Chapter 5

Now I have money ... well ... I had some money in the first place ... I have more. Then there’s the rest of the coins in the drawstring pouch... $122.50 minus two 2.50 dollar coins leaves me with $117.50 face value and who knows how much in collector value. Marion ... the librarian wouldn’t let me check out the magazine Coins and Their Values.

“Library copy ... not for circulation,” she said. And then she asked, “Why?”

There are times I have problems keeping my poop in a scoop ... but I’m not dumb enough to say, “I have more.”

Nope ... the second person Marion called was a cop. I wasn’t going to mention that I had more ... not at all.

“Interesting magazine. But I have enough to read, what with The Buckskin Report, Muzzle Blasts and Foxfire.”

“Foxfire I know ... what are the other two?”

“Muzzle Blasts is the Original Muzzle Loading, Traditional craft, and Living History Magazine, and the official publication of The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. The Report is a self publication of one John Baird. He published the dirt that goes on at the shoots.”

“Oh ... black powder ... stinky smelly dirty guns.”

“Ayup,” I said. Marion is ‘nice looking’ and I had a thought of ‘Maybe.’ But ... no.

“Daddy used to take me shooting. It was fun but he died.”

‘Fun? Hmm. Possible. Hmm?’

“Care to go? Shoot this weekend.”

“Are you asking me to go cavorting with you this weekend?”

“Only as much cavorting as you are comfortable with.”

She gave me a considering look. (Considering involves clasping the waist with one hand and arm, resting the elbow of other arm on the waist arm, cupping the chin with the elevated palm and tapping the nose with one finger.) That considering look changed to memories. It faded into wistful ... then to thinking.

A direct nod ... decision...”I don’t on a first date.”

“Me neither.”

She laughed out loud, “Oh ... You do too. You’re a guy ... guys are all alike. One track mind.” That was said with pointy finger gestures and chuckling.

“What makes you think that?”

“I, sir, have a degree in Library Science.”

That took a few seconds. People with degrees went to college.

“Ah ... don’t let your education get in the way of your enlightenment.”

“Precisely. The full Monty.”

“Camping ... I have an eighteen foot tipi.”

“YES!”

“Buffalo robes.”

“I already said yes. Don’t make me beg.”

“Friday night, Saturday all day, Sunday until they run us out.”

“I have a four day this weekend. Could we leave Thursday night?”

“I don’t see why not. The van is loaded and the mules are hitched.”

“Mules?”

“It’s something I do.”

Coming down the long hill into the valley, I stuck my head out the window and commenced ... as loudly as I could yell ... with an atrocious accent

“Haw ... Get up there Jim and Jake, Jake...” a bullwhip out the window CRACK SNAP. “Move over Jake, get up there Jim, Haw!” And similar all the way into my campsite. “Whoa up there, Jim. Easy, Jake”

The jingle of trace chains came from a strip of sleigh jingle bells that hung under the Van. Several women laughed and some young teens ran up to the van ... saw Marion and pelted back to their moms shouting,”

“Hairy’s got a woman with him ... and she’s a looker.”

“Just something you do,” Marion said.

“Yup. I wonder how many of the wives brought a cousin or a sister or a widow with ‘em to see if I might be interested.”

“Oh really!?!”

“Yeah ... and there ain’t many here this early. Tomorrow it’s gonna get crazy.”

“Why?”

“I have to help set tipis all day. Otherwise it’s a pretty sorry looking camp...”

“Bragging?”

“Nope ... fact.”

She started untying poles, “Well let’s get this one up so we can eat.”

Unloaded, she said, “Ir’s been awhile ... let’s see if you know what’s what.”

Good Lord ... she was HELP. After ours was up she started moving around the set lodges getting out wrinkles and sags ... while I cooked. I carry my own firewood ... apple, cherry, hickory, ash or oak. I don’t burn pine in my lodge.

Dinner was buffalo steaks ... no bone. Taters, corn and beans. Real butter and my own bread.

Lots of visitors.

Long about 11 she run everybody off, went to bed.