pages 300-303

Page 300-302

                “Did you know,” Jim said, as the team went into a steady trot, and consulting his watch, “that we will have to travel some to make up for lost time.”

                “Oh, but it was all so interesting,”  I replied, training the field glasses for the last time on the old cowboy, galloping off over the desert, hoping someday we’d meet again for more of his long gone by talks, thinking, I remember he said, “Take good care of your selves, we may meet again sometime.” When he rode away on the desert into the rays of the midday afternoon sun.  I said to Jim, whose mind was on other things more important, scarcely hearing me when I spoke, finally poking him with my elbow, “Are you asleep or in a trance?”

                Neither,” he replied, “just thinking of getting there.”

                The Valley, practically behind us, we were on the climb, heading for the point of the mountain, that windy point, where it mattered not, what direction the wind blew, ir was always windy, even when a stillness prevailed.  Here we were, the closer we came, the harder the wind blew.  “Hang on to your hat,”  Jim said,  “here it is, “ stopping the horses for awhile before making the descent to view Rupert and that of the Minidoka County surrounding it, what a lovely scene, so pleasing to the eye.  There was the cold old Snake River and the bridge we would soon cross, down hill all the way, we’d soon be there, the smell of the lush green alfalfa rose from the damp earth and here was the river.  Driving along pretty close to its bank, with the wind in our faces, and the Killdeers with their sharp whistling cry, we found much around the river, the black birds whistling their shrill note, swaying back and forth on cat tails, that grew in clusters along the waters edge, the meadow lark sounding off in a sweet thrilling way, the wild ducks in numbers swimming with the tide, then the horses hoofs making that pounding noise on the bridge.  We were leaving Cassia County and entering Minidoka County.  This looked good to dry farmers, everything so green and lovely.  But , our wheat fields were just as nice, with green grass and flower-bedecked hillsides for a backstage, but we did not have the pretty flowers and green lawns as they, and their lovely shade trees, it took water for all of this, more than we had.

                Turning to me, Jim said, “They have already arrived, it’s later than you think.” But, we had told them should this happen, where Jim’s uncle and aunt lived, driving directly to his uncle’s house They came out on the lawn as the team came to a stop. Iw as so glad to see my sister, I could hardly get out of the white top wagon fast enough, as she came to meet me.  Then, my brother- in-law and their three sons, it was a very happy reunion.

                Jim took the team out to his friends place, while we all went in.  There was no need of an introduction for they had already met this grand, wonderful family, Jim’s uncle, aunt and children.  What a nice visit we had that evening together, in this lovely home.  My sister and her husband were most impressed, being the first time they had met.  The hours passed rapidly, it was late before we retired.

                Jim awake early to go out and bring the team and white top in for us to get on with the long trip back to the ranch, after breakfast, suitcases were loaded and all in, going into the business section, did quite a lot of shopping at the different stores, then back later to bid Jim’s folks goodbye and thanking them, then off to the depot, where my brother -in-law would take the next outgoing train on his way to Montana, the city of Havre, where he would get things ready at their ranch some miles from Havre when his wife and sons’ visit would be terminnated and they returned there.

                Soon out on the road, the team took on an added git, trotting right along while we visited.  I always enjoyed these trips, but getting home was much more enjoyable.  Soon out of the Minidoka County across the Shake River bridge and into Cassia, off to a good start, back over the road we had come over just the day before, here was the climb, and after an hour or more, the point of the mountain with its usual wind.  The day passed rapidly and noon found us a Raft River.  Here we watered and fed the team, while we ate our lunch, and now that long ride across the flats, that wide valley.

                My sister said, “I see you have those wide open spaces just like we do in Montana, in fact much the same.”
                I was busy picking up objects here and there with the field glasses, for to our left was a cowboy herding cattle.  I was in hopes it was the old cowboy, but he was much too far away to find out, for he was heading in one direction while we were heading in another.  Soon my three nephews became interested in looking through the field glasses, taking turns, would call out in excited tones whenever something unusual came to view.  We paid little attention to them, for we were doing much visiting.  This was the first time my sister had met my husband but my sister’s husband by then was speeding away on the train to Montana.  After awhile all was quiet.  My sister sat thinking, as we neared the foothills and home, the sun still high in the sky and knowing she wanted to visit with our folks first, went on up the canyon, the quaken aspen smoke curling away over the hillside, showed mother was preparing the evening meal.

