If this is illegal where you live, you are under age or you are offended by gay love then I suggest you leave now. Since you are still here, enjoy. Drop me a line, I would like to hear from you. joecollins7420@yahoo.com
Chapter 5
"Dave, I am glad we found this little cave. That is some storm moving in on us. That lightning is getting closer and the thunder is really bouncing around the rock canyons. It is really getting loud."
"What is nice that we can build a fire in here and still have the smoke go outside. I am glad that you got in all the extra wood.. We should be able to keep a fire all night. Looks like the rain is starting. If it rains very much, we won't be traveling until it dries up a little. When this ground gets wet, it is slick! I don't know about you but I don't want to slip and fall."
"I fell once and that is enough for me."
"Tony, listen! I think I hear a dog or some other animal whining."
"You sure do. I am going to step the front and call out. Maybe he has someone with him."
"Dave, Look he is coming in with us. The poor thing looks half starved to death and is all wet. Look at him shake."
"I'll get a towel and see if we can dry him. We can warm him up by the fire. Poor thing! We cant call him he' anymore. Not the right equipment for a he."
"Tony, I think she likes you. Look how she has snuggled right next to you. She doesn't have any tags and looks to be about a year old. She is a purebred Golden Retriever. I wonder where her owner is?"
"Dave, I bet she would like some water. I know she could use some food. I think she hasn't eaten for quite awhile. She can have my share of tomorrow's food."
"And mine, also. We will take her with us and try to find her owner when we get out. She is really a nice dog."
The dog crawled into Tony's lap and went to sleep. Tony just sat there holding her in his arms.
"Dave, I never had a dog of my own. I always wanted one but Dad said no. I secretly hope that we can't find her owner but we will try." Tony said looking very sad. "For the time being I am going to call her Molly.
"Tony, I think the storm has moved on. We had better stay put tomorrow. I can go hunting and get us and the dog some more food maybe."
"Dave was that a train whistle?"
"It sure is! Sounds like it may be just 1 to 2 miles away. I certainly hope that there is a road along side the tracts. Train tracts are certainly hard to walk on but we can always travel close to it. That means we are getting close to civilization. I still think we had just better stay put for another day. We spent the rest of the evening, just sitting and talking. Molly never left Tony's side. He even had to take her to the mouth of the cave so that she could relieve herself. Tony and Dave used the bushes also while they we up.
Soon they decided to call it a day and go to bed.. Molly spent the night on the foot of their sleeping bags. Molly had more of a calming effect on Tony than everything that Dave said and did for him.
They lay awake and talked more. Tony put his hand on Dave and he instantly became hard as a rock. "Dave, I am getting a lot closer but not tonight. Soon!" Tony leaned over and gave Dave a kiss on the lips.
Both guys had a very restful and peaceful sleep. Dave was up early and went hunting. Molly stayed with Tony. She was his dog from the very start. Dave came back with a rabbit and two grouse.
"I see you were successful and I even heard the shots today. You must have gotten two birds with one shot. I only heard two shots."
"Actually, I hit one with a stick and killed it instantly." The crazy thing was hiding in the bushes and I could not get a clear shot. I threw the sick and killed it instantly but the other bird flew into a nearby tree and I had a perfect shot, so I took it."
After breakfast was over, they were just sitting on a log soaking up some sunshine. " I am glad that we are not traveling today. It is a mess out there. Tony, I think we had better undo your ankle today and leave the bandage off for awhile and let the air get to it some. That tape holds the heat in and you might develop a rash or some type of an infection, which could really cause you problems."
"You know I was thinking the same thing. Does that mean that you are taking a knife to some more of my clothes. I know you are just trying to get me naked!" Chuckled Tony.
"It is just a sock and I am not interested in what it covers. When I get to your shorts, then I will cut all of them up at one time." Sniggered Dave. "It is a good thing that I have a Swiss Army Knife. There is a pair of scissors in it. Now I could cut away all the duct tape without fear of going to deep and cutting the leg. If I had to use a knife, I would probably make a deep gash in the leg."
"Tony, when I cut away the tape, you may feel a shot of pain as the blood starts circulating again. I hope not but be prepared just in case. Here Goes. Hope for the best."
"Dave, I don't feel a thing."
"Good, now I want you to stand but at this time put very little weight on the leg. Give the blood and nerves a chance to come alive."
"Use the crutch and take a few steps. Just be careful!"
"Dave, I don't think I will need to have you re-tape my foot. I have a slight tingling pain but nothing I can't handle."
"Let's go down to the creek and give it a good soaking in that ice cold water."
After another good sleep, we started down the hill again. We had traveled about ¾ of a mile when we came to a well used dirt road.
"Dave, this is what we have been waiting for. I know don't cross it and turn left."
"First of all let's take a break and rest for a bit. I think I may be getting a blister on my right heel. Probably caused by not having clean socks. I can go on, if I don't have to go a long way. Why don`t we just sit here and eat our lunch."
"Sounds good to me! I am starting to get hungry. What do we have to feed Molly?"
"I saved ½ of the rabbit. So she can have that. Unless she is spoiled and won't eat cold food." Giggled Dave.
