Title- Best Laid Plans
Author-Winnie
Rating-T
Disclaimer-I own no rights to Mag 7 or the characters, but it's fun to play around in this sandbox.
Comments-Just a little something for Christmas that I'd like to dedicate to everyone who's ever read and commented on one of my stories. It makes it all worthwhile. Thanks to Marti and Antoinette for the great beta and to Pamela for the pic that goes with it.
"It's damn cold," Larabee mumbled as he opened his eyes and looked at the man behind the wheel.
"I know, sorry, Pard, but I didn't know the heater wasn't working," Wilmington said as he drove carefully along the icy mountain road. Several times he'd glanced into the rear view mirror and smiled at the sight of Vin Tanner and JD Dunne sharing a blanket and snoring softly.
Chris knew Buck wasn't to blame for the broken heater in the rental truck, but he was irritated and tired and just wanted to arrive at the cabin. They would have taken his truck, but it was in the shop for repairs and the owner had rented them the older model crew cab until his was fixed. Christmas was just a short week away and Travis had shut down the agency for two weeks while he visited Mary and Billy in Denver.
Josiah, Ezra, and Nathan would be joining them on Christmas Eve, but they'd decided to rent the truck and head for the mountains. JD and Vin had been chomping at the bit to get started, and he smiled at the idea of spending some time in 'the great outdoors' with his team. Kojay had given them the key to his brother's cabin and had told them it was winterized and had snowmobiles in the shed. A man from Red Lodge cared for the whole place and he made sure there was extra gas in the cans and plenty of wood on hand.
What sold the plan to all of them was the idea of getting away from the city and maybe doing a little ice fishing on the lake. Chris knew Vin would also enjoy walking through the heavy woods and realized that was something he was also looking forward to. The only downside to the whole thing was the cold, because in the mountains it was downright frigid at night. They'd all gone to the army surplus store and bought heavy-duty winter jackets, snow pants, gloves, hats, and boots. Vin had also made sure they each bought a pair of snowshoes.
Chris heard rustling in the seat behind him and a softly muttered curse confirmed that Vin was waking up. He knew Tanner's back was bothering him since the run in with Donald Pritchard, but at least the man was behind bars where he belonged.
"Sounds like Sleeping Beauty is waking up," Wilmington said with a grin.
"Ain't no Sleeping Beauty, Buck, so keep yer eyes on the road," Tanner said and reached for the thermos of hot chocolate on the seat between him and JD.
"Come on now, Vin, with your hair messed up like that and it being dark outside you…"
"Shut the hell up, Bucklin," Tanner snapped and pushed Dunne off of him. "Jesus, the kid's got the boniest elbows."
"You two lovebirds have a good sleep?" Larabee asked with a grin.
"Ha, ha, Larabee, what the hell's wrong with the heat anyway?" Tanner asked.
"Don't know, but there's a gas station up ahead, maybe they'll be able to fix it," Wilmington said.
"Good, maybe they got some food…"
"Jesus, Vin, is there ever a time when food's not on your mind?" Larabee teased.
"Can't rightly say, but if'n it ever happens…"
"It won't…hell when your time's up we'll have to bury you in a double coffin so we can stock it with food," Wilmington said and pulled in at the gas station. There was one other vehicle present and the driver was putting gas in the tank. Buck exited the car and rubbed his hands together before speaking. "Damn cold."
"Well it is winter," the grizzled man observed and replaced the gas cap on the tank. "You're not from around here?"
"No, drove down from Billings. We're staying at a cabin in the mountains," Wilmington answered.
"I hope it's winterized 'cause it looks like a big storm's brewing," the man advised.
"It is. We're on the north side of Lake Mary. One of the original cabins in the area," Buck explained.
"There aren't many left."
"I know, but believe me this one is in excellent shape. Kojay and his brother keep it up and they pay a couple of people to keep an eye on things."
"Probably Meyers…he told me he looks after a couple of the older cabins."
