Midafternoon the storm hit the valley with a vengeance that caused the windows to rattle a bit. The wind howled around the corners of the cabin like a pack of wolves and the snow was falling faster and faster. Within a few minutes the ground was completely covered and Red looked out the window to see that a drift of snow had blocked the door. Putting his coat on and grabbing the shovel he opened the door and started to shovel the snow off the porch. All the time he was shovelling he kept looking towards the hill to see if his Little Wolf was coming. Finished with the shovelling he went back inside to get warmed up mumbling under his breath where you are son.
Silently watching him paced back and forth and looking out of the window, Genisis started talking to him hoping that it would keep his mind off of him for a while. Very quietly she told him that she liked Garrett and thought he was very handsome. Stopping in mid stride he calmly asked her why she treated his son like the other town folks do.
With tears running down her cheeks she told him that in order to fit in with the rest of the town and have her parents accept her she had to go along with them. Once she got started she poured her heart out to Red how her parents didn't love her any more after that incident. He never asked what the incident was for she would eventually tell them. Looking at her sitting there crying, he laid his hand on her shoulder and said young lady, don't listen to what other folks say for they are only repeating lies that they were told. Those folks would rather believe the lies then to actually hear the truth. They have already passed judgement before meeting him simply because of the color of his skin and the people he partly belonged to. Handing her a hanky she wiped her eyes and blew her nose only to put a small smile on her face.
Before he looked out the window she asked Red what she should do before he answered he looked out the window. There coming across the yard at a slow pace he saw his son hunched over the pommel of the saddle. Grabbing his jacket he shrugged it on and hurried out the door to help his son. Half running, half walking he met his son in the middle of the yard. Quickly looking over the situation he took hold of the reins and led the horse to the hitching post in front of the cabin. When Red took off running out of the cabin Genisis got up from the table to take a peek out the window. Realizing what had happen she grabbed some extra blankets and put some more logs in the fireplace to get the cabin warmed.
Helping his son down from the horse who was stiff and trembling with cold, he slowly walked him to the cabin steps. The door was already open because she had seen them coming had opened it for them. Getting his son to the settee he left instruction with her to get his outer clothes off and start to rub his legs then work your way up. Then he hurried outside to take the horse and mule to the barn. Opening the door rather forcefully, he led the animals in and started to remove the saddle from the horse. Putting it on the rail he turned to take the rigging off of the mule and place it by the saddle. Taking a cloth he wiped the horse and mule down then put them in their pens where the hay was waiting. As for the pelts he hung them on the pegs then headed towards the barn door which he closed rather quickly. While he was walking back to the cabin he mumbled Blue Dove, I promised that I would look after your son but that son of yours is going to put me in my grave. He needs a woman to look after him not some old fool like me.
When he entered the cabin, he saw Genisis kneeling in front of his son rubbing and talking to him. A smile appeared on his face for he realized that the woman was right here all along. Wiping the smile from his face he took off his coat and went to the settee where he took over rubbing his legs and thighs while she stooped to pick up his jacket and moccasins. Placing them by the door she turned to go back when she stumbled a bit. Looking up in time to see her stumbled Red told her to sit down for a while till the dizziness passes then when she felt better, to grab the whiskey bottle in the cupboard.
Garrett sat on the settee trembling and shaking from the cold that had entered his body. He was a little surprised to see her up but he was so cold that he didn't realize she was rubbing his legs because he had closed his eyes. Feeling better she got up to grab the bottle then headed towards Red where she handed him the bottle. Turning the cap off, he poured a good amount of whiskey down his son’s throat who started to cough and choke because he was pouring it too fast. Raising his arm slowly he put his hand on his father's arm to say that he had enough. When the whiskey hit his stomach he felt warmth spread though out his body which caused him to give a little sigh.
After he was finished rubbing his legs, he started to rub the circulation back into his arms and shoulders as well as his back. Pouring some coffee into a cup, she brought it to him but before she could give it to Garrett, he poured a good amount of whiskey into the coffee. Garrett's hand was trembling so much that he was spilling the coffee so she took it from him and careful brought it to his lips where he sipped it.
“You can see.” said Garret as he stutter for the cold had caused him to stutter a little bit.
“I can see but every now and then I get dizzy. Red thinks that the cut is causing my dizziness.” explained Genisis while she massaged his hands to restore the warmth.
“Where did the storm catch you?” asked Red who took a quick shot of whiskey to steady his nerves.
“I had just finished the short route when I noticed a few odd flakes of snow. I managed to get a third of the long route done when I stopped for lunch. The snow was falling faster but it was not that heavy and visibility was still good. When I was coming out of that little cove is when I noticed that the visibility had gotten worse and the snow was coming down faster. I had a quarter left to finish but the horse was having trouble getting through the drifts.” as he paused to take a sip of coffee. “On the way back to my dinner camp I had veered off the trail so I had to back track till I come to the original trail. I had to break a trail for the horse in order to get through. Stopped at the dinner camp to rest that was when I decided to head for home.”
At this point he stopped talking because a shiver ran down his back that caused him to start shaking and coughing. Looking at his son when he started coughing, Red went to the kitchen to get medicine that his woman Morning Star had made a long time ago. Mixing it up, he handed it to Genisis to give to him. Pouring some of the mixture in the cup, she carefully brought it to his mouth so he could take a sip of it which caused him to cough some more and whispered awful medicine. After a few moments he picked up where he left off.
“I had to back track a few times more because I kept getting off the trail. Finally I gave my horse her head and she led us home. By the time I got to the hill, I had lost the feelings in my legs and thigh and my hands were started to tingle.”
“What time did you leave this morning?”
“I left very early cause I wanted to get most of the route done before the storm hit. I had to leave some of the traps unchecked.” as another shiver snaked down his spine.
“Those traps can wait till this storm passes.” leaning down Red put another log in the fireplace while mumble dam fool.
Giving him the last of the coffee in the cup that had the medicine, she took the coffee cup from him and told him to rest. Smiling at her he told her that his father mumbles a lot when he is worried. She told him that he was pacing the floor looking out the window every five minutes it seemed. He was going to tell her something when a coughing fit hit him. Getting up she put the pillow down then gently lowered him to the settee. Spreading the blankets over him to keep him warm and tucking it under him she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Then looked to see if Red had seen her but his back was turned to her.
Seeing that his son had finally fallen asleep he told her that the medicine makes him drowsy and that he would sweat most of the chill off. Hopefully he won't get cold or pneumonia with that being said Red took another blanket from the closet and put it on him. Putting his jacket on he went out to check on the animals before relaxing for the night. Looking at the pelts he would take them to the shack tomorrow because he felt tired all of a sudden. Covering up a yawn she sat beside him till Red got back from checking the animals. When he got back in she said she was going to bed.
“Genisis, you asked me a while back what you should do. I’ve never gotten around to telling you. I would tell you this much from an old man who had loved and lost. Follow your heart, for your heart knows what is right.” said Red.
Giving him a nod as if she understood, she got ready for bed. Climbing into the bed she settled down and was a sleep instantly.
Checking his son one more time to see if the covers were up, he blew the lamp out and went to his room. Sitting for a few minutes, he took off his clothes to his long underwear then crawled into bed and whispered my Little Wolf.
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