Part XXV

The prospector camp was only miles away from where Victor was physically, but a world away in every other sense. Once it became obvious that the storms were going to keep them from their claims, all of the prospectors pitched in to make their camp as comfortable and as tight against drafts as they could.

On the days between storms, they allocated duties out to make sure as much got done as could be during that limited time. Some gathered clean snow and ice into barrels to be brought back inside to melt for water. Some gathered wood for the fire. Some did what repairs were needed from storm damage. Logan had one mission. Try to find food to add to their stores. Not that anyone would have been upset if he couldn't in this weather. They rarely even caught sight of an animal in the brief span between storms

But to their amazement, he rarely came back empty-handed. The catch might have been so scrawny as to have been the equivalent of a soup bone, but it was all welcome. Logan had the advantage of his nose to help him find what prey was left, even if it meant digging into burrows where some of the smaller animals were hibernating.

The storm days were full as well. Katie had discovered that he'd had a beginning education and she took some time with him daily to improve his reading skills. Their reading out loud from Katie's books and the newspapers kept by a couple of the prospectors made for entertainment on the long days of storms. One of the prospectors named Willie had what he referred to as a squeezebox and the music also helped to while away the hours.

Strangely enough, though the group fared very well until the new year, when the milder weather of January came, so did sickness in the form of fever combined with a deep crooping cough. Over half of the camp fell ill and Katie about worked herself into sickness from trying to tend to so many with the limited supplies she had. Despite her near heroic efforts, four of them were dead by mid-January. Wolver Tom did his best to console her, rightly pointing over that over twice that number would have been dead if not for her. Still, she looked wasted and defeated to Logan.

The next bout of sickness hit as the weather turned foul again in February. This time, only Logan and Wolver Tom were spared the effects, but the two of them didn't have the basic knowledge of nursing that Katie did. From her own sickbed, she advised them as best she could, but five of the remaining prospectors died including three that had just survived the last illness.

Logan helped Wolver Tom carry the bodies out to a snow bank.

"They hadn't had time enough to build their strength back up. Well, if nothing bothers 'em, we'll bury 'em when the ground thaws. Shame. Young fellers too. Shouldn't have turned their noses up to my tonic."

Logan gave him a puzzled look as they packed snow around the body.

"Tonic?"

"Welp, more a vinegar really. Came down to me from my Grandpappy who learnt it from his ma. My kinfolks have died from a lotta things, but not the sickness that comes from being in close places with other folks."

He pulled a thick amber bottle from his pocket, uncorked it and let Logan have a sniff. With his nose, he didn't have to get too near it before he was pulling away, making a face at the sour, pungent smell. Wolver Tom let out a laugh and recorked it.

"I can tell yer wonderin', pup. Yep, tastes even worse'n it smells. Our Katie gives me a look when she sees me take my daily nip. I've told her its my medicine, but she still gives me that look. But she don't say nutthin' 'cause I never take more'n one nip a day. Tarnation! Can't hardly stomach the one nip I do take and that's after taking it all my life."

He slid the bottle back into his pocket.

"Can't buy it, so I make me a fresh batch every spring. Don't know why it works nor how, but as my Grandpappy said, you don't argue with results. Nosiree you don't."

Logan just nodded. He'd learned by this point that even if Wolver Tom tended to be quiet around new folks, once he got started, he kept going. That didn't bother Logan though. It gave him something to listen to and, every now and again, the stories he told were interesting. But Wolver Tom's next comment took him off-guard.

"Missing yer brother, ain't ya? Yeah... still miss mine and guess he's been gone over twenty years now."

Logan blurted out "You had a brother?" before he realized how stupid that sounded. Wolver Tom just laughed at him though as he stopped to brush the snow off of himself.

"Yeah - I had a brother. Three sisters too, but they stayed back East. Was me and Vern had the itchy feet and come West. Ol' Vern, he made the mistake of having an evening with a gal who had a husband that owned a gun. Watch out fer jealous men, boy. They're worse'n rattlesnakes. Com'on, we'd best be gettin' back in. Clouds are comin' up fast an' Katie'll worry."