"Buck, I'm gonna see if'n they got any food," Tanner said and hiked up the collar of his jacket as he hurried toward the small building.
"Better see if they have coffee too," Wilmington said.
"They do…it's not the best, but it's better than most," the man said.
"Vin likes his coffee so strong you need a knife to cut it," the rogue said and looked around. "Does this place have a mechanic?"
"Sure does…damn good at his job too."
"Is he around?"
"Sure is,' the man answered.
"Where would I find him?"
"You already did," the man said with a grin.
"You?" Wilmington asked, surprise evident in his tone.
"Damn right. So what's the problem?"
"Heater isn't working," the rogue asked and popped the truck's hood as Larabee and Dunne exited the vehicle and joined them. "Any idea what's wrong with it?"
"I look like one of them clairvoyants?" the man asked and checked the hoses. "Listen, move the truck over by the garage and I'll see what I can do. Marge has sandwiches and pie if you boys are hungry."
"Any idea how long it'll take?" Wilmington asked.
"Not sure…if it's something simple like the hoses it'll be done in an hour or so. Name's Hank Newman," he said and offered his right hand.
"Buck Wilmington," the ladies man answered and shook the callused hand before driving the truck over to the garage and joining the others inside the other building.
"Does he know what's wrong?" Larabee asked and moved so that his friend could sit in the small booth.
"No, he's gonna take a look at it and let me know," Wilmington said as the lady behind the counter brought four plates heaped with fries, coleslaw and burgers. "Thank you, Marge."
"You're welcome. Let me know if you want anything else," Marge Newman said and moved back behind the counter. She knew her husband would be able to fix what was wrong with their vehicle, but while he was working she could surely enjoy the eye candy that had shown up on her doorstep. Santa had come early this year, yet she knew there was no one for her, but her husband. She smiled and returned her attention to the book she'd been reading, but found herself enthralled by the four men in the corner booth.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
They'd been sitting in the small diner for 40 minutes when the door opened and Hank Newman entered. He rubbed his hands with a rough towel before moving toward the men.
"Did you find the problem?" Wilmington asked.
"Sure did," Newman said and smiled at his wife when she handed him a cup of coffee. "Just flushed the lines and it seems to be working fine now."
"That's good news," Tanner said.
"Sure is…it means you boys won't be freezing those wonderful assets off," Marge said and wrapped her arms around her husband as the four men looked at her in surprise. "You can't blame a girl for looking…especially when they come wrapped up like you boys."
"Don't mind Marge, she's just tired of jumping these old bones and likes to stay young by ogling the goods," Hank said kissing his wife before moving to the counter to figure the repair bill.
"How much do we owe you, Hank," Wilmington asked and paid the man before leaving a generous tip and following the others out to the truck. Vin and JD were already in the back while Chris stood with the passenger door open.
"Hey, Larabee, yer freezin' my wonderful assets off," Tanner groused.
"Hey, Boys, Marge said to give you this and I'm a mite jealous," Newman said and handed Wilmington the fresh baked apple pie.
"Thanks, Hank, this'll be great with dinner," the rogue said and went to pass it back to Tanner, but quickly changed his mind when he saw the twin smiles being born. "Chris, I think we better keep this up front with us."
"Think you're right," Larabee said closing the door and reaching for the warm pie. "Tell Marge we appreciate it, Hank."
"Will do…I'll be driving up the trail in a few days with the plow so call down if you need anything," Newman told them.
"Will do…and thanks," Wilmington said and shook the man's hand.
"Be careful if you're out on the old trails. There've been stories of poachers up that way."
"If we see anything we'll report it to the sheriff's department," Larabee said. He placed the pie on the seat between them as Wilmington started the engine and drove away from the gas station.
M7M7M7M7M7M7M7
Two hours later they pulled into the narrow drive that led up to the rustic cabin set back against the trees. The design spoke of the times it had been erected and they knew Kojay's brother kept it as close to the old ways as possible. The original settlers who'd built this cabin had made sure it would hold out against the cold winters in the mountains. To the right of the cabin there was a shed, constructed much later than the cabin itself, yet it still had that hands on look about it.
