TWENTY-NINE

 

 

May 24th, 1887

Central Idaho Mountains

 

WADE DIDN’T FEEL like he was in a hurry and before they risked their lives, he wanted to stop and think. So they took a break, pulling out a map of the Grapevine Springs valley.

They had both studied the map many times before, and both of them knew this was the only way in and out of this valley. When the town got started, a wagon road was built into the town along this stream. And even though the town was remote, very few were ever killed trying to get to the town once that wagon road was dug out.

The mountains were so steep on both sides of the valley around the town that they made some of the best downhill skiing in the world. And the valley ended just above the town site in a rock cliff.

On the map he could see exactly where they were located.

“So say we get across this going in,” Sophie said. “We have to cross it coming out as well.”

Wade nodded. He had been thinking the same thing.

He went back to the edge of the slope and studied the area above them. If anything, it got steeper and snow still clung to the massive cliff that fed this scree slope. Nothing about it looked stable.

“We have no good options here,” he said.

Sophie nodded. “And even if we do get across twice, we have to come back in here in a month or so with even more supplies.”

Wade nodded to that.

“So we stop and build the trail now?” he asked.

She shrugged. “We build it now or on the way out or on the way in. One way or another, we have to build it.”

He agreed. “Let’s see if we can find a decent camp close by.”

They found one just about twenty yards to the side of the talus slope. It had an area that was flat enough for their tent and a place in the brush to tie up the horses and feed them.

“Know anything about building a trail?” Wade asked her, smiling.

“I know we start first thing in the morning,” she said, kissing him.

Wade liked that idea more than he could imagine. After just a few hours on this game trail in this valley, he felt exhausted. And what did it matter that they were late getting back to Boise for a week or so. Duster would wait for them.

They spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the brief time the sun was hitting the camp and then eating a light dinner.

As the sun still hit the rock cliff above them, they fed the horses and got ready to call it a night. The air already had a chill to it and they had both put on their coats again.

Suddenly, the horses seemed very restless.

Wade instantly looked around for a snake nearby as Sophie worked to calm one of them.

But it did no good.

Then, over the sound of the water below them came a rumbling that sounded more like a massive piece of equipment moving.

The horses bolted, knocking Sophie to the ground.

Wade went to her and pulled her to her feet as the ground around them shook.

What was happening?

He had no idea.

“Slide!” Sophie shouted over the intense noise.

He instantly realized she was right.

And a moment later a twenty-foot wave of rock hit them.

Neither of them even felt a thing.

They were both dead instantly.