“When my friend John Hubbell passed, I thought it was time for me to leave. It was a hard decision, because we were friends for many years. I was treated like family.”

Sitting here today, looking at the Trading Post, brings back many memories. Some, I want to keep hidden away, but most were such that I feel my sun-baked face cracking. We built buildings together, one became my home. Any visiting Navajo, coming from miles away, would sleep in my home. Those friendship days were happy seasons.

Recalling a hidden memory, when I left, I left my heart behind. She was one of John’s cherished daughters. He knew how much I adored her, and even mentioned that I was loved as much as one of his sons. I knew I had permission to court her, but I couldn’t disrespect our friendship.

The day I left…I witnessed the love she had for me as well. I wanted to say something special to her, but the timing wasn’t right. I took the cherished necklace my father had given me, and put it around her neck. I still remember the tears on her cheeks that day.

When I went in the store earlier, I noticed that necklace hung on the picture of her father and me. My hope is that she had a happy life and a wonderful family of her own.

“So, my son, this is where your father ‘Many Horses,’ got the idea for our own trading post.”