Chris and Vin exited the truck and looked in the direction of the lake, enjoying the tranquillity of the setting.
"Ain't that somethin'," Tanner whispered as if the sound of his voice would ruin the moment.
"That it is," Larabee agreed.
"There'll be plenty of time to admire the scenery once we've got everything put away," Wilmington groused and began removing the supplies from the back of the truck.
"Jesus, Buck, it's a vacation not work," Dunne said, but grabbed a couple of the sleeping bags and carried them toward the cabin.
"Come on, Tanner, if we get this stuff put away maybe we can take a look around," Larabee suggested and grabbed a heavy box containing groceries while Vin took two cans of gasoline and headed toward the shed.
Once the supplies were put away, Chris looked around the inside of the cabin. There were three rooms in total. Two bedrooms, one with a double bed and well-worn dresser, the other with a set of wooden bunk beds constructed against the far wall. A dresser, twin to the one in the other room stood next to a window that looked out on the tree line at the back of the cabin.
The kitchen consisted of an old wood stove set against the wall, and a rough, handmade table and chairs. There were several cupboards, but no running water since the lake was so close. It wouldn't take much to carry the water they needed and fill the five-gallon water bottles nestled in the corner. Bathing was a different matter, and consisted of an old galvanized tub in a small closet near the fireplace. The fireplace was made of stone and bricks and would be used to heat the rooms.
Chris was not surprised to find the walls and floors decorated with Native American artwork consisting of paintings that would probably fetch a high price if sold at an auction. There were several rugs covering the floor, each one depicting life, as it would have been during the early 1860s and 70s. In one there were buffalos in full stampede with Native Americans following with weapons raised as if on the hunt. Chris had heard many stories from Vin about his grandfather's people and often wondered what it would have been like to live during those times. The paintings also depicted life in the old west with several showing a village and the people going about their day to day lives, unaware that some time in the future people would be looking on their captured likeness and wondering who they were.
"Kojay once told me the rugs were done by his mother and sister. The paintings were done by his father," Larabee said when he noticed JD studying the artwork.
"Kojay's family gave a bunch of stuff ta the local museum," Tanner said.
"He could probably sell them for a lot of money," Wilmington observed in awe of the talented hands that must have held the brushes.
"He was offered a large sum of money, but turned it down flat," Larabee said.
"Can't say's I blame 'im. This stuff belongs here," the Texan offered and reached for his jacket and gloves. "I'm gonna take a walk down by the lake. Ya comin', Larabee?"
"Go ahead, Chris, me and JD will take care of dinner…you and Vin got breakfast," Wilmington said.
"Works for me," Tanner said and tossed Larabee his gloves. "We'll be back in an hour."
Chris followed the Texan outside and watched for any sign that his back was bothering him, but it seemed like arriving at the cabin had cured any lingering aches and pains. Without a word they started walking toward the lake. A soft breeze rustled the branches of the trees and brought with it a touch of the icy air off the lake.
The lake itself was covered by a layer of ice so thick it would be safe to skate on and Chris wished he'd brought his with him. The snowshoes would come in handy and maybe a trip across the lake on the snowmobiles would be an option. They walked north along the frozen lake and heard the far off cry of a wolf that was soon answered by a second one that seemed a lot closer.
"Wonder what it was like living out here like the old settlers did," Tanner observed.
"Peaceful, but I'd say there were a lot of hardships back then," Larabee said and pointed to a dark shape near the north end of the lake.
"That's one big buck," Tanner said as an Eagle dipped toward them before soaring high overhead and flying south. They grew silent as they walked further along before finally being forced to turn back toward the cabin. They'd been slowly going up and now had a breath taking view of the cabin nestled against the trees. "A man could die happy here."
"That he could, but I'm not ready to die just yet," the blond said and headed back down the trail.
TBC