Jim stopped mid stride, a shiver running up and down his spine. Must be getting chilly, he thought as he shook the feeling off and pulled his hat down tighter. He swung himself up into the saddle as his black snorted and pawed the ground. Jim patted his neck and pulled on the reins. He was eager to get on the road and get to his partner and get this mission accomplished.

Jim made his way through the small town to get as close as he could to the Stark Street Ferry before nightfall. Jim had never been one to worry much about things, that was Artie's department but on this trip something had been nagging at the back of his mind. He entered the saloon near the ferry dock and the feeling of foreboding followed.

Taking a beer from the barkeep Jim headed toward a small table. The Secret Service agent part of him listened in on the myriad of conversations going on in the room around him. One conversation in particular caught his attention and he sipped his beer as he listened.

"Come on, Jake, don't be mad. You gotta admit yer story is a bit much." One man was razing one of his companions.

"It's true I tell ya! I seen it with my own eyes."

"Big as Paul Bunyan was it?" Another man said as he poked his friend in the ribs with his elbow.

"Knock it off guys. That Sasquatch was real as you and me." The man lowered his head over his beer sulking.

Jim repressed the shiver that made its way up and down his spine for the second time that day and he turned his attention back to his beer, his brow furrowed in contemplation.

WWWWWWWWWW

"Come in Mr. Pike…" Colonel George Franklin, the head of the City of Spokane Falls Secret Service office, gestured to the seat facing his desk. "take a seat." Jeremy took the offered seat and waited for his superior to continue.

"There have been some developments in your mission that even Mr. West was not aware of before he left yesterday." Jeremy didn't like the sound of Franklin's voice as he leaned in toward the desk.

"There hasn't been any trouble has there, sir?"

"That's just it…we don't know. Mr. Gordon had Henrietta with him so he could let us know when he was in place and as of an hour ago the pigeon has yet to arrive." Jeremy's eyebrows rose.

"Henrietta is a well trained bird. She could find her way back in a blizzard." Jeremy spoke quietly.

"All those birds they use are well trained. Colonel Richmond sent Arabella out and she came back alone."

"This is not good." Jeremy intoned. "And Jim doesn't know?"

"Henrietta wasn't due back before he left…Artemus wasn't going to send her until he had established himself in the area…there is no way to get word to him. Therefore we have to end your mission here and send you in to find out just what is going on and get word to West. I'm afraid you won't get the time you wanted to establish your cover. We could set you up with another if you prefer." Franklin remarked as he took in Jeremy's disheveled and grizzly disguise.

"I'll keep my cover as another fur trapper no one would give me a second thought if I'm asking questions about Artemus." Franklin nodded and Jeremy continued.

"I had my disguise already set up…I can leave within the hour." Pike started to rise from his chair when Franklin waved him to sit back down.

"Not so fast. I've checked the maps and you won't be able to get there in time to help either West or Gordon if you follow their path in. We need to get you down there faster. If we can get you to the Upper Columbia…"

"You don't expect me to swim do you?"

"Good grief no…there will be a boat to take you and your supplies down the Upper Columbia until we can leave you at a point as close to Yakima as we can get you. From there you will be on your own. Do not mess this up, Mr. Pike." Franklin intoned.

"No, sir, I'll do my best." Jeremy took his leave and headed for his hotel.

WWWWWWWWW

Opening his eyes didn't help. Artie was sure he had opened them but he could see nothing. Breathing heavily he blew dust up into his face causing him to cough. Artie pushed against the ground and tried to rise. He couldn't move…what the heck? Artie pulled one arm free and reached back behind him. FUR? Oh nooo, that Sasquatch must have fallen on me, Artie groaned.

Artie tested his limbs, wincing and groaning when he tried to pull his left arm free. Remembering hitting the log jutting out from the mountainside, Artie left his injured arm where it was and tested his other extremities. His left leg checked out fine, his right leg felt warm and hurt when he tried to shift under the monster's girth. Artie groaned when he tried to push himself up as he felt something pull and his chest felt like it was on fire. Oh great…I think I have a broken rib or two. Jim's never gonna let me live this down! Artie thought as he gingerly shifted his weight.

Summoning all his strength he half pushed half pulled his way out from under the Sasquatch. The soft earth made his task a little easier in that it allowed him to push the soft dirt behind him and under the bulk of the animal. Finally he freed himself and he rolled over gasping for air and writhing in pain. The effort had taken almost an hour and he slumped into an exhausted slumber.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jeremy removed his hat and wiped a soiled cloth across his brow as he looked around Yakima. Not a large town, he noted, and it seemed like a fairly quiet town as well. Jeremy pulled on the reins and dragged the pack mule down the street until he found the saloon. Tying his animal to the hitching post, Jeremy shuffled his way into the saloon and walked to the bar.

