In Wilderness Found

Chapter 16: Two Worlds Meet

The plan had worked beautifully. Better than beautifully - it had been flawless.

A sweet, trusty, and unassuming Daniel Williams had sauntered up to the rickety house a few days ago, thinking he’d earned a new client. Daniel had already come to the conclusion that he’d been mistaken - this couldn’t be where the new blacksmith lived. Why did he need to order a shovel from him if he could make his own?

Daniel had been so polite as he handed Abner the shiny new shovel. 

Abner had banked on the tool being of quality craftsmanship; there had to be a reason the people in this county bragged on Daniel’s metal work. He wasn’t disappointed as he felt the weight of the thing in his hands. This new shovel had been destined to shoot two birds with one stone, and Abner didn’t wait on pleasantries.

As soon as he had gotten a steady grip on the shovel’s shaft, he reared back and collided the blade of the shovel against Daniel’s head with as much force as he could muster.

Caught unaware with no chance for defense, Daniel had hit the dilapidated, splintering porch with a sickening smack. Abner then dragged his unconscious body to the backyard, where he utilized the murder weapon to dig a shallow grave.

It had been days, and Daniel had made no attempt to resurface, so Abner knows he’s dead. Either from the blunt force of the shovel to his head or from suffocation under the soil - it doesn’t really matter to Abner, as long as he’s out of the way. 

And he was most certainly out of the way. That much was obvious as a steady stream of local folks had started making their way up to Abner’s home to order tools, already needy and quick to switch loyalty in the wake of Daniel’s sudden disappearance. 

Ellis Combs is just the same. He stands at Abner Wright’s door with a thoughtful frown set on his face. He doesn't really want to be there though, and as he stands there on the porch, he doesn't really know why he came at all. Before he can back out and ride down to Daniel’s house to ask around for him one more time, the door swings open and a fair-haired man looks out at him.

The guilt of taking business from his friend is almost eating him alive. I’ll just buy a tool or two off of this man, and then give Daniel an ear-full when I finally see him again, he thinks.

“Hello,” Abner greets him politely. “Can I help you?”

“I’m Ellis. Heard you’re the new blacksmith. I need to make an order.”

Abner nods and steps aside to let him in.

“Thanks for stopping by. I’ve had quite a few folks come by here in the last day or so. Your regular smith must not be worth a count.” Abner grins widely.

Ellis’ frown deepens. The man’s blue eyes shimmer with a mischevy that doesn’t quite sit right with Ellis. Regardless, he ignores his comment and hurries with the order. “I need some large garden shears... and a pair of pliers.” 

Madison has been bugging him about one of the pasture gate bolts being loose, so he figures he should go ahead and get that out of the way too. His own pliers at home are rust-coated and stiff.

Abner takes a note down. “Anything else?”

“That should do it.” Ellis gives him a curt nod as he glances around the old house. It is nearly empty and crates still sit around the floor as if Abner has barely unpacked. He remembers Daniel mentioning that this new blacksmith had a wife, but this home appears entirely devoid of a woman’s touch. 

Abner watches Ellis look around his home and he almost feels panicked, as if Ellis knows something about him that he shouldn’t. But both of the men are completely oblivious of what the other doesn’t know.