Vancouver (Staunton series) Ch. # 17 putting out the trash and building a roof

Vancouver (Staunton series) Ch. # XVII

 

       Burying the trash, building a roof

 

       All the next day, Jim thought about his interview with RCMP Inspector Colib Mac Donald. The man had seemed satisfied with their answers. But, you never know about men like the Mounties. They are like a dog with a bone. They keep gnawing and gnawing at it until they reach the marrow. 

           Jim was not conscious-stricken with his actions. The logger had tried to murder them. They were right in defending themselves. Their actions would hold up in a court of law. But, there was another court much more serious, that of public opinion. They would be found guilty in the mind of the loggers. Their friends would come after the Mac Adams brothers, one after another, until they were successful. Ian and Jim were capable enough, but the sheer force of numbers would eventually do them in.

       That  night, as Ian and Jim were turning in, Jim turned and said. “Ian, I would like you to go to Lowry’s early tomorrow.  You can have breakfast, talk to Laura and pick up food for all four of us for the day.” 

 

         “And you will not be coming with me, Jim?” Ian asked.

 

         “No, I am going to leave before dawn. I will ride up to the yard and get things ready for our day. We have a lot to do,” said Jim.

 

        “Okay, Jim. I will meet you up at the brick yard with all of the food we need,“ said Ian.

 

         The next morning, Jim rose early, before even the false dawn was showing. He saddled his horse and rode up to the yard. It was pitch black in the forest. But, a weak light of false dawn gave him some illumination. He tied his horse to a tree near the spot where they had buried that murdering son of a bitch.

     ‘ I am going to have to remove any evidence from this area in case the Mounties get a little nosy about looking for their lost lad,” he thought to himself.  

 

       He got a shovel from the yard and dug up the body. It was just starting to get ripe. He tied a rope around the corpse’s ankle and hitched the other end to his saddle pommel. The horse whinnied a little at the awful smell, but he steadied her with calm words. Then he dragged the body down to the river.

 

      He unhitched his mare and then unsaddled her, wiped her down and put out some oats and water. He then picked up and axe and walked to the river bank. With a mighty swing, he severed the head from the torso. He grasped the head by its greasy hair and flung it far out into the river. It would roll down the river bed and out to sea.

 

    He drew a hunting knife from his sheath and gutted the torse from sternum to crotch. He knew from seeing animals in the wild, that the body would soon decompose and fill with gases that would make it rise to the surface like an air-filled balloon.

 

 Gathering up rocks and stones from the river bank, he filled the body cavity with them. Then using a ;length of rope, he tied the corpse back together and with a few kicks rolled it into the mighty Fraser River. It floated for a few feet and then sank like a rock. No one would ever see that son of a bitch again. He would never even tell Ian of these things. No one would ever know or ever make any connections of the missing logger and the Mac Adams brothers.

 

He cleaned off his knife and axe and then took the wheel barrow and shovel back to the burial site. He dug up the earth all around that spot and dragged it back to the dirt pile at the yard. After three barrows full, the area looked just like several other nearby spots that they had excavated for dirt for making their bricks.

 

At the river bank, he washed his face and hands to remove the dirt and grime of this morning’s effort. The false light was brightening and the sun was almost ready to peer over the Pine trees to the east. He heard Ian’s horse before he could see him.

 

“Hey Jim,” Ian hollered. ”I’ve got breakfast for you. My Laura really fixed us up today. She knows two of her own will be eating with us all day.”

 

Jim smiled at Ian’s possessive form of referring to Laura. “That’s great, Ian,” he said. “Sure, I am as hungry as a bear.”

 

Ian handed Jim the smaller sack with his breakfast. Then, he unsaddled, and wiped down his horse. He hung up his tack and placed oats and water out. When he returned, Jim had just finished eating his food and was sitting by the river.

 

“We have a fair amount of work to do today, Ian,” said Jim. ”Is your leg up to it?” asked Jim

 

“Aye, I can do my share Jim.” said Ian. “What have we to do?”

 

“Well as you can see, I have had the lumber mill drop off the triangular wooden trusses for the roof, the white pine planks for the attic floor and the roof and the cedar shingles. A keg of nails also was included. They brought them up yesterday. We had to pay extra for the delivery. But, we just don’t have the time to do it ourselves.” said Jim

 

“No, we don’t,” said Ian. “And you have paid the man for all of this?” asked Ian.

