Meleah's Western - Part 46

A Warm Welcome Wednesday Readers,
Yes,
it is warm outside! It has been in upper 90's or the 100's for days
now. Trying to stay cool can be a challenge. I'm very thankful for AC
and ice cream.:) No, I have not been eating ice cream for breakfast
though my mom remembers do so on hot summer days.

Boy,
this western is really moving along! I'm hoping to have it done,
proofed and published by the end of the year. I do have a problem
though. I don't think I should call the book "Meleah's
Western." At least not on the cover. So, starting today, I'm taking
title ideas. You may suggest as many as you want as often as you want
but the one who's suggestion I use for the title will receive a fee
signed copy of the western once it is published. How's that for
incentive to get thinking?:) So put your thinking caps on, have fun and
enjoy Part 46

Part 46

Ty was silent. Staring up at the ceiling a moment, he sighed. “I reckon
I ought ta follow yer orders an’ if’n ya say I’ve got ta quit frettin’,
well,” and he sighed again, “I reckon I’ll have ta.” He looked at Jack
and gave a slight grin.
Standing up, Jack returned the grin and said, clapping him gently on
the shoulder, “Get some rest now and I just might let you sit outside
for a while this evening.”
“Anything ta get outside again, Doc.” And Ty yawned and closed his
eyes.
In two more weeks, Ty, still looking pale, having lost much of his dark
tan during his illness, was up and about. His only thought now was to
get back in the saddle and continue the search. Jack was somewhat
hesitant about it, but since Ty’s shoulder wound was healed and other
than not having regained his former strength and stamina, he was fit if
he went easy, he didn’t protest. Carson and Sally, much as they had
enjoyed their stay, were likewise ready to be on the move once more.
And so, preparations began for their departure. Not much time was
needed, however, for the threesome traveled lightly with only two pack
horses.
“Now, Sally,” Mrs. Fields admonished the following morning after
preparations were complete and Jed and Joe were helping Carson saddle
the horses and load supplies on the pack animals, “do write to us each
town you come to if you can so that we can hear how things are going.”
“I will,” Sally blinked back tears. She was going to miss this motherly
person more than she thought it was possible. “Thank you for
everything,” she murmured, looking so like a child, that Mrs. Fields
instinctively kissed her cheek.
“Don’t mention it, Dear. Just let us be hearing from you often.”
Nodding, Sally, accompanied by Mrs. Fields, went out of the house to
where the men were gathered.
“All ready, Sally?” Ty asked, eager to be off.
“Yes.”
“Carson?”
“Any time, Ty. I reckon we ought ta get on if’n we aim ta reach any
place by dark.”
“We’ll reach it,” Ty grinned. “Any place out under the stars’ll work. I
got a hankerin’ for some campfires an’ sunsets. I ain’t complainin’
‘bout stayin’ here, mind ya.”
“Sure you aren’t,” Joe chuckled. “Maybe it was just the bed you’re
tired of.”
“You should have let him sleep on the floor, Jack,” Jed put in, and
everyone laughed.
Carson handed Sally her father’s six-shooter and she buckled it on,
remarking to Ty as she did so, “I don’t know which of us is the better
shot now.”
Ty couldn’t help grinning. “I reckon we’ll find out ‘fore long.”
“You all take care of yourselves,” Mr. Fields directed as Ty, Sally and
Carson mounted their horses, and, turning their heads towards the
south, waved a final farewell to those gathered in the barnyard behind
them..
“I’ll write,” called back Sally with a bright smile, and then they were
off.
Not wanting to break the silence of the late morning, enjoying the
sunshine, feeling the fresh breezes sweeping down from distant mountain
peaks, each lost in his own thoughts, the trio rode in silence for
several miles. It was good to be on the back of a horse again. Ty
sighed in satisfaction. How he had missed this vast expanse of nothing
but nature. Looking back, he could no longer make out the faint wisp of
smoke which marked the hospitable home of the Fields. At last they were
once again traveling on towards their goal of finding Eleanor Elliot,
his missing, youngest sister. How long would it take before the search
was ended? Weeks? Months? Years? Ty didn’t know. But this he did know,
nothing but death would stop him from fulfilling his father’s dying
request.
It was Carson who at last broke the silence. “How far ya feel like
ridin’ today, Ty?” he asked.
Ty hated to admit it, but, it had been so long since he had been in the
saddle or had done anything except sit or lie around, already he was
feeling rather faint and weary.
After a quick glance at her brother, Sally saved him the trouble of
admitting his weakness. “I haven’t been riding much, so if it’s all
right with both of you, I’d like to take a rest. Those trees look
pleasant and shady.
“That’d be right fine by me,” Carson agreed. “Ty?”
Ty nodded but didn’t speak.
No sooner had they dismounted than Ty, stretching himself out with a
deep sigh of satisfaction, fell asleep, more worn out than he though
was possible after such a short ride.
Sally built a fire while Carson set off to see if he could shoot a
rabbit or squirrel for their noon meal.
It was several hours before they set off again, this time halting as
the sun was beginning to sink behind the mountains in the west. Sitting
around their campfire, Ty watched the flickering flames, listened to
the last good-night chirps of the birds and enjoyed the taste of his
sister’s cooking. “I missed this,” he said simply, quietly, to no one
in particular.
“I didn’t know how much I missed it as well until tonight,” Sally
whispered.
“It jest ain’t the same livin’ under a roof with other folks. Don’t
matter how nice they are,” added Carson. “An’ I aim ta enjoy them stars
above for a while ‘fore I sleep.” So saying, he lay back on his blanket
with his arms folded under his head.
Following his example, Ty also lay down, but before many minutes had
passed, his star gazing was over, and Sally, watching him, saw his
eyelids close and his whole body relax and knew he was asleep.
“It worked, Carson,” she breathed. “He’s asleep. I don’t think he knew
how tired he really was.”
Carson rolled over, propping his chin up in his hands. “I reckon we can
all take things easy for a spell.”

Any Title suggestions?