The night was cold. it was the first heavy snow fall anyone had seen in the Mojave desert. He thought he had steered clear of this weather commin here, it was rumored that it was hotter here than in hell itself. Zane Anderson had traveled here to ST. Thomas Nevada about two years after the Mormons left up into Utah on account of Nevada issuing a tax they didn't agree with.

Settlers started claiming the building that had been left behind as soon as they got word. That is exactly what Zane came for. Unfortunately it had all been grabbed up. There wasn't much work this time of year and he had no money so he would pack up and head to Yellowstone. Ulysses S. Grant had declared it a national park the year before and he knew they would have work.

So he packed his saddle bags and checked his Walker colt pistol he had gotten from his father whom was a Texas Ranger. He had heard that there would soon be a better Colt on the market something like a "Piece Maker" but for now he would be on the trail looking for work.

His heart sunk at the thought that he would be spending Christmas on the trail. It was his first year so far from home and he hoped he would at least meet a couple people here to spend the time with.

As he started out of town with his slicker buttoned up real tight to combat the wind, he could see people staring at him. Probably wondering why that nut was out in the "blizzard" when in all reality the ten inches they would get that night is far from a blizzard. Anyone else from anywhere else would be more prepared and accustomed to that weather.

Before he got to far out he noticed a faint, flickering light up into the hills overlooking the muddy river. It was out of his way but none the less he would go check it out. As he rode closer he saw a small beat up shack with a fire inside it. Not much of one though, as he got closer he could see a woman walking into the front door.

He tied off his horse and stepped inside the shack and noticed only a few pieces of creosote was what she had gathered for fire. It wouldn't do. Even in this desert one could die of cold. He also noticed they had but one rabbits worth of meat.

He needed the food but not as much as them so he dropped some of his venison he had gotten crossing Arizona. The woman had two young children, one boy and girl. Couldn't be more than two years between them, and the oldest couldn't be six.

Zane hadn't the time but he could see that the woman was at the last of her energy. She had said her husband had gone up state in hopes of getting cattle to start their settlement from. Without a man in the house they would not make it through the night.

He knew that where the Muddy river met the Colorado there would be some cottonwood so he rode hard to get there. It took some coaxing but he was able to get three good arm full of decent burning wood. There wasn't much for animals out but he was able to pick up some of the nourishing "Mormon Tea" plant. dipping his canteen and his coffee pot into the river he got plenty of water for the boil.

About ten inches of snow and many stories of the trail and some of his fathers stories of being a Ranger, He said goodbye to the family. He left to a brighter future for him knowing that even though he would be alone on the trail, he would be in the hearts of that family for the Christmas season.