Ain't No Way. Jerry Milam

you think I was interfering if I suggested another route?” asked Barney.

      John replied quickly, “No, I sure would not. Only a fool would tell you how many eggs he had before he counted his basket.”

      “Good,” sighed Barney. “I thought you might think like that. Now, if you head south-southwest from here, you will come across the Sevier River about camp-making time of the third day. Then follow the river for about three days and head straight west from there, you should reach Ely, a small settlement in Nevada. From there the roads are marked to Carson city. It will probably be about a day and a half longer this way, but you will have fresh water every day. That also means less work on your animals. If you go through the desert, you would probably have to rest the animals a couple of days anyway.”

      “You’re right about resting the horses, and I like the idea of having fresh water every day. It kind of appeals to me,” John admitted. “But I don’t know that trail. I was thinking that there was a reason why no one went that way, like Indians.”

      “Indians!” Now Bernie Douglas got interested in the conversation for the first time. “Martha, I didn’t know that we would have to fight Indians just to go on a honeymoon.”

      “Oh, stop whimpering,” Martha roared, then more gently, as she tried to break the tension, “Besides, knowing you, those poor ol’ squaws will probably have bought your whole lot of wares before you are through with them.”

      “Ain’t no way,” blurted out from over near the horses as Matt and Luke were tending them.

      “Yeah, there are some Indians that way,” Barney replied in the manner as to raise the eyebrows of Bernie and Luke. “I love the curiosity of youth,” Barney remarked as he looked first at Luke and then to Bernie then he continued. “And I hate ignorance and the failure to see progress, especially from an elder.”

      “John,” Barney continued, “as long as you stay on the north side of the river, you’ll be safe. South of the river is Comanchero territory. They are only friendly when they want to be. North of the river is Ute country. They are friendly enough unless you rile ’em. But if you make Big Elk mad, you will have an enemy for life.”

      “Sounds like you know this Big Elk personally,” John questioned.

      “We’ve crossed paths a couple of times,” said Barney as he got up and went over next to the fire for another cup of coffee.

      “I would have gotten you some more coffee if you had asked,” snapped Martha. The truth was that she was so interested in the conversation that she might not have heard it if he had asked.

      “I know, ma’am, but it was time for me to stretch my limbs.” Barney tried to remove some of the guilt. “These old bones can’t sit as long at a time as they used to.”

      “If Big Elk tries to give you any trouble, just tell him you are friends,” Barney boasted. “By the way, he will know me only as Yosemite Tree. Can you imagine being known as a bear tree?” After a brief moment of silence, Barney concluded, “Well, it’s up to you folks which way you go, but now, at least you have an option.”

      John turned toward the animals, where Matt and Luke were finishing up with the feeding and brushing of their horses. “Did you boys catch all of that, Matt?”

      Matt, after spitting out a mouthful of chewing tobacco, replied, “Yep.”

      “Well, what do you say?” John had to urge on.

      “Whelp,” Matt started. “I’d rather have to shoot some Indians than to shoot my horse.”

      “How about you, Luke?” John asked.

      “Whatever Matt decides is plenty good enough for me,” Luke said as he put both of his thumbs in his front pockets and tried to stick out his chest.

      “Well, I don’t think it is plenty good enough for me and mine,” Mr. Douglas insisted. “We are not going into Indian lands and that is final.”

      “But, Bernie—” Martha began.

      “Don’t ‘But, Bernie’ me, Martha,” Bernie retaliated. “For once I am making a decision for this family.”

      “Well, it looks like we have three for the desert and two for the river,” tallied John. “I guess we go by the desert.”

      “What if Do-What and I led you to the Nevada territory by the river route?” asked Barney.

      “Well,” thought John, “that puts more light on the subject.”

      Bernie quickly jumped in and pointed out, “That still only makes it three to three.”

      “You’re right about that, Mr. Douglas,” John admitted. “But I haven’t voted yet. If Barney and Do-What are willing to go out of their way just to make things easier on us, I say we take them up on their hospitality. Okay with everybody else?” Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, and Do-What wagged his tail to affirm.

      “Well, it’s too late to get started today. First thing come daylight, we’ll head out,” John said then pointed south-southwest. “Let’s go that way.”