If Catfish Had Nine Lives(109)

            “It’s a Dutch oven,” I said.

            “Yes,” Orly said, “it is. It’s one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I wanted her to have it for all her trouble over these last few days.”

            “That’s very kind of you,” I said.

            Between Joe’s trick in the middle of the road and my concern over Gram, my heart was still beating too fast, and I suddenly noticed that I could hear its pounding rhythm. I took a deep breath.

            “Can we go back to Astin now?” Joe asked.

            I shook my head, but not so much that Orly would wonder what I was doing. I wanted to see Gram arrive safely for myself before I left again.

            “I’ll be right back. I’m going to find Esther,” Jake said as he patted my arm. He stepped through the horse as he set out.

            “I’m sorry I barged into your tent,” I said to Orly.

            “It’s fine,” Orly said. “Can I round up some more grub for you?”

            “No thanks,” I said.

            The engine of Gram’s Volvo purred down the side road. We all turned to watch her park behind the Nova. She didn’t have her stereo turned up, so neither of her two favorite country singers, Toby Keith nor Tim McGraw, accompanied her arrival. Today, she wore a University of Utah long-sleeved T-shirt. The bright red of the shirt looked great with her gray hair.

            “Excuse me,” I said to Orly. “Give us a second.”

            “Of course,” he said.

            I greeted her halfway.

            “Hi, Gram.”

            “Betts. Everything okay?”

            “I think I’m a little on edge this morning. I’m sorry if I sounded crazy.”

            “No problem.” Gram smiled and waved at Orly and the ghosts. They all waved back. “After I spend some time with Orly, I would like to go out and see where Astin’s remains are. Sounds kind of interesting, actually.”

            I glanced back at the crowd watching us.

            “It is interesting. In fact, we think we found his mochila. It’s in the Nova’s trunk. I’ll show it to you when you’re done.”

            “Oh! Wonderful. Let’s have a quick look now.” Gram sent the one-minute signal to Orly, who nodded and then busied himself with straightening up the camping equipment outside his tent.

            “Sure.”

            We ventured back to the Nova and I opened the trunk.

            “Oh, Betts, that’s extraordinary,” Gram said.

            “I think it’s cool, but you think it’s that big a deal?”

            “Absolutely.” She reached in to touch it, but she moved carefully. “In the first place, these are rare finds, but that’s more the reason Jake will appreciate it. To me, well, it represents so much of my time with Joe, the other rider. I’m thrilled to touch a real one and know what it feels like.”

            I didn’t mention to her that Jake had one in his archives, because I didn’t want to lessen her excitement.

            “We’re guessing it was the one Astin was carrying when he died. We didn’t see any remains, but we think we found the spot where they’ll be found.”

            “What did Joe say?”

            “He wasn’t there at the time. We saw him afterward, and he’s anxious for us to show him the spot.”