Everett by Christine Sterling

Author:Christine Sterling [Sterling, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“I don’t know what to tell you, boy. More coffee?”

Everett nodded and held out his cup to Tot, who filled it with hot coffee. He refilled his mug and returned the pot to the fire. There were two things you could always count on with Tot. He always had a pot of coffee on the fire, and he was a source of wisdom to many men on the ranch.

Everett looked at the man who was a second father to him. His full name was Aristotle Wilson, Alice called him Tot, and the name stuck. He was about the same age as Weston Chapman, but his pace was a little slower. Although Tot told stories of his wild youth chasing Indians and pretty girls, he settled into a routine as he grew older. Everett wondered if all those tales he told the cowboys were true.

Tot’s mother named him after a philosopher she read about in a book. His name was fitting, as Tot was a philosopher himself. He had been on the ranch for as long as Everett could remember.

Tot simply appeared one day, and even though Everett was a child, he distinctly remembered Marmee embracing the man in a hug and welcoming him to the homestead.

Even his father clapped Tot several times on the back. When the Homestead Act of 1862 allowed men to claim one-hundred-sixty acres for a small fee, Tot claimed his right next to the Chapman land. Weston Chapman filed claims under his name, as well as the names of his five sons, giving him one of the largest plots in Flat River.

The Act stated that the land must be cultivated; either through farming or cattle, and a dwelling must be built on it. Tot’s land had a shack along the river. It was used as a hunting cabin when the men would seek wild game during the fall and winter months.

Tot had no desire to work the land, but he knew that to keep it, the land had to be worked for five years. So, he partnered with Weston. He assumed foreman duties until the oldest Chapman sons could take over.

Owen and Oliver left home to fight in the Civil War and Michael was killed, so the next in line was Caleb. Tot worked closely with Caleb teaching him everything he knew about cattle and horses. Then he taught Everett the same way. When Everett asked how he knew so much about ranching, Tot simply said from working on various ranches between Missouri to San Francisco.

Tot didn’t talk much about his past, other than the wild stories he would tell around the campfire, but Everett knew those experiences shaped Tot into the man he was today. Now, he stayed on the ranch cooking for the ranch hands. Tot enjoyed cooking and was appreciative that the men liked eating his vittles.

Tot cupped his hands around the coffee cup and blew on the steam rising from the cup. Everett did the same.

“What do you think I should do?”

Tot sipped his coffee thoughtfully.

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