outlaw

Standard disclaimers apply: you all know they do not belong to me.

 
 
 
 
 
Outlaw

 
 
Chapter 12

 
 
Hilde heard him long before she saw him. She heard his footsteps come up on the wooden porch and his hand on the door handle , then he pushed the door open as she looked up.
He was covered with snow and swirls of the white stuff followed him into the room. She heard him grunt as he pushed the door shut from the force of the wind. She noticed the burlap bag in his hand.
“Found them.”
She watched him as he shrugged off his coat and hung it up, then shiver as his body adjusted to the temperature change. He reached down and picked up the bag he had put on the floor to remove coa coat. He crossed the floor to the table where she sat. He put the bag on the table in front of her.
“Any coffee?” He asked.
“On the stove,” Was her reply as she put down her knife and opened the bag. She frowned as she pulled out two jade statues. “Duo, these are just jade. They aren’t worth any one’s life.”
“Yeah, I know.” He remarked as he sipped the hot coffee. “It’s what’s in them that is, I think.”
Her eyes left the statues in front of her , to look at him as he sat down beside her.
“Inside?”
“Yeah, listen.” He said, as he took one from her hand and shook it. It rattled oddly.
Hilde reached for it and flipped it over. “How in the world…?” Her eyes looked over the bottom of the piece until she spotted a fine line of scoring. “Oh, here.”
She picked up the knife she was using, and ran it around the scoring, deepening it a little. She continued to pry the knife around until the plug was out far enough to remove. She pulled it out and held it in her fingers. “A piece of cork , painted to look like jade.”
She turned the statue over, with her hand held under it. As she tipped the statue over a small amount of gem stones fell into her palm. Duo reached out and touched a few of the stones in her hand.
“Stones?”
“Uncut gem stones, Duo. This is why he wants this back. These are worth a lot… cut or uncut.”
He looked at her, “How do you know this?”
“By working with all kinds of people. I have had these kinds of stones given to me before.”
He pointed to the other one. “Let’s see what’s in this one.”
She did the same procedure on the other one, only no stones fell from it, just several small bags of powder.
“What is that?”
Hilde scratched her head. “I’m not really sure.” She replied as she reached to pick one up. She rubbed the residue between her fingers and frowned. Then she lifted it to her nose, sniffing softly. She put a bit on her tongue and then nodded. “It’s opium. He’s transporting opium. Or maybe he’s buying opium.”
They stared at the small packets for a few minutes.
“Duo, let’s get these back in there and get these things hidden. “We can’t do anything now but I think we should take these things to Anchorhead and give them to the Marshall there.”
Do you think that’s a wise thing to do?”
“I don’t know, but keeping them could get us killed.”
“Yeah, that’s a given” He replied.
Hilde picked up all the bags and refilled the statue. She popped the cork back in and set it down. She the same with the uncut stones. Duo picked up the bag and put them back in it. Hilde took the bag from him and went to her pantry. She entered the room and moved a wooden box she had in the center of the small room. Underneath it was a cut out trap door. She reached down and pulled it open, and went down the small set of steps built there. She stood in the center of the small cellar, looking for a place to stash the bag. She remembered she had a 25 lb bag of flour in the corner and decided that would be a good place to hid them. They weren’t completely hidden , but someone who knew what they were looking for would find them. She turned and climbed out of the cellar, dropping the door down and replacing the box. She exited the pantry, pulling the door shut behind her.
She walked over to the stove and looked over at her lover. “ So, Duo, are you hungry?”
He grinned as he stepped across the room to the woman in front of the stove. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lightly, “Starved.”


 
 
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Trant with Middi in tow stepped up to the door and knocked. He whispered to his partner, “Look miserable.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have to look it , I am.”
He rapped on the door and stepped back, waiting forth owners to come.

