A Frontier Christmas by William W. Johnstone Page B

promised.
    â€œMay I have your attention, please?” Fred Matthews called out. “I would like for everyone who plans to attend the funeral to come over here and sign your name. We need as good a count as we can get so we can make all the arrangements.”
    â€œAlso, let us know if you’ll be needing transportation,” McKnight added. “And if you have any vehicles you can make available. I can furnish as many freight wagons as we’ll need, but it would be a lot nicer if we didn’t have to use them.”
    At the invitation of McKnight and Matthews, several people, including Duff and Meagan, moved over to sign the paper.

C HAPTER S EVEN
    Millersburg, Wyoming
    It took the Cave brothers and Sunset Moss two days to reach Millersburg from Rawhide Butte, not because the distance was so great, but because they thought it might be best to stay away from any civilization for a while. They soon came to the conclusion that if they were going to stay out of sight, they would need supplies.
    â€œWe’re goin’ to do more ’n just go to the store, though, ain’t we?” Sunset asked. “I ain’t never had this much money before in m’ whole life, ’n I’d like the chance to go into a saloon without worryin’ whether I had me the price of another drink or not.”
    â€œMe, too,” T. Bob said. “We are goin’ to go to a saloon, ain’t we?”
    â€œYeah, I don’t see why not, long as we get some possibles first,” Jesse agreed.
    The men stopped at Dunnigan’s grocery, where they bought beans, coffee, flour, sugar, and a slab of cured bacon.
    â€œYou boys plannin’ on doin’ a little prospectin’, are you?” Dunnigan asked as he totaled up the purchases.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Jesse asked, made suspicious by the question.
    â€œWell, you got enough groceries here to stay out in the field for a month or more. I was just curious is all.”
    â€œIt ain’t none of your business what we’re plannin’ to do,” Jesse said.
    Dunnigan chuckled and held up his hand. “You fellas just pay me no never mind. I know how you prospectors are. Let’s see, that’ll be fourteen cents for five pounds of flour, forty-five cents for five pounds of bacon, thirty-four cents for five pounds of sugar, sixteen cents for five pounds of beans, and thirty cents for two pounds of coffee. All tolled up that comes to—”
    â€œA dollar thirty-nine,” Jesse said, speaking up before Dunnigan finished.
    â€œA dollar thirty-nine,” the grocer agreed. “Oh, my. Will you boys be out in the mountains come Christmas? Christmas is close, you know.”
    â€œWe may be,” Jesse said as he counted out the money.
    â€œWell, then, let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas.” Dunnigan wrapped up the purchases and slid them across the counter. “And I appreciate your business.”
    None of the three men answered as they started toward the door, and Dunnigan shrugged.
    â€œErnest, who were those men?”
    Turning to his wife, he replied, “I’ve never seen them before in my life, Thelma, but they sure aren’t very friendly. I can tell you that.”
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    With their packages stowed away in their saddlebags, the three men stopped at the closest saloon. C OTTONWOOD S ALOON was painted in white letters, outlined with black, on the false front of the building.
    Stepping up to the bar, they bought a bottle, and each bought a beer, then they found a table. Soiled doves were circulating through the room, teasing the customers to buy drinks. Seeing them, T. Bob caught the eye of one and smiled at her.
    â€œFound something to stir your interest, T. Bob?” Jesse asked as he took a drink of whiskey, then chased it with a drink of beer.
    â€œYeah, I like that one over there in the yeller dress,” T. Bob said, nodding in the girl’s