Dear Daisy,
This is going to be a long letter. You'll need an entire pot of coffee! I'm writing you from Laramie and I have a story to tell you. I'm sorry I didn't write you earlier, but I was on the trail most of the time.
I decided to retire and look for Jess on my own. I knew I couldn't do it as sheriff so I left the job I've known for 20 years. I had no idea what I'd find out but I had to do something for the two young men I consider sons.
I set out with high hopes early one Monday morning. I had ridden out to Josh's home the week before. I watched his face as he heard my plans. He was supportive of my desire to find Jess.
"I've heard a lot about him these past few weeks," he said quietly. "Lots of people liked him and were sorry to see him leave. But there were others who were afraid of what he was - a gunslinger with a quick temper and an even faster gun." He saw me bristle at his words but he put out a hand and shook his head. "It's not what I think or what the gossips think, it's what you think that is important. If you feel this is the only way to find him then so be it."
I gave him my letter of resignation and my badge and we shook hands. I packed my belongings, left the key to my humble home with Josh and rode away.
Surprisingly, my horse kept to the pace I set and I soon reached Fort Defiance. I had wanted to check in with Branch McGarry, if he was there, to tell him of my plans. Thankfully, both he and Reb had arrived at the Fort the day before so we caught up on things and I laid out my ideas. Both Marshals were able to tell me which ranches they had stopped at, what the rumor trail "said" and what places to avoid.
At first, I missed my comfortable bed and cook stove, but I got used to "The Big Open." It felt odd introducing myself to Bill Kimball. He was the rancher that Jess brought the horses to. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember much. He did tell me that he still had the horses to which I said I would tell his partner. As I was leaving, he suddenly said "Go see the O'Brien's at Green Valley Pastures. They have a horse ranch and they're about 25 miles north of here. If your friend was as fond of horses as you say, maybe he stopped there."
Well Daisy, it was the first piece of good news I had so I proceeded down the trail. The Green Valley Pastures is in a town called Farmington, Utah and it's huge. The corral is twice the size of Slim's and there are two bunk houses, as well as an imposing Main House. I was met by a rather young man who said he was the foreman. It seemed that the O'Brien's (the father and son owners) were in San Francisco and wouldn't be back for some time. The foreman had only been at the ranch for about a year and a half and didn't know Jess but there was an old timer who was the cook on drives who might remember. I was introduced to Amos who remembered a dark haired young man who had a head injury and also had been shot. He had been found by John O'Brien and brought to the ranch. It had been a long recovery. Amos seemed to remember that the man couldn't remember his name or where he was from so they started calling him Jack. After he healed, he stayed on for awhile breaking horses. He went on a cattle drive with the others and did a good job. He left afterwards for Canada. The O'Brien family had a contract to sell horses to the Canadian army and they gave the contract to Jack.
All I had to go on was his first name and the contract. But it was closer than I'd been before. I wrote a letter to the O'Brien's asking for more information. I asked that they send the letter to me, in care of Josh. I then wrote the commanding officer at Fort Garry.
But then I had to turn back. I'd been gone a long time and the trail had gone cold for me. There was still no sign of Jess and I had to face the fact that the search had ended. That night, as I sat by my fire, I realized that I had to return to Laramie. It was my home, after all. I had a heart-to-heart talk with myself. I couldn't be a farmer; I didn't want to be a rancher; I would be bored as a shop keeper. Being a lawman was all I'd ever wanted to be and so I needed to find a job -maybe I would be Josh's deputy!
I arrived back in Laramie a few days ago. When I left, it was cold and dark and dreary, but now, in the light of all the things that have happened it's. bright and sunny and warm. I stopped at Josh 's office and tied Chase to the hitching rail. Boy, did that seem strange! He welcomed me back, gave me my house key and told me to come over the next morning and we'd talk. I guess I looked a bit travel-weary.
My house was clean and dusted just the same as I'd left it except for the letter on my desk. It was from David O'Brien! It seems he got back a few days after I left their ranch. Daisy, he remembered Jess! He wrote that his son had found Jess shot and bleeding near their fence line and brought him back to their ranch. It was a slow recovery for the young man who had no memory of who he was. They started calling him Jack. Jack was good with horses, so when he was able, he took on the job of breaking horses for his new employer. They noticed right off that he was a good hand and could handle ranch chores as well. An easy wit, patient and kind to the youngsters, he was a real asset to their ranch.
After a cattle drive through, he seemed quieter than usual and when the opportunity came up to renew the contract the O'Brien family had with the Mounted Police in Canada, they passed the contract to Jack. They had no idea where he was now. So Slim was right all along. Jess had been breaking horses!
Well, Daisy I'd better wrap this letter up. Josh offered me the Deputy job which I took. He said that he needed more experience to walk in my shoes.
Slim is expecting Andy and Mike any day now and it will be good to see them both.
Mort
Mort POV:
I so wish that Andy and Mike will stay home for awhile. Slim needs them both so much. He looks leaner and older every day.