 
Hilde and Duo looked up from their plates and frowned .
“Who could that be?” Hilde wondered as she started to get up.
Duo stood and stopped her from going to the door. He walked slowly to the door, reaching for the rifle that sat by the jam.
“Who’s there?” He questioned.
“Two weary worn travelers in need of a warm place to stay.”
Duo reached for the handle, and pulled the door open. He glared at the two of them. “What do you want?”
“Duo, Let them in.”
He stepped back and let the two of them in, his hands positioned on the rifle in a possessive manner.
They entered and quickly stripped off their wet clothes. Duo continued to glare at them. Hilde smiled slightly. “Duo , would you be a dear and go start the fire place in the little cabin?”
He looked over at her meaningfully, and she nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
He nodded but carried the rifle with him.
As soon as he was out the door Hilde turned to the two people standing in her living room, warming themselves by the fire place.
“So what brings you out on a night like this?”
Trent looked over at her and let the lie roll off his tongue. “We were looking for a friend’s cabin but we got lost.”
She nodded, allowing him the benefit of the doubt. “Are you hungry?” She asked as she went for two more plates and silver wear.
Trent looked at Middi who looked back at him. They both replied at the same time. “Yes.”
She motioned them over to the table and filled plates for them. They sat down, just as duo returned into the house. He hung up his coat and walked over to the table. “It’s burning. It should be comfortable in about a half an hour. It’s not very big. I took the liberty to bring in a few more logs for you.”
He sat down at the table as Hilde returned his plate to him. He smiled at her as they continued with the meal. After it was finished, Duo grinned at her and said. “Man, Hilde. That was excellent.”
Middi pushed her plate away and smiled. “Delicious.”
Trent also made his compliment and sat back.
Hilde thanked them all ,then turned to Trent. “So who’s cabin were you looking for? I know lots of people in these parts, perhaps it’s someone I know. “
Trent smiled and said, “Well, I don’t really think so. We seemed to be quite lost. The snow must have turned us around.”
Duo watched the man knowing he was lying , but unable to prove it. His face seemed a bit familiar but he couldn’t put his finger on the suspicion.
Trent stood and stretched. “Well, I think we shall retire. I thank you for you hospitality and the use of the cabin. The meal was excellent.”
He reached out and took Hilde’s hand, then reached for Duo’s. The two men clasped hands in courtesy, only. Antagonism filled the sir. Middi quickly pushed between the two men and broke them apart.
“Come on, let’s go.” She turned to Hilde and thanked her for the place to sleep and the food, then she pulled Trent out into the cold.
As soon as the door closed, Hilde turned to Duo. “What was that all about?”
Duo shrugged, “I don’t know but I don’t like it.”
“Should we rehide the statues? “ She asked.
Duo shrugged. “No point. If they wanted them they would just beat it out of us.”
He looked around the room. “Hey, where’s Mutt?”
Hilde looked up from clearing the dishes from the table. “Oh, she stayed with the chief.”
“Oh. When did you go up there?”
“This afternoon while you were gone.”
“Hilde! That was crazy! What if…..”
“Duo. I can handle myself and besides that’s where I got the eggs.”
He nodded and stepped up close to her. “I know but it still doesn’t mean I can’t worry a little bit. I love you, babe, I can’t lose you.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
After a few moments , Hilde looked up at him and smiled ,”I love you, too, Duo. I don’t plan to l eave any time soon. And I worry about you, too. You are so reckless!!”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
She released him and he walked over to the door. “We better be on our guard tonight. I don’t trust that guy.”
She nodded, “Come on, let’s get some sleep.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Middi stepped into the warm cabin and pulled off her coat. It was plain but had all the necessities to be comfortable. She turned to face Trant, her eyes snapping in anger. “What the hell are you thinking?! We can’t stay here!”
“Stop your bitchin’! It ’s warm and dry . We’ll head back to the fortress in the daylight, with those two in tow.”
She looked at him warily, “What’s your plan?”
“You’ll see.” Was all he said.

 
To be continued …..