To Dodge and Back

Ethan lay in his bedroll a few miles further down the trail three days after he left home. He never knew that you could get so tired but he supposed that is what happened when you rode all day from sun up to sun down. He also couldn't live down the constant teasing he bore from Slim, Dusty and now even George. Though George was an old cowboy. His legs were bowed and you could tell that he had spent a lot of hours in the saddle. Slim had also given in and told Dusty and Ethan his real name. It was Frances Richard Taft but at the age of ten most folks had began to call him Slim due to his long, lanky body. The boys had also discoverd that Ethan could play the guitar and they willed away the hours of the night listening to him play. Ethan even learned a few new songs and he he felt some of the soulfullness leaving his songs. He still missed Emily and wondered if he had any letters from her at home.

Then the snows came. It was their fourth day on the trail and the snow began to fall. Slim rode up beside Ethan, "Your Pa sure was crazy to wait this long to trail out his cattle."

"I know!" Ethan shouted to heard over the howling wind. They stopped and were stopped for a day and a half before they could start again. Then they had to spend time gathering up the cattle that had strayed. Luckily they hadn't lost any in the storm. They were moving down the trail on the fifth day when Tom rode up, "Ethan, son, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yes sir."

"I heard you talkin in yoursleep last night and thrashin' around. Are you doin' ok."

"Yes, sir, I guess. What was I sayin'?"

"You kept callin' out. A name, Emily I think."

Ethan felt himself redden. "Yes sir. She's a girl from home."

"Oh is she your gal?" Tom asked.

"No, no. She left and went to Philadelphia."

"I'm sorry to hear that son." Tom said and rode away.

That left Ethan with his own thoughts for most of the day. Until that evening when Tom told the boys. "Well boys, we should be in Dodge in three or four more days if we don't get more snow."

"Whoooooo-wweee!" Slim yelled. "I can't wait until we get to Dodge City!"

"Slim, settle down. We aren't going to spend much time in Dodge. Just long enough to sell the cattle and then we have to head home. We can load our horses on one of the cattle cars and ride the train back to Rock Springs." Tom said.

That made Ethan feel better. They wouldn't be riding home in all the snow. That also settled Slim down. He had been having visions of saloons and painted girls and the whole sheebang so Tom had kind of killed all of his dreams.

Five days later they rode in to Dodge. Ethan still couldn't understand why anyone would want to live in town. The streets were always muddy and rutted. They run the cattle into the pens down by the train depot and Ethan decided that next year his Pa would be shipping cattle when all the other ranchers did no more waiting until the last minute. Tom and Cook had discussed it and Cook would be staying in Dodge for the winter now while the rest of them loaded their horses on a cattle car and rode back to Rock Springs. "Ok boys." Tom said when the last steer passed through the gate and it was shut. "You can all do a little funin' or what ever you need to. I want you younger boys to stay out of them saloons and away from them painted gals!" Then to Slim and Dusty in particular he said, "You two I know have gals waitin at home for you!" He yelled as the three took off down the street.

"Well where you boys want to go first?" Slim asked.

"The store I guess. We can't go anywhere else." Dusty said. "I better get a present for my gal."

"Yeah I better do that do." Slim conceded. "Who you have to get somethin' for?" he asked directing the question at Ethan.

"My brothers and sister, my Ma wants somethin' and I think I'll get somethin' for Em." Ethan said.

"Who Em?" Dusty asked as they walked along a street called Front Street.

"She a gal that I know." Ethan said, hoping that they would let is go at that.

"I thought you said that you didn't have a gal." Dusty said, as the walked down the street towards a resturant to get a bite of grub.

"Well," Ethan started. How was he supposed to answer it. "She's a gal that I like, so I thought I would get her a present and send it to her."

After a bit to eat they walked down to the store and persued the aisles. Ethan found a doll that he thought that Katie would like. She didn't have a real one. He also found a couple of things that he was sure that his brothers would like. Then for his mother he found a pretty little glass vase. He had the store keeper Mr. Jonas wrap it up for him in paper. For his father he found a book that he knew that he would like to read. Then he went to the jewlery counter. He had never looked at jewlery before and he got nervous when the store keeper, Mr. Jonas, came up. "Are you looking for something special son?"

"Yes sir, I am. Something for a special girl."

"Oh are you thinking a ring or maybe a locket?"

"Can you show me the lockets please?" Ethan asked.