 

“I have,” said Jim.” And we have used up our cash. We will need to get to the bank of Vancouver next week and draw out another two hundred dollars. The iron monger will be here next week with the metal doors, our hinges and the extruder mechanism. It is a good thing the family sent you ahead with an advance or we would be out of luck,” said Jim.

 

Just then they heard the neighing of approaching horses. “Hello the camp,” hollered the dulcet tones of Peter Sadler.

 

“And a very good morning to you, Peter and to you Selkirk,” said Jim. “We are both blessed and Thankful to have you with us, today.”

 

Peter and Selkirk dismounted. Selkirk took the reins of both horses led the mounts to the small stable. He unsaddled the beasts, wiped them down and put out oats and water for them.

 

Jim had walked Peter around the small brick building and explained their tasks for the day. “I figure we will use all four of us to drag the triangular roof trusses into place. We can use a horse and pulley as leverage. Then, we can toe nail them into the wooden beams, on top of the bricks. When we finish that, I have a 4” X 8” ridge pole that we can lay atop the apex of the  trusses. Once we anchor those trusses into the ride pole, it will never move, no matter how much wind hits it.

 

       “Aye, “said Peter. “That should keep it in place. Then what do we have?”

 

 

      “Well, I figure Ian and Selkirk can work as a team to nail down the pine planks across the bottom of the trusses. That will create an attic of sorts for storage. You and I Peter, can cut and place the pine sheeting for the roof’s exterior. It sounds like a lot, but I think we can manage it on a building this small, ”said Jim.

 

       “It looks manageable,” said Peter with a professional eye.

 

        “Lastly, the four of us can hammer all of the cedar shingles in place. That should do it for the day,” said Jim.

 

         “That’s it?” said Peter with a grin. “You’ve not got plans to throw up a barn today too?”

 

          “I know it is a lot, Peter.,” said Jim. “And we very much appreciate all that you and Selkirk are doing to help us out. But, with Winter approaching, we are running out of time.”

 

         “I was having you on, lad,” said Peter. ”Selkirk and I are here whenever you need us.”

 

         “Oaky,” said Jim. “Then we better get to work.”

 

           The four men muscled the trusses into place, spacing them with 18” centers. The roof beam was heavy. They needed to use one of the horses as a pully, to lift it into place. When they nailed the trusses to it, they sat for a few minutes and appreciated their work.

           “Sure, this building will last for a hundred years,” said Jim.

            “Aye, it will,” said Peter. “And those who come after us will know who built it too..”

 

            “Let’s stop for lunch,” said Jim. ”I’ve a powerful hunger already.”

 

            “Great idea, “ said Peter. “I’ve heard Selkirk’s stomach grumbling for the last thirty minutes.”

  

              The men sat by the river and enjoyed the food that Laura had made for them. The cool beers were also appreciated. 

               “Laurra has been a big help to us, Peter,” said Ian.

 

                 “Aye the girl has her cap set for you Ian” Peter said kindly.

 

                  Ian, smiled. “I hope so, Peter. For I think the world of her.”

 

                  The lads finished their lunch and got ready to get back to work.

 

                    The pine planks fell into place with a rhythmic pace. By mid- afternoon, they were done.

 

                     “I think that’s enough for the day, Peter,” said Jim. “Why don’t you and Selkirk head on home. Ian and I still have to put up wooden shutters on the west end of the building. But, that will take us only an hour or so. We are much appreciative of your help today. You and Selkirk made things easier for us.”

                        “We were glad to help out, Jim,” said Peter

 

                       The Sadlers gathered their things, saddled up and headed out with a wave back at the brothers.

                       “We are lucky to have such fine men as friends, Ian.” said Jim.

                         “We are,” said Ian. “And I know how lucky I am to have met up with Laura.”

 

                         “Well, let’s get those shutters up and head back, Ian,” said Jim. “The day is wearing on me.”

 

                           The brothers finished up their task, cleaned their equipment and then saddled up.

 

                           As they were about to walk their horses on to the path, Jim held up.

                           “Suppose we walk out with our horses facing to the south,” said Jim. “That way they would serve as a shield in case any more rascals are about.”

                             “Good idea,” said Ian, grasping the warning.

                             They walked their mounts to the path, got on them and cantered down the trail toward Vancouver. It had been a very full day. Even the attraction of a few beers, at Gassy Jacks, did not sway them. They were after a warm bed and a good night’s sleep.

 

                                                  -30-

                                         ( 1,825 words)

                                      Joseph Xavier Martin