Young Indiana Jones: Adventures Out West
Chapter Seven
Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer.... :-)
By the weekend, Indy was back to his old self and no one was the wiser,
not his father nor Mrs. Johnson. Over the last three days Indy had
studied the treasure map enough to think it may be authentic. Between
his figures and Tommy's knowledge of the area there were definite
possibilities that they would soon be on an adventure that Indy could
sink his teeth into.
Prof. Jones arrived back at the boarding house Saturday evening. They
all sat down for a wonderful dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes
and gravy. During the meal Indy bombarded his father and Prof. Billings
with questions about the dig site.
"How much progress have you made? Have you found any more artifacts?"
"We've found a few pot fragments and some rustic tools that date from
the correct time." Prof. Billings answered smiling at Indy's youthful
enthusiasm. "I think we are going to have to move closer to the base of
the rocks. One of my young assistants found what could be the outside
wall of an early dwelling. We're not sure yet and there's going to be a
lot more digging involved."
"Gee, I sure wish I could help." Indy pouted as he re-arranged the
mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Junior," his father spoke up. "Mrs. Johnson spent a lot of time
preparing this food. At least you could eat it and not just play with
it."
"Yes, sir." Indy blushed and glanced in Abbey's direction. "Sorry
ma'am."
Abbey gave him a warm smile telling him it was okay. She knew he was
disappointed to not be involved at the dig site. Besides, she did enjoy
having him around not only to keep Tommy out of mischief, but also
because he was such a sweet boy. Always thoughtful and always offering
to help. Sure there were times when both boys deserved a good bottom
warming, but that's just the way boys were. In fact, if a week went by
when she didn't feel the need to turn Tommy over her knee at least once,
she was almost positive he must he coming down with something. Her
attention was captured as Prof. Jones' voice became a little louder.
"No Junior! For the last time, you are still going to attend school
every day and help out Mrs. Johnson with whatever chores she asks. You
still have a long way to go before that broken equipment is paid for."
"But daaad!"
Prof. Jones' face became very serious and he fixed a stern eye on his
son. "Are we going to have to take a walk outside son?"
Indy slouched down in his seat and shook his head from side to side.
"How about you two boys start clearing the table and I'll go get the
cake I made for desert?" Abbey spoke up.
"Yes ma'am." both Indy and Tommy answered as they got up from the table,
Indy a little more dramatically than Tommy.
As they cleared the table, Abbey brought her covered cake dish in from
the kitchen. She lifted the top and noticed a large area of chocolate
frosting was missing.
"Tommy!" She shook her head and smiled. Both the professors laughed and
Abbey joined them. "Boys will be boys."
In the kitchen Tommy smiled, safe for now. "Indy? What about the map?"
He was worried Indy might go back to the dig site and forget about the
map. "Aren't we going to look for the gold?"
"Yes, and soon. We'll show them. We'll find our own treasure."
Sunday evening rolled around and the boys finally sat down at the dining
room table to finish their homework at Mrs. Johnson's suggestion. Of
course, the wooden spoon she brandished while suggesting helped quite a
bit. After their homework was done, the boys left it on the table and
had a slice of cake each before bed. Indy didn't bother to say goodnight
to his father before he went upstairs, he was still mad about the whole
school thing. Abbey shook her head again as she noticed the elder Mr.
Jones hadn't noticed anyway. He and Professor Billings now had their
papers and maps spread all over the table and were deep in thought.
Early Monday morning, before the boys were awake, the men gathered their
supplies and headed off to the canyon. About an hour later the boys came
down for a quick breakfast before heading off to school. When it was
time to go Indy went to get their homework from the table and it was
gone. He looked on the floor and on the sideboard, but it wasn't there.
"Tommy? Did you pick up our papers?"
"No."
"Well, they're not here."
"MA!?" Tommy yelled out.
Abbey walked into the dinning room wiping her hands on her apron. "What
is it?"
"Did you move the papers Indy and I left here last night?"
"No. Are you sure they aren't with the rest of your books?"
Tommy shrugged.
"Well, you two better be off. You don't want to be late."
Indy continued to search through his books as they walked out the back
door. They were walking down the dusty street toward the school when
Indy stopped in his tracks.
