Winter's Grasp Chapter 9

Beta's Saddletramp and Nakoosay

Slim's POV

The first thing that got my attention, as I groggily woke up with a pounding headache, was the sensation of something on me. I could feel the cool, soft fabric of what had to be a blanket covering my alternately burning and freezing skin.

"Well now young'un looks like you're waking up huh" The voice was rather high for a male and as I opened my eyes, I could see that he was rather old too. As my vision came into focus, I could see that he was slightly dirty with grime on his face and he had long grey- white hair with a beard to match. From what I could see, he was skinny but as he leaned closer I could the kindness that lived in his old brown eyes.

"Young'un can you hear me pardner?"

"I'm not that young unfortunately Mister?"

"Well compared to me sonny you're practically an infant. hee-hee" His high-pitched laugh made me smile then grimace as my head started to pound more fiercely.

"The name is Joziah Ebert Obenheimer… the 3rd." As he talked, Joziah put his hand on my burning forehead and pulled the sheets closer to my chin tucking it in. "I'm a miner you see. I have been my whole life. My daddy and my daddy's daddy were miners before me." Before he can speak further, I interrupt him. It's rude to interrupt other people I know but it had to be done. I had to get back and make sure that Jess didn't fall in Capstone's trap.

To do that I needed to know just where I was. "I'm sorry but, where am I?" my voice sounds weary as I feel. My eyelids are starting to feel heavy but the burning question in my mind far outweighs whatever I might be feeling. Just the thought that Jess could be walking into a trap at this very moment hurts me to my core- especially- since I could have prevented it. That Jess might be hurt, bleeding, kidnapped; like I was or worse.

It's just too much for my brain to comprehend. I'm turned away from my thoughts as I hear Joziah laugh. He laughs that oddly high-pitched laugh again and says

"Well, you're 'bout 25 miles away from Laramie sonny."

TBC