Goldfield.

Goldfield.

At Goldfield, they dropped off the motor home, then went to the
hospital to see Lucas. The older folks stayed a while trying to talk
to Lucas, but he seemed to have a bad time trying to talk and kept
drifting off to sleep. They

found out they could take him back to the farm the next day, so they
went out to the farm, leaving Linc, who wanted to stay with his
Grandfather.

A while after the folks left, Lucas motioned for Linc to come closer
. Said he didn't want any one to know he could talk ok. To many
asking him what happened. Linc went an sat next to him, and said, "
You old fake, what did happen?" Lucas went on to tell Linc, "I'm in
deep trouble Boy, don't know how I will be able to get out of this
one." "I killed a man." "What ?!" Linc said. Lucas went on to tell
him how last week, Dan Young came to Goldfield. Found out I had built
a cabin at the mine, and moved in. Came to the farm and wanted Lucas
to come out to the mine and see what he was up to. Lucas went there
and found Dan had twenty pounds of small gold he had stolen at places
where he had worked, and now he wanted to pretend it all came from the
Lucky Day mine little bit at a time so no one would get suspicious.
When told there was no way that was going to happen, they got in a
fight there in the mine, when Lucas hit Dan in the head with a shovel.
"Killed him deader than a doornail" said Lucas. "I guess I panicked.
I came back to the farm to get some dynamite to blow the mine with him
in it, but woke up here in the hospital. Now I don't know what to do.
I don't want the rest of the family to find out. One good thing,
Janet isn't here to see my down fall." Linc was dumbfounded. He told
Lucas not to panic anymore. To calm down, and when they all got back
out to the farm he would take care of it. Yes, somehow, one way or
another he would take care of it. Not to worry any more, because he
would do anything for Lucas.

Back at the farm, Linc got some dynamite and drove on back out to the
mine. Found out that Dan was very much alive and had been placing his
stolen gold in to small bags, that he thought to pawn off as Lucky
Day mine gold. Linc told Dan that he was trespassing, and wanted him
out of the place posthaste, or he was call in the cops. He told Dan
that he was the owner and that there was no Lucky Day mine claim any
more. Linc told him to hit the road right now. Dan Sad, This wasn't
the end of it. He was going to the cops and tell how Lucas had almost
killed him, and left him for dead. He would have him arrested for
attempted murder. Linc told him to go ahead if he could explain what
he was doing trespassing and with stolen gold. While Dan was clearing
out his stuff, Linc went to the mine, and blew it shut. He waited
till Dan was gone for a couple of hours before he went back to the
farm. He went in and whispered to Lucas, "you didn't kill him. He
was in the cabin and I ran him out of town. I'll tell you all about
it later tonight after everyone has gone to bed." Lucas heaved a big
sigh of relief, squeezed Linc's hand and smiled a great big smile.

Later that evening, Linc went on to tell Lucas how he had found Dan
at the cabin and confronted him about being a trespasser. since he now
owned the farm called Windy Acres. Told him the mine was not a valid
claim any longer. It was homestead now. How he told him to get out or
he would call the cops. He told Lucas about the threat of going to the
cops himself and having Lucas arrested for attempted murder. Lucas
frowned at this but Linc said not to worry. He wouldn't be able to
explain the rest to the cops, so he left, and Linc told Lucas he blew
the mine so Dan couldn't come back and try to use it ever again. Lucas
said, "I knew I could rely on you Boy. I just knew it."

Now that all the worries about what led up to the stroke had passed,
Lucas's health had greatly improved. After a few more days the family
decide to go back to their respective homes, but Linc wanted to spend
more time with his Grandfather.

Lucas now was able to get around much better, and he was getting
cabin fever. Linc decided to take him up to the cabin. They drove up
to the mine. At least Dan Young was not there. They went into the
cabin but left the door open so it could air out. Linc started a fire
in the small cook stove, put the dish pan on it and poured what water
was left in it then went to the creek to fill the bucket. Lucas
walked around the cabin and picked up things Dan had left and put
them in a garbage bag then went outside to sit in the sun. Back in the
cabin, Linc put water in the teakettle to heat. Looked like every
dish in the place was dirty so Linc got them all washed up, then put
on a pot of coffee. While it was perking he went around the cabin
picking up all the cans Dan had used as ash trays and all the rest of
the garbage he could find, then swept the place out. Took the rugs
out and shook them and put them on the woodpile in the sunlight to air
out.

He poured out a couple cups of coffee and went out to sit in the sun
with Lucas.. As they drank their coffee, they reminisced about all
the good times they had spent here when Linc was visiting. The rest
of the family were not as enthusiastic about the cabin and the mine.
They sat there and had a second cup of coffee then Linc washed the
cups and coffeepot. Rolled up the mattresses on the bunks. Put the
pillows back in the trunk they kept them and the bedding in. Put all
the dirty bedding in garbage bags and replaced the rugs. Lucas had to
go back and look around the cabin. He then closed the door with a
deep sigh and patted it. He said to Linc, "You know I hate to think
that this may be the last time I am able to come back here. I love
this old place". Linc hugged him and patted him on the back and said,
" I'm planning on sticking around here for a while. I can bring you
up here every day if you want". This brought a smile to the old mans
face as they loaded the bags in the truck getting ready to go back to
the farm.

Back at the farm Linc gave the bags with the laundry to Trudy. Told
her there was no hurry, jut keep the stuff separate from the other
bedding.

Lucas was getting stronger as the days passed. They drove over to the
Bar- B ranch for a visit and to see how things were going. Everyone
was glad to see him and asked a lot of questions. The Manager said
he was about to send Axel the quarterly ranch report.
On the way back to the farm they stopped in at the local restaurant
for a bite to eat and saw the sheriff, Tom Hays there having lunch.
Tom came over to there table and said to Lucas, "I hear you are a
killer, or a would be killer anyway. A guy that was in town a while
back told everybody down at Rusty's Bar, that you were. Said that
you tried to kill him, and left him for dead. Told me the same thing
when I had to lock him up for being drunk and disorderly. Declined to
press charges when he sobered up the next day, so I figured there had
to be nothing to it then. But hey! You are looking good since I saw
you up at the Hospital after they took you in". Most of the patrons
in the place knew Lucas and had to come, sit a bit and talk. Lucas
introduced Linc to the few who didn't know him. Some said they would
come to visit at the farm now that they knew he was up and about.
A week later a couple of ladies from the church came for a visit.
Brought cookies. Trudy provided coffee, and Linc stole away as fast
as he could.
He planned to explore back up at the mine without Lucas.