"Oh no! I bet my dad picked them up with all his papers last night."
"We don't have time to do it over." Tommy said stopping beside Indy.
"Mr. Becker gives five swats for not handing in your homework."
"That's just great." Indy wasn't looking forward to feeling that paddle
again so soon.
Tommy looked at Indy, a mischievous gleam forming in his eye. "Ya' know,
we'll only get five more if we skip the whole day. Wanna' go swimming?"
Indy thought about it for a couple seconds. "How about we start looking
for the treasure?"
"You mean it?" Tommy was very excited. "Right now? What about the map?"
"Well....it just so happens I have the map with me."
"Let's go!" Tommy jumped up and down.
"I've been thinking, it's kinda' far to the mines. We're going to need a
horse to get there and I know just the place. COME ON!"
Tommy grabbed Indy's shirt and started running towards the opposite end
of town.
"Old Harley will let us borrow a horse, I just know it."
"Who's Old Harley?" Indy ran beside Tommy as they headed away from
school and to the opposite side of the street.
"He's the blacksmith. He tells the best stories. A bunch of us kids hang
around there sometimes. I just know he'll lend us a horse."
Indy and Tommy ran inside the big old stable that sat at the far end of
town. It was very dark inside and they both strained their eyes for any
sign of the blacksmith. Tommy heard a noise coming from the tack room
and smiled. He put his finger to his lips telling Indy to be quiet and
slowly they both tip-toed to the back of the barn.
Harley was sleeping on a narrow cot in the tack room. He was an older
man, probably in his fifties Indy guessed. His chest rose and fell at a
steady rhythm, a slight snoring sound accompanying each inhale. Tommy
picked up a loose piece of hay and covered his mouth to stifle a
giggle. He crept close to the sleeping man and softly ran the piece of
hay under Harley's nose, barely touching him. Harley stirred slightly
and Indy held his breath. Again Tommy ran the bristly blade of hay under
the blacksmith's nose, but this time the older man's eyes popped open.
"What in the...! Hey, you little scamp!"
"Ahhh!" Tommy yelled and jumped back, but not fast enough.
Indy was surprised by how quickly Harley moved. His weathered, almost
leathery skin and shaggy gray hair making him look older than his
actions indicated. His hand snaked out and caught the waistband of
Tommy's jeans. He quickly pulled the boy forward as he sat up on the
edge of the cot and deposited him over his lap.
"You little devil, I'll learn ya'!"
The blacksmith swatted the seat of Tommy's jeans hard enough to raise a
cloud of dust.
"Hey!" Indy shouted, lunging forward to help his friend.
Harley grabbed his wrist and controlled both boys easily. Years of
hammering iron and shoeing horses made him very strong. His well
callused hands felt like iron around Indy's wrist. Indy was just
starting to struggle when he heard Tommy laughing.
"Harley! We give! We give!"
As soon as Tommy spoke the blacksmith released him and Indy. Both boys
backed away, Tommy laughing and rubbing away the sting in his rear and
Indy, looking back and forth between them wondering what exactly was
going on.
"Mornin' Tommy. What are you boys up to?"
"Hey Harley, this here's my new friend Indy. He's from back east."
"Back east huh? Good ta' meet ya' boy." Harley stuck out his large hand
and eyed Indy carefully as the boy shook hands with him.
"He ain't no sissy, if that's what your thinking." Tommy explained
knowing most people in this town thought all easterners weren't tough
enough to handle the west.
"I can see that plainly. He looks like quite a scrapper." Harley smiled
and ruffled Indy's hair.
"And tough too." Tommy continued. "Just last week he took twelve whole
swats from old Pecker-head and barely made a sound."
Indy blushed slightly, this was information he would rather keep quiet.
"Wow, now that is impressive. Your backside's almost as tough as this
one's head!" Harley patted Tommy on the top of his head then let his
hand rest on the boy's shoulder. "What are you two up to? Shouldn't you
be in school?"
"Well,..." Tommy kicked at the ground and shrugged his shoulder's.
"Yea, well ya' better not let Sheriff Grey catch ya' or you'll both be
in for it. So, what brings ya' here?" Harley walked out into the main
part of the barn and the two boys trailed along.
