The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

berries from bushes alongside their impromptu camp. The horses had grazed well, too. He found them curled up among the bushes enjoying the sleep of the dead tired.
    Braden was a little sore. He had ridden horses before, but never for long. Yesterday’s ride took its toll on his legs and rump. He figured that more sitting would be painful. Maybe he would walk, leading the horses for part of the daylight.
    G-War started this turn of the sun with more venison. He grumbled a bit as it wasn’t fresh, but at least it hadn’t spoiled. The ‘cat could eat something long dead and foul beyond what a human could tolerate, but he didn’t like it. That was for survival feeding only.
    Braden restoked the fire and put more venison on. He used his knife to cut a number of branches, slightly thicker than his thumb. Then he cut pine branches, heavily laden with needles.  As the fire cooked his breakfast, he fashioned a four-sided pyramid where he tied the branches, creating a number of racks.
    Braden removed his nicely cooked venison and chewed contentedly. He waited for the fire to die down, leaving a bed of coals. He put his rack contraption over the coals, not where it would catch fire, but where it could hold the venison for smoking.
    He stripped the carcass into long thin strips of meat. He took all the choice cuts, not worrying about cleaning off the bones completely. He placed the strips on the rack until it was full, then piled the pine branches around the outside of the pyramid. He scrounged in the brush until he found choice plants to include with a cherry tree branch. He chopped these up and put them onto the coals to make smoke.
    He let the smoke build, feeding more leaves onto the coals at small intervals. One G-War nap later, he pulled down the pine branches, releasing all the smoke into a big puffy cloud. He tucked the hot and smoky strips of meat into a big carry bag. The smoked meat was now cured and would last for weeks if need be. It was important to always have a stock of food and water. For now, water wouldn’t be a problem as numerous creeks ran from the Bittner Mountains. He only had two flasks. They needed a way to carry more water. Much more.
    Braden adjusted the loads, putting some of the weight behind him. He spread the load and widened their blanket roll on Pack, giving G-War a better place to ride. Braden knew the ‘cat would still complain, but having a full stomach would ease his discomfort.
    “G! You ready to go?” Braden asked. The ‘cat looked at him from his seat at the base of a tree.
    ‘I am considering killing it while it sleeps.’ The ‘cat closed the mindlink and padded over to Pack, who shied away as the small predator approached. With two quick bounds and a leap, G-War was on the horse’s back. Pack pranced and settled down as it accepted the ‘cat and his place on its back.
    “Ass.” Braden adjusted himself in his saddle, trying to find a position that was less painful. It was going to be a long turn.

 
    13 – A Cold-water Surprise
     
    They stopped early in the daylight. Braden’s seat could not take the saddle any longer. He walked for a while, but that provided little relief. They found a stream where the horses, the ‘cat, and Braden lined up and drank their fill. They followed the stream toward the mountains until they came upon a small lake, little more than a pond.
    The rule in Warren Deep was the bigger the lake, the bigger the things that could eat you. Braden stayed close to where the lake emptied into the stream. The approaches there were shallow and the water moved quickly.
    He undid his long braid and shook his head to let his hair flow. He got to his knees at the edge of the water, where he wet his hair and his head. With sand from the small beach, he rubbed his body, one arm at a time, then each leg. He rinsed each as he finished. He let the water flow over and through his hair. Then cautiously, he waded into the water, a little at a time until he was waist deep.