It was early morning the next day. Alex had just gotten dressed and headed downstairs. Waiting for Scott and Jack to come down, he had a cup of hot tea. Until they came, Alex decided to take a look outside.

    The morning was sunny and humid; a stiff, hot breeze blew. The surrounding brushy plants and wildflowers were beginning to wither. He was glad August was nearly over, because the summer had been hot and dry. As he looked further out, he saw a glimpse of the Rocky Mountains. Alex sighed and closed the door, leaving himself outside.

    He thought he should probably see how Jeff was doing, since he was sick. Jefferson Carswell was the young man who Jack mentioned the day before. More than just a ranchhand, he was Alex’s closest friend, one of the only people he confided in. At the present time, Carswell was living with the Madisons at the Stonewater, but in the somewhat shabby added room on the side of the house.

    Alex knocked on the door of Jefferson’s room. After a few moments’ wait, he answered:

    “Come in.”

    Stepping inside, Alex said, “G’morning.”

    “G’morning,” Jeff replied. “I was just straightening this place up a little bit.” He paused and looked about the cluttered room. “Goodness knows it’s been a long time since that happened. I like it better messy, though, so I’ll have to undo all this cleaning.” He had muttered and slurred his words together as he said this. That was his usual way of speaking.

    “I take it you’re feeling better.”

    “Yeah, I’m all right.”

    “That’s good. It’s not been the best having Jim Astor take your place. He’s— not the most agreeable guy.”

    “I’m real sorry ‘bout that, Alex. I hate that I couldn’t work. But about Jim, I know what you mean. I’ve had a run-in or two with him. He seems— I don’t know.” Jeff stopped leaning against the wall and stood up straight, which showed his full height: 6 feet and 4 inches. “I don’t trust him. There’s just this greedy look about him. I think I knew a guy like him before.”

    “Really? What did he do, exactly?”

    Carswell’s eyes drooped. “He used to be a friend of mine. I guess the whole thing don’t matter, though.”

    Alex furrowed his brow.

    “It don’t matter, Alex. You wouldn’t want to hear.”

    Crossing his arms, he replied, “I think I would. That is if you’d be willing to tell.”

    Jeff, sighing, reluctantly said, “Well, it happened before I met y’all and came to the Stonewater. I was already living in Wyoming. I was homesteading and he had a claim near mine.”

    “Who’s ‘he’? The guy you mentioned before?”

    “Yeah. Him. We were both just starting off with making our way here in the West. He had a temper, like your Astor, but we depended on each other anyway.”

    Alex slowly smiled.

    “He was a good friend of mine, or at least I thought so. I didn’t notice his jealousy at first. Maybe I did, actually, but I wanted to ignore it. Stupid for me. Long story short, he turned on me. Robbed me of everything I owned, destroyed my property and left me penniless till y’all came along. Alex, I’m afraid that’s what Jim Astor is like. He might seem all right and trustworthy at first, but he’s only a greedy backstabbing monster.”

    Alex muttered, “I don’t trust him either, Jeff, but I’ve got myself into a predicament.”

    Jeff looked confused and asked what he meant.

    Alex bit his lip and fought a shiver. “Jeff, the very last thing I want is for you to get wrapped up in this.”

    “Get wrapped up in what?”

    “It’s nothing. Really. I can handle it on my own.”

    ~Finscoth Eire Martin~