Poverty Hill
Copyright© 2026 by Asa Strong
Chapter 29
As the sound of the shot reverberated across the clearin’, I got mad! There weren’t no good reason to kill the mule. We’d a been crazy to even try and retrieve it, since it were out in the open.
I looked over towards where Lisa were crouchin’, next to a big spruce tree. I were expecting to see a look of fear on her face. I was surprised. Clearly, she looked disgusted with the senseless killin’ of the mule.
I crouched down and made my way over to her.
“You doin’ OK,” I asked, when I reached her.
She nodded her head, and then said, “Why’d they shoot the mule. We couldn’t reach it. We’d have been crazy to even try!”
I paused a second, scannin’ the surroundin’ area, and then said, “Look, these guys ain’t the sharpest pencils in the box. If’n they were, we’d be dead now. Who knows what they are thinkin’.”
She looked puzzled, and then said, “What do you mean, we’d be dead?”
I looked back over the clearin’, and seein’ nothin’ movin’, I answered her question.
“If’n they were smart, they’d a picked a better spot for an ambush. Shootin’ at somethin’ a hunnert and fifty yards across a snowfield with the wind a blowin’ ain’t gonna work very well.”
“Amos, what are we going to do now,” she asked.
“We’re gonna get our asses out of here, afore they flank us. You gather the horses and mules and I’ll keep a watch here.”
Lisa moved back to where the animals were standin’, about twenty yards behind us.
I figured the shooters were plannin’ what to do next, and I didn’t want to be here when they decided.
When I turned around, Lisa had mounted Princess and was holdin’ the lead strap on the two mules.
I made my way back and mounted Dumb Ass.
“Head north, and try and keep in the trees. You’ll come to a draw about a quarter mile from here. Take it, and follow it up the side of the mountain. There is a good stand of aspen trees there. They won’t be able to foll’er us with the snowmobiles after we get there, it’s just too dense. I’ll follow along behind and make sure they don’t get too close.”
Lisa didn’t answer, but swung Princess around and headed north.
I waited a few minutes, keepin’ an eye on the far side of the clearin’.
When I turned to follow Lisa, I heard the sound of the snowmobiles startin’ up across the clearin’.
I followed Lisa’s tracks til I seen she had found the draw.
I caught up with her at the end of the draw. She were lookin’ for a way up the side of the mountain.
I spurred Dumb Ass and caught up with her.
“Lisa, just nudge Princess towards the hill and then let her find her way up the hill.”
She turned the horse and put the spurs to her and Princess started workin’ her way up the side of the mountain.
I found a big spruce tree, and took cover as best I could, but didn’t dismount. There were spruce trees on the mountain, but they were sparse enough that Lisa would be in the open some of the time.
I kept an eye on Lisa, and on the openin’ to the gulch.
I had no doubt that the group tryin’ to kill us were Ascentia’s men. I also knew that it wouldn’t be all that long afore they found our trail.
I waited until Lisa were out of sight before I started up. I’d made it about halfway when I heard the snowmobiles down in the draw.
I tried to stay in the trees as much as possible, but there were spots that left me in the open. It were just a matter of time afore Ascentia’s men seen me on the mountainside.
I were about two thirds of the way to the aspens when I heard an automatic weapon open up from the direction of the draw.
Puffs of snow flew up about fifteen yards below me. They were shootin’ short.
I kicked Dumb Ass and he took off as best he could, up the mountain.
I was makin’ tracks for the aspens when I heard Lisa’s MP7 open up. It were a long shot for the MP7, about two hunnert yards or so, but when I looked back, I could see where she was layin’ fire down around a big ol’ pine tree. She must a seen the shooter when he opened up on me. She were layin’ down short bursts, just like we’d talked about.
Dumb Ass and I made it to the aspens, and I found Lisa’s trail, and foll’erd it to where she was layin’, on the edge of a thick stand of trees.
She’d tied her horse and the mules to a tree, about fifteen yards behind her. I tied Dumb Ass off close to them, grabbed my rifle, and made my way to where Lisa were layin’.
“Where they at?” I asked, as I worked my way next to her.
“I only seen two of them. One is down by that big pine tree. I seen one a little further back, next to that big rock to the left.”
She then looked at me, “OK, what now.
I answered, “First thin’, is we move. They know where you’re at, no sense givin’ ‘em somthin’ to shoot at.”
I looked around and then tol Lisa, “You move down to my left, near that big rock. I’ll cover you from here til you’re in place. Then, I’ll move up the hill a bit. After you fire a shot or two, move to a new spot.”
I paused for a moment and then asked, “How much more ammunition you got for that MP7?”
“I think that this clip is about done. I’ve got two more though.”
I nodded, and then said, “Grab your 30-30. That MP7 ain’t all that accurate at more than a hunnert yards or so. Besides, it’ll eat up your ammo purty quick.”
Lisa didn’t say anythin’, but worked her way back to her horse and grabbed the 30-30 from the scabbard. She then moved over to where the big rock were at.
When she were in place, I backed off a bit from where I were, and then moved up the hill. I found me a depression, behind a small hill of rocks, and settled there.