Mr. Jonas showed him a selection of lockets and Ethan finally choose a small oval shaped one. It was pretty and had some etching on it. He thought Emily would like it and maybe that woud convey to her with out him having to say it that he liked her, a lot.

That night Tom got them all rooms at the Dodge House and Ethan slept in a real bed for the first time in almost three weeks. He was suprised at how much he wanted to get home. He supposed that he missed his siblings and his parents but he also felt an ache in his heart. He hadn't recieved any letters from Emily. He hoped that there were some waiting for him when he got there. That would make him happy. He leaned back against the pillows and smiled that it was soft feathers beneth him and not the hard ground. They had did well on the sale of the cattle and he was sure that his parents would be happy with the check that they would be recieving soon.

The next morning Tom and the boys loaded their horses one of the cattle cars and boarded the train. In a few hours they would be back in Rock Springs. Ethan sat close to the window and looked out. In a few hours he would be home and he could write to Emily and send her the gift that he bought her.

Six hours later the train pulled up to depot in Rock Springs. Slim shook Ethan awake and said, "Hey bub, we're here. We're home."

Ethan got up and off the train and unloaded the blue roan horse that he had left on four weeks earlier. He mounted him and after saying goodbye to Slim and Dusty rode out of town. They had all vowed to get back together in the spring when the snow was gone and before all the summer work began.

An hour later he rode up in front of his families barn and soon heard the whooping of his younger brothers. "Ethan!" he heard them yell together. "Ethan! Your home!"

Caleb reached him first and flung his arms around his older brothers waist. "We missed you Ethan."

Ethan wrapped his arms around Caleb and lifted him up onto Blue. "I missed you guys too."

"Ethan! I want up too Ethan." Will hollered.

Ethan stopped and lifted Will on to the horse and let his brothers ride him into the barn. Once there he took his brothers down and unsaddled his weary horse. Then he instructed the boys to rub him down while he fixed some oats for his horse and a bucket of water.

Once finished the boys all plodded back to the house through the snow. "Are you guys behavin' at school?"

"Yes." They said together.

"Well you know if you aren't I have to send your gifts from Dodge back."

"No!" Will cried. "We've been real good."

Ethan laughed at him and they went into the house, which to Ethan was heavenly warm. "Ma look who's here!" Caleb shouted.

"Caleb you don't need to shout." Olivia said as she came up to Ethan. She wrapped her arms around her oldest son. "How are you son?"

"Good Ma." Ethan said.

Katie ran in to the room then. "Etan!" she squealed. "I missed you Etan!"

Ethan kneeled down and took his little sister in his arms. "How are you Miss Katie?" he asked.

"I wuv you Etan." Katie said.

"I love you too." Ethan responded.

His father came in from the sitting room to see what all the commotion was about. "Ethan! Son it's so good to see you home."

"It's good to see you too Pa." Ethan said. He took his coat and hat off. "Ma is supper ready?"

"We already ate Ethan, but I can warm something for you."

"That would be good Ma." Ethan said as he sat down at the table.

"Son, these came for you while you were gone." Elliot said, as he laid two envelopes on the table.

Ethan knew that they were from Emily so he did not open them. He would read them later in his room. While he ate he told his parents about their time on the trail and about Slim and Dusty. Then he handed out his gifts to his family and then he told his family that he was tired and was going to his room. Once there he tore into the envelopes and read the first letter and then the second. She missed him! That was something anyway. She missed him!

He quickly pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write.

Dear Emily,

I have just returned home from the trail. What a grueling month that was but I made some really good friends while I was out there too. Their names are Slim and Dusty and they are just about the nicest fellows you could meet. Both were there trying to make some money before they get married later this year. It seems everyone is doing that these days.

I hope everything is going well for you and your friend with your aunt. I sure do miss you too Emily. I haven't really had anyone to talk to other than the fellows since you left so it was nice spending time with them.

Dodge City wasn't really what I thought that it was. I suppose it is different if you are there during another time of year. I also brought you a gift back from Dodge City. I wanted it to be something special but if you don't like it you can just send it back to me or throw it away. I guess I just wanted to get you somethin' and let you know that I was thinkin about you. I wish you were comin' home sooner rather than later but I guess that is one wish that won't come true.

Anyway, let me know what you think of your gift. I'm thinkin of you.

With warm thoughts,

Ethan

Ethan folded the letter, put the locket in the envelope and sealed it up. He hoped that it made it to Philadelphia safely.

Ok get done owwing and awwing and review!