Tales of the Old West

The ranch was gripped by the teeth of a winter storm as the seasons turned. Mabel warmed her hands by the stove, feeling grateful to be indoors on such a night when she heard a pounding at the door.

"For the love of God, please help me!" 

A man, rimed in ice, stood in the doorway. He explained that he'd been driving a wagon over from Silver City and it was now stuck a mile or two up the road, with wolves circling. Mabel looked at Loretta for confirmation, but of course they would ride out to help.

The fight was a tough one, as the wolves driven mad by hunger attacked as a pack. Archibald bravely hid behind a tree as Loretta rushed to engage the largest wolf. Theodore's gun exploded in his hand as he took his first shot and Mabel seemed to falter as one of the smaller wolves charged directly at her, knocking her down. A few lucky shots and a punch from Loretta turned the tide, and even Archibald managed to score a hit as the last wolf turned tail and ran.

The posse took the wagon back to the ranch, and the man introduced as Wesley Boyd, explaining that he was bringing supplies for the US Army, with an advance guard due to arrive in a few days. The storm finally subsided, and on a bright morning, a patrol rode into town led by the dashing Captain Dederich on a stunning chestnut coloured Arabian horse.

He introduced himself and charmed Loretta as he engaged her services as stabling and livery for his horses. Loretta, in turn, immediately charmed his horse which she renamed 'Conkers'.

The Captain addressed the council, promising to hunt down the last of the thieving Indians that had been raiding ranches in the area. He offered to deputise anyone willing to ride out with the patrol and fight the good fight.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Theodore heard someone breaking in to the barn in the middle of the night. It proved to be a young Apache brave, half starved and desperate for food. He was caught unawares and surrendered as he had no stomach for a fight. He had two companions who were in an equally sorry state, and they gratefully accepted Loretta's offer of stew. The explained that the whole tribe was suffering and Loretta immediately offered to house them and give them employment to replace the ranch hands that had recently succumbed to pneumonia.

Archibald managed to bamboozle an army patrol as they bought the old, the young and the sick back to the ranch hidden in the back of a wagon. 

Things are about to get interesting in Steaming Rock