“Why.”
“It is thick dense forest where nothing grows and bears are known to roam that high up. I have called the search off for now because the party members have farms, ranches and stores to run too.”
"No, send the party back out again.” as he pounded his fist on the table.
“Be reasonable, Edwards we have been over the area twice already with the same results” said Sheriff Mac who was getting mad because of the Edwards attitudes.
“Gather up your deputies and yourself go to Red's cabin and look for my daughter. Everybody knows that freak of a son took her.” said Nathan who was getting frustrated.
“Look here. I have had enough of you bashing and trashing Garrett. I have known him for over fifteen years when you have been here for only four years. Do you get my meaning.” shouted the Sheriff. “Another thing, you better change your opinion of them before you lose any more business.” as he stood to takes his leave for he had enough of them. “All I can do right now is send some telegrams to the surrounding town to be on the lookout for her.”
“Thank you for everything.” said Louise who was crying over the loss of their daughter, it was only Louise who had shown true grief and in a way remorse for her daughter.
Standing in the kitchen doorway Sheriff Mac cleared his throat to say “There is something else that you should prepare yourself for. There is a possibility that she was abducted by the Indians that still roam in that area of the forest.”
“We know who took her maybe you should do something about it!” stated Nathan as he glared at the sheriff.
Turning around he walked straight to Nathan and decked him hard for that last remark. Looking at Louise he mumbled sorry only then open the back door and left the Edwards to their grief. Getting up from the chair Louise knelt down beside her husband as he slowly came too. Helping him up they walked to the living room where he sat in the settee while she went to get some water and cloth to clean him up.
“Nathan, you have to control your temper. It is going to cause us more problems again.” said a worried Louise.
“I know honey, but it is very hard to do. I think we made a mistake coming here.” looking at his wife he pulled her into his embrace and held her while she cried. Walking her to their bedroom he laid her down on the bed so she could rest. While he returned to the kitchen to put the dishes in the sink, and opening the back door he stepped out for some fresh air and to clear his head.
Standing there he realized that they did make a mistake coming out to this small town but they couldn't stay in Montreal due to the scandal that had occurred involving Genisis and his maneuvering her to his needs. It was a scandal that destroyed his career as an accountant for a wealthy banker. Nobody in this town knew the truth and it will remain that way.
Closing the door he went back to the sink washed the dishes that had stacked up. When the dishes were done he turned out the lamps and went to join his wife in bed.
Nobody was hungry tonight.
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