Late afternoon, September 16, 1977

 

Peter let Bernadette sleep. By the time he pulled the Ford pickup into the small circle of gravel that passed for a parking area at the cabin, he was done. Before he and Bernadette could get out, Rip had his muddy front paws on the door window and Jack was running as hard as he could up the slope from the creek bed. Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen joined the welcoming group. Bernadette was touched. She nudged Peter and said, “Your warrior house staff know we’ve been in battle. They know the after-battle look. I’m wiped out. Help me up the steps.”

Mrs. Nguyen ran up to help Peter get an exhausted Bernadette in the cabin and started running a bath. Mr. Nguyen opened the locked chest in the truck bed and took out the weapons. He shook his head and mumbled to himself about the condition of the weapons. He carried them up on the porch and got his cleaning kit and started on the weapons. Peter saw him, after he left Bernadette half asleep in the tub, and said, “Thank you, I didn’t have time to clean them. Too much fighting. We’ve not gotten any sleep for two and half days.”

Mr. Nguyen frowned and said, “Can’t fight with dirty weapons. Not work for you when dirty.”

Peter smiled. “You are right. You’ve been in more fights than I have. I accept your advice.”

********

Everyone, including Jack, worked hard at getting the cabin ready to stand unoccupied during the winter. Peter concentrated on finishing the room built into the mineshaft.

He had time to work with Rip who was very smart and almost as stubborn. Rip was beginning to assert himself as the alpha male in the cabin. After several “talks” Rip understood he had to wait awhile before becoming head of the cabin pack. Bernadette watched this process with great amusement. Here was the most competent, fearless man she had ever seen competing with a dog barely out of puppyhood, even if a very big, strong one.

She was amazed once when out for a walk with Jack and Rip, Jack ran back to the cabin to get a sweater and she told Rip to stay with her. Seeing he might not listen, she took a firm grip on his collar and found herself being dragged on her stomach down the trail. After letting Rip go, she understood Peter had some strong competition. She learned never to get between Rip and his duty to watch over Jack.