"We're going treasure hunting!" Tommy blurted out.
"Shhhh!" Indy hissed elbowing Tommy in the ribs.
"Well, uhm.....I mean, you know, exploring." the flustered boy tried to
come up with a cover. "You know, I thought I'd show Indy around to all
the good spots for fishing and stuff."
"Ah-huh."
"Yea, and uhm...we were wondering if we could borrow a horse."
"Ah, so that's why you're here."
"We don't have any money sir." Indy stepped forward taking over the
conversation. "But we'd be willin' to work for it."
"How long'll you boys be needin' the horse?"
"M-maybe two days....sir."
"Two days huh?" Harley eyed the two boys suspiciously. "Two days is a
long time to go exploring. You better not be thinkin' what I think
you're thinkin'."
"No!" Tommy said quickly. "Uh, just what are you thinkin' Harley"
"Those old mines outside of town."
"No sir."
"Well, ya' better not boy." Harley warned tapping Tommy on the nose.
"Your ma will warm your fanny for sure and if she don't, I'll do it
myself. That goes for you too, boy." Harley gave Indy a warning look.
"We're thinkin' about going camping sir." Indy spoke up.
"Yea,.... well, let me see." Harley scratched his head and looked around
the barn. "I guess I can lend you old Lizzie for a couple days, but ya'
both are gonna' have to clean up all the stalls in here."
"Deal!" Tommy shouted, sticking his hand out to shake and seal the deal.
"Great, we gotta' deal then, BUT the stalls gotta' be cleaned out
*first*, then you can borrow the horse." Harley smiled as the
disappointment showed clearly on both boys faces as they realised that
meant they couldn't leave right away and probably not even that day.
Tommy and Indy looked around the barn as if realizing for the first time
just how big it was. They sighed deeply knowing it would take a lot of
hot, smelly work to clean all the stalls.
"I'll be in the back if ya' need me." Harley said as he walked back to
the tack room trying not to laugh.
"Where are we gonna' start?" Indy asked.
"Well, the manure pile is out back so I guess we should start up front."
Both boys set their books by the front door of the barn, grabbed a
couple shovels and went to work. After a bit the first of fifteen stalls
was just about done. Indy stretched and dusted off his shirt.
"How about we take turns with dumping this stuff. I'll get rid of this
load while you spread out the new straw."
"Sure."
Indy wheeled the large wheelbarrow of manure out the back of the barn.
"Wheww!" He said almost holding his nose. He thought the manure smell
was strong inside, but it was nothing compared to the big pile that sat
in the hot sun all day. He was busy dumping the wheelbarrow when he
heard someone shout in his direction.
"HEY! YOU!"
Indy looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. He didn't recognize the
man, but one glint of sun off the badge on his chest and Indy felt his
stomach flip.
"Damn-it!"
He dropped the wheelbarrow on it's side and ran back in the barn.
"Tommy! I think the sheriff's out there!"
"What!"
Their shouts brought Harley out of the tack room just in time to see
them as they dove behind a stack of hay bails.
"Get out here boy!" Sheriff Grey yelled as he ran into the barn.
"Howdy Sheriff! What can I do ya' for?"
Harley stepped in front the Sheriff trying to buy the boys some time.
"Where's that kid I saw?" Sheriff Grey scanned the barn.
"Kid? There ain't no kid in here."
"Harley, I saw a boy run in here. Where is he?" The sheriff stepped
around Harley and started looking around the barn. "No kid huh? Well
then, who do those books there belong to?"
Indy whispered to Tommy. "He doesn't know you're in here. I'm gonna' run
out so he'll chase me. You have to get the books and take them home."
"But, Indy..."
"The map is in there. We can't let anyone see it."
Tommy nodded and waited. Indy took a deep breath and waited 'til the
sheriff was as far away from the back door as possible. Just before the
sheriff reached the books, he threw down a rake and ran for the door.
The sound caught the sheriff's attention.
"Stop! Get back here!" In a flash the sheriff was running after Indy.
After they ran out, Tommy jumped up and ran over to the books. "We'll be
back!" he yelled to Harley as he picked up both stacks of books and ran
out of the barn.