[MG&M Detective Agency 02] - The Hilltop Ranch Affair by Rick Adelmann

Author:Rick Adelmann [Adelmann, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Private Investigators, Historical, Traditional
ISBN: 9781649140029
Google: wPntDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B08B47W9ZR
Barnesnoble: B08B47W9ZR
Goodreads: 54422708
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Rescue Party

Once prepared, the rescue party left. We didn’t come to the reunion with clothing suited for extensive travel in freezing weather. Fortunately, the Johnston family kept a storage closet with all we needed. Charles led Max and me to the rear of the cabin, where we located the add-on.

I walked inside, finding a stack of snowshoes. “Ah,” I said, “exactly what we need. I worried about dragging the sleigh. Even after stripping it down, it would have been difficult.”

“With you two bulls pulling it?” Charles said. “I’m sure you’d handle it.”

“Speak for yourself,” Max said, smiling at his employer. “We expect you to relieve us on occasion.” Max’s smile faded into a frown when he asked, “You’ve got two horses in the corral, why are we going without them?”

“One of the horses is lame; the other is a colt. The young horse isn’t ready to travel in deep snow, pulling the wagon alone,” Charles explained. “It would be safer for us to do it.”

“We’re wasting time, gentlemen. There’s an injured man out there,” I reminded them. “Throw these parkas on, grab the snowshoes, let’s move.”

“Yes, sir, Major,” Captain Johnston said with a salute. “I forgot you outranked me.”

“I outrank you both,” Max added. “I’m a civilian.”

We stepped out the rear door of the Hilltop house into the ten-degree weather. After being tucked away in the cabin with three fireplaces blazing, it felt like hell outside. With my thick leather boots to keep my feet warm, I trudged forward. Charles and Max followed.

The previous night’s wind, which drifted the snow deeply against the house, had also partially cleared the roadway, so we didn’t need our snowshoes as we started the trek toward Sheridan. However, we remained alert to intermittent deep drifts and hidden ditches at the road’s edge.

I remembered the bare trees from when we rode up on the wagon. They looked so stark, filled with death. That’s what winter is, a sleeping death, with nature waiting patiently to awaken. Only the sun showed life, glaring off the snow, causing all of us to squint and shade our eyes.

After a few hours, I started to feel exhaustion setting in. I knew the cold would drain me of energy. However, I didn’t say anything to my companions. I needed to stay focused on being in command. Besides, I didn’t want them to crack any jokes about ‘the old man.’ Somebody might get smacked.

“Damn, it’s cold,” I heard Charles say.

I looked up, glaring at the young man. “Quit your bellyaching. The Army spoiled you by sending you to sunny France. Keep going.”

From the rear, I could hear Max laughing. “You can be a real jackass, can’t you, Major?”

“When I have to be,” I answered. “Besides, the only weight I want on the sleigh is the injured cowboy, maybe someone to hold his hand. And, Stephanie Stevenson isn’t here.”

“Hey, watch it, Major,” Charles said. Both Max and I burst out laughing. Charles turned, looking at Max, “If it gets any colder, that handlebar mustache of yours will freeze, and I’ll snap it off on one side.

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