Page 7 of On the Mountain

Feeling slightly guilty, he turned away. “I hope not serious.”

“The message doesn’t say, but I’m sure Kathleen would have indicated.”

“I’m sure.” Wade agreed then glanced back at the burning fire feeling disappointed. “I suppose we might as well join the ranch hands for dinner then.”

Prescott nodded, then said, “What was this I heard about Joe catching a boy eating one of our chickens?”

Wade groaned internally and wished his brother hadn’t reminded him. “The chicken was essentially devoured by the time we found him asleep in the stables.”

“Who is he?”

“Don’t know,” Wade said. “He’s a mute.”

“Dreadful.” Prescott snatched his wool coat off the hook near the front entrance. “What are you planning on doing with him?”

“I’m not planning on doing anything with him.”

“Well you just can’t abandon him.”

“Why not?”

“Well, because he’s a kid and all alone.”

Wade snatched up his own coat. “There is always the option of going back to where he came from.”

“How do you know there is somewhere for him to go back?”

That made him start. It wasn’t anything he had considered. The boy had more than likely wandered down the mountain and gotten lost. He was sure a parent or concerned family member would be in search of him soon. If not, it was not too far out of their way to lead him back home.

Wade had seen the village in the mountain where those people had called home only the one time, and if he recalled correctly, it was near one of the many lakes which emptied into the Centralia River. The boy more than likely followed the river down the mountain until it reached Wade’s property where it ran along the rear of the homestead. It wouldn’t be too difficult to follow it back up.

He recalled the boy’s appearance and didn’t doubt he had fallen into some trouble along the way. The mountain could, after all, be quite treacherous even for Wade and his experienced wranglers. But a good night’s rest and a full stomach were probably all the boy needed before he attempted the return trek up the mountainside.

When they entered the bunk house, it was already abuzz with male voices full of hunger. The aroma of fresh cooking filtered the small quarters. Kim Wong had been the cook on the ranch ever since Wade’s father was the owner. He had emigrated from China as a young man and came to the colony looking for work. In all that time he hadn’t bothered to learn a word of English and wasn’t the best cook around, but he got along with the men and suited their needs just fine.

Kathleen’s visit would have guaranteed Wade a real treat for a meal. A summer in Paris during her school years had brought her directly under the tutoring of an influential and well-respected European chef. Thrusting his disappointed thought aside, he conceded he would just have to wait the fortnight. He reminded himself Kathleen’s immediate family came first.

Tonight’s meal was the usual beef stew. A large black wood stove sat in the middle of the room and on top sat a very large and rusty crock pot. Prescott helped himself to a bowl first, then found a seat with the younger ranch hands. Wade eyed the thick and mushy stew and realized he didn’t care what he ate. He was hungry enough to eat a raw cowhide. Which reminded him.

Turning, he glanced around the room and saw Joe sitting at one of the tables devouring his meal with zest. “Where’s the boy?”

The lead hand filled his mouth with food before gesturing to the back bunks with his fork. The only lit candles were those in the eating area of the room. The beds were cast in darkness and at first Wade did not spot him sitting as far from the men as possible in the very last bunk. Then he saw the silhouette of a figure cuddled up in a fetal position.

“Come here, boy,” he called. The figure did not move. “Come and get something to eat. After all, that was the bargain.”

When still no movement occurred in the corner, Wade thought to ask, “Assuming you got yourself cleaned up.”

Joe snorted but drove his fork into his stew.

Wade frowned. “Come here, boy.”

At last the figure moved and Wade’s first impression was the boy was much smaller than he thought. However, conceded his only other glimpse of the boy had him covered in a huge padded blanket.

He seemed to take his time coming out of the shadows. Wade grew impatient and nearly barked at the kid. “Hell, boy if you don’t move any faster, the paste on Kim’s stew is going to grow so thick you’re going to need a chisel to eat it.”

The Chinese man feigned insult, proving he may not speak the language, but he very much understood it. The rest of the ranch hands jeered at the comment. Wade ignored them all.

His focus was entirely on the boy who had come out of the shadows. It was obvious he hadn’t taken a bath, but he looked a darn sight cleaner than when Wade first saw him. His thick matted hair looked as if someone took a blade to it and chopped it off sporadically and without care. It stuck out in ridiculous angles which he figured the remaining traces of mud had something to do with. The clothing Joe had given him looked huge and baggy and obviously disguised a very small frame beneath. Wade guessed the boy to weigh no more than ninety pounds.

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