....back on the Trail with John Henry and Jack Long.....

                    After over an hour digging and yankin' at Grover, who was buried up to his neck by some Comanches who didn't care for him & Edmond Pierce passing though their land...would of taken a lot less time if this big old Negro was a bit smaller. Then out of the blue he came up with his 10 inch Bowie Knife,  that he some how concealed from those Indians. Henry was just a soon get down the trail, but now with Grover free we had an extra hand when we found some work. Grover didn't have much to say on the subject, since this was the second time we saved his big Black Ass.....

        We packed up the next day and headed South, our original route before we got distracted with Grover. But none the less we were still in good shape. Now coming to a river bed to water the horses, out of the blue Grover declares he has to go after Pierce so that he can get the money and some important belongings that he got away with. This set me back a bit, along with Henry coming up quick behind him ready to put him face down with the fishes. I got Henry calmed down, along with myself who was wondering how he thought it all right to leave on his own, when we just agreed that he would stay on until the next job was done. 
       Grover was no dummy, even along with his mishaps that weren't all together his fault. It just might of been our fault for getting him out of those jams. But all things considered you couldn't help liking the guy, after all his six foot six inch frame that took up a large door way, I gave him a chance to explain why we should let him out of our sights, which to tell ya the truth, he could be a mile down the trail and we could still see him. 
      Well he made us a counter offer. If we came with him, he could make it worth our trouble, not liking to use that term right here, but how much 'trouble' could we get into with a guy as big as Horse standing up.
       He preceded to explain the reason that he even wondered why he got back with Pierce. When we got him out of that jam in that one horse town of Cody Wyoming. He said he headed back east, but not to get in touch with Pierce, but to make sure his family was all right, with the word of some War might take place, mostly in the South. He said he was about half way there, when he came upon a Wagon Train, heading West with the hoard of good intentioned Easterners trying to fine a new life.
       Of course he told us he had no intentions of hooking up with them, until he got to the last wagon, and who should he have seen but Mr. Edmond Pierce himself! He couldn't believe his eyes! 
       After settling in for the night , Piece had a chance to explain to Grover how he decided to join this set of Wagons on their next trip West. He told them that the Ship building business hadn't gone on to his expectations, and when another wealthy Englishman offered to buy the business. He took that as a sign for new adventures, with no knowledge of course of how the Shipping business would flourish in the coming years.
        
       Now Pierce was telling Grover of the Idea that Gold had been discovered out West, and that there was still time to get in on the spoils. He offered Grover a chance in a life time to go with him, and be not just his protection, but would split everything fifty-fifty, no matter who discovered it first.
      Pierce enticed him with  a large nugget that the man that bought his business and gave to him as part payment.The man told him that there was much more to be had, And he had gotten enough to come back and start something that he always has loved growing up on the coast of England.
       Edmond continued to explain to Grover that they could be rich, and told him he would give him an advance worthy of his help. Grover said he would sleep on it, and let him know in the morning.
      The next morning came and the rest is the fact  that he took his offer, and also taking that handsome advance that Pierce convinced him that he would keep it safe. That was the last time that Grover had laid his eyes on such a large  amount of money, and now wants us to go with him to get back what is rightfully his! 

      I looked right at him straight in the eyes, Grover nodded, I did back to him, and then at Henry to get an O.K. Henry just dropped his head, shook it once then mumbled something like  'oh, what the Hell' and turn and mounted Butter Cup, started out, turned around and yelled back 'well are ya coming or not...?!!'

     All in all, it didn't sound like such a bad deal since we were looking for work as well...and how much trouble could we get into going West with the three of us well seasoned to trouble as it were.....