Doc Ch. 16

In the living wagon, we mounted the kitchen counter with the water tank under it and plumbed it so that the sink would drain into a bucket underneath the wagon. The built-in stove, oven, and icebox looked and worked just like they had in the camper they came out of. We also were able to install the camper table that converted to a bed, although slightly modified to make the table bigger so we could seat our whole family for a meal. This was Bear's bed, and he was very pleased with it.

I also installed all the interior lighting from the camper in the living wagon. Fortunately I was able to salvage the entire wiring harness that went with it, which included area switches. I had to extend the length of a few wires because the wagon was longer than the camper, but I always kept a couple rolls of automotive wire and some electrical tape in my toolbox, so it was no hardship.

I used the two remaining side windows and skylight/vents in the living wagon to improve daylight lighting and ventilation. Like in the med van, with the top halves of the two Dutch doors open, there was plenty of air movement.

We installed all the corner jacks from the camper onto the living wagon. When the horses were unhitched, it became very easy to level, making choosing a campsite less critical. It was also very stable when we were inside, moving around. The benefit of this added stability became particularly apparent when we were in bed.

I had followed my original plan and built a full king-size bed across the back end. The ladies even sewed the foam mattresses into a single large cover so it resembled but was more comfortable than a conventional feather tick. Being able to sleep with my ladies without the wagon being rocked into rolling away was a major relief...

We replaced all the side windows in both vans with the side windows from the camper. Oddly enough, they were almost the same size, so it was a very easy conversion. The camper windows were a major improvement over the originals for a couple reasons -- they were lexan and therefore almost unbreakable (valuable because of rough roads) and their louver design allowed them to be cranked open. With the addition of the vents and the skylights on the roof, both wagons became very bright and airy.

In addition to the windows in both vans, we also improved the area around the original wood stoves. We cut large sections of sheet aluminum out of the camper walls which we mounted behind each stove. Each shield reached from the top of the brick firewall already in place to the roof. Each was fastened to the wall using large nuts as standoffs so air could move behind the metal shields. It was a simple and effective safety measure that also incidentally brightened the interiors because of their high gloss white baked finish.

To put the ribbon on our project, the ladies took paint brush in hand and painted both in the colors I had bought in Deadwood. Rose even contributed, revealing an artistic side, when she hand lettered the med van with my name.

That Friday afternoon as I gazed upon the finished product, I was filled with a sense of accomplishment and was proud of my family for their contributions to the project. The side of the medical van proudly displayed this lovely hand lettered logo:

Clay Thomas, esq.

Visiting Physician &

Deputy U.S. Marshal

No Appointment Required

I thought we were about as ready to hit the road as we would ever be. My camper was now pretty well stripped, just a bare skeleton, with nothing more to contribute to the project. I had moved my gun safe to the doctor's wagon so we could secure the medicine and any money that we would need while on the road.

Grandpa and I had secretly divided a small portion of the gold we found into small amounts so we wouldn't raise people's curiosity as to where it came from when I used it as cash. It went into the safe too, in a small compartment we built especially for the purpose. Grandpa still held the rest of the gold, the larger share. Red Cloud would take it into the assay office like we planned and claim he and his braves found it over in the Badlands. Hopefully when that story broke, it would draw the bulk of the gold seekers away on another mad rush for riches.

I spent the rest of the day teaching my wives more about driving the wagons and getting things ready to go to town the next day. By dark everyone was ready for a good rest. We knew that we would be leaving early so planned on an equally early night.

The plan was for Grandpa and the rest of the family to ride into Hill City with us, but they would be returning to the ranch like always. My family and I would start making a circuit of all the towns and camps around the area. We would be gone for most of the next week. I had left my planned schedule with Grandpa and Red Cloud. In case anything happened that they needed me for, they would know where to find me and would be able to send a messenger to get me.

After dinner that night we all went straight to bed. My ladies and I were just too tired for any lovemaking and settled for just cuddling together. An excellent day drew to a similar close as I snuggled with my sweeties and we all drifted into a well-deserved sleep.