MERCER'S FORGE & SMITHY

Tucked against the base of the sandstone cliff at the edge of town, this L-shaped, single-story wooden building combines workshop and home. The front section is dominated by a large open forge, its chimney puffing smoke into the clear Sequoya sky, while the rear section serves as a modest living space with a few worn rugs and a small cot.

Inside, the air is thick with the scent of coal and hot iron. Silas Mercer, a broad-shouldered man with soot-streaked arms, hammers steadily at horseshoes and farm tools. He charges thirty-five cents a shoe or a dollar a horse for shoeing, though repairs and custom work can run from two to fifteen dollars depending on the labor involved. A stack of finished horseshoes leans against the wall beside a rack of tongs, hammers, and files.

Mercer keeps a small pistol under the workbench and doesn't tolerate troublemakers near his forge.

Glencia Portos