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“YOU BRUNG ‘EM IN DID ya?” Jed asked with a grin as he sat across the table from Titus.
“Yes sir,” Titus said, digging into his pie at the widow Bitters’ boarding house.
Old Jed chuckled, “I figured you would,” he chortled. “You got sand boy and you stick to a thing.”
“So are you planning on going back out to the dig?” Titus asked accepting a cup of hot coffee from the spry little woman who ran the establishment.
“No, I’m afraid my days as a prospector is over,” Jed said. “I’m getting’ married,” he added with a grin as he reached for Mrs. Bitters’ hand.
“Married?” Titus nearly choked on his pie.
“Yes, married. Birdie and me we found we get along real good and what with both of us not getting’ any younger, we figured we could help each other out runnin’ this here boarding house.”
Titus looked between the grizzled old man and the petite older woman then smiled. “I guess congratulations are in order then,” he said reaching across the table to shake both parties by the hand.
“Now that don’t mean you can’t go on out and work that claim,” Jed spoke up again. “Your names on that claim fair and true.”
Titus ran a hand over his face. He was weary from his long dusty ride back to Hester, and the thought of traipsing back out into the desert to dig rock had little appeal.
“I think my silver mining days are done.” he admitted. “It just won’t be the same without you.” He grinned making Jed chuckle.
“Well what ya gonna do with yourself then?”
Titus squirmed in his chair, “The sheriff offered me a job as his deputy,” he finally admitted.
“Sounds like a good job too, seeing how you already got experience.”
“What about your friend?” Mrs. Bitters asked.
“He’s movin’ on,” Titus said. “Seems he doesn’t like to stay in one place to long. He says he’s got the wander-lust.”
“Some folks do,” Mrs. Bitters said refilling his cup, “just can’t seem to settle anywhere.”
“I dropped the rest of the ore over at the assayers’ office by the way,” Titus said rising from his chair. “Bailey and me brought in what we’d already dug. I figured I’d give him a cut for his help.”
“Fair enough,” Jed said. “You do what you think best.” He patted Mrs. Bitters hand, “Birdie and me we got all we need right here.”
***
“THAT’S A FAIR BIT OF money for just pickin’ up rocks,” Bailey said as he saddled his horse in preparations to leave Hester.
“You worked just as hard as I did,” Titus insisted. “Just be mindful of your cash, maybe keep a bit in your boot for safety’s sake.”
He stopped, his mind going to something, a hint of a thought.
“You havin’ a memory again?” Bailey asked.
“I don’t know,” Titus admitted. “I seem to remember something about hiding money in a boot, but I can’t pin it down.”
“Maybe your pa taught you to do that; it’s wisdom.” Bailey said.
Titus shook his head. It had been more than a year now since Old Jed had taken him in, and he still couldn’t remember where he’d come from.
“Don’t push it Titus,” Bailey said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “It’ll come when it’s ready.”
Titus nodded. “I’m glad I had a chance to ride the trails with you,” he said. “If you ever need to reach me, you can write to Jed. I’ll find a way to get it.”
Bailey stuck out his hand shaking Titus’s. “Been a fine ride,” he offered then swung up on his horse and turned for the trails.
Titus watched his friend go hoping that the trail before him was smooth and that someday Bailey would find the home he had never needed.
Watching the big bay and the wiry blonde man trot out of town Titus wondered what the future would hold for him. Would he ever know where he’d come from? Only time would tell.
***
SUMMER TURNED TO AUTUMN, and autumn turned to winter with a rare light skiff of snow and an icy breeze.
“I got a job for ya,” Sheriff Davis said as Titus poured himself another cup of coffee to ward of the chill.
“It’s been pretty quiet here, what could you have for me to do?” Titus asked turning and looking out over the town beneath its quiet blanket.
“I got a notice the other day from a friend of mine by the name of Pike, said he had a missing persons report of a family who was making their way to Biders Clump and haven’t made it yet?”
“Doesn’t he have folks who can track ‘em?” Titus asked, he didn’t relish the idea of heading north in this weather.
“Problem is they come in from down this way and should have arrived over a month ago.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” Titus turned and looked at Sheriff Davis.
“No it don’t. Me and Pike figure maybe somethin’ happened closer to this side, so he wired me and asked if I’d take a look.”
“When do you need me to go?” Titus asked. “You want me to ride out today?”
“Best leave it for the morning. This snow will be gone before supper tonight so might just as well wait on it.”
“I’ll get my gear together,” Titus said simply, putting his cup down and heading for the Boarding house where he stayed with Jed and Birdie.
***
“YOU’LL BE CAREFUL NOW won’t you?” Birdie asked as Titus hefted his saddle bags and gear the next morning.
“I’ll be careful,” Titus smiled noting Jed’s hidden chuckle behind his coffee cup.
“And you’ll write when you can?” Birdie continued, handing him the scarf she’d knitted him.”
“Yes ma’am.” Titus agreed.
Birdie reached up and patted him on the cheek. “We’ll pray for ya.”
Titus shook Jed’s hand then stepped through the door. The weather was still cool, but the snow was gone, and he could only hope it didn’t catch up with him further north.
