Mountain Woman Snake River Blizzard by Johnny Fowler Read Free Book Online

composed a short report and handed it to the agent.  “If anything urgent comes in for us, please let a policeman know.”
    “Will do, Deputy Marshal Kate.  S ince I send all of the telegrams, I know what you’ re waiting for.  I’ll get word to you one way or the other.  I didn’t know Highsmith that well, but he came in to send wires.  Being tortured that way was awful , and for nothing.  I mean, since he didn’t know the combination to the safe.”
    Kate bid him goodbye and went to the store for supplies.  The merchant helped carry her purchases out to the mule and helped load them.  “Thank you,” she said.  “I talked to Dunlap and he said all the signs pointed to a really bad winter.  Should we get snowed in, I wanted to have a good supply of food.”
    “I hear the Indians are saying that ,” the storeowner said .  “ They have a lot of signs they use to predict the weather and I’ve learned to listen to them.  I ordered extra merchandise to be on the safe side.   There have been times the wagons that bring in supplies couldn’t get here. ”
    Kate mounted Red Bird and turned toward home.  She noticed a man watching her and when she was closer, he stepped out and held up his hand.
    “Deputy Marshal Kate,” he said.   “I know who you are, of course.  E verybody in Coeur d’ Alene knows about you and your m arshal husband.  It’s no secret anymore about Bob Engledow and Al Valdez being suspects in the murder of Highsmith .  My name is Clifton Landers, but most call me Cliff . ”
    Kate waited.  S he knew Cliff had something he wanted to say.
    “What I’m trying to put into words,” he stammered.  “I knew Lucille and her husband.  Lucille and my wife were friends.  I lost her about t he same time Lucille lost her husband.”
    He paused, searching for what to say.
    Kate saw his dilemma and helped him out.  “ You wonder if she would welcome you calling on her.”
    A huge smile crossed his face as he nodded his head .
    “That I don’t know,” Kate said.  “But, I suggest that you ta ke some candy or flowers and knock on her door and you could find out.  Maybe invite her out to something.  While the weather is pretty, you could have a picnic or take her to eat.  I know she has been cooped up in her cabin and has had a rough time of it.”
    “I know she has,” Cliff said.
    “I can’t speak for her, of course, ” Kate added.  “B ut , if I were you, I would give it a try.  If you don’t, you’ll never know.”
    “Thank you,” he said.
    “I finished my shopping and I’ m on the way home.  I’ll drop by and see her .  I need to do that , anyway .  A nd , if you want, I’ll mention that you asked about her.  I can casually mention that you would like to see her.  That way, when you knock on her door , it won’t be a surprise.  She’ s very cautious now, so if she knows to expect you, she’ ll be more prepared.”
    “Thank you,” Cliff said.  “Tell her I’ll be by about six this afternoon.   As soon as I close my store. ”
    “You own a store?”
    He pointed over his shoulder.  “Landers Mercantile.”
    Kate nodded.  “I’ll tell her to expect you.  It was nice meeting you, Cliff Landers.”
    She smiled as she rode toward Lucille’s home.  Cliff seemed like a nice man and maybe he was what Lucille needed .
    She slowed Red Bird as she approached the home of Bob Engledow.  There didn’t appear to be anybody at home, but she decided to check.  She rode to the barn , tied Red Bird and the mule to the fence , and went into the barn.  It was empty.  She checked the stall and the manure was older.  There wasn’t a horse here last night.
    Kate pulled her Walker Colt, slipped another bullet into it, and returned it to her holster.  She walked to t he back door of the house, put her ear to it , and listened for a full minute.  There were no sounds from inside.
    She pulled her pistol and tried the door.  It was open as expected.  Her