                Toby, spying us at the second gate, came bounding and barking to meet us.  This brought our folks out so all was on hand when we drove up.  You never saw folks so glad to see each other.  Jim and I stayed pt until it was all over, then as Jim started to turn the horses around to go home, Mother said, “No, no, come on in, you are to eat supper with us, also,”  But, we declined, saying the team was tired and we wanted to go home and get them out of the harness, calling back as we left, saying we’d be back another day.

                With a last wave, and the horses on a trot, we were soon out of the cool moist canyon, so different from the flats, with its dry or arid climate, it gave one’s face such a cool pleasant feeling, as the dampness arose from the floor of the canyon, mingled with the evening air.  At our gate, Jackie and Billy , Beauty’s colt, awaited us, in fact we heard Jackie gray long before we arrived.  First a cool and then a warm wind drifted down the section line enfolding us with its varied temperature as each blew against our faces like a caress.  With the chores done and removing the things from the white top, carried them to the house leaving them be as they were, we ate a light lunch and much tired from the day’s trip, retired for the night, only to be serenaded by our old friend , the coyote again with his crooning to a spring moon.  I well pictured him with his gaping mouth, head tilted back, nose pointed toward the mon, as his throat swelled and his jaws worked up and down emanating that supernatural voice so much a part of the coyote.  He and his wailing howl, so much a part of this country, ceased to have any effect on us, in most cases it aided us in getting to sleep.  Sleeping so soundly through the night, little realized it was morning until the sun came peaking in the window.

                Much refreshed, pushed back the quilts, slipped into my dress and started the fire in the range for the morning and then to get the breakfast, while Jim rode off to round up the horses.  Not far away this time, I barely had it started when I heard the whole bunch come on a gallop up the hill by the house. I went out quickly to help herd them in the corral.  This done, I went back to my cooking which by that time was  boiling over, and the toast much too brown, scraping some of the scorch off, stacked it up a plate, on top of the warming closet.  while I prepared the rest and set the table.  Glancing out, I could see Jim had hitched the team to the white top.  I knew then his plans were to take it home that morning, hurriedly, getting everything on the table, I then called Jim.  Soon settled and quite hungr4y because of our light supper, but I finished mine much faster for my plans were to go along, and I would have to comb my hair first.  I wore it in two braids, wrapped around my head now.  But, before I was married, I wore it in two curls down my back that had to be pulled aside to prevent sitting on it each time I sat down, with a large black bow at the back of my head. It was quite a chore to fix then and much more so now. I had it almost finished except putting  in the  pins when Jim announced he’d be going.

               “Wait,” I said, “I am going,” grabbing my coat for I found something new and pleasant in every journey we took.

                “I didn’t think you’d want to go,” he replied, “after the trip yesterday,”

                Jim helped me into the back, a slap of the lines on the horses’ hips and we were off.  An exceedingly lovely cool, but dry morning, not even any dew.  Once into the lane and by looking east, we could see father’s lovely field of wheat, so green, like a huge lawn, with the mountain for a backdrop or stage, surely he would have a good crop with so promising a stand.  I looked again through the field glasses and could see father and his two grandsons with Toby in the lead walking over it, it made an excellent picture even at this distance,  Then Jim got the team into a faster trot, thus my thoughts became attracted to other fields of grain, and various other things and objects.  Soon we were at the post office, but we’d get the mail later.  Warm Creek was flowing much faster so it seemed.  Then the ranch where we had borrowed the white top.  Those wonderful generous folks.  Now, to drive down that tree shaded lane to that homey ranch house.

                When Jim had changed the team from one rig to the other, he tied them and we went in, seating us in their living room for an hour or more of visiting.  The men’s voices much louder, causing the lady of the house and I to move to a  father corner, and here we slowly rocked back and forth while getting in our share of visiting.  An exceptionally nice person, one you could visit with for hours, without becoming tired.  After some little time, she excused herself, going toward the kitchen, I knew then she would expect us to stay for dinner , so I got up, saying to Jim, “We must be going.”  Then, they both insisted that we stay.  But, we declined, thanking them and inviting them to visit us, and soon we were off, stopping for the mail and looking it over, as we drove along.