"Dave, I hear a car coming. Run to the middle of the road!"
"See you are a quick learner."
"Tony, We hit the jack-pot this time. This is a forest ranger. He will know this area very well."
We did not even have to flag him. He just pulled his vehicle to the side of the road and got out..
"I am Jeff and this is my work area. Can I be of any help to You? I see you found Suzie. She has been missing for 4 days now."
Tony and Dave took turns telling their story. "So can you tell us how far it to Little Fawn Campground? Our vehicle is parked there" Asked Dave. I can do better than that. I can take you right to you vehicle. You two look as if you need a lift." said Jeff.
"Jeff, When you drove up you called the dog, Suzie. Do you know her owner?. We would like to see that she gets back to the owner." Commented Tony. "Only she is not Suzie. I renamed her Molly."
"Yes, I know him very well. He is a elderly man and had to go into a nursing home. He gave her to a neighbor but she would not stay home and kept running off. I have been stopping off and leaving food and water for her. She left last week and I haven't seen her since. We have to go right past her place on the way to your car. You can drop her off, if you want." remarked Jeff.
"Do you think her new owners would like to get rid of her? I have taken a liking for her and would like to take her home with me." Tony said.
"I know they would be happy for you to take her and you won't even have to ask. They have told everyone that if a new owner could be found to give her away. They only took her because Mr. Peters couldn't keep her. She is yours, if you want her."
"Do I ever! Thanks, Jeff"
"We will go right by her place on the way. I will point it out when we get there. You will love it. It is a three bedroom authentic log cabin on about 3 wooded acres. If I didn't already have one very similar I would buy it myself. Mr. Peters is asking a price that is far to low but he wants to get rid of it and there are no heirs to get involved. He just doesn't want the state to take it over."
"Would you mind stopping. I would really like to look the place over." said Tony.
"I will be glad to. I know where the key is so we can look at the inside. Up here all we have to do is look out for the outsiders. The locals are not a problem and one could leave their property unlocked and no one would bother anything." Jeff replied.
"Why don't we load up and be on our way. I have to move some of the stuff on the back seat to make room for Mollie and Tony. Dave, you get shotgun!"
After a short drive, Jeff pulled into a driveway. This is Molly's old home. It is the place I was telling you about.
"I love it already. You didn't tell us that it was lake front property. Do you know who is handling the sale of this property." Tony was becoming very excited.
"Yes, it is Mary down at the General Store. Do want me to give her a call on the cell. We are back in a live area now."
"Yes, Please and have her bring all the needed paper work. I have seen enough to know that I have to have this property."
Jeff made his call. "Mary said she would be here in about 10 minutes and if this is a cash deal, she is prepared to make a you a very good offer. Let's get out and look around. I think you are in for a special treat. This is some of the best property on the lake."
Both Dave and Tony couldn't believe their eyes. This place was just like a picture out of a travel magazine. Inside the log cabin was even better. The furniture inside was all hand made and gave a real rustic look to the place. All the cupboards were made of rough unfinished lumber and were unpainted. There is a big stone fireplace in the living room and a small wood heater in each of the bedrooms. The kitchen contained a large wood cooking stove which was equipped with coils that were used to head water. Tony and Dave were surprised that he house had running water, electricity and a modern bathroom.
"There is an orchard out back. It contains several different varieties of apples, a couple of pear trees, an apricot tree and a prune tree. There is also a very large vegetable garden. If you are very industrious , a person could become very independent and grow all his own food.
"I forgot to tell you but there are two pack mules, a donkey, a pig, a milk cow and calf and about 30 chickens that comes with the place. They are over at a neighbors."
"Jeff, you forget that we are just two city boys. However, I have a housekeeper that will think that she died and went to heaven. She grew up on a farm until she was hired to raise me. I know that she will try to convert Dave and me to become farmers!" Tony said laughingly. "I am sure there is more than 3 acres here. I have 3 acres and this is bigger than my place. Mr. Peters always told every one 3. I don't even know if he ever had it surveyed. Mary will know for sure. I think she just pulled up!"
After the introduction, Mary took us on a tour of the place. Mary said the place actually contained 5½ acres and had its own well. It was surveyed before Mr. Peters put it on the market.
Mary had us sit at the kitchen table for the sales part. Tony was just about beside himself, almost jumping up and down like a little kid in a candy shop.
"Tony, I can let you have this place for $70,000 dollars cash. It is easily worth 3 times that much or more."
"Mary, I can write you a check. You will probably want to wait until it clears the bank. We can come back next Saturday and complete the deal. All I need is a written receipt and a short statement outlining the deal."
"Tony, I have already done that all I have to do is fill in your name, address and date. I will see you next weekend and give you the deed to this place. I see you have already met Suzie. I forgot to tell you she comes with the place."
"Jeff has already filled me in with all the details. I will just take her home and we can return on Saturday. It has been my pleasure. I can`t wait to move in. I love this place."
Jeff took us to our car. We were glad to see it! Jeff saved us about 3 miles of walking. Tony called Martha and told her were on the way home and had lots to tell her.