Chapter 9

The horses galloped along the roadway, a short distance before turning off cross-country, taking them quicker, back to the farm.

“How you doin, you ain’t drunk?”

“Nah, I had two beers and already pissed them away.” Bart assured him. He was fiddle fit, and riding like the cowboy he’s’ been all his life.

At the farm, they rode straight to the barn and unsaddled their mounts.

Their pa was sitting on the stoop in his favorite chair and Hatti was pouring some water on a mangy looking geranium in a box on the stoop.

“Got the harness?” yelled Chester before the boys even reached the stoop.

“You and that fool harness. Can’t you even say “howdy” to the boys?” Hatti barked at him.

“Why do that? I know who they are. I wanna see what kind of a job these chiselers took me for this time.”

“You old fool, it’s only 50 cents.”

“It was 75 cent, Colt said correcting his ma.”

“See, I was right. It should have been 50 cents,” added pa. “Chiselers – all of them.”

It was past suppertime, but Hatti made sure to put aside some grub for the boys.

“Mighty good stew Ma,” said Colt, wiping bread around the outside of the plate.”

“I have more on the stove.”

“Euh, can’t swaller another lick, unless it’s a piece of that pie over yonder.”

Their ma cut them both some pie and refilled their cups with fresh brewed coffee.

Bart held his fork in the air and began as if he wanted to give a speech.

“Did you, or pa, read the sign on the sheriff’s jail in Ogallala” asked Bart.

“No, never had the need to be on that part of the street,” answered Hatti.

“I read it today,” chimed in Colt. I wasn’t hankering to see the jail; I just went past to read the sign.”

“What is it?” said their pa, who had just come in and caught the tail end of the conversation.

“Okay – It’s a message for varmints,” said Bart.

“This town never did hang the wrong one, but once or twice. And them fellers needed to be hung anyhow, just on general principals.”             

Judge Clemet McDougal – 1853

******

“Oh my, that’s direct,” said Hatti.

“Gotta go bed down the horses and check the barn. Can’t break the routine,” said Colt. “You coming brother Bart?”

“Yup, be right there.”

“They unsaddled their mounts and brushed them, making sure they had plenty of hay and water.

In the morning, they would begin with chores and life as they knew it would go on as usual.

“Wanna talk? asked Bart.

“We always do.”

“Now or later?  How about later, naked”

To be continued……