Chapter 3

They travelled for many miles over brush and gorse and wild terrain. To the untrained eye it almost looked as though Edwards was just walking in random directions. What do we know of the skills of a true man of the wild. Their powers are almost mythical.

After many hours the men dismounted.

"I think we'll camp here for the night," Charles told the others.

The men set up a shooting party and went in search of game. Random shots ricocheted off trees and plates and saddles causing the horses to startle and the girls to duck.

"I'm so proud of our men," Caroline smiled as she crouched lower. "They are capturing the forces of nature and harnessing them for our very survival."

Laura nodded her agreement but crouched lower as a stray bullet splintered the wood just beside her head.

After much shooting and a scream of pain as John Garvey fell into a trench the others had dug, they all returned empty handed.

"My Winchester has seen better days," Charles frowned. "The balance on the gun is completely gone, look at that. How are you supposed to shoot with that. I think I'll give it to Albert."

Just as his name was mentioned Albert walked into camp with Andy. Between them they had three skinned Rabbits and six fish.

Caroline clapped her hands with glee. "Oh well done boys, a feast fit for a king."

The boys handed her all they had caught and dug some duck eggs out of their pockets. Andy had even found an obliging cow and handed over a canister of milk.

"Very good but in future boys don't skin the rabbits until they are ready to be cooked," Charles told them pointedly.

"And don't just walk into camp without hailing all and letting us know you're approaching," John Garvey also told them.

"No sir," they both said together.

"And don't just sit there, those potatoes ain't gonna peel themselves," Mr Edwards growled.

"No sir," the boys got up and went to the pile.

All enjoyed a large feast of rabbit and fish, Caroline decided to keep the eggs for tomorrow's breakfast. Nellie had brought a large basket of China, Percival's back was not the better for it but she assured him it was worth it as she laid out their food on the delicate hand painted plates.

John was munching away on succulent rabbit meat when something suddenly caught his eye.

"Charles," he called.

"Um hum," Charles had finished his meal and was laid down with his eyes closed.

"Charles...isn't that your house over there?"

Charles immediately sat up and squinted in the near darkness.

Sure enough, not far off was his little house. Bandit stood there looking at them, tail wagging.

"Edwards, what is this. I thought you knew how to track."

"I donno what gave you that idea Charles. My clothes have seen better days, I got this big grisly beard and I only seen a bath on special days but I ain't never been good at trackin. When you said you need a good tracker I thought I was comin along to help you look for him."

Charles shook his head. "Ok Albert, Andy start packing up this camp. We're heading indoors tonight and we'll look for a tracker in the morning."

~o~

Meanwhile Almanzo was suffering at the hands of cruel, merciless bandits. He was stuffing his face with stew which was not quite seasoned properly, it was bland and the meat was a little tough for his taste.

"I mean do you eat like this all the time?" He asked as he sat by the camp fire wrapped in a warm blanket. "You people are animals."

"Why don't you give your mouth a rest, you've been talking non stop since we took you," the man in black said.

"Ok...any more stew?" Almanzo asked, holding out his bowl.

"Give him more stew Hoss," the older man gestured.

"Aww Adam he's had two bowls already. I ain't never seen an appetite bigger than mine."

"Go on Hoss, our grudge is not with him. We need to find little brother and take back what's rightfully ours."

Hoss's face creased into a scowl. "When I see that little midget I'm gonna give em what for and no mistake."

Adam nodded. "I can't says I blame ye, little brother has gone too far this time. Fifteen years we've been tracking him, fifteen long years. This search has denied me my life Hoss, a wife at my side, youngins. My hair is all but gone, my beard is grey..." Adam shook his head.

"You can't blame him for the hair loss Adam."

"Hoss please, I'm having a moment."

"Can I just interject here," Almanzo put in.

"Please do," Adam sat up.

"I was promised more stew," Almanzo held out his bowl.