Chapter 57 Part 57
Asher
It took them 40 minutes to reach the wooden cabin in the woods. There was still a pile of wood on the inside that Asher hadn’t used on his last visit to the place. Blair got the fire going while Asher and Colt took the saddles off the horses, fed them, and watered them. They left the horses to eat, which would also help them generate heat along with their thick coats of winter fur.
“What’s for dinner?” Colt asked.
“Eden packed some meat in a container that I’m going to warm up now. In that other plastic container, she put biscuits.”
Colt started rummaging in the bags while Asher took out the thermal blankets and unrolled their bedrolls. Even if the fire went out during the night, they wouldn’t freeze.
When they’d finished their flasks of coffee, Asher took the large kettle from the hook on the wall, and walked outside. He scooped clean snow into it and headed back inside. They’d melt the snow for coffee after they’d had dinner.
They sat cross-legged on their bedrolls and ate their dinner. Colt pulled a bag of cookies from his backpack and grinned. “I brought dessert.”
Blair chuckled, and accepted his share of the cookies. After they’d finished the cookies, Asher took the plates and utensils outside, rubbing them clean in the snow.
A steaming mug of coffee was waiting for him when he returned. He took his jacket off and sat down. He sipped his coffee as the wind picked up outside. He hoped Bear Claw was somewhere safe, as well. He had no idea if Bear Claw had food with him or a weapon to defend himself with. He feared that, at some point, they’d find his frozen body somewhere, and if it started snowing again, they might only find him in spring.
“You really think they left one of their friends behind?”
Asher looked at Colt, frowning slightly. “It’s Bear Claw that got left behind. I don’t think they were his friends. Charlie said he’s been having trouble fitting in at school. I think these two boys came up with a ploy to get Bear Claw in the woods, and I think they left him there, probably beaten up.”
“I hope you’re wrong, Asher,” Blair said.
“I’m not wrong.”
“Why would they do that? Because he’s Indian?”
“Because he’s different. People aren’t good, Colt. People are bad. If you’ve seen what I’ve seen, you’d understand it better. I’m glad you haven’t, and I don’t ever want you to experience that, but there’s evil in all men.”
“You’re not evil,” Colt said, softly.
“I’ve killed.”
“You were fighting for your country,” Blair said. “I know it’s not like the movies and stories that show the brave men and how they romanticize it. I know it’s ugly, and raw, but you are not evil.”
“I would’ve killed Malcolm Walters if I had the chance. In fact, I was working on a plan to lure him out, throw his body over that cliff near the border; you know the place I’m talking about?”
“Yeah, a few miles from the ravine. They would’ve never found him,” Colt said.
“Exactly.”
“That doesn’t make you evil, Asher,” Blair said.
“What does it make me?”
“A man.”
Asher shook his head. “I’ll never forget the way she said those words. That bastard forced her, took her innocence away from her, and made her his toy, a pet.”
“When they arrested you, I was thinking to myself that you should’ve told us. We would’ve helped you get rid of the body,” Blair said.
“Thanks, I’ll remember that for next time,” Asher said.
“Next time? What next time?” Colt asked.
“Sean’s still out there. I’m under no illusions that he won’t come knocking, either looking for revenge, or just to hurt Maggie out of spite,” Asher said.
“Damn, I didn’t even think about that,” Colt said.
“We’ll keep our eyes open,” Blair said. “But he’s already a dead man walking.”
“We should get some rest. I want to leave as early as we can. Bear Claw won’t survive another night if he’s still alive,” Asher said.
Blair put more wood into the stove fireplace, and they all settled into their bedrolls. The moon shone weakly through the one window as Asher stared at it. He thought about Maggie and smiled. Soon she would be Maggie Fitzgerald.
“Asher, I’m not a threat to your relationship,” Blair said.
“I know, Blair. I wasn’t worried about that.”
“Then why did you call me out like that?”
Asher sighed, shifting so he could look in Blair’s direction. “I didn’t want you to pine over a woman you couldn’t have. It’s hard loving someone who doesn’t love you back, and you deserve better. You’re my brother, and I love you. You deserve a woman who loves you completely, one who will stand by you, even if you go to jail for the weekend.”
Colt chuckled again. “The dream wife, one that sends you food in jail.”
“It’s not like I want to feel this way. I don’t even know when it happened. She’s just…so…innocent, but strong, too. I get why you asked. I would’ve probably decked you one after that night out.”
Asher grinned, and put his hands under his head. “I think I fell in love with her when she hit me with that broom.”
They all laughed, and Blair moved to a sitting position. “I’m sorry, Asher.”
“You don’t have to be sorry, Blair. I get it. Sometimes I wonder why she chose me, but I’m glad she did. She brings light to my darkness.”
“Well…since it’s confession time. I did something…with a married woman,” Colt said.
“What?” Asher’s and Blair’s voices mingled together as they spoke simultaneously.
“I didn’t know she was married at the time it happened,” Colt said.
“Well, stay away from the woman. It doesn’t say much about her as a person,” Blair said.
“Don’t judge her, Blair. You don’t know anything about her,” Colt said angrily.
“And neither should you!”
“I like her,” Colt said.
“Does she live in town?” Asher asked him.
“I’m going to keep my mouth shut and go to sleep now. Since when are you two so holier than thou? I’m never telling you anything again,” Colt said.