"What can I get for you old timer?" The barkeep asked as he polished the bar.

"Gimme a beer." Jeremy spoke in a grizzled old man's voice as he slid a coin across the bar.

"Thanks." Jeremy took a sip and looked around. "You ain't seen another trapper like me around here have ya?" Jeremy squinted one eye and tilted his head.

"I see a lot of people passing through but I can't say I've seen anyone like you come through here since last fall." Jeremy started.

"Are ya sure? I was supposed ta meet my friend here. He shoulda been here a few days ago."

"Nope, sorry old timer like I said I haven't seen him. You can check with Mr. Spencer over at the Mercantile…he pretty much knows everyone who comes through here. If they have to buy supplies he's the only one in town." The barkeeper left him to serve another customer.

Artemus, where have you gotten yourself to? Did you change your disguise and if you did why didn't you get word back to the Colonel? Jeremy thought as he headed toward the Mercantile.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jim found the spot his partner had apparently used for a campsite on his trip through the pass, so Jim settled down for the night and made his own camp. If this spot was good enough for Artie it's good enough for me. Jim leaned back against his saddle as he sipped his coffee and took in his surroundings. He marveled at how pristine and quiet this place was. As he went over the upcoming mission in his mind, Jim thought about his partner and hoped he was settled in and ready for him.

WWWWWWWWWW

Colonel Richmond sat at the desk in the parlor of the Wanderer staring at the telegram he had just decoded while he waited for a reply. He shook his head in bewilderment. Surely President Grant didn't mean what he had said. This was unheard of not to mention just plain insane! The telegraph key clicked and Richmond quickly took down the message and tapped out a hasty reply.

"I guess he DID mean it." Richmond sighed. "I'll never understand his fascination with Gordon and West if I live to be 100." Richmond crumpled the papers in his hand and rose, heading to pack his bags.

WWWWWWWWWW

Artie woke as he heard footsteps approaching. Opening one eye slightly he could see several men loading the young Sasquatch onto a stretcher and being taken away. He could feel hands on him patting him down. Wincing as they touched his wounds, Artie wasn't sure if he was grateful or not when the rough hands let him fall to the ground.

"Hey…wh…what are you doing?" Artie asked as he saw the men turn and leave carrying the heavy animal.

"Hey!" Artie called after them, his cries falling on deaf ears as he watched their retreating backs.

WWWWWWWWWW

"What do you mean you left him there?" The man thundered as he rose from behind the desk.

"But boss…you said…"

"I expected you to use your brains, Jeff. You find government identification in the saddlebags at the TOP of the cliff and an injured man at the bottom. That man is a government agent probably sent here to look into my business affairs and you LEAVE him there for anyone to find." The man walked to stand toe to toe with Jeff.

"What about his horse?" The man rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Must I do all of your thinking for you? If you find the horse take the saddle and bridle and then let it go free. Anyone comes across it they will just think it's a wild horse."

"Okay boss…uh you want me to go get the agent and bring him back here?" The man asked warily.

"Bringing him back here would be real smart wouldn't it? NO you buffoon. Go and find that man and take him into town. If you hurry you can leave him on the doctor's doorstep and no one will see you." Jeff turned to leave when his boss's icy tone made him pause.

"And Jeff…see to it that you are not seen. If anyone sees you…do not bother to come back." Jeff swallowed hard and left the room.

WWWWWWWWWW

Artie painfully rolled over and looked around. Where did those guys go and why did they take the animal? Artie looked for signs of where they might have gone as he pulled himself over to a rock. Wincing as he struggled to sit on the rock, he knew he had to make a quick decision.

"Artemus, you've really done it this time. Up on that cliff you'd be spotted for sure…but down here you'll be lucky if a bear doesn't come along and eat you." Artie berated himself as he shook his head.

"There is no way I can get back up there." Artie muttered as he looked for something to use as a crutch. Seeing a broken tree limb Artie leaned down to grab it when he was hit from behind.

"What did you do that for, Jeff?" One of the men asked as Jeff bent to check on the fallen man.

"You want him asking a bunch of questions? This way we can dump his body at the doctor's door and be done with him. Ain't no way he can identify us if he never saw us now is there?" Jeff growled as he scooped the agent up and the men headed down the trail.

WWWWWWWWWW