Quicksilver Passion (29 page)

You do that.” She balanced the shotgun across her saddle, touched the brim of her hat with two fingers, and rode out.

Cherokee looked at the late afternoon sky and straightened up. His back ached from digging. With warm weather, they’d get more done. The claim was beginning to look a little more promising.
By damn, Willie, where’s Bill? I didn’t realize he’d quit early.”

Willie scratched his long beard with his crippled left hand.
Up at the cabin starting dinner, I hope. Or he might be on lookout. He’s worried some claim jumper might come along, find our stash.”

Cherokee shook his head in exasperation.
No better than he sees or hears, he’s gonna kill some poor devil yet.” He looked up at the sky and shivered.
You know, the temperature’s dropped considerably in the last few minutes.”

A random flake fell on his jacket and he brushed it off.
Gu-ti-ha.”
And then he remembered that his old friend didn’t speak the Cherokee language.
It is snowing.”

I been sayin’ it looks like snow,” Willie said.

Hope it’s the last one of the season.” Cherokee studied the leaden sky. Fat snow clouds piled in layers on the far rim of the mountains. A few more flakes swirled out of the sky.

Maybe we better quit for the day,” Willie said.
Make sure the burro’s got plenty of feed and we got enough firewood in case this does turn into something more than a light dusting.”

The snow fell faster.
We’re in for more than a dusting,” Cherokee grumbled, rolling a cigarette.
Looks to me like we might even be gettin’ a blizzard.”