Poverty Hill
Copyright© 2026 by Asa Strong
Chapter 20
Both Lisa and I were up early the next mornin’, we had a lot to do today, and needed to get an early start.
There were a light snow last night, but the day had dawned clear and bright. It were purty cold outside, maybe about thirty or so.
After breakfast, Lisa asked me, “OK, what’s on the agenda for today?”
I thought for a moment, and then said, “Well, guess we better get us a new horse or two. I think that Jim Bridger might be willin’ to let go of a few.”
“You expecting to buy two horses?”
I chuckled and then said, “Lisa, Jim pro’lly owes me more than two horses would cost. I’m purty sure he will sell me a couple of them for what the county gave me to replace Legs.”
She shook her head, and then asked, “It seems like everybody in this county owes you something?”
I burst out in a good belly laugh and then said, “Well, I guess I’ve helped a few people. It’s the way things work around here. Somebody needs help, the others just kind a pitch in and do what needs to get done.”
She nodded her head, “It just seems strange, I’m used to other people not really caring if you have a problem or not.”
Lisa didn’t say anythin’ for a minute, but then asked, “Amos, how come you need two horses?”
I smiled and then said, “Well, guess we’d better find one you’re comfortable with.”
With a look of astonishment, she asked, “You mean you’re getting a horse for me?”
I thought for a moment, “Lisa, looks like you’re gonna be around here for a while. You need to have a mount of your own.”
She didn’t say anythin’ but she sure put a purty smile on her face.
I stood up from the kitchen table and headed over to the door. As I was puttin’ on my shoulder holster it occurred to me I hadn’t seen the MP7s since the shootin’. I turned to Lisa and asked, “Hey, what happened to the MP7s after I were shot?”
Lisa giggled, “After I drug you down off the hillside and called the sheriff, I figured it would be a good idea to hide the automatic weapons. They’re under your bed.”
I nodded my head and went into the bedroom and drug ‘em out from under the bed.
“Here,” I said, walkin’ back into the kitchen, “strap this on. Yah never know who we might run into.”
As we were strappin’ on the weapons, Lisa turned to me, and with a smile on her face said, “You just wanted me to wear this cause you know it makes me horny.”
I laughed, and then said, “There’s that too.”
After we hitched up the horse trailer, Lisa decided that she was a gonna drive my truck. That left me in the passenger seat on the way over to Jim’s place. I sure weren’t used to bein’ carried around, but it were nice in a way. A fella could get used to this.
Jim must a heard us comin’ up the road; he were awaitin’ for us on the porch.
“Mornin’ Amos, you’re up and about mighty early.”
“Got a lot to do today, Jim.”
He nodded his head, and then asked, “So what can I help yah with? I doubt this is a social call.”
I chuckled, and then answered, “Yea, you’d be right there. I’m lookin’ to buy a couple horses. One good packhorse and a ridin’ horse for Lisa.”
He nodded his head, and then in a sheepish voice asked, “You gonna be able to pay me anythin’ for ‘em?”
I paused, thinkin’ for a moment, and then said, “Yea, I can give you two grand for the both of ‘em. I know they’d cost more than that, but maybe we can just call the rest of what you owe me as payment too.”
Now I knowed Jim, he were horse rich and money poor. Besides, after all the help I’d given him, he weren’t about to argue.
Jim nodded, “Let’s go see what I’ve got that might meet your needs.”
Jim sent his two boys out to get the horses from the pasture while Lisa and I joined Jim and his wife Mary for coffee in the kitchen.
Jim said he had a real good Appaloosa mare that Lisa might like. She was big, but gentle and was only five years old.
After the boys got the horses in the corral I spent the next hour goin’ over ‘em. Jim was right, that big Appaloosa was a fine horse.
“Lisa, come see if’n you like this here horse.” I shouted over to where she were sittin’ on the fence.
Lisa came over, and with a timid touch started strokin’ the horse’s neck.
“Lisa honey, stand in front of the horse an breath into her face. Let her know who you are.”
Lisa did, and the horse reached out and nuzzled her on the forehead.
Jim shouted from over by the barn, “Y’all want to saddle her up and take her for a ride?”
“Sounds good to me,” I responded.
Once we had the horse saddled, Lisa mounted up. The horse stood there, rock solid, despite Lisa bein’ somewhat awkward tryin’ to mount. Once she was seated, Jim opened the corral gate and Lisa spent the next half hour ridin’ the mare around the pasture.
When she came back, she had a great big grin on her face.
“Amos,” she said, after dismountin’, “I really want this horse.”
I chuckled, “Well lady, looks like you got a horse then.”
Lisa turned to Jim and asked, “What’s the horse’s name?”
Jim hollered to his boy, John, “Hey, what you kids call this horse?”
John answered back, “I don’t know if’n we called it anythin’. Oh, yeah, the girls call her Princess; they’re the ones that mostly ride her.”
Lisa beamed and then said to me, “Princess it is then. I like the name.”
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