BACK FROM THE SIERRA 5

dragoon wasnt a very big village and it wasnt laid out very orderly. it existed to support the rail road and being in a big boulder pile folks had built helter skelter among the bif rocks. . j.t. wandered around through the houses and boulders trying to follow the hand drawn map. soon he found himself at the edge of the houses and just a little farther out he could make out a small cottage. he rode to it and realozed it was the one he was looking for. it set next to a giant boulder twice the size of the little house. a corral was next to the house made fromstacked rock. the grass in it was knee high from not being used. a half of a wooden barrel stood along the fence catching water from a spring and over flowing into the corral. j.t. rode to the front of the cabin and leaned over and knocked. twice more but still no answer. he dismounted and hung his bridle rein on a snag on one of the boards of the house. he tried the door and found it open. inside he looked for anything that would tell him his sister lived here. the one room cabin was clean and orderly. on a dresser by the bed he found apicture, old and faded but it was of him, his mother and sister. he sat down on the bed and held the picture in both hands remembering the day they had the picture taken. outside the brown horse was stomping at the black flys buzzing around . j,t, got up and went out and led the horse to the corral and unsaddled him. he turnned him into the corral. he took his saddle bags from his saddle and carried them into the house then closed the door and sat down out side to wait until his sister returned. the sun was just starting to disapear behind the santa rita mountains when j.t. saw his sister walking his way. next to her walked a tall broad chested man with a large brimmed hat leading a sorrel horse. he carryed a bag on one arm. they stopped at the corral and at the sight of the brown horse the man growled" them damn 76 cowboys, ive warned them about comming around" at that point the blond girl looked up and saw l.t. leaning against the cabin wall. her mouth dropped open and a squeel came out. she broke and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing. the big man walked up on them" ime charlie foure, evedently adele knows you." he stuck out a ham sized hand. adele looked back over her shoulder" this is my brother j.t. , ive told you about him." " oh the gunman of lordsburg. i thought you were on the run." charlie said with a grin. " i been in mexico. but imeback to stay. i appreciate what you have done for adele." j.t. sounded a little shook up. " ill start supper, you two get aquinted" adele pulled loose from j.t.

BACK FROM THE SIERRAS 4

at every stop the train made j.t. would hustle into the frieght agents office and inquire about his mother and sister. some remembered seeing them. others didnt. in willcox the agent told him they had stayed over night. and his mother had been sick coughing and haveing a hard time breathing. but they wouldnt take his advice and stay on. they reloaded on the train west. j.t. grabbed a sandwich from a lunch bar and got back on the train. he rode the caboose and spent a lot of time standing on the little platform at the end of the car, watching the country as it sailed by. at the cochise station the train barely slowed as it whizzed by. the station there was a two story hotel with just 4 rooms. if there was a reason to stop the flag on the pole was up, but this day it hung limp. the next stop was dragoon. it had a few more people and it was a water stop before the trail turnned west toward tucson. before the train had stopped rolling on the sideing he had stepped off and trotted into the frieght office.. when he asked about his mother and sister the agent became suspicious and asked why he was inquiring. j.t. explained his reason for the chase and search. the agent shook his head slowly and pointed out a window" your mother lays there. when they arrived here it was late. your mother was very sick i put them up in the boarding house. they insisted they move on but it wasnt possible.. your poor mother died in her sleep that night. she is in the cemetary yonder." j.t. turned slowley but stopped" what about my sister? where is she?" "charly foure was in town that day, he set her up with a small house he owned . she takes in sewing and such , does house work. charlie checks on her when he comes to town." the agent told him. " where is that?" j.t. asked. the agent drew him a small map of dragoon. showing him where his sister lived. j.t. went out and unloaded his horse from the train.. when he returned he showed the agent his train ticket. the man looked at it then counted out 1 doller in change for the unused part of the ticket. . j.t. went out side and led his horse over to the cemetary. he tied his horse to a mesquite tree then stepped in side the gate and found his mothers grave. a few weeds were growing along the sides. he took the time to kneal and pull the weeds and brush up the soil that covered his mother. he sat there beside her for a long while then slowley got up." if i can mom ill hang out here and look after sis and you ime back for good." he mounted his horse and turned in the direction the map showed where his sister lived.