For a city-born and bred woman, a trip to an Indian villiage would be a rare treat indeed. "And this Speed? He the Marshal you mentioned." Angie asked, trying to keep straight the names that Addy had mentioned along the way. Names that would be attached to live people once they reached Kalispell.
There was just so much to take in: names, places, all manner of new names for things. It seemed to her that every moment was an adventure all its own, and she was a part of it! Then she learned that the post near town had its own doctor, and that was somewhat of a relief to her. It meant that they could handle almost any injury that they might come across, and the hospital could handle whatever the Army couldn't.
"It's good to know that your ost has a doctor on staff; that's not true for a lot of posts out in the west. We hear about the lack of doctors out here and are constantly receiving material recruiting men to sign up. The ones I know of that served in the late war either advise against it or say nothing on the subject." She said, "But now and then there's a young one that fancies the brass buttons and shoulder straps and signs up."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Yeah, Speed Guyer, he's th' marshal an' Barnabas Pike's one'a his deputies. Both of em' got mines, an' Pike's have a cattle ranch, too. An' th' missus has some fine horses, Morgans. An' then there's Charley Wentworth, he's th' other deputy, but he's still pretty new to it, still learnin' his way, but he's a good man, an' there's plenty'a folks in town who'll stand with th' law, should it come ta that."
More than once the law had been overwhelmed, and there were several people in town who weren't adverse to getting involved.
"You'll figger it out, folks are pretty nice an' tolerant. 'Sept maybe Granny Miggins, but you'll know her right off...she's four foot aught, born before th' Country, an' mean as a polecat what got his stripe painted blue in th' Summer!"
Angie burst out laughing at Addy's description of this Granny Miggins person, who sounded like a hard-bitten frontier woman who had endured much in her life. But Addy's colorful way of explaining things never failed to brighten the moment. She would have to meet Granny Mioggins, she would make it a point to do so.
And then there were the three lawmen she talked of, men she would certainly meet, and what struck her was the idea that the Marshal and one Deputy both were involved in mining, one having a ranch also, his wife raising Morgan Horses, a breed she was familiar with as they were popular in the east and settled midwest.
"The people you've talked about all seem to be the kind of folks I would expect to find out here, both the good and the bad, just like Chicago, only on a smaller scale. I just know I'm going to love it out here!" She was beaming; everything sounded so exciting to her, though she realized that life in this town would not be anything like Chicaco, Illinois.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"I got no doubt on that," Addy declared, standing and starting to gather dishes. "So, let's get ta our dreams, mornin's not so far off."
They were facing a long day, and had a long one behind them, it was best to fold up for the night.
"Check on yer patient, though it sounds like he's already scarin' off th' haunts!" There was, indeed, a loud, steady snoring coming from the bedroom. Addy laughed. "We might could be sharin' th' barn with th' horses tanight, be quieter!"
"I'm listening, and sounds to me like the man is restying erasy, and I'll look in on him. I agree, we need to get some rest before thje sun comes." She got up and crept to the bedroom door, easing it open to reveal Pops fast asleep. The dog at the foot of the bed looked up at her and then laid back down.
He would be traveling along with his master, that was for sure, and as far as she was concerned, he would be a welcome companion on the trip. The last leg of her first adventure in Montana! Now it was time for some sleep before that final push to get Pop's to Kalispell and the help that was there for him.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Addy made quick work of the dishes, they really hadn't used much, then headed to a wardrobe in the main room, where she started pulling out blankets and pillows and tossing them on the floor. Next, she took out a rolled mattress that she spread on the floor, near the fire, but not too close!
"Got a nice soft mattress, we'll hafta share, but we get our own blankets, so ya can't steal mine!" It would be more comfortable than sleeping on the bare floor, and with the fire, they'd be nice and warm. "There anything else ya need?"
"This is going to feel like heaven!" She exclaimed, "I don't think a need a blessed thing, except to get under the blankets and nod off. A good night's sleep on a mattress - I doubt you can beat that out here!" After sleeping in the wagon or on the ground, a mattress was going to be much more comfortable.
"You know I almost regret that we're almost to Kalispell, almost. Not quite. It will be good to get there and start meeting people, settling in, and learning the countryside." She said as they got under their blankets and got comfortable. "Nite, Addy."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Well, doncha fret on that none," Addy chuckled, stripping down to her bloomers and camisole, then settling on one side of the mattress and pulling a blanket over herself. "There'll be plenty'a adventures still left for ya in town." She yawned. "It's just startin', Miss Lady Doc!"
Addy fell asleep quickly and she slept soundly, and while it was still dark when she woke up, she knew that dawn was imminent from the song of a lark outside the cabin.
With a sigh, she carefully rolled out of bed, trying to not disturb her companion...she had plenty to do, and Angie could still sleep a bit longer.
Angie came awake when Addy arose, eyes wide open, and her mouth as well, in a big yawn. "I'm up!" she declared. "Let's get to this." She quickly slipped into her clothes and pulled on her boots, thankful for her father's insistence that she have 'range clothes,' as he called them. She liked them alright; they served the purpose for the trip, but it would be back to conventional dress when they reached Kallispell.
"I'll just check on Pops and then lend a hand where needed," Angie said, sticking to how they had been doing things. She moved to the bedroom and eased the door open. Pops was still asleep, so if they were quiet about preparations, he'd probably sleep till breakfast, whatever that might be. There was no sense wasting time with cooking anything, except the coffee that was already made up; all that was needed was stoking the fire.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Mornin'," Addy greeted, stretching. She wasn't surprised that the doctor was up and ready to go, besides just being eager, Angie was the sort to get her hands dirty and get involved. "I'm goin' out ta feed th' horses, an' you can get Pops ready, straighten up in here."
They hadn't made much of a mess, but they still needed to leave the place neat. "Figure whatcha think would make a good nest fer th' old man in th' back of th' wagon. We'll hafta give th' team a bit ta eat before they git hitched, give us time fer some coffee. Reckon we can be on th' road in less than an hour."