The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole Read Online Free Page A

Julie snagged little Tilly and pushed her back into the cabin. She then lit a candle, and holding a bucket upside down over it to keep it dry, walked outside, kicking the door shut behind her. Caleb held his rifle at the ready as they went over to check on Dusty and the wagon.
    â€œIs he OK?” asked Julie as she held the candle up for Caleb to see.
    Caleb stroked his horse to try to calm him. “Easy, boy.” Caleb felt around Dusty’s neck and shoulders. “It doesn’t look like it got its teeth into him. There are a few deep claw scratches, but nothing serious. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
    â€œOh, no! They got most of our food. Look.” They could see that the wolves had torn off the wooden top of their supply chest. Their teeth marks were visible, even on the metal hinges. Soaked to the bone, Caleb took another look around, thinking that any animal that could do this to wood and metal could make short work of them. A snap of a branch in the tree line startled him and he raised the Sharps quickly. It was Tumble, jogging proudly back. The wolves had fled.
    â€œGood boy, Tumble,” Caleb gave the little mutt a scratch on the head.
    â€œSaved the day,” Julie added with a smirk.
    ***
    â€œKearney Junction is still pretty far off. Maybe we should head to Red Cloud.” Julie sat in the cabin, studying a map in the candlelight.
    â€œNo!” exclaimed Tilly. “We’ll get attacked!”
    â€œNo, Tilly, not the Indian, Red Cloud. I mean the town. Folks named it after him.” Julie managed a laugh as Tilly snuggled fearfully into her arms. “Besides, Chief Red Cloud doesn’t fight anymore. He went to Washington to try to make peace for his people.”
    Caleb smiled sadly as he listened to Julie talk about the once fierce Sioux Chief. It reminded him of happier times of being gathered around the family supper table, listening to his father rail against politicians in Washington for breaking many of the Indian treaties. He would often peer from around his newspaper and snap off a question about the Indian Wars or politics. If you didn’t know the answer, he would hand out paper and pen and with a stern look say, “Write it down, son!” Then he would grin and ruffle Caleb’s hair. He did a lot of writing during supper. Julie, it seemed, always knew the answers.
    â€œI don’t think the railroad goes through there yet,” said Caleb. “Maybe we should head east to Kansas City, pick up the train there.”
    â€œToo far. Our food won’t last.” Julie chewed her lip as she ran her finger along the map.
    â€œWhat if we head west?” offered Caleb.
    â€œThere’s nothing. You’d have to go all the way to Colorado. No, Red Cloud is our best bet. Looks like it could be about a hundred miles.” Julie studied the map and stroked Tilly’s hair. “We could stock up on food and then head north for Kearney Junction. Closest train is there. According to the map, we can take it all the way to Utah. Then we head up to Montana Territory.”
    Caleb kicked himself for not thinking of bringing their food in at night. That was one mistake. The other was not reloading the Sharps fast enough. He vowed to practice. “How much money do we have?”
    â€œAbout fifty dollars. But that should get us to Virginia City. The letter says the thousand dollars is in the bank there. We’ll pick it up and then find Aunt Sarah’s ranch. We could always sell Dusty for more money in Kearney Junction before we get on the train.” Julie looked at Caleb’s crestfallen expression.
    â€œI’ll never sell him,” said Caleb, shaking his head at the thought. He couldn’t imagine his world without his faithful horse.
    â€œSorry, bad idea. We’ll find a way to take him on the train,” said Julie as she wrapped Tilly in her blanket. “We better head out as soon as the rain lets