Page 104 of Return to Telegraph Creek

Seemed fitting to arrive in a downpour once again, and we were right soaked by the time we rode up to Jensen’s Saloon.I pulled Dixie to a stop and helped Oscar slide off before getting down myself.

We stepped inside the door and right away, Carson Moore looked up from behind the bar.His face broke into a grin, and he whooped real loud, lifting his bar towel into the air.

“Oscar!Jimmy!You’re back!”

“Yeah, we’re back,” I said, glancing around the place.“I see nothin’ much has changed while we were gone.”

There were a few people at the tables, drinking and playing cards in the late afternoon, before the dinner rush.

Carson came around and strode o’er to us, holding out his hand.

“Welcome home, gentlemen.”

I greeted him as his gaze shifted between the two of us, and I remembered what he’d said to me before we’d left, about understanding the true nature of the relationship between Oscar and me.But he seemed genuinely glad to see us, as if it didn’t make a difference to him and that he wouldn’t let on to anyone else what he’d figured out.I only hoped the whole entire town wouldn’t be able to tell we were more’n real good friends.

“Good to see you, Jimmy!”he said.“And, Oscar, how’re you?”

Oscar took off his hat, droopy with water, and swiped the wet hair out of his face.“Soggy.”

Carson chuckled and clasped Oscar in a hearty hug that seemed to take him by surprise.

“Well, pull up a stool, and I’ll get you a towel and something to drink.You hungry?”

“I could use a drink and something to eat,” Oscar said.“Sorry to drip all over your saloon.”

“Don’t mind it one bit!Come on.”

We sat on stools at the bar while Carson went to get towels.When he came back, Tim Jensen was with him.

“Well, well, well, our fair travelers have returned,” he said, with a broad smile.“Welcome home.”

“Thank you,” I said.“’Tis real good to be back.”

’Twas good to have a place to call home, and I didn’t think I’d ever remembered feeling so welcome, except for back at The Angel.

“Did you have a successful trip?”

“We did,” I said, as Carson passed us each a towel and we dried our hair and our necks and hands.’Twas not pleasant to be wearin’ our wet clothes, but the rain was still sheeting, and I’d rather wait for it to lighten up before we headed out to the homestead.We needed something to drink and eat, anyway.

“Were you able to help where you were needed?”

“Yep,” Oscar said.“We came in all hero-like and we found the person that was missing.She’s all sorted now and in a better situation.”

Tim frowned.“I hope she wasn’t too badly off.”

Oscar glanced at me and shrugged.“Well, she’s better off now, that’s certain.So ’tis real good we went.”’Twas probably better not to go into the details with Tim.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Anythin’ major happen while we were gone?”I asked.

Carson laughed as he put a pint of dark ale in front of each of us.

“Nope.Nothing of note, I don’t think.The same boring old cannery town that you left in the spring.”

I cocked my head.“You know, that makes me glad to hear.I’ve had enough goddamn excitement in my life.I reckon I’m ready for some long, dull days, personally.”

“Amen to that,” Oscar said, lifting his glass so we could toast to it.